Judge not lest ye be judged

There are few topics of note that have generated as much controversy as the child abuse scandal in in Ireland. The simple hypocrisy of the whole story has changed the way Irish people view their priests and to an extent, the Catholic Church itself. These revelations have done nothing to stop the numbers flocking to have their kids confirmed or baptised as Catholics all the same.

We can talk around the Rome situation in Ireland all day. The reality is the Catholic Church had far too much influence and power in the origins of the state for the humble people of our nation to make any kind of choice. So instead of hating the church for its abuses, not just against children but also the mistreatment of young pregnant women, we enshrine it as something to be proud of, something to make us different from those Protestant Queen loving Brits. There seems to be something inherently wrong with the idea of hating a people whose ancestors committed crimes doubtless, but we have more time for an institution that has committed heinous crimes in the here and now. No surprises.

Furthermore is the decision not to prosecute the guilty but rather let the Church deal with them in their own manner. If these crimes had been committed by any other member of society we would be quick to throw them in jail and keep them on file as committed sex offenders. If these were church leaders from any denomination we would have no problem condemning them and the religion they served under. It's a disgrace that the Irish government has taken this cowardly decision to let be. And what has become of the men accused? They have been moved to another parish, not treated, not kept in isolation. They have served no time for their crimes. There is no justice for their victims.

And what answer to the sinners bring forward? The Catholic Church have stopped short of issuing a full apology to the people it has terrorised. Instead it has labelled the incidents as related to homosexuality which the Church currently condemns as a sin. So instead of taking the blame, perhaps realising that it's antiquated laws forbiding members of the clergy to marry, the Church has blamed its abuses on sexuality. Considering there is no link between the paedophilia and homosexuality it seems as though the Church is doing all it can to place the blame anywhere but on itself.

It is the book of the Church that will hold them accountable for their actions as it seems the government cannot. On the last day they will be judged for the crimes they have committed and the abuses they have hidden.