In light of the
highly visible and vocal support of most contemporary nuns,
including their leadership in LCWR for victims of social injustice
both inside and outside the Church, we would certainly expect that
they would quickly respond openly, honestly and with compassion to
victims of religious women. The opposite has been true. The
religious congregations of women who have been sued have fought the
victims with a viciousness that was equal to or exceeded that of
many bishops. The LCWR has treated the victims who have tried to
communicate with them in a disgraceful and downright unchristian
manner. They have been as cold, as clerical, as arrogant and as
dishonest as the bishops.
They have refused
to even consider cleaning the mess in their own house. They have
treated those who have brought the mess to their attention with
cruelty and disdain.
In my experience in
this nightmare which goes back 25 years, I have met and become aware
of very few priests who have shown any public support for clergy
abuse victims. True, there are many who are as disgusted as I am
but they are afraid to speak out, afraid to show compassion and
concern for the victims and above all, afraid to stand up to the
bishops. I used to express understanding for their plight because
of my own experience with the vindictive response of bishops to
anyone or anything that they can't control. No more. Christianity
means taking risks and living with the consequences. No priest's
personal security is so valuable that it justifies turning away from
the gross molestation of body, mind and soul that comes from abuse.
So too with the
religious women. Only a few have stood up to the system to defend
victims of clergy or religious women and those who have done so have
suffered. Their numbers are equal to the numbers of priests. Those
who preach loudest about social justice focus their concern on other
peoples' faults but intentionally deny, dismiss or minimize the harm
their own organizations have caused.
I fully agree that
if VOTF or any other "liberal" organization is going to support the
religious women, they/we must first demand honesty and
accountability about the grave harm done by the nuns and sisters in
this country and elsewhere.
Many of us have
heard of the Magdalene orphans. Many of us have seen the report of
the Ryan Commission in Ireland. In both instances the serious abuse
by nuns was institutionalized...systemic...and not an accident or an
occasional experience. The nuns buried this living nightmare just
as surely as the bishops worldwide have buried abuse by priests,
deacons, bishops and cardinals.
The Vatican will
not demand any sort of accountability in their inquisition. Why
not? Because they simply do not care about the victims of abuse.
All they are concerned about is power and control.
As most of you know
I wrote a memo a few weeks ago about three items connected to VOTF
that I found disturbing. One was Anne Brennan's dismissal of SNAP's
concerns as "their agenda." One person who responded to my concerns
explained that she and many others are not aware of the extent of
abuse by nuns or of the shabby treatment dished out to victims by
LCWR.
I agree that she
and many others may well not have been aware. I don't believe that
excuse has legs any longer. Vast numbers of lay people refused to
believe that priests would or could sexually abuse children back in
the eighties or nineties. They were wrong because the extent of
abuse far exceeded the predictions of those on the front lines at
the time...and I was one of them.
We must learn from
the past and listen to those who have been in the midst of the
nightmare...listen to the victims and listen to those who have
walked with the victims. This is real...not an exaggeration or a
myth. There is a deeply rooted sickness in the institutional
catholic Church and widespread sexual and physical abuse is a major
symptom but not the only symptom. The incredible brain washing is a
major symptom as well.....educated, professional adults who
otherwise function in the real world suddenly revert to childishness
when they walk into the church culture. This emotional and
spiritual immaturity may provide a certain degree of security
grounded in the comfort of knowing that someone else is making the
spiritual decisions for us.....but there is a downside and it is
this. This widespread immaturity, which is essential to clerical
control, and here I include control by religious women, is also
responsible for the emotional and spiritual devastation of the
countless victims. Blind acceptance of the illusion of integrity on
the part of clergy, bishops and religious is a special kind of
narcissistic selfishness. The time has long passed where we can
look aside at the harm done in the name of religion. If we continue
to ignore or minimize we assure the continuation of the mentality
and belief system that enabled widespread abuse. As it was in the
past so it will be in the future. Is this the "church" we want to
be part of? Is this the Body of Christ?" If we don't like what we
see we must take action and put aside strategies that won't work.
If we don't like what we see we can either work to change it or walk
away. It won't change on its own and waiting for the pope or
bishops to change it is useless and enabling to their toxic view of
their role in the Church. If we don't like what we see we must
accept the risks that go with the conviction that this "church" is
ours and not theirs to do with as they will.
