The Church In Crisis…

Today Hil and I went to our normal Sunday Mass.  The priest’s talk was about the current crisis in the Church and how we (the Church) should face it.  Basically, he would like us to understand that it did / does happen (sexual abuse by priests and other ministers’), that it is not related to homosexuality, and that it can only be addressed in a spirit of forgiveness and open communication.
I have always had problems with the Church as an institution.  I believe that it has a role to play in acting as an institutional representation of God here on earth.  But, and this is a large reservation, I believe the Church has a long and well documented history of financial, religious and now sexual abuse.  I believe the number of participants in these crimes against children are both few in number and few in percentage.  This does not, however, absolve the Church as an institution from dealing with the terrible facts (and consequences) of the actions of these few.
The Church must institute a policy of zero tolerance of child abuse.  It must assist in the criminal (and civil) prosecution of any priests, ministers or other persons in religious authority.  Where the accusations are found to be untrue, the Church must actively work to clear the person’s reputation.  But where the accusations are true, the Church must stand in defense of the innocent (the children) and not hide, defend or shield the guilty.  Any senior person who does so (attempts to hide the guilty) is equally guilty (both criminally and civilly) – in my opinion – and should be equally punished.  They (the senior person) should resign their position immediately and turn themselves over to the police in the jurisdiction where the original crimes were committed.
Pedophilia is a crime.  Hiding a crime is conspiracy and makes you an accomplice to all future criminal acts.
On a lighter subject, today I finished reading “The Complete Book of Running”  (1977©) by James F. Fixx.  This was a tremendous book!!  It was as well written as “Born To Run” and in many ways is almost a precursor to it.  I believe the author makes some errors based on his personal experience – the recommendation of running shoes – for instance, but on the whole, the entire book is a valuable resource which I look forward to re-reading and just using as a reference every now and then.
There is one paragraph I would like to quote at length.  It has to do with why people run (why I, in particular, run): “Most people who have considered the matter have, I believe, posed the wrong question.  They have asked why running produces such extraordinary effects.  Putting the question that way elicits a certain kind of answer, and I think it is the wrong one.  My suspicion is that the effects of running are not extraordinary at all, but quite ordinary.  It is the other states, all other feelings, that are peculiar, for they are an abnegation of the way you and I are intended to feel.  As runners, I think we reach directly back along the endless chain of history.  We experience what we would have felt had we lived ten thousand years ago, eating fruits, nuts and vegetables, and keeping our hearts and lungs and muscles fit by constant movement.  We are reasserting, as modern man seldom does, our kinship with ancient man, and even with the wild beasts that preceded him.  This, I think, is our remarkable secret, one we share every time we go running.”
This is so close to the idea of man as the running predator, it is amazing to me it is not more widely recognized – particularly as Fixx’s book is over 30 years old!!
In politics, there was a summit to try to forge an international agreement on the gathering, controlling, and disposal of old nuclear material.  The main objective being to prevent it from slipping into the hands of “terrorists” who would use it to construct bombs.  I think there is – remains – this assumed belief the Muslims are out to get us (the free western world).  I personally believe we have more to worry about from internal terrorists (Timothy McVeigh types), than we will ever have to worry about from externals.  I believe the constant encouragement of hatred towards our government by right-wing extremists) is a major factor in my worries.
It strikes me as ironic that the right places so much more “faith” in the Declaration of Independence than they do the Constitution of the United States.  The government they so despise is summed up (and formed) by three simple words at the start of the Preamble: “We the People…”
If they are so frustrated by a government which doesn’t listen to them, every couple of years they have an opportunity to make their voices heard – the opportunity is called an “Election”.
The simple fact is, we just held one – and the right lost!!  Now we (progressives) need to continue to push for the change we desperately need.  Financial reform.  Corporate re-regulation.  Getting our troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan.  True universal, single payer health care.  And, most importantly for the future of this nation – free, universal, cradle-to-grave education!!
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