'How Will We Explain This?' US Bishops Shocked, Disappointed as Pope Francis Bars Action on Sex Abuse

Here, the Pope is making a command. Elsewhere, Vatican attorneys have pushed back against lawsuits blaming them for child sex abuse by saying the bishops control things. The Vatican is in effect talking out of both sides of its mouth, and I would not be surprised if plaintiffs’ attorneys make them pay for that one.

There’s seems to be an infinite supply of shock, disappointment, anger, sorrow, being appalled, disgust, and condemnation for those wanting to react to messes like this one. There’s an inexhaustible demonstration of strong feelings but no action.

[Ron Bean]

There’s seems to be an infinite supply of shock, disappointment, anger, sorrow, being appalled, disgust, and condemnation for those wanting to react to messes like this one. There’s an inexhaustible demonstration of strong feelings but no action.

Oh, there is, and will be, plenty of action taken. The question is simply whether the bishops will be making the decisions, or whether the decisions will be made for them by the courts, plaintiffs’ lawyers, state attorneys general, and victims of pedophile and pederast priests. Plus, I’m guessing thousands to millions of Catholics are already showing their displeasure by showing up as empty pews—hopefully many of them “uncrossing the Tiber”, so to speak, to go to Geneva, Westminster, Augsburg, and the like.

And it is also true that many will “uncross the Tiber” to nowhere, and God will hold the bishops and their Pontiff accountable for that, too. Change is coming, we just need to pray and be accountable ourselves.

Joe is correct about the case in Pennsylvania; it is largely the “right” that is working against an extension of the statute of limitations, and yes, since the cover-up for Donn Ketcham was orchestrated in the state, ABWE might well be sued for the home office’s role. Sexual abuse does often result in loss of faith (that millstone reference), and you can’t cite 1 Cor. 6 as a defense against a lawsuit by an unbeliever.

But that noted, even if PA never does extend these statutes of limitations, it doesn’t shield any entity that doesn’t clearly get religion on protecting victims of sexual abuse, especially when they’re kids. Since the Pope is clearly running interference at this time, that accelerates the exit from the pews, and it steels the resolve of those whose statute of limitations limit hasn’t expired to take action.

And that’s if they’re lucky. If they’re not, those denied justice at the ballot box, soap box, and jury box may, per Frederick Douglass’ dictum, access the next box of freedom;the cartridge box. Rome is playing with some dangerous business here.