John Geoghan was a defrocked priest and pedophile who was murdered in prison a couple of years ago. The bastard over three decades molested countless young boys in his parish. Because so many, due to shame, waited to report the problems, Geoghan avoided being charged. He preyed on those families that were devout, trusting, and recently had some kind of tragedy. When the mothers found out about his bedtime pats and ice cream fondlings, they did what most devout Catholics did, they turned to the higher authority of the church to punish this man.
Did the church defrock this man and turn him over to authority when they first heard of this tragedy? No. They removed him from his parish, sent him to be psychologically evaluated, obtained an all clear from a psychiatrist, then place him in another parish where little boys frequently attended mass.
This is not an indictment of pedophiles. My readers, I know, have their stomachs turned as much as mine at the thought of what this man has done to these little boys. Additionally, think of how many pedophiles he may have created and how many lives he has ruined. As we know, this kind of abuse only breeds more of the same.
No, this is an indictment of organized religion and the blind faith that the members are expected to engage in no matter what the cost. First, it is not just the Catholic Church where problems of abuse exist. In every organized religion, someone, somewhere is being abused by an authority of the church. Be it priests, pastors, nuns, laymen, deacons, brothers, or sisters, someone is using their authority to make others suffer. And usually it is the least among them that bear the brunt of the abuse, the children.
Secondly, under the protection of Freedom of Religion, churches, temples, etc. refuse to turn over anyone accused within the church of illegal acts. The stand is that the church will take care of it. In reality, the person accused gets a slap on the wrist and is allowed to go back into the flock and resume his or her activities.
I understand that the church wants to have faith in their leaders. So the authorities turn a blind eye to hideous crimes perpetrated by the criminal and even say things to the trusting victims like, he raises a lot of money for the church, he’s really popular, or he studied really hard to become a church leaders. In other words, as a member, you are supposed to have blind faith.
Well, I have news for the churches that allow this kind of abuse to continue. You are abusing your members by insisting on their loyalty and silence. You owe your members a safe place to come and worship. It behooves you to, when an accusation is made, not only to investigate it but to turn the guilty party over to the police when you find proof of his guilt. Relocating him only gives him a new unsuspecting flock to abuse. People have a right to know, parents have a right to know. As their church it is your duty not only to advise them of the situation but also to properly protect them. Instead of threatening them excommunication for political beliefs, try providing them with a church to be proud of. Instead of losing members, you may gain respect. Then maybe the media will show you in a better life since PR seems the only thing you worry about.