Recession leads cardinal to set modest goal

The pitch no matter how it comes or what it returns will remain soured through the failure of the church to resolve in a humanitarian and just way the sexual abuse issue. Failed is failed and this church has excelled at that.

John Brown,

Everyone agrees, that the clergy sexual abuse crisis was a disgusting, repulsive, criminal and sinful episode in the Catholic church's life. The perpretrators were heinous, and the hierarchy completely mismanaged its duty to supervise.

that having been admitted, just what would you call resolving the situation in a "humanitarian and just way.?"

All the perpetrators, if found guilty, have been kicked out of their life-long vocation/career. For those whose deeds were not past the statute of limitations, several have gone to jail, one being killed there.

Although no amount of money can compensate the victims for their suffering, hundreds of millions of dollars have been given to the victims and their families.

Long term psychological counseling has been available for each victim.

Each parish participates in a mandated child safety program, so that a horror like this will not be repeated.

Every paid worker of the Church, including priests, and every volunteer, undergoes a yearly CORI check, to make sure they have no criminal background which could hurt kids or others.

Was what those 3-4% of priests did unconscionable? Of course. But 97% did not. Which is why Catholics in their donations should not take it out on the current parish or diocese for the abominations of the past.

PS,

Not to be too picky, but the choice of the colloquial word "pitch" is a little tendentious, making the Cardinal sound like a carnival barker. I think we could have come up with something a little less pejorative, like 'appeal,' 'plea,' 'invitation,' or 'entreaty,' if you want to get fancy.

Terrible things were done by some priests, and they should have been removed from ministry long before they actually were.

But ... does this mean the Church should close up shop??? No. Should the Church wait for 5, 10, 20 years until wounds have been healed before it resumes all the many services that it provides? No. In fact, we don't have any choice about whether or not to continue. The Lord Himself said, "You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you." The Lord Himself calls us to love one another, to teach the Gospel, and to help our neighbors in need.