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Pope or Pilate? Washing one's hands may be a Christian trope, but it shouldn't be a guiding principle. The latest revelations concerning the former Cardinal Ratzinger's reluctance to prosecute or defrock child-molesting priests, for the claimed sake of a larger purpose (presumably protecting the name of the Church) is chilling, and more Machiavellian than even we might have expected emanating from an Italian city-state with subtle leanings.

The Pope is leader of a Church with about a billion followers (communicants) and he shouldn't be collared like a common criminal when he visits the UK soon, as Dr Dawkins and Mr Hitchens now propose; but he is an uncommon figure, and if found responsible, or irresponsible, in such serious matters, his judgement, and moral fibre will have been called into more than just question - they may be dragged into the mire, and sullied beyond normal repair. Forgiveness for sins is a major aspect of Christianity.

But so is obedience to Caesar's laws, when possible. Sex offenders in universities, hospitals, churches, the military, schools, offices, - in short, all walks of life - should never be shielded, but need to be turned in immediately to the authorities. One hopes they will receive justice, compassion, punishment balanced with proper treatment - but not, ever, cover to continue harming the young. The Catholic Church is left wondering about their current leader - is he the man?
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Anonymous said…
As a practicing Catholic, I share with my fellow communicants a sense of horror, shame and anger at the stories of abusive priests. However, there has been so much misreporting in the press that many of the facts of this complex matter have been lost to a wave of popular 'attack the pope' knee-jerk reaction (much of the sloppy reporting picked up in the UK comes from factual errors which first appeared in The New York Times). The Pope has never attempted to cover up wrongdoing and has actually been trying to bring order to these matters since they became his direct responsibility in 2001. Like any human being, the Pope has failings - just as Saint Peter had failings - but this is not a scandal we can pin at his door as if he were some macheavellian politician. I cringe at the prospect of his visit to this country being overtaken by a small band of anti-church protestors determined for some kind of lynching: Christianity in this country is already seen as fair game for open mockery. But churches around the world continue to draw the faithful - contrary to what the press might want to convey - and the Easter masses I attended at Westminster Cathedral were standing room only. This is a sensitive and emotive issue, but biased reporting doesn't help, it only stirs up prejudice.
Sun Apr 11, 06:56:00 pm 2010
Sheenagh Pugh said…
"The Pope is leader of a Church with about a billion followers (communicants) and he shouldn't be collared like a common criminal"

I don't really see that the one follows from the other, Todd; Pinochet was a leader of a nation and richly deserved to be collared in that way, ditto Mugabe. The pope differs in that he hasn't personally ordered any wrongdoing, that we know of - if it were found he had colluded in withholding evidence from the police, that would be a criminal offence but I don't think such has been anywhere near proved, so there's no real basis for a citizen's arrest on that ground. but the idea that a pope cannot, per se, be a common criminal is laughable; look at the Borgias!
Wed Apr 14, 01:49:00 pm 2010
EYEWEAR said…
Hi Sheenagh, I don't see much daylight between us on this one. My post goes on to argue that all priests and churchmen (sic) should fall fully under the law's jursidiction when or if they commit criminal acts, such as child sexual abuse; and indeed, the Church - a little late in the day - clarified they hold this position, in canon law - just the other day. The problem was with my wording. It was a pun, of course (collared like a common criminal, as in priest collar) - I believe the Pope, if guilty, could and should be punished. But should be treated like the uncommon criminal he would be (a head of state). Heads of state (as we saw with Nixon or Pinochet) can fall under jurisdictions, but different courts and measures are usually taken. I oppose a revolutionary approach, that gets out the guillotine, and doesn't follow the accepted international agreements and court practices. As such, the Pope would be entitled to the same protection under the law as anyone else - innocent until proven guilty, for instance. But, more to the point of contention - the way that Hitchens, Dawkins, and Monbiot are talking (and Monbiot also wants to arrest Tony Blair) - the Pope is merely a "bad guy". They have failed to indicate they appreciate the nuances of his non-secular (that is, religious, symbolic, even mythic) meanings and significance. He is a man, but he is also Christ's (albeit flawed) representative on Earth (as believed in by hundreds of millions of people). In British atheistic circles such calls for reflection on cultural and religious sensitivities are usually greered with snorts of derision - but the Catholic faith is too big, too embedded (indeed), and culturally profound a historic and living institution to be so simplistically wiped away. It's more problematic than that - this is a massive troubking dillemma. To not appreciate the need to weigh concerns and options, is to show shed all links to, and appreciation of, a very nuanced past. Religions are both good and bad - and have enriched society as much as they have impoverished it. I actualy believe religion, on the whole, does more good than harm, and humankind, without such a base, would suffer more ills than if relieved of religion. So, yes, if the Pope has been guilty of obstructing justice, personally and directly, he should be held accountable. But arresting him in a cheap publicity stunt in a Protestant country on a state visit seems a damaging and limited option. This should proceed through regular legal channels and the international courts. In my opionion.
Thu Apr 15, 12:57:00 pm 2010
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