An Open Letter To Pope Francis

Dear Pope Francis:

Not since the Reformation has the Catholic Church endured the scathing censure is so richly deserves.  With the latest revelations about hundreds of Pennsylvania priests abusing minors, the church's already unholy reputation has been left in scandalous ruins.

No amount of mea culpas will suffice for the morally reprehensible conduct of pedophile priests and church leaders who covered up the widespread abusive behavior in Pennsylvania.  Your expression of "sorrow" for the victims does not erase the heinous nature of the sinful conduct.

According to a two-year grand jury investigation, priests groped, raped and performed oral sex on minors as young as nine-years-old. More than 300 priests were involved in decades of child abuse.  Meanwhile, Pennsylvania church hierarchy hid the crimes and shielded guilty priests.

It is unconscionable for you Pope Francis to assume your remorse suffices for your gross disregard for moral accountability.  In any other setting, secular or religious, those who condoned the transgressions by their silence are guilty. They deserve swift judgment and punishment.

You can no longer pretend these priestly scandals are rare. Despite the covert efforts of your church managers (i.e. the archbishops, bishops and cardinals) to coverup the misconduct, wave after wave of credible reports have surfaced over the last couple of decades exposing the abhorrent behavior.

And the incidents are not isolated.  Diocesan leaders across the U.S. have been exposed for harboring sexual predators.  The allegations are worldwide, having spread to Netherlands, Ireland, Switzerland, France, Austria, German, Belgium and Mexico, to name just a few countries.  It is an epidemic.

Under your leadership, the church continues to dither.  Catholics are growing weary of the same broken promises to clean up the sordid mess.  You keep talking about change and accountability but from the view in the church pews we Catholics are convinced the situation has grown worse.

There was hope when you assumed the role of Pope that you would not repeat the same mistake as your predecessors, who disregarded vows of a no tolerance policy.  You pledged the same.  Yet the man who presided over the Pennsylvania dereliction today remains a cardinal in Washington, D.C.

Quit listening to church apologists and your lawyers.  Act now or watch your once holy church be relegated to a footnote in religious history.  Claim what tattered moral authority remains invested in your office and boldly decide the buck has been passed long enough. It stops at the Vatican.

And order your surrogates to cease trying to mitigate the damage by pointing out pedophilia is not exclusively a church issue.  Of course, it's not.  But no one cares.  People expect the church to set an example of Christian behavior.  Words no longer matter.  Only actions will make a difference.

First, open all the records of the Catholic Church in Pennsylvania to the authorities.  Defrock any pedophile priests who are still living.  Demand the bishop who presided over the scandal resign immediately.  In fact, fire him.  That's not church protocol, but don't stand on ritualistic formality.

Secondly, announce from this day forward any priest accused of abuse will be immediately suspended.  Law enforcement will be called in to investigate.  Any bishop or other senior official who fails to report an incident to the authorities will be summarily fired.  No exceptions.  Period.

Thirdly, you can no longer evade your obligation to review the church's policy of priestly celibacy.  It is not wholly to blame for the sickening behavior, however, therapists who have worked with clergy are convinced it contributes to sexual immaturity which may help explain the deviant tendencies.

Do more than study the issue to death.  Do something.  Priests should be allowed to date, marry and explore their sexuality.  Clinging to the past will only ensure the problems of today will be the same ones tomorrow.  There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth among traditionalists.  Remain firm. 

The church stands at a crossroad.  It can no longer weather the legal, financial and criminal storms gathering outsides its doors without disastrous consequences. This is your moment to display moral leadership.  Your responsibility cannot be delegated.  Take decisive action or resign your papacy.

A Disillusioned Catholic,

Drew Roy