 |
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
| Fellow |
ship > Sex Scandal in the Catholic Church |
|
|
 |
|
Sex Scandal in the Catholic Church
by Tom Stewart
May 26, 2002
Skandilizo is the Greek word from which we get the word
scandalize. It is to entrap, trip up, or entice, as to sin; and it is translated
offend or make to offend in the New Testament. "And whosoever shall offend [Greek, skandilizo] one of these little ones that believe in Me, it is better
for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea"
(Mark 9:42). Since the sex abuse scandal erupted earlier this
year (2002) in Boston, more than 177 priests have been dismissed or resigned. Allegations
of priests molesting young boys have surfaced across the country; further, it appears
that such abuse is worldwide throughout the Roman Catholic system, as similar abuse
has been charged to have occurred in France and Poland, as related in a March 20th
2002 CNN.com article, "Vatican wrestles with pedophilia scandals." "There is no new thing under the sun" (Ecclesiastes 1:9). The uproar in the headlines became
so serious that the Pope convened a meeting in Rome to demonstrate Catholic concern
and to attempt to isolate the problem. At a standing room only "listening session"
on May 16th in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, church officials were provided with
plentiful feedback from the rank and file attendees, as reported in a May 17th 2002
CNN.com article, "Parishioners discuss effects of church sex scandal."
The article reported: "'The top is rotten,'
said Faythe Weber during a discussion at St. Gregory the Great Church on Thursday.
'I don't believe a word they say right now. It was cover-up, cover-up, cover-up.'" Not all comments were as harsh. Though 78% of American Catholics recently
polled still had a favorable opinion of Pope John Paul II, a CNN/USA Today/Gallup
poll conducted on April 29 - May 1 revealed that the vast majority (70%) of American
Catholics disapproved of the Church's handling of the sex abuse problem, e.g., "Overall, do you think the Catholic Church has done
a good job or bad job in dealing with the problem of sexual abuse committed by its
priests?" "For
the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed" (Isaiah 9:16).
Though current events paint a dismal picture of the conduct of Roman Catholic priests
toward their young parishioners, does the history of the Church of Rome demonstrate
a different pattern? A candid look at Rome's history may be found in "Halley's
Bible Handbook: An Abbreviated Bible Commentary"-- originally copyrighted in
1927, but the Twenty-Fourth Edition copyrighted in 1965 was consulted for the following
quotations. Henry H. Halley wrote: "The
200 years between [the Popes] Nicolas
I [858-867 AD] and Gregory
VII [1073-1085 AD] is
called by historians the MIDNIGHT OF THE DARK AGES... Sergius III (A.D. 904-911).
Said to have had a mistress, Marozia. She, her mother Theodora, and her sister, 'filled
the Papal chair with their paramours and bastard sons, and turned the Papal Palace
into a den of robbers.' Called in history The Rule of the Harlots (904-963)... [Pope] John XII (955-963), a grandson
of Marozia, was 'guilty of almost every crime; violated virgins and widows, high
and low; lived with his father's mistress; made the Papal Palace a brothel; was killed
while in the act of adultery by the woman's enraged husband'"
(p. 774). "How long, ye simple ones, will
ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?" (Proverbs 1:22). Hundreds of years later, during
the Papal Schism (1377-1417 AD), in which there were two rival Popes in both
Rome and Avignon, France, Rome's Vicar of Christ John XXIII (1410-1415) was "called by some the most depraved criminal who ever
sat on the Papal Throne; guilty of almost every crime; as cardinal in Bologna, 200
maidens, nuns and married women fell victim to his amours; as Pope he violated virgins
and nuns; lived in adultery with his brother's wife; was guilty of sodomy and other
nameless vices; bought the Papal Office; sold Cardinalates to children of wealthy
families; and openly denied the future life" (pp. 778-779).
"From the sole of the foot even unto the
head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores:
they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment" (Isaiah 1:6). The Renaissance produced Popes of little
different morals, such as "Nicolas V (1447-1455), [who] authorized the King of Portugal
to war on African peoples, take their property and enslave people... Pius II (1458-1464),
was said to have been the father of many illegitimate children, spoke openly of the
methods he used to seduce women, encouraged young men to, and even offered to instruct
them in methods of self-indulgence. Paul II (1464-1471), 'filled his house with concubines'...
Innocent VIII (1484-1492). Had 16 children by various married women... Appointed
the brutal Thomas of Torquemada Inquisitor General of Spain, and ordered all rulers
to deliver up Heretics to him" (p. 779). "We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed:
forsake her, and let us go every one into his own country: for her judgment reacheth
unto Heaven, and is lifted up even to the skies" (Jeremiah
51:9). [See our article, "The
Reformation and the Church of Rome" ---New Window, for background on the Protestant
Reformation.]
Is the institution of the Church of Rome any more salvageable in its present condition
than in the day of the Protestant Reformer Martin Luther? The whole idea of coming
"out from among them, and be ye separate" (2Corinthians 6:17) is that Personal Holiness is
not to be sacrificed even for the Corporate Holiness of the Church. "15 But
as He which hath called you is Holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 because
it is written, Be ye holy; for I am Holy" (1Peter
1:15-16). When will the thoughtful Roman Catholic leave the Roman
Catholic Church? At the point that it is realized that protest against the immorality
of the leadership of the Roman Catholic Church will not truly change them--
knowing that only personal holiness will be sacrificed by remaining-- then that individual
must leave. Evil company corrupts good morals, i.e.,
"evil communications [Greek, homilia, meaning companionship,
intercourse, communion] corrupt good manners [Greek, ethos, meaning custom, usage, morals, character]" (1Corinthians 15:33). And, personal holiness is more important than saving the Church. "Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers
of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues" (Revelation
18:4). Of course, this assumes that it is already understood that
salvation lies solely in Jesus Christ and not in the Roman Catholic
Church or any other manmade institution. "Neither
is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under Heaven given
among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). Salvation is irrespective of church affiliation and comes only
by Jesus Christ, i.e., "the church of
God, which He hath purchased with His Own Blood" (Acts
20:28).
What is the significance of this latest sex scandal in the Catholic Church? The
very fact that such scandal has been allowed to surface for candid examination means
that God is warning all that the Church of Rome cannot save those who trust her. "It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence
in man" (Psalm 118:8). Trusting
the ex cathedra declarations of the Roman Pontiff in faith and morals as infallible,
elevates the Pope's word to the level of the Infallible Scriptures-- but "the Scripture cannot be broken" (John 10:35). The thoughtful Catholic must choose
to pay homage to the Living Word or to a breathing Pope. "Cease
ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?" (Isaiah 2:22). If God's Word can be trusted at all,
should we not trust It for all? "16 All Scripture is given by Inspiration
of God, and is profitable for Doctrine, for Reproof, for Correction, for Instruction
in Righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all
good works" (2Timothy 3:16-17).
Likewise, are we given the liberty to elevate the priest to the prominence of trust
that he would be addressed as "Father"? Does not the Scripture teach us
to reject these artificial titles designed to give mere men authoritative power over
men's consciences? "2
Saying, The Scribes and the Pharisees sit in
Moses' seat: 3 all therefore
whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works:
for they say, and do not. 4 For
they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders;
but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
5 But all their works
they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the
borders of their garments, 6 and love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats
in the synagogues, 7 and
greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.
8 But be not ye called
Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. 9 And call no man your father upon
the Earth: for one is your Father, which is in Heaven"
(Matthew 23:2-9).
Where has Auricular Confession the right to give a mere human priest the ability
to grant absolution for sins committed against God or man? Does not the Scripture
teach us to go to the offended party and make amends directly without priestly intervention? "23 Therefore
if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath
ought against thee; 24 leave there thy gift
before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come
and offer thy gift" (Matthew 5:23-24). Where has God granted
a mere human priest the divine, transubstantive capacity to create Christ in the
Mass? Does this not blasphemously make a human priest the creator of Christ the Creator? "1 In
The Beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The Same was in The Beginning with
God. 3 All
things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made" (John 1:1-3). The thoughtful Roman Catholic must
ultimately choose salvation through Christ alone or salvation by the Church of Rome,
whose salvation will rival the deliverance of those abused, young boys at the hands
of their trusted Fathers. "Thus saith
the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose
heart departeth from the LORD" (Jeremiah 17:5). [See our article, "An Earnest
Appeal to Roman Catholics" ---New Window,
for a more thorough, Scriptural treatment of Catholic doctrine.]
May God give thoughtful Roman Catholics the Grace and Mercy to thoroughly turn away
from Rome and turn to the LORD Jesus Christ, Who is soon returning for His people.
"Let us go forth therefore unto Him without
the camp, bearing His reproach" (Hebrews 13:13).
.
Next article "From
the Editor's Desktop"
Section Index for Fellowship
Readers are permitted and encouraged to copy
and freely share this article with others.
Holy Bible
