Uh oh

Some new revelations about what Pope Benedict XVI knew about the abuse scandal.  Or maybe not.  We'll see.  The problem the Church has that sets it apart from all other groups in terms of abuse is that it is so systemic.  Nobody but an anti-Catholic bigot would say the Church is responsible for the sins of  some of its members.  But unlike most institutions, there seems to be a never-ending stream of massive, intertwined, institutionalized conspiracies behind it all. 

Sometimes you might here of a teacher accused of rape or assault, and perhaps a principal shut it up.  That used to be the way to handle it.  In my college days, when I transferred to the school of Education, that was a hot topic: what to do with teachers who have abused kids.  Really.  So it's not as if the Church was alone.

But there is something widespread, something that suggests problems beyond a simple church or diocese.  And the cover ups often involve multiple people on multiple levels.  That is the guilty part.  That is what sets the Church apart from most other cases where abuse has happened.  Not that it never involves multiple individuals accused of being part of elaborate cover-ups in other institutions.  But with the Church, it seems that as often as not, that is the order of the day. 

Hopefully this turns out to be nothing.  We'll have to wait and see.  Lord deliver the Church from this darkest of hours.