So how do we combine this knowledge ... with this?
Pope Francis has instructed that ANY report of abuse MUST be reported to the relevant authorities, and not 'discreetly dealt with' in-house.
As for Confession — I'd say in the case of clergy the penitent MUST declare his wrong-doing to his superiors who MUST inform the authorities. Without that, there can be no absolution.
Let there be light.
This will not prevent the sinner concealing his sin, but it will stop institutional cover-ups, in that all parties are liable when the offence comes to light.
In the UK we have the case of a senior Anglican archbishop who 'ignored' more-than-mere-rumours of abuses by a priest who ran a very, very successful outreach programme. The programme itself is successful in helping the young, but the person involved was clearly in a position to select and groom victims. In the bishop's (slim to non-existent) defence, he thought it inconceivable that such a popular figure with a successful record was a pedophile, and that the rumours were trouble-makers and professional jealousy... not good enough an excuse at all in my book, but it does highlight a very human failing of misdirected charity, betrayed trust, etc.
And look at Sir (now stripped) Jimmy Saville. One of the best-regarded Radio DJs, tireless charity worker who raised millions, a popular TV personality (especially on children's TV). Loved by everyone. A 'national treasure' as we call them, in the making ... A pedophile, a
necrophile who actually used his fame and position to obtain keys to a hospital mortuary ... FOR WHAT POSSIBLE REASON WOULD HE NEED UNESCORTED FECKIN ACCESS TO A MORTUARY!!! ... (and he looked like a sleaze-ball: 'wife-beater' vest and sweatpants! I think he was daring the world to find him out)
... and there were rumours ... when his crimes came to light,
everyone had heard the rumours, but
no-one had proof.
Thoughts which would work under existing Catholic structure or training?
I've heard one journalistic report that vetting is so stringent now that the Church should be one of the safest institutions on the planet.
So severe that I heard (I'm not sure) that if you're gay you're off the programme, which is unfair in that gay men are not to de facto perpetrators — I think statistically heterosexual men are the abusers. This is not a question of sex, it's power.
Personally I think the Church should recruit from the laity. As it stands, all senior positions go the priests, that limits the resource pool of talent by a massive degree. Priests don't own the Church, WE are the church ... they've taken the allegory of 'the flock' too literally, we're not all dumb animals following our tails, and the way things stand, there's been too many wolves in
shepherd's clothing.
Let there be light.
Thoughts about "the boy scout' solution... a video about appropriate and inappropriate interaction and touching between children and older children and adults?
With a big emphasis on social media.
If we can stop the grooming from working...
We can't. All we can do is make the groom-targets more aware ... but by far and away, most abuse happens in the family.
Nope, it's in the genes. All we can hope is make it more difficult for the criminal, but Jeez, are they 'clever' at covering their tracks ... darkness is their friend, or their accomplice.
If we can take away the guilt... can we get more reporting?
Yes, but psychologically, I doubt it's that simple. The victim always feels, to some degree, complicit; Stockholm syndrome, sort of thing. What we need firstline is people to FECKIN LISTEN ... then one hurdle will be removed ... and then repeat ad nauseam: IT'S NOT YOUR FAULT. YOU'RE THE VICTIM HERE.
Please, in the name of God: Let there be light.
It's gonna be a long road, bro., there's stones still unturned ... but worth it, every step of the way.
Absentee fathers has a big part to play (along with abusive fathers) ... in pre-school and early-years child care, men are almost absent. Boys are missing a role model when they really, really need one. Of course the bad guys will gravitate to the position for all the wrong reasons, but the good guys don't, for another batch of wrong reasons — accusations of pedophilia being one, but limited career prospects also figures.
We need a culture that starts to
really give a shit about those it
ought to care about: The young, the elderly, the ill, the disabled ... and that requires education from the ground up about what kind of culture we aspire to. Stop treating care for one's neighbour as a laudable vocation (meaning you can pay nurses, etc., less). It should be a calling across the board. It should be an obligation.
The apocryphal comment attributed to Gandhi stands here: Q: "What do you think of western civilisation?" A: "I think it would be a good idea."
