MImmaculataDunn
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I agree with what Natalie Costanza-Chavez has to say in her article, "Church employs wanton deflection, holy shams." I also agree especially with what she quotes Father Tom Doyle as saying at one of the senate hearings,
"I believe that it is blasphemous to put the financial security of my church or any church above the moral or spiritual well-being of the most vulnerable members of that organization."
This should be the rallying call of all good christian, catholic people as we attempt to hold our church accountable for the crimes done on its watch, by some of its priests, enabled by some of its clerical leadership and then covered up by too many of its bishops.
Until the institutional church does what it should have done years ago, there will no moving on.
Sister M. Immaculata Dunn
Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
maryidunn@yahoo.com
Church employs wanton deflection, holy shams
Natalie Costanza-Chavez
A scene on a black-and-white film reel captures the ploy - a policeman grabs a bad guy on a city street, a crowd peers at a pile of evidence spilling from a satchel, and the "caught" points dramatically to the sky as if to say - wild-eyed - "Look! It's a bird, it's a plane, it's a bomb!" Everyone turns to look and the guilty ducks away, self-satisfied and smug.
Deflection. We expect it at the movies, from small children, at magic shows. It is, however, a surprise when the highest echelons of Colorado's Catholic Conference use it at the expense of people who have been abused by bad priests and at the expense of all Colorado Catholics by making their institution look even worse.
The church is arguing two bills (one in the House and one in the Senate) that would make it easier for victims of priests to sue the church are anti-Catholic and unfair. Their initial argument? That public schools aren't held to the same standard.
Is this how it went? A group of the Catholic powerful sat in a room discussing a strategy to keep the church safe from paying out potentially devastating amounts of money - and someone floated the idea of attacking the public schools as notorious enablers of sexual abuse?
And no one said this is not a good idea and this lacks integrity?
When the bill was changed to include public institutions - did the church then sign on in support of Senate Bill 143? No. But, according to a Denver Post story, its priests were asked to read a letter against the bill and against House Bill 1090 - during services - and then to pass out protest postcards to the congregation. Many churches complied.
It is not news that the Catholic Church has foundation cracks that need to be dealt with respectfully and spiritually and honestly for years to come if the church is to survive. That process has begun.
But in the case of these bills, it appears the Colorado church is trying to mischaracterize and misconstrue.
It has trotted out the tired cliche about the victims' lawyers being money-mongering and dishonest.
It has accused the bill sponsors (who are Catholic) of being in cahoots with "trial lawyers" - fueling the misconception that when you lack a sound argument, it is OK to trash attorneys.
It has floated the repugnant innuendo that those who speak in disagreement to the church must hate the church and hate priests.
It has suggested that suing priests is "fashionable" right now, that victims should be over it or have spoken out sooner, that seeking out abusers may have only financial motivation fueled by false memories and anti-Catholic vengeance.
These methods are heart-breaking. This church can do so much better.
I know it to be an organization of good and spiritful people. These very people need to take the reins when back-room strategies dark and dismal become more important than telling the truth, more important than repentance and reconciliation, and more important than holding in their tightest and safest embrace anyone, everyone ever victimized by their church.
At one of the many Senate hearings, according to The Associated Press, Father Thomas Doyle testified against the Colorado Catholic Conference representing the dioceses of Denver, Colorado Springs and Pueblo.
He said, "I believe that it is blasphemous to put the financial security of my church or any church above the moral or spiritual well-being of the most vulnerable members of that organization."
It is with reverence and respect that I say amen to that, Father.
Natalie Costanza-Chavez lives in Fort Collins. She also writes a Grace Notes column for the Fort Collins Coloradoan in the Sunday Life section.
Originally published March 31, 2006
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