3/12/2024
I feel like the people who are paying attention are sorrowful. The church we raised our children in is corrupt. Our clergy, even our highest leaders, have enabled the abuse of thousands of innocent people. Many of these innocent people are men and women religious. The devaluing of the dignity of victims happens today from the laity all the way to the pope.
Marko Rupnik, a priest who was credibly accused of abuse by twenty nuns, was recently incardinated in the Diocese of Koper in Slovenia. It is impossible to imagine that this could happen without the acceptance and even support of Pope Francis (See here.) What explanation is given? Marko Rupnik is innocent until proven guilty. Until then, the vicar general of the Diocese of Koper affirms that Rupnik “enjoys all the rights and duties of diocesan priests”.
But is he a good pastor? What kinds of standard of “proof” are required to put cast doubt on his pastoral skills? The experiences of 20 nuns carry virtually no weight.
Priests can live lives of prayer and penance. Was that option on the table? Any practicing Catholic, Christian, or even rational atheist who is paying attention to this is asking this question.
I feel sorrow, anger, disorientation, and cognitive dissonance. I am remorseful that for so long I was one of the ones living in willful ignorance.
