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Top 10 Myths About Clergy Abuse in the Catholic Church

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Top 10 Myths About Clergy Abuse in the Catholic Church August 9, 2019 9, August r r Top 10 myths about clergy abuse in the Catholic Church The year anniversary on clerical abuse in that state during the past 70 years found only two cases of the PA grand jury PSYCHOLOGY from the 21st century—with both cases already known and managed (Office report offers a point TODAY of Attorney General of the Common- wealth of Pennsylvania, 2018; Stein- for reflection. Thomas G. Plante PhD, ABPP fels, 2019). One Church, East to West: Loving Jesus, Serving Sharing Jesus East to West: One Church, exual abuse perpetrated by Ro- Myth 3: Most clerical abuse man Catholic priests has been same time frame as the Catholic cleri- perpetrators have hundreds of DIOCESE OF SPRINGFIELD—CAPE GIRARDEAU, MISSOURI GIRARDEAU, OF SPRINGFIELD—CAPE DIOCESE headline news for years. But even cal data was obtained. Furthermore, young child victims. with so much press attention, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual Sthere are many commonly accepted (DSM-5; American Psychiatric Associa- Sensational cases of clerical abuse myths about this issue. Remarkably, tion, 2013) report that approximately dominate the press. The famous Fr. quality evidence-based research and three to five percent of men meet John Geoghan case in Boston that was facts about the problem doesn’t always the diagnostic criteria for pedophilia. highlighted in the 2002 Boston Globe’s receive attention while sensationalized These numbers increase significantly if Spotlight report included credible or stories that create a particular—but you include men who sexually vio- substantiated reports of 138 victims sometimes false—narrative do. This late post-pubescent teenagers which over many years (Boston Globe Investi- ultimately misinforms and harms the is illegal in most jurisdictions but not gative Staff, 2002). Other famous cases The Mir The public—not to mention efforts to keep a diagnosable psychiatric disorder ac- (e.g., Fr. James Porter in Massachusetts kids safe in and outside of the Church. cording to the DSM-5. and Fr. Gilbert Gauthe in Louisiana) As we approach the year anni- In other words, there simply is no also included a large number of victims versary of the recent uptick in media evidence that Catholic priests sexu- as well. Vol. LV, No. 8 No. LV, Vol. attention due to the release of the ally abuse children or teens at rates But these examples are actually Pennsylvania grand jury report (as well higher than other groups of men, in or anomalies. In reality, the average num- as the now-former Cardinal McCarrick outside of religious communities; they ber of victims per offender is about abuse allegations), let’s review the top may actually abuse at rates lower than one, and only 129 clerics accounted 10 myths about clerical abuse in the the general population of men and of for more than a quarter of all known Catholic Church. public school teachers during similar cases of abuse. This suggests that a very time periods. small number of serial offenders caused Myth 1: Sexual abuse is more much of the abuse crisis (John Jay Col- common among Catholic priests Myth 2: Catholic clerical sexual lege of Criminal Justice, 2004, 2011). than other groups of men. abuse is still common today. The most common offense by far was fondling, not rape or penetration. About four percent of Catholic The relentless press attention Clerics raping young prepubescent clerics had credible or substantiated gives the impression that sexual abuse victims were rare. The most common accusations of child sexual abuse of mi- of children is still commonplace in abuse story involved a cleric fondling nors (both prepubescent children and the Catholic Church, even though the one victim, who was typically a teen- postpubescent teens) during the last vast majority of cases of clerical abuse age boy. (Of course, all victimization is half of the 20th century (John Jay Col- occurred before the mid-1980s (John horrific and should be addressed.) lege of Criminal Justice, 2004, 2011). Jay College of Criminal Justice, 2004, Research data, although from limited 2011). After the Church 2002 reforms Myth 4: Fewer numbers of small scale studies, finds the prevalence articulated in the Dallas Charter and reported victims in recent years of clerical abuse among non-Catholic Essential Norms (US Conference of is because it takes decades for religious communities consistent with Catholic Bishops, 2002a, 2002b) the victims to come forward. the Catholics. If you review insurance number of new cases in the US aver- claims against Church communities aged about a dozen per year; during In the past, victims were reluctant for sexual victimization perpetrated by the past five years, it is down to about to come forward and report abuse by their clerics, you’ll find that that there one new case per year. The Church Catholic clerics. This is also true of is no difference between Catholic and has gone from averaging about 660 non-Catholic abuse cases, as well as The next issue of The Mirror non-Catholic groups (Zech, 2011). new cases of abuse per year during the abuse perpetrated by other high status will be Aug. 23, 2019. A US Department of Education 1970s to about 1 new case per year and powerful individuals (e.g., teach- Experiencing delayed USPS study found that about six percent of since about 2014 (John Jay College of ers, coaches, esteemed relatives). Back delivery? Sign up to receive the diocesan newspaper via Email public school teachers had credible or Criminal Justice, 2011; Steinfels, 2019; in the mid to late 20th century, there in digital format: Contact Angie substantiated claims of sexual abuse US Conference of Catholic Bishops, were good reasons to keep reports of Toben at (417) 866-0841, or of minor children under their charge 2018). In fact, few realize that the well- Email: [email protected]. (Shakeshaft, 2004a, 2004b) during the known Pennsylvania grand jury report See Top 10 Myths / 10 2 The Mirror COLUMN August 9, 2019 COME, AND YOU WILL SEE Church needs men & women of zeal Bp. Edward M. Rice rom Sun., Aug. 4 to Thu., Aug. 8, the seminarians of our diocese were together for days of reflection and formation at Fthe Annual Seminarian Gathering in Forsyth, MO. Each morning had time set aside for prayer, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, and Mass. There was also a conference offered daily that centered on the spiritual life or an aspect of our diocese. I am grateful to Sr. Richard Mary Burke, RSM, and Sr. Cecilia Ann Rezac, MS, for taking time to be with our seminarians and offering their insights in healthcare and education within the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau. I would like to share with all of you the hom- ily that I offered to our seminarians on the last day of our gathering, Aug. ANNUAL SEMINARIAN GATHERING—Bishop Edward M. Rice, Fr. Andrew Williams, and Fr. Scott Sunnenberg 8, the Feast of St. Dominic: posed for a group photo with diocesan seminarians during the annual Seminarian Gathering held in Forsyth, If you enter St. Anthony of Padua MO, Aug. 4-8. More photos will be shared in the next edition of The Mirror, Aug. 23, our “End of Summer” issue. Parish in South St. Louis and walk down (Photo by Dean Curtis/The Mirror) the main aisle to the sanctuary, you will find on the upper left wall a painting of Along with the Franciscans, St. parish level. St. Dominic is often sym- the meeting between St. Dominic and St. Dominic’s Order became the most power- bolized by a dog with a flaming torch, Francis of Assisi. I believe it is St. Francis ful order in medieval times, not in the a dream that his mother had about him who was pulling back a curtain, reveal- sense of earthly power but in the sense before he was born, implying that St. ing what is the focus of their attention, of raising up holy saints known for their Dominic would be the “hound of the a crucifix. Some historians speculate preaching, their focus on the spiritual Lord,” and would set the world on fire by whether St. Dominic and St. Francis life, their love of the Blessed Mother, and his zeal and preaching. His legacy as a actually met, but they did travel in some the fight against various heresies. legacy of sanctity, one of prayer, poverty, August prayer intention: of the same areas numerous times. Pious These two contemporaries, St. and devotion to Our Lady and her rosary. May the Solemnity of the Assump- legend holds that they did meet and I’m Dominic and St. Francis, caused a spiri- How does this apply to us today? tion of Mary (August 15) inspire confident that it was a spiritual encoun- tual revival, a rejuvenation throughout In every age, God raises up saints all of us to keep our eyes fixed on ter with Christ crucified the focus of their the Church, similar to what St. John needed to face the challenges of that heaven, our true home. Where she communications and work. Vianney was able to accomplish on the era. God raises up martyrs, intellec- has gone, may we hope to follow. tual giants, contemplatives, and those dedicated to the works of mercy: men Please join Bishop Edward M. Rice as he offers and women of holiness who inspire the Holy day people of their generation. We need those Mass of Healing saints today. Our needs are great. We The Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin for the Church in Southern Missouri as the faithful come together need priest-saints today who through Mary, Aug. 15, is a holy day of Supporting & Inspiring One Another in Healing Broken Hearts, their zeal and integrity of life, counteract obligation.
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