Whose experts?

By Diogenes ( articles ) | Apr 07, 2003

At a closed-door session in Rome last week, Vatican officials listened to what various "experts" had to say about the sexual abuse of children. (No doubt CWN will carry a report on that meeting later today.) The US bishops sent along 2 of their own favorite experts: Fathers Stephen Rossetti and Canice Connors-- both of them affiliated with the notorious St. Luke's Institute.

For a tase of Father Rossetti's "expert" perspective, check out his article from the Sept 9, 1995 issue of America magazine. The title is "The Mark of Cain," and the subtitle is even more revealing: "Reintegrating pedophiles."

That's right. Father Rossetti argues that a major problem facing the Church is the need to find ways in which priests who abuse children can be returned to active ministry.

And he's one of the "experts." And the bishops are still listening.

But you don't have to take my word for it. You can find the full article in the America magazine archives. If you don't want to pay for the whole thing, the web site offers a watered-down summary:

Although Cain committed a heinous crime, God gave him protection and compassion. Rossetti compares Cain to priests who abuse minors and proposes that the sex offenders be punished, but be allowed to be reintegrated into society with precautions to avoid a recurrence.