One issue that has been hanging over WYD was the dark cloud of abuse by Priests in the RC church. Pope Benedict XVI has obviously learnt from the impact of Kevin Rudd's public apology earlier in the year. Generally the event seems to have been great PR and the Pope's apology a good thing.
However, I use the term PR advisedly. It could be sour grapes (Baptist youth days don't get quite as much media coverage!?) but the 'sorry' doesn't seem very sincere when it is so stage managed. Even today when the Pope conducted a mass with four sexual abuse victims, the victims were carefully chosen and are anonymous. Melbourne man Anthony Foster, whose two daughters were raped by a Catholic priest when they were in primary school, was pointedly not invited. Mr Foster said the last-minute meeting with the as-yet unnamed victims was "sneaky, underhanded and disappointing" and was designed as a PR stunt. (According to the SMH.)
Now, if I was the leader of an international charity which faces billion dollar lawsuits I would choose my words carefully. And yet, and yet, is he truly sorry?
Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
That's what Paul says in 2 Corinthians 7 verse 10. I don't know anything about what is going on behind the scenes at the Vatican... but it is still food for thought. What would godly sorrow, true repentance look like ... when sorry seems to be the hardest word to say?
2 comments:
John, what I find hard to understand or accept is that Cardinal Bernard Law, the man involved in failing to deal with decades decades of clergy sexual abuse, appears to have been completely rehabilitated and exercises significant power and responsibility within the Vatican to this day. Pope Benedict is the man who's maintained him in this responsibility.
It does seem strange Gordon. I'm not privy to the machinations of the RCC, but it doesn't look as if they are treating the systemic problem very seriously.
However, it is also a warning to us all. The RCC is not the only church to 'promote' problems out of the way.
Many Protestant churches are so concerned about dishonouring the gospel that they too will try to cover up scandal like this. Or some think that once they've said sorry then they can be put straight back into leadership - 'cos Jesus forgives completely doesn't he?
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