The abuse scandals

I have been doing research for an upcoming show on the abuse in the Catholic Church. It saddens me to have to do the research and read about the moral failings and criminal activities of my brother priests and the alleged cover up by some of the bishops. There is anger over this issue, and rightfully so. The pain of the victims can only lead to a broken heart for those of us who love the priesthood. How can a man, ordained as a priest, as a man of God, who is to preach the Good News and to bring others to Christ, who is called to protect the innocence and the chastity of all God's people, especially the children, how can he violate that trust and destroy the chastity and the faith of these little ones who Jesus called unto himself?

Our Church needs pruning. Our Church needs holy priests who will live the message of the Gospel and not abuse others, especially our children. Our Church needs to make sure that this never happens again, and if it does, if an allegation is proven to be true, this priest must sit in judgment for his crime.

There are no excuses, but there is need for sanity. We need solutions that will protect our children. The argument that celibacy leads to sexual abuse is fallacious. Most of the cases of abuse of children have happened at the hands of married men. And women deserve better than the argument that if a priest were to be able to marry he would not abuse children.