The pain of the sexual abuse of children by some Catholic priests is back in the news again.  The other part of the scandal, the protection of these priests by Church authorities and the lack of love in not protecting children from abusive priests, is shameful and sinful. 

I sometimes feel disturbed by some of the comments by SNAP (Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests).  Yet I understand their anger and mistrust toward the Church when the protection of priests has been put ahead of the protection of innocent children.  I find myself asking: "Will we ever learn?"  I think we are.  I hope we are.

The protection of our children can’t be an afterthought or a new trend: it must be a core value.  As Roman Catholics, we call ourselves “pro-life”.  We value life from conception to natural death.  In being pro-life all of us must be vigilant in the protection of our children.  All staff members have gone through a criminal background check.  All staff members and all volunteers go through background checks.  We work here in the parish to protect our children.

Vigilance on the part of parents is never ending when, for example, over and over children must hear the message of the difference between ‘good touch’ and ‘bad touch’.  None of us can afford to divert the responsibility of the protection of our children to others.  Our love of God and neighbor can’t include any sense that ‘it’s somebody else’s job’.  The protection of our children is the responsibility of all of us.

Let’s pray for the victims of sexual abuse.  Let’s pray for the perpetrators who have violated the trust.  Let’s pray for our Church leaders.  Let’s pray that our respect for life does include the love and protection of our treasured children.    

Fr. Andy Prachar