On July 19. 2008, Pope Benedict XVI finally apologized to the victims of sexual abuse by Catholic clerics in Australia and even called for evildoers to be punished.
Apologies and forgiveness are pieces of the human condition. What the Pope did was the proper thing to do even if there is no way that the life of innumerable victims can be made fully whole again. Not even with hefty monetary compensation, on top of the apology, as that the Catholic Diocese of Los Angeles agreed under duress to make to the victims of sexual abuse by catholic clerics in that diocese.
Cardinal Mahoney acknowledged that the scars could not be erased and life rewound by the $660 million payments to 508 victims of abuse and child molestation when he lamented: “Your life, I wish, were like VHS tapes.”
The Archdiocese of Boston has had 80 priests accused of child molestation in the last 50 years. The Catholic Church of America has with the Los Angeles settlement already agreed to accumulated compensation of $2 billion for sexual victimization by Catholic priests. The pattern appears to disrespect borders. While predation is clearly not a monopoly of the Catholic Church, the cases of pedophilic and hebephilic abuse seem more rampant in the Catholic Church, where celibacy for priests is mandatory.
One therefore is prompted to wonder whether one deviant rule (mandatory celibacy) begets the deviant behavior (sexual victimization of children) and whether one will ever be truly banished without the other.
Catholic Church apologies are not confined to sexual victimization. In 1992, Pope John Paul II apologized for the 1,633 condemnation and subsequent imprisonment of the great Renaissance astronomer and scientist Galileo Galilee.
Galileo held that the Ptolemaic and biblical account of the universe as geocentric (the earth as the center of the universe) was wrong and must give way to the Copernican account of the heliocentric (sun-centered) universe.
The Catholic Church considered his views heretical and clearly subversive of the foundational belief that the Bible is the source of God’s absolute truth. In the historic edict published on March 5 1616, the Holy Office stated that: “The view that the sun stands motionless at the center of the universe is foolish, philosophically false, and utterly heretical, because contrary to the Holy Scripture.”
This view echoed the widespread belief among Catholic theologians that if Copernicus was right, the Bible would be wrong and would lose all its authority. Galileo’s retort was simple but unassailable: “I do not feel obliged to believe that that same God who has endowed us with sense, reason and intellect has intended us to forgo of their use.” No matter. He was found guilty and sentenced to a life of house arrest. Galileo and Copernicus were of course right, and the Catholic Church in 1616 flat wrong.
To uphold such error, the Italian Inquisition condemned Giordano Bruno, an ex-dominican monk also enthralled by the Copernican universe, to be burned at stake in 1600. Bruno taught beyond Copernicus that the universe is infinite, the sun is not its center and the earth is not unique.
No apologies were issued for Bruno and others similarly dealt with but there should have been. The Catholic Church’s iron fist in the service of a false doctrine did for Italy what it did for Spain: destroyed the flowering of the Renaissance in Italy and sent all its pregnant and creative impulses to Northern and Protestant Europe where the seed of pluralism had been sown and given breathing space, if spasmodically, by the Reformation.
Spain was even more interesting since the Catholicism planted in the Philippines was brought over by priests steeped in the Spanish Counter-Reformation. In 1483, Tomas de Torquemada was appointed the Grand Inquisitor of Spain by Isabella and Ferdinand and for 15 years ran a machinery of terror, which snapped the lives of, it is estimated, some 2,000 converted Jews (Maranos) in many an elaborate Catholic ritual called “auto-da-fe.”
Jews were then expelled from the kingdom of Spain in 1492 (the same year Granada and Alhambra, then the most tolerant region in Europe, fell to Isabella and Ferdinand). The ferocity of the Catholic Inquisition in Spain first against Jews (expelled in 1492) and then against Spanish Muslims (Moriscos), the most economically dynamic and mercantile members of the population, effectively sent the Iberian Peninsula and its colonies, including the Philippines, back to the Dark Ages sustained only by gold plundered from the New World. The enormity of the cost to the victims of this moral failing was topped only by the enormity of the cost to the Catholic Church itself: It became synonymous with fanaticism, obscurantism and backwardness.
Yet another moral failure involved the treatment of Jews in the Second World War. Pope John Paul II in 1994 issued the “Declaration of Repentance” for its clergy’s failure in its moral duty to protest the treatment of Jews in the dark days of the war.
In October 1997, the French Catholic Church issued an apology for its deafening silence on the deportation of Jews from France. In 1964, the Second Vatican Council formally repudiated Jewish guilt for Christ’s death (which was the permanent undercurrent to Catholic anti-Jewish frenzy) as a way of atonement for a thousand years of mindless mayhem. All these apologies were called for because as the saying goes: “Humanum est errare.” Along the way, myriads were sacrificed upon the altar of egregious error paraded as universal truth.
Finally, consider usury. Usury is one practice that for centuries was a sin perhaps due to its association with the Jewry. The Second Lateran Council in 1139 promulgated the following: “Furthermore, we condemn that practice accounted despicable and blameworthy by divine and human laws, denounced by Scripture in the old and new Testaments, namely, the ferocious greed of usurers; and we sever them from every comfort of the church.”
Despite the vehemence maintained through centuries, in 1830, the Holy Office with leave from Pope Pius VIII sanctioned justifiable drawing of interest rate. Suddenly, what was sin no longer is. The indefectible and infallible had corrected it. This monumental about face on a doctrinal matter was however the right thing to do. Learning is a very human attribute. The taking of interest is the foundation of modern finance and of modern economic growth.
Today, the Philippines is being torn asunder by the issue of responsible parenthood in view of the proposed bill: “An act providing national policy on reproductive health, responsible parenthood.”
The Catholic hierarchy opposes this bill with the vehemence rooted in absolute certainty. This absolute certainty is blind to the predicament of millions of poor Filipino women. The prevalence of attempted and completed abortions among poor women is very high leading to many dead women and dead fetuses. Conception prevention among these poor women is thus tantamount to abortion prevention and thus pro-life. But the great princes of the church, like Torquemada before them, will not hear the cries. Someday perhaps, the Catholic Church will once more issue an apology to those who needlessly died and those who were born in abject poverty.
The Boston Globe reported on March 13, 2002 that “the scourge of clergy sexual abuse has afflicted virtually every religious denomination: In recent years rabbis, ministers, and gurus have all been charged with molesting children. But the Catholic Church has been hit with many more allegations of clergy sexual abuse than any other faith or denomination.
Recent statistics on the Archdiocese of Boston show “at least 80 priests have been accused of child sexual abuse over the last 50 years, and scholars say as many as 2,000 priests have been accused nationwide. By contrast, Protestant and non-Christian denominations have had so few reported cases that their leaders can generally count them on one hand.”
Raul V Fabella, University of the Philippines School of Economics
31 Feedbacks on "Apologies and the Catholic Church"
Sheryl
Interesting history. I could not have written it better.
I just noticed a minor discrepancy though and I hope it will be corrected asap.
Paragraph 14 attributes “the declaration of repentance” to Pope Paul II. It should be to Pope John PAUL II.
Thank you.
admin
Thanks Sheryl for pointing that out. Making the necessary correction.
Brandon
Well written. A timely discourse at a time where enlightenment is paramount to political wisdom. More discussions and perhaps scholastic arguments will necessitate an effective change. Dogmas and religious obscurities will not help us navigate thru our emerging problem as a nation.
Eterio Herrera
The Bible is never Wrong, it is a factual truth that can only be wrong based on specific human interpretation. Our known human existence is only about five thousand years ago, this carbon dating or carbon human interpretation can never be truly resolved for our known human specific lives only has a lifespan average of 100 years old, thats why it is so amazing that the faith that was introduced by our lord Jesus Christ was way back 2008 years ago has been carried from thousands of real human history but still in the minds of millions of Catholics of messages of love of God and love of neighbor, thats how simple it was.
Carlomagno
Well written; why not AIR this on PRIME time news.
Allan
The Bible is not the Catholic Church. It was written by inspired prophets and faithfuls who are witnesses to the miracle and existence of God more than 2008 years ago. These faithfuls and prophets never send a single person to their death for not believing in the faith they have written in fact they are the one that was laughed at and imprisoned for their works.
The manuscripts were written in Hebrew and the seat of is in the middle east. Its not written in Italian and not in any way refer to the Vatican as its source.
All of these faith were stolen by the founder of the Roman Catholics, translated to something that can be used to abused, imprisoned or even caused the death of a non-believer or non-conformist (inquisition).
Now, how ironic these bishops we have today to accused someone of stealing, have these catholic bishops apologize for the stolen faith their founders have committed. They talk of corruption, have they apologize for the corruption the catholic had been accused of.
Jesus has warned us of this type of so-called faithfuls in the manuscript of the New Testament. Even Rizal demonstrated the atrocities of this church during the occupation of Spain.
All of these events, have we learned anything? Do you still believe and let these bishops who thought they’re earthly god to dictate your life, your government?
2008 years ago they stole the faithfuls, killed, imprison those that dont conform to their beliefs, and now these very thieves is so engrossed in getting rid of a person in malacanang whom they accused of stealing the presidency and corruption. “He who have not sinned cast the first stone.”
Natros
The rampant cases of child sexual molestations by catholic priests just shows that the catholic church’s rule on mandatory celibacy in inconsistent with the teaching of the holy scriptures. In 1 Timothy 3: 1-2 it says, ..If a man desires the position of a bishop he desires a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach…As priests are normal human being, it would be a tremendous pressure and struggle to control their sexual urges that’s why the Bible advices that it is better “to marry” than to be burn with lusts…
Raymond Axaval
The Catholic church in the Philippines is so very pro-poverty or maybe I should say the church loves poverty. Are the bishops blind and could not see the endless street children begging in the streets? Are they so happy that a homeless woman still give birth to her 9th child? Are the children going to be cared for by the church? I don’t think so. Just around the periphery of our parish church is a colony of homeless families. Do you think the church lifts a finger to help them? Nope. Don’t you think the quality of life is more important than quantity of
people? True, someday the church will again apologise for their wrong decisions.
norman
this is a well written piece. for years i have been using the example of galileo’s excommunication by the catholic church when the blowhards of this institution defends its infallability.
dismayado
There are thousands of mistakes/errors that catholic church leaders have committed which never been asked apologies by them or of the highest officials of the vatican or published in that matter for they are afraid of the truth to come-out.
It is true that the church is the center of faith, morality and spiritual values but if the church itself shows ignorance, indifference and hypocrisy then it should not be the center for faith, morality and spiritual values as it weakens everything.
The catholic church should embrace the reality and truth that overpopulation creates domino-effects on the population wellbeing, economic status, spiritual belief and etc…
Overpopulation becomes an attributes to problems on poverty, criminality and the weakening spiritual and moral personality of the human beings. Perhaps, one will ask, what is moral between adopting reproductive health and having two children whom you can provide better future and quality life or (not adopt repro heatlth) having many children which later on becomes problem of society because they drug addicts, robbers, deliquent, murderers etc.. or dilating their eyes on hunger and poverty? GOD forgive me, but I think does’nt want the latter to happen.
People and Congress should be more analytical and should not be swayed easily on their position towards reproductive health bills because history tells that Catholic Church leaders or other religious denominations have their own interest too (good or bad) what is important is the benefit of the greater majority…
We should give people an option, wider space to decide and the free will to decide because GOD created human beings with FREE WILL and INTELLECT to determine what is GOOD and what is EVIL…
Mia
It is very interesting how an apology of Pope Benedict XVI to the victims of sexual abuse by Catholic clerics becomes a rallying point for your real beef. “Today, the Philippines is being torn asunder by the issue of responsible parenthood in view of the proposed bill: ‘An act providing national policy on reproductive health, responsible parenthood.’ The Catholic hierarchy opposes this bill with the vehemence rooted in absolute certainty. This absolute certainty is blind to the predicament of millions of poor Filipino women.”
Bills for reproductive health and responsible parenthood scare me. First, let’s not talk about abortion or the moral depravity of killing your own child by yanking it from your own body, with or without the help of others, which no other creature in the world except man has done. Next, let’s not talk about poverty being caused by over-population because everyone knows there is enough food, shelter and clothing in the world to feed, house and clothe everybody but people just don’t like to share.
Let’s just acknowledge the following:
Warnings issued with individual contraception methods and the data available prove that cancer has been linked to the pill, the condom, the diaphragm, the IUD and vasectomies. Also, the HIV virus has passed through condoms and there are other diseases associated with the pill. Thus, contraception does not equal “good” health. On the other hand, abstinence and natural family planning is intelligent, free and has not been linked to any diseases.
Apart from taking care of the children they already have, “responsible parenthood” also pertains to the number of children a couple should have. A national policy will enable the government to help people acquire contraception, sterilization procedures and maybe even abortions. Will they also pay for medical bills from complications that may arise from these procedures? How about cancer treatment some years later? More importantly, will they foot the bill for psychological tests needed pre- and post- surgery? Will they also determine how many children poor people should have? How about rich but ugly people? Should a government unable to monitor itself be given the option to monitor your sex life?
All people of sound mind, not just parents, should be responsible for their actions. Even a child who sees someone else singed by fire will not touch a flame. We should think before we act and we should know that engaging in sex may lead to children. So is “the prevalence of attempted and completed abortions among poor women…leading to many dead women and dead fetuses” the fault of the Catholic Church? No way. The Catholic Church correctly believes that life is always a gift. Needless deaths are caused by the mentality that children are a punishment. Needless deaths are caused by a society unable to discipline itself. Needless deaths are caused by greedy people who do not share because they see the world as made only for them. Needless deaths are caused by national policies that have failed to provide food, shelter and clothing to all her citizens even when there were less people.
The day the Catholic Church issues an apology for opposing contraception is the day she ceases to be Catholic. It is too easy to blame the Catholic Church and her errant members for everything that goes wrong in the world.
I would also like to point out that the same March 13, 2002 Boston Globe article you quoted states:
But one researcher, sociologist Philip Jenkins of Pennsylvania State University, argues that the Catholic Church is being unfairly tarred as a result of ”religious bigotry.”
”My research of cases over the past 20 years indicates no evidence whatever that Catholic or other celibate clergy are any more likely to be involved in misconduct or abuse than clergy of any other denomination - or indeed, than nonclergy,” Jenkins wrote in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. ”However determined news media may be to see this affair as a crisis of celibacy, the charge is just unsupported.”
A March 30, 2002 article published in the Pittsburgh Tribune Review entitled “Study Says Abuse Rate By Priests 2-6 percent,” states:. Between 2 percent and 6 percent of Roman Catholic priests have sexually abused minors, according to three researchers interviewed by the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Based on the best data available, they say, that’s a rate comparable to sexual abuse by clergy in other religions and that of the general population.
jojo
its always a problem once blind faith is forced to those who don’t want it
mang godo
good research work and narration of facts.
good job.
Ric
I had a reply, I think it has been the first. But it seems there is a limit on critic because it has disappeared.
ric
Aaron Lecciones
You cannot be serious is connecting the sexual abuse cases (which FYI the Church has a very low rate as compared with teacher sex abuse or uncle/parent sex abuse) with the population bill (uhm comparing mistakes in other areas with mistakes in a totally different area or do you forget that this the longest-running institution on EARTH is the only longest witness to human history and societal change which gives it the best position on many many topics?) or even the cellibacy law of the Church (which sorry to say you cannot debate on, go talk to God and lets see if divine will can make you change 2000 years of doctrine, and religious doctrine at that which if you aren’t aware of is one of the hardest to change ever).
If you could live for another hundred years you will see that this two-millenia old Church has always been proclaiming only but the good news of Jesus Christ and that cannot ever be wrong.
P.S. Allan (of July 28) go get your facts right on the Bible first then come back to us…. without the Catholic Church you would not have a BIBLE at all! (P.S. see the early Church councils which promulgated which books are to be included, etc. etc. that is your Catholic Church in its visible unity with the Roman Bishop).
jojo
Hello brother,
You know that God loves you. If you have this “Catholic hate sentiment” then you are not trully living the gift of love, not even growing in love. I will pray for you for the conversion of your poor soul. You might be clever of the things of this world but not wise enough of the ways of the kingdom…
But for your information, please don’t just read newspapers from publishers who are promoting “Catholic hate”. Your sources at least most of them are not true. You pick only one piece of history and you conclude in a nicest way and always directed against the Catholic Church in General who from you view has not done anything good for the government’s project. By the way things are becoming too political that limit one’s natural inclination to help really the needy. Do your studies well my friend because you are leading the simple minded people to nowhere.
You need to apologise to the Catholic Church sooner….
If I have the time to read your article so read my compilation too….
take care…..
jojo
hey Allan,
Don’t be too emotional but be rational. Too much of you emotion won’t allow you to verify any of your accusation against the Catholic Church.
For your info…the Catholic Church believes that Jesus handed over to Peter the first of the 12 disciples the keys of the kingdom. Of course, this is cut out in the protestant setting otherwise they won’t have any ground to question the authority of the pope who is the successor of Peter. Now if the protestant believe only on sola scriptura then they are more liable to you accusation. If they use only the bible as the sole authority on earth then think about it. At least the Catholic Church uses another source called tradition things that are not written in the hebrew bible but base on the techings of the apostles and fathers of the Church.
Hey Allan you’d better study the ancient literature so that you emotion may be directed to express what is rational. I know that with your feelings its neither subjected to morality.
keep up the good work and if you have time reconcile with the Catholic Church and pray for the bishops and your christian brothers and sisters unless you are otherwise…
take care
joel ferraris
There are more serious and pressing issues that need to be given equal if not more attention aside from the errors mentioned in the article above.
Error uncorrected spawns more errors.
…which reminds me about the plan to erect a gigantic statue of Mary to dwarf the statue of Liberty.
…and we are asking why our country is in a lot of mess? (where the issue on birth control being debated now is only one of them)
An embattled leader, or whoever her successor is, cannot solve this problem that is spiritual in origin and nature.
mang godo
We cannot solve the problem by adding.
When SONA was delivered, the President enumerated what she had done and plan to do.
And yet, nobody ever commended her performance much more she is bombarded by criticisms and negativism.
At least GMA tried and is trying.
The point is… critics add to the problem, instead of support, moral or material.
In this time of crisis, we need to have a positive outlook in life.
Filipinos are resilient and thrive in crisis. We need support and not critics.
Allan
Hey Jojo and Aaron,
Im sorry if I hurt your feelings. Im just stating the facts shared to me by my uncle who happens to be a Catholic Bishop. My uncle always tell me one thing, whenever I have a question about Faith, that is, never confuse the true meaning of Christianity and christian Faith with the WAY of the Roman Catholic church.
“(P.S. see the early Church councils which promulgated which books are to be included, etc. etc. that is your Catholic Church in its visible unity with the Roman Bishop)”.
Aaron, the Holy Scriptures are testaments of God existence, Words, Works and Miracles, they’re written even before the birth of the Catholic Church, and already compiled to its original form and translation by an earlier church. To select which book to published or alter the very meaning or essence of the Word to serve thy church purpose is adulteration and blasphemy. How many versions of the Bible have you read Aaron?
Jojo, Ive done better than reading ancient literature, I traveled to those places and read and see un-adulterated history. You should do that also, and on your way to those holy places, why don’t you pass by countries that practice religion other than catholicism, I assure this will enlighten and educate you better.
BTW..what Mr. Fabella wrote here is not questioning the Christian FAITH but rather a question of the morals of the people (human and mortal being) who are supposed to guard and flourished this Faith.
Not only lambs can get lost, shepherds also can get lost.
Are you at peace with God or at peace only with your priests and bishops?
Gayo
I always believe that education plays a major role on how a Filipino couple will decide the number of children they will have. The more educated the couple are the more chance that they will opt for only 2-3 kids. I think it has nothing to do with the family’s economic situation; it has more to do with a sense of responsibility and broad-mindedness and concern for their children’s future. Be they Christians or Non-Christians.
The stand of the Catholic Church on the population issue perpetuates a vicious cycle of poverty and illiteracy for its followers. The Philippines will remain a Catholic country and the Catholic Church will be proud of that, but the country will be recognized as the most illiterate, backward and poorest country in the future. Well, miracles happen. And for the always hungry stomach, every shape in the clouds, every image on dirty walls of saints is a sign of miracle. The Philippines will be known as Miracle Country. Heaven forbid!
Antonio
@jojo
I think what Mr. Fabella was trying to point out is that the Catholic Church, much like any other institution, will always have its flaws.
The statistics presented are not meant to spread or incite hate, but simply give us a clearer perspective of what’s going on behind the scenes. It’s a reality of the Church’s past, for better or for worse.
More importantly however, the points made can be considered as a challenge for everyday Catholics. Are we going to let the incompetence of our leaders bring us down, or will we take it as a sign that we need to give our faith the serious reflection and study it deserves?
Antonio
Here’s a little challenge for the readers - read the House Bills that the CBCP is so against.
Part of the ongoing debate here appears to stem from the fact some of us are making assumptions based on the Bishop’s letter.
Jun Bauzon Odono
The fact still remains that the Roman Catholic Church, especially here in the Philippines, has ceased to evolve into what it is supposed to be -a good shepherd to its flock.
One can defend the Catholic Church all he wants. But blind faith cannot atone for the sins its priests have committed, reverse the growth of population who believe that every childbirth is a blessing or prevent people like Ted Turner who believe that the Roman Catholic Religion is a religion for losers.
Come to think of it, what percentage of the world’s richest nations is pre-dominantly Catholic?
zzzzz
sana this sona will come true na!!!!!!!!!!!
mang godo
We should applaud our catholic filipino bishops and priests for maintaining their celibacy, abstaining from sex or not entering into marriage or not engaging in sexual intercourse.Neither they were case of child molestation and the like.
Our priests are the purist of the pure…
So, let’s give due respect to our local priests.
Eterio Herrera
Catholic Religion is a Universal religion for everyone who is genuinely has the spirit of loving God and loving thy neighbor and as in the saying No One is Perfect except God, we all have flaws and misgivings, our biggest sin is the tendency to Generalized a point, or what we called simple exaggeration. We all make mistakes but GOD keeps on forgiving and going.
joel ferraris
When one is sick he goes to the doctor for diagnosis in the hope of being cured. But if the diagnosis is wrong the illness remains and eventually kills the person. So a second opinion from another physician is needed before it is too late.
To view the problems of the Philippines and the Filipino people through a secular lens only is myopic. It is our spiritual knowledge and enlightenment that saves us from our Almighty God the Father’s wrath as we continue in practicing idolatry in many forms.
Kindly surf the internet for testimonies of many former priests and nuns and what they share regarding their joy in depending on the Words of our Almighty God the Father in the Holy Bible for spiritual enlightenment for it is very important to note the warnings of Lord Jesus Christ about the leaven of the Pharisees and wolves in sheep’s skin that will deceive even the elect.
Have you thought and discerned deeply the significance of the proposed huge statue of Mary to be built in our country in contrast to the many verses in the Holy Bible warning against idolatry?
Be warned!
Bart
wolves in sheep’s clothing…the modern priest and bishops…..you will find them in the sabungan, disco and resto-bars…
they are their to tend to their flocks…hhhmmm…
Bart
Have you thought and discerned deeply the significance of the proposed huge statue of Mary to be built in our country in contrast to the many verses in the Holy Bible warning against idolatry?
What happened to the first and second commandment….hhhmmm…ironic isn’t it?
Plurality
The issue here is that the powerful Catholic church would like to impose its will on its faithful (and effectively on non-Catholics) by opposing a much needed population management bill in a secular and pluralist society. If they want their faithful to comply, then let them spend on furthering research on natural methods and on educating the Catholic masses on the merits of such. You can argue all you want as to the immorality and lack of effectiveness of artificial birth control methods but you would be blind to where our neighbors are in terms of economics and per capita human life upliftment given their secular population management programs. Just look at Thailand and see the divergence in population growth relative to ours in the last 3 decades. The problem with this country is that we cry to high heavens when we read reports about government employees using public office for their own ends. Most do not realize that the imposition of the Church to stop a pluralistic measure is very much the same thing - using government to further its own interest.
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