Why soft-pedal scandal?

by Letters Editor · January 6, 2010

I refer to your editorial and December 9-15 report on Irish Church sex-scandals. It is unusual for me feel the need to take issue with the way you see matters, as I now do.

I am left wondering why everyone, from the Vatican down to The Southern Cross, seems to be soft-pedalling on the solution to this disgusting situation. The Vatican delays cooperation with the authorities and The Southern Cross suggests that those involved should either resign or remain out of the public eye or apologise.

Nice, easy, quick-fix/no-fuss options which parallel and perpetuate the actions of the bishops who covered up and/or simply moved perpetrators from one area to another.

The paedophiles have betrayed the trust of the Church and of the children and future generations. The despicable actions of some priests and religious involved continue to reverberate around the world, and affect not just the sceptical Irish nation, as suggested.

In times past, priests, religious and lay-folk have been excommunicated for crimes against the faith that were a lot less heinous than the mafia-like conspiracy that has infected our Catholic communities in South Africa too.

Geoff Harris, Rooi Els, Western Cape

Ireland has let the side down

I write to compliment the editor on the December 9-15 leader article on the Irish scandal now public knowledge world.

Misdemeanours by public high profile figures cause inestimable harm to the whole community of people who have hitherto had every right to expect better!

Topically in the secular world Tiger Woods is in the news, and who of even his most ardent fans do not feel let down? Hansie Cronj’s name comes to mind in the same vein.

But these are small fry. Their status of being hero-worshipped for the duration of their prominence is as nothing compared to the huge scandal now facing all of us Catholics by the Irish debacle, and indeed the similar publicity relating to the Church in the United States in recent times.

It is at times of crisis that real leadership is required. I believe the entire hierarchy of our Church has an enormous responsibility thrust on it by these events and revelations.

It should not be necessary for us mere layfolk to lobby for and drive such a campaign as is demanded at this time. It is actually the pope himself that should be instrumental in leading a united response to this challenge. It is absolutely imperative that the Church leaders in every country in the world should take this threat to Catholicism seriously by making very public assurances that nothing comparable is present in their respective domains.

Ireland certainly, and even America, are both perceived as Catholic countries, and they have both badly let the side down. I believe it would not be inappropriate for each and every bishop in the world to be required to report to his immediate superior that not only is there no cover-up present in his diocese, but that he has put in place effective mechanisms to ensure no abuses are taking place in his diocese by clergy under his control.

The Church can surely not survive any more of this kind of notoriety. The statement in your leader that the Vatican did not fully cooperate with the Commission is potentially of even greater concern to me than the whole shameful subject matter itself.

Ted Hinton, Johannesburg