12 Steps to Forgivness

[bactrian]

On Friday March 12th the Irish Times reported that Fr Enda McDonagh, former professor of Moral Theology at St Patrick’s College, Maynooth, has set out a 12 step program for the "recovery " of the Catholic Church. Theologian maps 12-step recovery for church - The Irish Times - Fri, Mar 12, 2010

Fr. McDonagh is to be congratulated. His is the first evidence that any churchman has comprehended the gravity of the damage done and the heinous nature of the crimes committed by the Catholic Church. His language is calm, measured, and non-confrontational. I would even use the words "loving" and "christian".


In outlining his 12 steps he uses the word "crime". He also recognizes the "mindset" (although he does not use that word) within the Catholic Church , which is defensive of the institution.

He says " ....... the Church, bishops, clergy and religious, must acknowledge more openly and repent more convincingly ......"


I am also impressed by his attitude to the Hierarchy

"The absence of episcopal or clerical encouragement or approval should not prevent the believing people from pursuing such initiatives."(engaging with the victims of abuse).

I interpret this as advice to the laity, that if the hierarchy and clergy will not be part of the solution to sideline them and, to proceed with their own initiates.

At least twice more in his twelve steps he suggests/implies that the laity should have a strong role in church decision making.

Fr. McDonagh's twelve step programme is worthy of study both by the clergy and by the laity and ,if followed, might help to ease the pain of those who were abused

[sauntersplash]

Does anybody have an estimate of how many people were sexually abused at the hands of the clergy in this country?

[BrendanGalway]

Folks, I have a favour to ask. Can someone take a couple of minutes out of their day to explain to me why no one in the Church has yet to face Prosecution for their roles in covering up child rape?
Thanks.

[Gadjodilo]

Folks, I have a favour to ask. Can someone take a couple of minutes out of their day to explain to me why no one in the Church has yet to face Prosecution for their roles in covering up child rape?
Thanks.

Gasp! Surely you're not expecting them to be accountable? :-O

Go and stand in the corner.

[Seán E. Ryan]

I don't mean to belittle the suffering of recent victims of the Church, but this needs to be said.

There has never been a point in the history of the Church where it wasn't an agency of moral bankruptcy. Everything from genocide to hypocrisy. Even now, its hypocrisy is so obvious, that any thinking person knows that the Church is but awaiting the first signs of subservience from its flock and it will at once cast off the latest pretense of the semblance of the realisation of moral accountability. To once again wallow in willful ignorance.

If they really cared for the concept of forgiveness they'd disband. They're no moral authority.

[Toland]

I don't think we're at the stage where forgiveness is the central issue. The mechanism at fault for this appalling and to a large extent continuing state of impugnity needs yet to be dismantled.

When that's done, we can talk about reconciliation.