> Pope ‘obstructed’ sex abuse inquiry
> http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2005/apr/24/children.childprotection
Rome- Pope talks “platitudes” on abuse; SNAP responds
Posted by Barbara Dorris on June 18, 2012
SNAP - Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests
Again, the pope alludes only to pedophile priests, not corrupt bishops.
Again, he focuses on the harm to the church, not the innocent, wounded children.
Again, he speaks in vague platitudes, refusing to even accurately name the crisis.
Again, he refuses to even recommend, much less take, a single effective prevention step.
Pope Benedict claims ‘mystery’ surrounding why priests abuse. The pontiff’s wrong: there’s little mystery here. In 1887, Lord Acton explained it best: “Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
Priest have long had power, sometimes almost absolute power, over devout and defenseless kids. So they’ve abused that power and those kids.
And even now, bishops have nearly absolute power over their dioceses, staff and in some places, their flocks. So they abuse that power, and ignore, hide and enable heinous crimes against kids.
Until secular authorities or the pope take dramatic steps to limit bishops’ power and hold them personally responsible for crimes by their employees, little will change. Until effective “checks and balances” are set up that “rein in” the nearly boundless authority of bishops, little will change.
http://www.snapnetwork.org/int_l_pope_talks_platitudes_on_abuse_snap_responds