We must deal with these crimes openly

The desire to avoid scandal has cost many of the institutional churches dearly over the years – not only in dollars – but in damaged lives and a loss of credibility both in and out of the church. The sexual abuse perpetrated by the clergy seems to be the hot topic of the day. How those in the higher positions of their churches, synagogues, and mosques deal with past, present, and future abuse by the clergy in these criminal acts will help to restore confidence in the institution or further erode them.

Part of what makes the crime of pedophilia so easy to cover up is the perceived power of the abuser by the victim. Fear and embarrassment silence many who have been preyed upon and their families. Joy Griffith, in her April 21 letter, pointed out that Christians are taught to obey their clergy; that they are like sheep that look to their pastors and priests as shepherds for unquestioned guidance (“Church Controversy: God gave us brains, so let’s use them”). The implication is that this blind obedience facilitates the crime – it may, but even in churches like the Disciples of Christ, United Church of Christ, Quakers, etc. where clergy is not elevated to a position of authority, sexual abuse also occasionally occurs.

Let’s hope that faith communities will be able to handle future abuse forthrightly for the crimes they are – out in the open – no longer an act to be hushed up and swept under the rug.

Marysville