The headlines in today’s San Jose Mercury News in giant letters read, “Pope Delayed Defrocking.” This story incensed me so much it derailed the blog I had been working on, which was about Gwyneth Paltrow and her website GOOP. That can wait. More important things first. This is way goopier.
Pope Benedict XVI leaves the Vatican for good!
About twenty years ago in the Bay Area of Northern California, a bishop of the Diocese of Oakland tried to have a particular priest removed because of a “long record of sexually abusing children.” (UGH to infinity.) The good priest, John Cummins, wrote to then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI) that this particular bad obscene priest (BOP) needed to get the boot. The Good Priest John never received a response. Was Ratz was too busy concocting a cover-up?
During the next couple of years, John wrote the Vatican to check on the status of getting rid of BOP. No response. The third time he inquired, the Vatican suggested that BOP’s file might be lost and to resubmit the materials. Disgusting display of indifference to a dangerous situation involving children.
Finally in 1985 Cardinal Ratz wrote back. (Can’t these guys pick up a telephone??) Was Ratz concerned about the health and welfare of the children of the church? Heck no. He said he needed more time to evaluate the situation. He said that the decision to defrock the BOP “must take into account the good of the Universal Church.”
Note to Ratz: NO IT DOESN’T YOU MORAL PYGMY! A righteous man does NOT cover up the deeds of the wicked. That is unconscionable.
Ratz told John to “provide the petitioner with as much paternal care as possible…” John took this to mean that it was his job to make sure that BOP did not commit any more crimes.
BOP finally got the heave-ho in 1987—and only because BOP himself requested a removal from the priesthood. (Where is BOP now? He is living in Northern California on parole after serving time “for different sex crimes against a child.”)
Note to the Catholic Church Organization: The purpose of a church is simple: Teach the Word of God and HELP the people. Not harm them, psychologically scar them, and RUIN their lives and their families’ lives by the very church officials ordained to do the opposite. Not teach them how to silently withstand sexual abuse. Not teach them that priests are above the law. Not teach them that whatever the Church does is morally correct.
The Church Organization is NOT MORE IMPORTANT than the people sitting in the pews.
The fact that the Catholic Hierarchy cannot grok that makes it beyond despicable. Beyond morally corrupt into the realm of the profane.
I feel sorry for Catholics. It’s been well-documented (in many reputable books and other media for quite some time) about the long-time world-wide rampant abuse of priests.
How can a church that allowed pedophile priests to remain on the job have any moral authority whatsoever?
How can Catholics have any faith in that organization?
How can they fill the offering plate with their hard-earned money that will be used to pay for damages done by pedophile priests?
How can they listen to a priest tell them about the Word of God when this church can’t tell the truth?
How can they reconcile that in a House of God there is much evil?
As my nephew Tave says, “It’s a cosmic mind f*ck.” (Pardon the swear word. But this is NO TIME to mince words.)
To allow a known sexual predator to run lose among children makes Jesus weep.
Consequently, the only MORALLY RIGHT thing to do about Ratz the Pope: THROW THE BUM OUT!
Heaven will rejoice.
P.S. I MUST comment on the name Ratzinger. Is it just a coincidence that his moniker can be translated as “zinger of a rat?” And about those über-expensive red Gucci shoes he wears: how many donations from poverty-stricken parishioners does it take to afford those things?
