Christopher's Cove, Summerside, Bay of Islands -
Did anyone really expect and trust the Catholic church leadership to have done, and will do, what it should to investigate allegations of perverted activities brought to its attention?
Being cynical, may I suggest I believe there continues to exist a culture allowing for a tight, closed-door policy within the Catholic church when dealing with matters pertaining to kinky pursuits of clergy, rather than an inclination to satisfy the concerns of mere mortals.
I realize this is a good chance to open my mouth and putting my foot in it, nevertheless, here goes for the sake of saying what needs to be said.
Down deep in the bowels of the hierarchy of the Catholic church must still lie a tendency to pursue cover-up and denial of any knowledge of unnatural human behaviour in favour of protecting the Catholic church establishment by whatever means possible.
In tune with my usual bluntness, I take exception to any obvious dramatizing which is contrary to their true motives and preferences.
The worthless statement that ranks this show of concern was one supposedly made by accused but not convicted Bishop Raymond Lahey in anticipation of his being installed the eighth bishop of the Diocese of Antigonish.
So goes his statement ... "The abuse of a child is wrong especially by those in a position of trust" ... "It does no good to cover things up."
What gall must one have to make such a statement?
You'd think after the Mount Cashel racket was exposed and the Roman Catholic church and police tasked with doing what you'd expect to clean up their act and demonstrate accountability, things would have changed for the better.
How can we believe, other than a lot of lingering perverted types and their blind-eye protectors being still in our midst, rather than having been already taken to task and booted, certainly not still enjoying their abnormalities as sexual predators?
I assumed and expected the Catholic church in a good-faith gesture to have taken on a thorough clean-up for their problem clergy members ... both existing and potential. Are the criteria and acceptance standards now in keeping with accepted human behaviours? Or is it beyond the church's ability not to have perverted sexual advantage-takers remain members of the church?
Is the church still considered an easy way into an environment where taking advantage of vulnerable children is still accepted and tolerated, where expectations of cover-up can be taken for granted?
As it stands, unfortunate as it is, it certainly comes easier and easier to stoop to stereotyping of those who are answering the religious calling. They are destined to suffer critical analysis rather than instinctive trust. They're all now tarred with the same mop when it comes to determine any relationships with clergy.
In conjunction with operating on the side of a cautioned approach, exercise good judgment by taking no one for granted, or on face value.
Melvyn (Lou) Smith lives in Christopher's Cove, Summerside, Bay
of Islands and is a member of The Western Star's Community Editorial Board.
