Cover-ups tarnish name of the Church

IN 2018 and early 2019, the Roman Catholic Church was once again rocked by a series of revelations about sexual abuse.

The revelations were not only about the abuse of children, but also about steps taken by leaders in the church to conceal and maybe even protect deviant priests.

It is now known that some bishops’ preferred course of action was to protect the church’s image by repeatedly transferring deviant priests. It appears some Christian leaders subscribe to the view that sins committed by leaders and congregants tarnish the gospel of Jesus Christ and must therefore be covered up at all cost.

Nothing could be further from the truth! The power and importance of the gospel is not dependent on the behaviour of any one Christian or group of Christians.

When this truth is fully grasped, the church will recognise that there is no need to cover up the sinful or criminal behaviour of leaders and members. Criminal behaviour must be exposed and perpetrators handed over to the authorities.

The church could then remind the world of what being a Christian means and demonstrate that the deviant leader or member operated contrary to the teachings of Christ.

Rather than tarnish the image of the church, the above action would show to the world that the church takes its mission seriously. What tarnishes the church’s credibility is cover-ups and attempts to blame the victims for the dastardly deeds of the perpetrators.

EMMANUEL PEEK

Glenwood