From Brian Jacoby, Cape Town:
The abuse scandal and the way it was handled has led to a huge breach of trust between the faithful and Church leadership.
Trust, once broken, is always very difficult to restore. I sincerely believe that the only way forward is for the Church to convene a Third Vatican Council, so that all the bishops, together with the Holy Father, can sort out this mess once and for all.
Together, they need to show the world that they are sincere in their mission. Justice must be seen to be done. If the Church is not clearly seen to be undergoing a complete overhaul and redefining its mission, and returning to the Jesus of the gospels, the denials and lack of trust will simmer on and the Church will become increasingly irrelevant. A Third Vatican Council is the only way.
Knowing that the hierarchical bureaucracy in Rome will not be at all sympathetic with such a move, the “demand” must come from below, from grassroot Catholics everywhere.
- Flabbergasted by a devout Holy Mass - January 30, 2024
- The Language of the Heart - August 8, 2023
- Let’s Discuss Our Church’s Bible Past - July 12, 2023
