The Greater Evil
from Gaile Pohlhaus

[Gaile sent the following comment on a cartoon published in the Philadelphia Inquirer.]

Tony Auth’s editorial cartoon of Sunday, September 25, certainly hits the nail right on the head. Cardinal Krol would hear no evil of his priests. Cardinal Bevilacqua would speak no evil of his priests. And now Cardinal Rigali will see no evil in his predecessors. The Grand Jury report of sexual abuse in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia may not mention any of the positive steps that have been taken since 2002 to prevent something like this happening again, but it was investigating the time period before 2002. The bishops were warned of the problem in 1987 by Rev. Thomas Doyle, O.P. who was repaid for his warning by being removed from the Papal Nuncio’s staff. Why was no action taken then? Archbishop Rigali rightly claims that abuses reported were followed up. And the Grand Jury reports how inadequate those follow-ups were. Archbishop Rigali also claims that his predecessors followed then known medical advice. Anyone with common sense knows that if some one who has supposedly been cured still exhibits the same behavior the cure has been ineffective. Or were Cardinals Krol and Bevilacqua trying to cure the evil of scandal, rather than the evil of abusing children? Which is the greater evil? I suggest that the Archdiocese turn to Mark 9:42 for an answer.

[Mark 9:42. “It would be better if anyone who leads astray one of these simple believers were to be plunged in the sea with a great millstone fastened around his neck.”]

VOTF Affiliate Highlights

Letters to the Editor

Commentary

• “Discernment – What You Need to Know” by Susan Troy, M.Div.

• “Heads Up on Pastor Selection” – Joe O’Callaghan

• “The Greater Evil – Don’t They Know?” – Gaile Pohlhaus

• “When Talking the Talk is Not Enough” – Carolyn Disco

• “The Measure of a Voice” – Peggie Thorp

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