Crisis of Judgment for the Church and its Shepherd

These last few days have seen massive attacks on the pope, predominantly from non-Catholics and usually rampant atheists. Neither of whom are members of the Church, so you have to wonder what is the axe they are waving and why.

When a small crowd (under 150) turned up in London at Westminster Cathedral and waved placards there they were the usual rent-a-crowd who could have been at an anti-war rally, pro climate change rally or anti Mugabe rally. Now anti-Mugabe I am all for but what good it does here, well that is questionable. Better to go there to Zimbabwe and face the monster.

But the attacks by these small groups and the NY Times especially, with great virulence against the pope, appear to be all for the moment. Where have these groups been for the past 30 years when they should have been raging against abuse in the Church?

Only a couple of years ago a priest who founded an Order in the Church, the Legionaires, died, and it has been revealed he had mistresses, fathered children and did other amazing things while a priest. Where were the protestors then when they ought have been at the doors of that Order? The man was a monster.

But now the pope is centre stage and not all the facts have come out. But today a key priest in the US scandal has come out with a major statement, showing up the NY Times attack for its lack of diligence and due process. So where are these atheists now?

Virulent Atheists who hate the Church, priests and now the pope, will clamour for anthing that they believe will cut the Church down and get them on the TV and air waves.

Now, the Church needs to reform. Look at history and there have been popes who fathered children, made their relatives cardinals and goodness knows what else. Times have been far worse than now and scandals have been there. The abuse by priests of minors is a monstrous moral disgrace and evil. But to blast the pope for the escapades of so many is crazy and illogical.

Some bishops should have acted quicker and done more to rid their diocese of those men. The vatican ought have called for some bishops resignations faster and ought be doing more now to get rid of many Irish bishops and priests.

But let the facts be seen for what they are.

The Church authorities have much to learn and the Vatican curial officials are far too sheltered and secretive. Most live in a sheltered bubble of cosiness where the real world does not touch them. They are pampered, especially the religious orders who get all their food and bills paid for them and just drift by in comfy lifestyles.

The Church must face the truth and tell the truth and not hide.

But trying to strike down the Shepherd is inaccurate and totally wrong. The atheists and their confreres ought look at themselves before hurling their rocks at the Pope.