Speaking in German, a Dutch cardinal told a tv audience “Wir haben es nicht gewusst” (we knew nothing) about the sexual abuse of children and young people by Dutch clergy, now (finally) coming to light. The allusion to the post-war German claim — the excuse — was obvious, and apparently intended, though the New York Times story is not entirely clear about this. If so, it was an important admission of guilt, and of a particularly embarrassing and humiliating kind of guilt — a kind of laziness or worse, moral sloth, a refusal to choose the good and therefore a choice to let the innocent suffer.
In any case, as the newspaper reports:
Figures released Thursday by an investigative commission showed that almost 2,000 people have made complaints of sexual or physical abuse against the church, in a country with only 4 million Catholics.
“The Roman Catholic church has not faced a crisis like this since the French Revolution,” said Peter Nissen, professor of the history of religion at Radboud University, of the growing abuse scandal.
With one legal case starting this week, and accusations against two former bishops, the reaction of the church appears to have fueled the crisis. Nearly all of the cases are decades old, with probably no more than 10 from the last 20 years.
It is rare for a major news story to include that last qualification, many of them having been written as if the charges were all already proven and all contemporary. That is something, both that the recent cases are so few and that the New York Times recognizes that.
December 9th, 2010 | 4:59 pm
“If so, it was an important admission of guilt [by the Dutch Cardinal], and of a particularly embarrassing and humiliating kind of guilt — a kind of laziness or worse, moral sloth, a refusal to choose the good and therefore a choice to let the innocent suffer.”
That’s a good statement, David.
December 9th, 2010 | 5:22 pm
For the record…10 in the last 20 years is STILL too much and too many. Let’s not down play how horrible this is.
December 10th, 2010 | 8:46 am
It has always taken and will always take decades before most victims can understand how deeply they are wounded and find the courage to speak up. So no one should misinterpret the fact that more older cases (and apparently fewer recent ones) are surfacing now. Only the most naive would assume this is because there are allegedly fewer clergy sex crimes and cover ups happening now.
David Clohessy, Director, SNAP, Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, (7234 Arsenal Street, St. Louis MO 63143), 314 566 9790 cell (SNAPclohessy@aol.com)
December 10th, 2010 | 9:19 am
It is important to recognize the fact that the vast majority of those abused as children WILL NOT come forward for many years, if ever. The shame, guilt, lack of self esteem, depression, anxiety, addictions, are just a few of the after affects which hinders the ability of the victim to deal with their abuse history earlier in life. I for one am convinced that there are many more recent cases, we just haven’t come to know of them yet because these victims are, at this point unable to come forward.
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