Protecting the Abusers?

With all the new information that has been coming out around Minnesota about the sex abuse scandal in the Catholic Church, one has to wonder, who can we trust? Those who have known about these crimes and continue to attempt to cover them up, are just as bad as those committing them. Even though the dioceses have been ordered to reveal a list of names of those priests accused of sexual misconduct, the fact that they have been given so much time to compile these lists is worrisome. For decades they have been accused and charged with sexual abuse crimes and for decades most of those accused of these crimes have been either moved to a different parish, or hidden away.

In the past 15 years the St. John Vianney Residence for Retired Priests, located in Rutherford, NJ has housed 7 alleged sexual predators. Until recently no one in the surrounding areas had any idea these priest, who have been living right next door to children, families, schools and churches, were accused of sexual abuse. When a sexual offender moves to a new neighborhood their information and whereabouts becomes public knowledge, so why should it be any different for priest who have been accused of these same crimes? Why are they being protected? While shining light on the names of the accused is definite progress, the church itself should be doing more to help the survivors of these crimes. As we continue to unravel the truths the most important thing to remember is getting help to those who have been abused. The protection belongs to those who have suffered the damaged caused by these transgressions.