Kabuki theater is a form of traditional Japanese drama with highly stylized song, mime, and dance, now performed only by male actors, using exaggerated gestures and body movements to express emotions, and including historical plays, domestic dramas, and dance pieces.
What I’ve read coming from the American Bishops in response to the Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report is precisely a kabuki play.
Oh... the laments, the shock, the sorrows, the apologies were forthcoming this past weekend as Bishops expressed shame and embarrassment over the depth and breadth of the abuse and cover up revealed in the report.
It was, and the faithful know it, all an act.
The truth is that all the information contained in the Pennyslvania Grand Jury Report came from files which the Bishops had within their possession.
Didn’t these Bishops bother to read those files?
If they didn’t read them, they should be removed from office for their brazen lack of care or concern for the innocent children who were left to be preyed upon by homosexual Clergy.
If they did read them, why did they not take the lead in revealing these sad and sordid details to law enforcement and share them with the People of God?
Why didn't the Bishops themselves begin the arduous task of trying to re-establish trust and offer a glimmer of hope that those in authority were finally willing to take the initiative in holding themselves responsible and accountable?
If Bishops knew of the scandals (they were aware, have no doubt) and did not come clean about them with those entrusted to their care, they should be removed from office for their hypocrisy and duplicity.
The fact is the Bishops know they are on the hot seat and are resorting to the kabuki-like dramatic expressions of dismay and sorrow of this past weekend.
It won’t work.
Still, they refuse to concede that their failings and the failings of their predecessors reveal, in an excruciatingly painful manner, the fact that only secular authority and law enforcement can properly deal with allegations of sexual abuse by Clergymen.
Only the cops and prosecutors and judges and juries are equipped to investigate and prosecute these crimes and ensure that the abusers are no longer in a position to hurt children again.
Bishops and their delegates have proven repeatedly that they cannot be trusted to respond even close to adequately.
Sexual abuse is not an administrative matter. It's not an internal Church matter. Sexual abuse of a minor is a crime. A particularly heinous crime!
It is beyond understanding that for so long the Bishops treated these atrocious acts as anything less than that.
In what I believe will be a very short period of time, every United States Attorney will begin investigating Bishops’ actions.
Why?
Because if the scandal could be that widespread in Pennsylvania, it could be equally widespread throughout the country.
There is absolutely no reason whatsoever to think that this culture of complicity and deception could flourish in just one state or venue.
Cardinal O’Malley, supposedly the Church’s watchdog in matters of the sexual abuse of minors, has hinted at the truth, even as he tries to skirt some very disturbing allegations of mismanagement of allegations which were presented directly to him.
The Cardinal knows that the Bishops have been compromised and with them the moral voice of the Church itself.
If the Church has shown it cannot be trusted to do the right thing when it comes to protecting the welfare of the most innocent and vulnerable, if Bishops can be blinded by concern for the institution over care for victims, why would anyone trust anything they have to say about anything whatsoever.
Archbishop Allen Vigneron (a classmate from Rome) asked the question: "If the people don't trust us, how can we lead?"
The answer, dear Brother, is that they don't and you can't any longer. How very sad, indeed.
Even before the sexual abuse scandal broke in America in 2002, the Bishops had little impact upon the consciences of the faithful who turned away from them and showed their readiness to accept abortion (in some limited situations), euthanasia, homosexuality, same-sex marriage and a whole slew of social and ethical issues.
Bishops will find it even harder now to influence and direct the moral compass of their flocks.
The Church has already lost the present and probably the next generation of would-be followers because it made them feel like fools for thinking that they would never again face shocking and horrifying stories involving the sexual abuse of children.
The Bishops, who brazenly exempted themselves from any of the accountability they eagerly heaped upon Priests in the Dallas Charter for the Protection of Children, have been revealed in the Grand Jury Report to have been equal villains all along.
It will take an extraordinary effort on their part, if that is even possible, before the People of God will trust them again.
But, judging from their statements this past weekend, they still don’t get it.
Who they are and what they've become speaks so loudly the People of God cannot hear what they are saying.
Nor do they care to listen any longer.
The Bishop is the Vicar of Christ in his own diocese. He is to be the embodiment of Jesus Christ to those he shepherds.
This precious and wonderful reality has been tainted and damaged seriously, critically, by these scandals.
This is what hurts every reasonable and faithful member of the Church to admit.
Please, Holy Spirit, we need Your healing and Your Wisdom at this moment.
Come, Holy Spirit, come!
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