I left a comment here at this post Another Southern Baptist Minister Arrested For Sexual Clergy Child Abuse And This One Had A Prior Record at Ministry of Reconciliation
In that post above the focus is also on non ordained folks that have been arrested.
It is awaiting moderation but this is a overview of what I was trying to point out.
There are many legitimate complaints of how the secular and religious media cover the Catholic abuse scandal First the fact it is so Catholic focused is giving a lot of non Catholics a false sense of security.
THE OTHER MAJOR PROBLEM as we in the reporting it is mostly clergy. based. The fact that Catholic religious media falls into this trap to me is incredible.
When a Priest has been accused what we are seeing now is chain of events that are occurring. First the accusation has to be credible. This is not a very high standard by the way. Credible means IT COULD OR IS POSSIBLE IT HAPPENED. In many cases this is just matching time of and place of clergy and the alleged abuse victim. I have stated I have some problems with this low standard but that is another post.
The Diocese or religious order then goes public. It then is supposed to notify other Parishes or schools where this person was at.
Question we hear a lot about Priests but where are the LAY CATHOLIC stories.
This is not 1940 where we had so many Catholic Priests, Brothers, and Religious that we could be served from the cradle to the grave in many matters of life.
That has not been the case for some time. Think of countless thousands of Youth Minister, CCD teachers, teachers in the Catholic school system, Coaches, etc etc.
Yet we never hear reports on this rarely like we do as to Catholic Priests.
Why is this?
Well first I don't think the laity wants to be held to the same standard as clergy. The church I suppose recognizes in the pure financial sense that this is a hornets nest. I't s one thing to start going public all over the place when you get to the could have happen stage with a Priest. Let's it face these guys are not rich and might not have the best lawyers.
It is a whole different matter with a lay person that might just turn around and sue the heck out of the Diocese.
Regardless we have a problem The fact is the sole focus on Clergy in these sex abuse scandals is missing by far what is most likely the vast majority of Catholic Church related abuse cases.
For instance a youth minister or teacher in the Catholic Church can "move on " too and continue their crimes.
I suspect sadly this happens quite a bit.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Where Are All The Catholic Lay Folks Child Sex Abuse Stories
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3 comments:
Well I am just as outraged about the sexual abuse of children by Baptists as by Roman Catholics. I will condemn child molestation with the same voice regardless of who the perpetrator happens to be.
These cases are obviously being reported or we would not be hearing about them. It is, of course, the court cases that generate the news reports about the Roman Catholic clegy rather than prejudice as you seem to think. The hierarchal organization of Roman Catholicism makes it an inviting target for lawsuits.
The sexual abuse of a child is so heinous in the first place that I hate to mention that is might be worse when done by a Roman Catholic Priest because they are claiming to have the power and authority to absolve sin, or to refuse to do so. That makes it spiritual rape on top of physical rape. I am sure that if someone tried to confess their sins to my pastor, he would tell them to shut up, and get on their knees and pray to the One Who was crucified for their sins.
But any time a Baptist has molested a child, I say prosecute to the fullest, and publicize it far and wide, so that people are warned to keep their children away from such a person. No double standard!
Oj I agree 100 percent.
I just think a lot of this has become too much clergy focused and a lot of lay folks are getting off
I have very little formal education and I hope that I am able to adequately express the opinion that, by claiming to be more than just a mere man, it is the Roman Catholic Priests themselves who have raised the bar so much higher.
I don't consider this to be prejudice against a different religion to expect them to live up to their own claims.
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