Action against Cardinal Mahony: Readers aren't impressed

FORGIVE THEM FATHER

 Johann Wagener 2-1-13

For they no not what they do.  That might have been an accurate assessment by Jesus of the mob of angry and crazed people that screamed for His blood.  

As a full-fledged born and raised Catholic who to this day is uncomfortable undressing around those of my same sex, I’m not so sure Jesus would say the same about those His Father put in charge of His Church. Men, like Cardinal Mahoney, are the poster boys of the church, not a ranting mob of rag-tagged villagers. People like Cardinal Mahoney don’t hesitate to proclaim  that they are God’s messengers, chosen and ordained to lead those who follow His teachings to the “Kingdom of Heaven”. They are the “princes” of the Church!

Amazing how some of the darkest acts are perpetrated in the brightest places. The Church is God’s house of worship. Those that God ordained are entrusted to not only preach God’s word, but also practice it. They are the shepherds we flock to for guidance and comfort as we struggle down the path of salvation. These are the people who proclaim to have the “Keys to the Kingdom.”  All we need to do is follow their rules, confess our secrets to them, and put a little in the plate when it comes around. What we receive in return is absolution and forgiveness for our shortcomings and, if we hang in there, a place in Heaven.  It’s a no-brainer.

Amazing how we then discover that some of the darkest acts in human nature occur in some of the brightest places on earth. Some of these messengers of God are literally raping our children. No, not all of them are; just a few are bad apples. The problem is those we trust to keep the apple barrel free of rot are not doing their job. It’s not that they don’t know. It’s hiding in plain sight as all the memo’s released by the Church reveal. As with other cries against humanity it’s not act itself, but the “cover up” that cause the most damage. In this instance ignoring and covering up what was going on gave perpetrators free reign to do the “Devil’s” work in God’s house.

Spokesman for the Church say, “That was in the past. Forgive and forget”.  We need to move on. Similar to the talking points used after the Inquisition.  

There’s a saying; “The Buck Stops Here,” that leaders use when those in the ranks get caught with their hands in the cookie jar.

In this case it looks like the buck stops with Archbishop Gomez. The priests were defrocked. The Cardinal was relieved of his duties. We spent millions of parishioner’s dollars, earmarked to feed the starving, house the homeless, treat the sick, to compensate the victims.

Moving on implies that the problem is solved. We are asked to accept that what happened was a localized and isolated event which requires ignoring reality. Back to business as usual, ignoring that this is a systemic “global” problem perpetrated by individuals in churches scattered across the planet. It’s existence is a result of deeply rooted church policies that continue to be ignored by the hierarchy. Al the way to the feet of the man who, among a long line of others, was handed the keys to the Church who’s followers entrust their lives and souls to.  The buck needs to go much higher if the church is sincere and honest and indeed deserving of our trust


Action against Cardinal Mahony: Readers aren't impressed