It seems to me that the holy trinity of restoration could be accomplished now, if the Pope were to follow last week's one-two punch with the knock-out blow of smacking the mitre off of Cardinal Mahony's head.
But that's just me.
Well, me and a few of my friends. And, given this morning's headlines, I'd probably notice some new folk, were I to do a head count on the band wagon.
In the middle of the L.A. Times article, one happens upon this staggering statistic:
In Los Angeles, some 75% of the archdiocese's 288 parishes were served at some time by a cleric accused of molesting, according to a Times study. As the scandal's details slowly emerged, it became clear that the church hierarchy knew about complaints against some priests and that at least a dozen were allowed to continue working in ministry after their conduct with children was questioned. (emphasis mine)
Now, just for fun, name another industry or organization wherein the boss could have overseen operations that led to the above quote in the L.A. times and a $600,000,000 loss for the company/organization without any consequences. Please post your answers in the combox.
...if the Pope were to follow last week's one-two punch with the knock-out blow of smacking the mitre off of Cardinal Mahony's head..But that's just me.
Karen,
I'll drink to that! You would have made a formidable prophet in Ancient Israel, Malachi could not have said it better!
Posted by: Rick | July 15, 2007 at 07:35 PM
Acts 1:21b
-J.
Posted by: joe | July 15, 2007 at 07:56 PM
"Now, just for fun, name another industry or organization wherein the boss could have overseen operations that led to the above quote in the L.A. times and a $600,000,000 loss for the company/organization without any consequences."
That sounds like a letter to the editor question/comment if I ever heard one:
letters@latimes.com
Posted by: Karen in Laguna Niguel | July 16, 2007 at 12:07 AM
THAT is the question we ALL need to be asking!! Why, oh WHY, aren't these bishops held accountable and charges pressed against THEM? Additionally, if there would be true justice, the bishop would have to be the one to shell out the $600 millions, not the innocent faithful (whose churches and schools paid for and built by them are being sold away in every diocese and the moneys put into WHOSE pockets?).
Posted by: Georgette | July 16, 2007 at 04:20 AM
Well said that girl!
A few years back I asked a (faithful Jesuit) lecturer visiting from Rome if he thought the situation in the USA had bottomed out and was on the up. His muttered answer was something like "... the Church can begin to heal when certain bishops are wearing orange pajamas."
I thought he was being a bit harsh at the time. Reading Philip Jenkins on the topic and following the details as best I can from heer in Australia, I wonder if there's not something to his idea?
Posted by: Peter | July 16, 2007 at 09:59 PM
I'll bet I could tell you who said that.
I STILL think this is the tip of the L.A. iceberg. Time will tell.
Posted by: Karen | July 17, 2007 at 12:23 AM
I bet the NYC Department of Education would fit the bill.
Posted by: Whitby | July 17, 2007 at 12:28 PM