Catholic Church Crisis

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that the current crisis in the Catholic Church is not so much a result of the accusations that some priests have sexually abused children, as it is a result of the response of the Catholic Church to the accusations. The paper contends that it is time that the Church be made aware that, although such crimes are often handled quietly, the public perception may be quite different than perception by Church leaders and that the Church should respond to public perceptions.

From the Paper:

"The Catholic Church in the United States has come under severe scrutiny not because a few priests have sexually abused children but because the public perception has been that the Church's response has been to try to hide the facts, buy off the victims, and not deal effectively with priests who hove committed these crimes. Those who have dedicated their life's work to the service of God by becoming priests may not fully recognize the effects these crimes have had not only on the general public but lay Catholics as well. This may be partly due to the media, who quite naturally cover events in their own immediate area more than national news of individual crimes. Even within the Catholic Church we may not be fully aware of the large amount of time this scandal has covered so far. The Church has often chosen to deal with charges of sexual abuse quietly and privately, and have taken an attitude of "hate the sin but love the sinner" toward priests who have committed these crimes."

More papers on Catholic Church Crisis:

• Analytical Essay # 130264 : "The Crisis in the Catholic Church"
• Dissertation or Thesis # 106140 : "Child Abuse and the Catholic Church"
• Essay # 68216 : "The Catholic Church and Sex Offenders "

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