Healing, transparency and trust in religious bodies
The announcement by the Wheeling Charleston Diocese to release a list of religious who have had credible allegations of sexual abuse of children since 1950 including priests, deacons and other religious officials has left me sad and confused. The stated reason for doing this is transparency, healing and restoring trust. I am confused about how releasing this list facilitates those goals.
My questions about healing include:
I have questions about the use of the term transparency:
There is good reason for a lack of trust in the church to directly address issues of sexuality and other health related issues for the clergy and other staff of many religions including the Roman Catholic Church. Releasing names of individuals who were suspected of abusing children does not tell me why sexual and emotional misbehavior of clergy and others has been so widespread in many religions and in the culture, at large. Until there is a plan and a commitment to address and take corrective action regarding those issues there is no reason to trust the larger religious institutions. Releasing names and turning them over to civil authorities does not protect anyone. If, indeed, there are those who have been abusive in any way and not been mandated to treatment and/or a loving place where they cannot harm others (for those for whom there may not be successful treatment) then loving, Christian action needs to be taken.
It seems as if many of us humans are very fond of behaviors which mimic tautologies. The reader might recall that tautologies are statements which appear to say something and may be said with a lot of false bravado but which say nothing. For example, if one says: “The red wagon is red.” one has made a true and meaningless statement. Of course red wagons are red. What other color would red wagons be? Of course, there has been abuse by clergy and others. We know this. Of course, there has been cover up in some cases. Of course, there is a lack of faith that religious leaders will walk the talk. Of course, there is a lack of trust in religious leaders dealing with the fact that humans are very sexual beings and beings which demand intimacy. For there to be trust we must lovingly insist that these and related issues be addressed. Pretending as if throwing a few people (living and dead) under the bus has anything to do transparency, healing and restoring trust is not helpful, kind or consistent with the teaching of Jesus or any other wise teacher.
Written October 26, 2018
The announcement by the Wheeling Charleston Diocese to release a list of religious who have had credible allegations of sexual abuse of children since 1950 including priests, deacons and other religious officials has left me sad and confused. The stated reason for doing this is transparency, healing and restoring trust. I am confused about how releasing this list facilitates those goals.
My questions about healing include:
- Healing for whom and in what way? The need for accountability and responsibility is very important. My understanding is that this diocese has a long history of accountability and accepting responsibility for helping those who may be been abused or treated inappropriately to heal. Those responsible have not been returned to duty until professionals unconnected to the diocese determined it was safe to do so.
- Releasing names of living and deceased priests and church staff only serves the purpose of providing a potential target for stones. What did Jesus say about throwing stones? Making individuals the targets of abuse is not healing for anyone. It may provide some temporary satisfaction to those who are angry at the church or at particular individuals. None of us heal by abusing others.
- Releasing names of those living and dead who may have been abusive or, at the very least, inappropriate, may give some people a false sense of security so that we can avoid them, but, in fact, we create more danger when we mistreat others. Of course, there are very ill people who should not be allowed to be alone with our children or even ourselves. One should not expect someone whose mind is controlled addiction or other mental illness to be able to treat another with love and respect. This list is not a list of those people.
I have questions about the use of the term transparency:
- The list is of those SUSPECTED of being abusive to children and of those who were abusive.
- The list is of those who may have been abusive or hurtful in some way, but does not indicate which of those were mandated to treatment and have been in recovery for their addiction or other mental illness for years. This diocese has had a very aggressive and proactive program for years to monitor the health of priests and other staff. They mandated long term treatment and only returned those people to active roles as priests or other roles involving ministry to adults and children when mental health professionals determined it was safe.
There is good reason for a lack of trust in the church to directly address issues of sexuality and other health related issues for the clergy and other staff of many religions including the Roman Catholic Church. Releasing names of individuals who were suspected of abusing children does not tell me why sexual and emotional misbehavior of clergy and others has been so widespread in many religions and in the culture, at large. Until there is a plan and a commitment to address and take corrective action regarding those issues there is no reason to trust the larger religious institutions. Releasing names and turning them over to civil authorities does not protect anyone. If, indeed, there are those who have been abusive in any way and not been mandated to treatment and/or a loving place where they cannot harm others (for those for whom there may not be successful treatment) then loving, Christian action needs to be taken.
It seems as if many of us humans are very fond of behaviors which mimic tautologies. The reader might recall that tautologies are statements which appear to say something and may be said with a lot of false bravado but which say nothing. For example, if one says: “The red wagon is red.” one has made a true and meaningless statement. Of course red wagons are red. What other color would red wagons be? Of course, there has been abuse by clergy and others. We know this. Of course, there has been cover up in some cases. Of course, there is a lack of faith that religious leaders will walk the talk. Of course, there is a lack of trust in religious leaders dealing with the fact that humans are very sexual beings and beings which demand intimacy. For there to be trust we must lovingly insist that these and related issues be addressed. Pretending as if throwing a few people (living and dead) under the bus has anything to do transparency, healing and restoring trust is not helpful, kind or consistent with the teaching of Jesus or any other wise teacher.
Written October 26, 2018
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