The real scandal in the news about clergy and pedophilia in our church is less about the pedophila itself (as horrible as that has been) and more about how many of our bishops have failed us so many times in the midst of this crisis:
1. Many bishops failed us when they covered up the pedophilia of their priests - again and again.
2. These bishops failed us when they failed to take responsibility for their actions, e.g, I did not know. I delegated this responsibility to others.
3. They failed us in the proclamation of a "zero tolerance" policy that seemed to take the cries of the media and pressure from the public so much more seriously than call of the Gospel for justice, compassion, and forgiveness.
4. They failed us in not holding themselves to the same standard they now hold priests to. What of zero tolerance for the behavior of so many bishops who foisted serial pedophiles on parish after parish?
5. They failed us in that not a single American bishop has resigned over their mishandling of the pedophile priests in their care and under their authority.
6. They bishops have failed us in not holding each other accountable for their mishandling of this crisis.
7. And now many bishops are failing us by going along with a policy (zero tolerance)
many privately, and some publicly, disagree with.
For me, in these seven items lie the real scandal of our contemporary American Catholic Church.
Thank you for listening.