OIf you thought that the Catholic priest sex abuse scandal was tucked in our collective rear-view mirror; that the most abominable, heinous atrocities visited upon victims had already been laid bare across every conceivable media platform years ago, news out of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania last week has compelled us to think again.
Attorney General Josh Shapiro revealed the comprehensive—and revolting—findings of a statewide investigative grand jury that spent two years uncovering abuse of children by priests, and a systematic cover up spanning decades by senior church leaders in Pennsylvania and the Vatican.
The grand jury’s 884-page report detailed the panel’s work and findings, including:
• 301 Catholic priests identified as predator priests who sexually abused children while serving in active ministry in the church.
• Detailed accounts of over 1,000 children victimized sexually by predator priests, with the grand jury noting it believed the real number of victims was in the “thousands.”
• Senior church officials, including bishops, monsignors and others, knew about the abuse committed by priests, but routinely covered it up to avoid scandal, criminal charges against priests, and monetary damages to the dioceses.
• Priests committed acts of sexual abuse upon children, and were routinely shuttled to other parishes – while parishioners were left unaware of sexual predators in their midst.
One of the most abhorrent cases was disclosed in the Diocese of Erie, where 41 predator priests were named in the report. Father Chester Gawronski, fondled boys and told them he was giving them a “cancer check.” Gawronski provided the diocese with a list of 41 “possible” victims. He confessed to multiple instances of sexual abuse. Yet from 1987 until 2002 – 15 YEARS – Gawronski remained in active ministry, repeatedly reassigned to new parishes.
The findings are equally maddening and profoundly sad.
In dire times, we often look for a shining beacon – for comfort, guidance, assurance. For Catholics, the wildly popular Pope Francis has been that lighthouse. On Monday, he proved it again.
In a letter “to the People of God,” Pope Francis—unlike some of his predecessors—acknowledged the deep-seated problem…
“With shame and repentance, we acknowledge as an ecclesial community that we were not where we should have been, that we did not act in a timely manner, realizing the magnitude and the gravity of the damage done to so many lives. We showed no care for the little ones; we abandoned them.”
And blazed the path forward…
“I am conscious of the effort and work being carried out in various parts of the world to come up with the necessary means to ensure the safety and protection of the integrity of children and of vulnerable adults, as well as implementing zero tolerance and ways of making all those who perpetrate or cover up these crimes accountable. We have delayed in applying these actions and sanctions that are so necessary, yet I am confident that they will help to guarantee a greater culture of care in the present and future.”
We pray, from Queens to Queensland, that you are right, Your Holiness. We can’t get it wrong again.
