Sex Abuse Crisis: EDITORIAL: Pedophilia problem needs tackling

The United States -

HOW OFTEN an event in society is mirrored in the church. We are accustomed to hearing that the Catholic divorce rate is little different from these rates for the rest of society.

Now, Catholics are faced with a different phenomenon. Sexual abuse of children has become an important concern in society within the past two years. Into this shadow falls an even more ominous darkness, the Roman Catholic priest as perpetrator: the seeming outbreak of priest pedophilia cases.

The idea of a Roman Catholic priest's sexually molesting a child is so repugnant as to almost fall within Saint Paul's admonition, "Let these things not so much as be mentioned among you." The topic makes many wince and ask, "Why even bring that up?"

The stories in this week's issue give a clear account of the reasons we should bring it up. Suffice it to say the currect system for dealing with priest pedophiles and their victims is totally ad hoc and completely inadequate.

Read the article at The National Catholic Reporter dated June 7, 1985