A priest in the German Archdiocese of Munich and Freising who was accused of molesting boys was sent to therapy in 1980, and later allowed to return to his pastoral duties, when he again abused children and was finally prosecuted (NY Times, 3/13/p. 1).  This is not an unusual story–except that in this case the priest was actually prosecuted, and in most cases, the priest in question is never brought to justice.  What is significant about this particular story, however, is that Pope Benedict headed the Archdiocese at the time this “serious mistake”  (words of a senior church official) occurred and in fact approved the priest’s transfer.  A subordinate has taken “full responsibility,” according to a statement by the archdiocese.  This is only the tip of the proverbial abuse iceberg, in that hundreds more abuse victims have recently come forward in Germany.

Now let me get this right.  I’m the boss, and I approve an order–so I must know what I’m approving–but I have no responsibility for the consequences of that decision?  This is an old, old story–it’s called “passing the buck,” and it goes back as far as the Biblical account of Adam and Eve.  God told Adam and Eve that they could have every good thing in the Garden of Eden, but they were to leave that one apple tree alone–the tree of the knowledge of goodness and evil.  Well, you know the story.  They just had to have an apple.  They tried to hide from God (the one thing you can’t hide from), and when confronted with what they had done, what did they say?  Adam says, “Hey, it isn’t my fault–Eve gave me the apple!  And Eve?  What was her rationale?  Eve says, “It was the snake’s fault–he tempted me!” 

Christianity is firmly grounded in the theology of forgiveness–in fact, if a person truly takes responsibility for an act and repents, that person can be forgiven any sin.  For the Pope to use a PR tactic to avoid responsibility for his own deeds effectively undermines his moral authority.  And of course, that’s the only power he has.  Benedict’s central goal as Pope is the “re-Christianization” of Europe.  When will the Catholic hierarchy learn that evasiveness and lies serve only to discredit its message.  And where else should the truth start but with the Pope.