When priests turn predators

It was never a secret that many Catholic priests were child abusers. The children always knew. Associated Press reports of a new allegation has been made against Fr. Donald McGuire of the Society of Jesus in Chicago. This same Society runs some of the best educational institutions in the world, including the St. Xavier’s Colleges, Mumbai and Kolkata and Loyola College, Chennai. He has been convicted of failing to keep his regional sex-offender registry updated. This recent accusation is tied up with the fact that he had started abusing a 13 year old boy whom he later took to Switzerland and Austria in 2000. It is of great importance to note that the Jesuit Order had taken previous punitive measures against him. But some questions crop up for sure: In spite of the recent abuse scandals that have rocked the US Catholic Church, why was he not defrocked? If brotherly charity prevents Catholic congregations from stringently punishing errant priests, then why is there so little charity for the victims? It is ironical that this Jesuit was a great one for giving retreats to the Missionaries of Charity nuns. At least the US Catholic Church is now open about discussing pedophilia. The Canadian Catholic Church was devastated during the end of the last century by scandals involving the Christian Brothers. Some Brothers predated those same boys whom they were supposed to protect. What about the Church in India? Is it to be believed that there are no perverts among priests here? If so, why are the clerics here silent? Where does the money come for men sworn to poverty to travel all over the globe for hunting children? It is evident that measures to check child-abuse amongst the clergy have failed all over the globe. Why does the church, a symbol of anti-consumerism, so scared to compensate the victims? By her own teachings, proper restitution should be made for becoming right with God. But one aspect of these sordid inhuman pedophilic priests is missed by the lynch-mob. The Catholic Church is open enough to admit child-abuse. Of course, this does not lessen the pain of the victims, but rather shows the very human nature of the Church. This is in contrast to many religions whose women and men of the cloth are shown to be always perfect. And any finger pointed at them is liable to be broken. Finally, we must reserve judgment till it is proven that this 77 year old priest really molested anyone. If he did, let him be anathema to civilization. But let us be cautious; money being a big factor in child-abuse settlement cases we must keep our fingers crossed. The Catholic Church is a soft-target. Via: Associated Press Image