(U-WIRE) COLUMBUS, Ohio — Charges of child molestation within the Catholic Church have been popping up in the news with increasing frequency. In Massachusetts two weeks ago, Catholic priests across the Archdiocese of Boston read from their pulpits, as ordered, a letter of admission and apology from Cardinal Bernard F. Law, the archbishop of Boston.
The letter was forced from Law amid outrage in Massachusetts over the revelations that a priest of the archdiocese, the Rev. John Geoghan, had allegedly committed acts of sexual abuse against dozens of boys entrusted to his pastoral care over decades. Geoghan was defrocked in 1998 and two weeks ago convicted of indecent assault and battery against a 10-year-old boy.
This outrage has been covered extensively in The Boston Globe, that Law, his predecessor, Cardinal Humberto S. Medeiros, and dozens of other church officials had for decades ignored and/or minimized compelling evidence against Geoghan.
The church officials discouraged parents of molested boys from taking action, pursued secret out-of-court settlements — and allowed Geoghan to remain, his true nature hidden by his superiors, in pastoral positions.
This is one example of a widespread and very serious problem. Over several decades, high church officials have been increasingly aware that priests under their control were using their offices to sexually assault boys in their care.
These church officials have covered up the truth and refused to report known offenders to authorities. They have repeatedly allowed priests they knew to be molesters to continue in careers of pastoral care that brought them into contact with children.
Allegations of sexual misconduct span beyond the Catholic Church. Many leaders within various religious communities have been asked to address concerns about complaints of child abuse.
This is a travesty that must be addressed out in the open.
Efforts to continually suppress information and avoid dealing with problems by recirculating known abusers is entirely inappropriate and unacceptable. Federal governmental officials long ago endured the consequences of an attempted cover-up. The result: It blows up in your face.
In the case of the Catholic Church, we recommend swift action and public condemnation.