Inside NCR
The Vaticans acknowledgement
of abuse of nuns by priests is a welcome development, an essential first step
along the path of dealing with the problem and healing deep wounds.
Our hope is that the solution goes beyond a few paragraphs of
acknowledgement. Those involved in addressing the problem through such steps as
outlined in the story on page 3 should insist on a system of
accountability.
Women religious in the areas involved should be assured of both a
safe place to describe their circumstances and support in dealing with the
aftermath of abuse.
The wider church, too, needs an opportunity to talk about these
latest revelations of abuses of power. The story raises questions that are
vitally important to the church and that have been largely shoved out of sight.
They are questions about sexuality in general; about the churchs view of
women; about priestly formation; about mandatory celibacy; and about adaptation
of the church to cultures that do not share a Western European past.
Our pages will be open to accommodate discussion of these issues
and others as the details of the story unfold.
We will begin in next weeks issue with a range of reaction
to and expert insights into the problem.
Admitting the problem exists is a first step. Doing justice to the
women involved, protecting the credibility of the church in its mission to the
world and honoring the integrity of most priests and leaders who serve
faithfully demands that the institutional church, having made the admission,
moves on to the difficult work needed for long-term solutions.
Cheers for the creative folks in the
United Farm Workers union and the California lawmakers who worked together to
come up with a day honoring the late César Chávez, founder of the
union and one of the foremost Hispanic civil rights leaders.
The first steps toward creating a voice for farm workers required
enormous courage, organizing skill and determination in the mid 1960s. No one
in the booming economy of that time rally wanted to be bothered with the
disturbing details of horrible living conditions and slave wages endured by
those whose backbreaking work provided abundance for our tables.
Woven deeply into that story are brilliant strands of faith and
Catholic social teaching and action at its best. Often at Chávezs
side was Msgr. George Higgins, the legendary labor priest. Higgins believes
deeply that people need to organize, that human dignity demands it.
What is especially heartening about the Chávez observance
is the provision for educating children about his life and work and the chance
to do community service. It is a worthy way to continue Chávezs
life of nonviolent resistance and organizing and a way to educate a new
generation to how much remains to be done.
-- Tom Roberts
My e-mail address is troberts@natcath.org
National Catholic Reporter, March 30,
2001
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