Zero-tolerance policy only choice
for Pope
I am a Catholic, and come from a long line of Catholics before
me.
However, recent developments in the church have caused me to
reconsider my beliefs and religion.
The debated issue in the news today concerning Roman Catholics
involves the many priests who have sexually molested children.
Although all Catholics admit that the sexual abuse was wrong,
many are divided on whether or not priests who have only committed
this sin once should be removed from the priesthood.
In Pope John Paul II's speech to the American Cardinals Tuesday,
he stressed that this abuse was wrong, and said there was no
room in the priesthood "for those who would harm the young."
The Pope also said these men had committed a "crime by society
and an appalling sin in the eyes of God."
This led many people, including myself, to believe that the
Pope is trying to enact a "zero-tolerance" policy for
priests who commit acts of sexual misconduct.
Cardinal Theodore McCarrick of Washington said this was clearly
a one-strike-and-you're-out policy, although this would only
apply to future cases. Church leaders are presently trying to
find a way to release serial offenders, although the issue of
one-time offenders will not come up until June.
This is preposterous. How can anyone be certain that these
select few who have only molested a child once will not choose
to molest again?
These priests also did something that is against the law in
the United States, yet they may get off Scott-free. Any other
person would be condemned for their actions, but nothing is happening
to these men.
The Pope himself is undecided on this issue, because he is
"sensitive to the misuse of the administrative process,"
referring to his life in communist Poland. He said there was
still concern for the rights of the accused.
While I understand the need to be fair to the defendants,
I don't see or understand why more concern is not given to the
abused. The person raped or molested must live with the horror
for the remainder of their lives, wondering if it will happen
again or blaming themselves for what happened.
Is it right to let the perpetrators of this heinous crime
remain free?
Am I going to feel safe going to a church that has not only pardoned
past members of their sexual offenses, but also has refused to
punish one-time offenders?
I do respect the Pope, but I cannot respect a decision that
is irrevocably wrong. If his future decision is to let the one-time
offenses slide, I don't know if I can still consider myself a
Catholic. Although it may have only been one time for that priest,
and he may have asked forgiveness for it, it is still a lifetime
of horror for that particular victim.
Jerrica Hutchison
is a sophomore journalism major of Little Rock.
