Church Abuse Scandal
Date: 04-11-10
Host: Ian Punnett
Guests:
Jason BerryIan
Punnett welcomed author and investigative reporter Jason Berry for a
discussion on his research into the sex abuse scandals in the Catholic
Church. Berry, who has been investigating the scandal since the
mid-1980's, called it a "long, painful, legal, and moral drama." He
indicated that, in the past, most abusers were not brought to justice
because of a combination of a cover-up by the Church as well as social
mores which saw priests being perceived as "above the law."
Berry
detailed his latest findings, which have rocked the Church over the
last few days. According to his investigation, the founder of the
Legionaries of Christ, Fr. Marcial Maciel, long-accused of sexual
improprieties, had been using funds from the organization to pay off
high ranking Vatican officials as a way of "buying protection." The
bribery was so rampant, Berry said, that at one point, the order offered
a Mercedes Benz to a Cardinal. While Pope Benedict has come under fire
as this news has become public, Berry noted that, prior to becoming
Pope, then-Cardinal Ratzinger actually refused money from Maciel's
order. Further, upon becoming the Pope, Benedict removed Maciel from
active ministry, but stopped short of excommunicating the disgraced
priest.
In looking at how these revelations have been addressed
by the Vatican, he expressed concern over Pope Benedict's silence over
the matter. "By retreating into this cocoon of silence," Berry mused,
Benedict "has created a much worse problem not just for himself, but for
the institution of the Papacy." To that end, Berry noted that two of
the Pope's biggest defenders have been accused of playing a role in
covering up previous abuse allegations. On how the Pope should deal with
the unfolding crisis, Berry suggested that he should change the
"archaic tribunal system of the Vatican" in order to bring about a
stronger criminal justice system within the Church. Additionally, Berry
opined, the Pope needs to seek insight from advisors outside of the
Catholic Church such as legal scholars and judges.