BishopAccountability.org
	Applaud All Those Who Served Well By Phil Joyce Philadelphia Inquirer [Philadelphia PA] Downloaded October 4, 2005 In the flurry of news stories coming out of the Philadelphia grand jury report on sexual abuse by priests, I see a church I don't recognize. I have been down the road with that church. It has served me well. I expect it will be doing the same for many others long after I and the scandal are gone - proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ. In the years since my first Holy Communion in 1935, I had 16 years of Catholic schooling. I was a choirboy (not a good one) for four years and an altar boy for six years. As an adult, I was president of my parish council for several years. As child and adult, I have known literally hundreds of members of the Catholic clergy - priests, nuns, brothers and deacons. I have grown to admire them for their devotion and dedication to the teachings of Christ. They have always treated me and my family with decency and respect. In all that time, I have not seen or heard personally of any sexual abuse committed by any priest, nun, brother or deacon. Despite the impression you can get from the drumbeat of news on the sex scandal, I don't think my view of the church is unusual. Only 3 to 4 percent of the priests have been accused of such behavior. That means 96 to 97 percent - certainly an overwhelming majority - have been living by their vows. Also the constant parading of the same culprits and their crimes gives the impression that there is greater involvement than there really is. True, there is no excuse for even one child being abused by anyone - cleric or otherwise. Just as there is no excuse for a cover-up of any abuse that may have occurred and allowing it to continue. Aside from the devastation that these abusers have done to the children, to their families and to the church itself, they have betrayed their vows and the many good and faithful priests who are struggling to do their jobs every day under a cloud. I admit I have a special interest in those who chose a religious life. I am proud to say that three members of my family entered the convent - all with the Sisters of Mercy in Albany, N.Y. My Aunt Veronica lived into her 90s a happy woman content with more than 70 years in her calling. She had a reputation of being a tough but outstanding teacher. I know that because for many years after she died, people would come up to me and tell me exactly that. My sister, Florence, who was also in her class, had the same appraisal. A New York City lawyer, a former student, sent a very generous gift to Blessed Sacrament Church, where my aunt studied and taught, in appreciation of her teaching. My cousin Sister Joyce Niles recently marked her 60th anniversary in the convent, and my cousin Sister Maureen Joyce is director of Catholic Charities for the Albany Diocese. Despite the troubled times for the Catholic Church as a result of scandal, I see it emerging as a much better and stronger institution in the years ahead. It will be well rid of the bad apples who disgraced themselves and did so much damage to so many children. That will not be welcomed by the haters who have come out of the woodwork to revel in the church's current problems. They see a good opportunity for a little old-fashioned bashing and they are jumping in with both feet. The pedophilia problem goes far beyond the Catholic Church. I believe it exists in all religions, in schools and all institutions and programs in which children are involved. I would like to see the same enthusiasm from prosecutors directed at pedophiles everywhere. I would like to see prosecutors go after the entertainment industry and probe the Internet, which are breeding grounds for this perversion. I trust that the good Lord will guide the Catholic Church through these troubled times. I thank Him for sending all those devout and dedicated priests, nuns, brothers and deacons my way. Phil Joyce is a former editor of The Inquirer Commentary Page.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.