St. Peter's Square and Basilica, the principle church of the Roman Catholics.

With everything that people in this country are arguing about, we as a people forget the many things we can agree on. One of those things is the idea that anyone who would do physical harm to a child is not someone who should be allowed to walk free in society. Many people would say there is nothing worse than that crime. But, in my opinion, there is and that would be the people who cover up these crimes or give safe havens to those who have committed these heinous acts. It is because of this that I am issuing a call that Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI, be arrested for knowingly harboring those who have or would impose physical harm to children.

While Benedict’s reign began with something that resembled appropriate action towards these monsters, by “disciplining” Father Marcial Maciel Degollado, his actions prior to becoming pope do not speak so well. The most damning of his actions came in the 1980s when he was serving as prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith. In 1978, the Rev. Stephen Kiesle was arrested for tying up two boys and molesting them. He pleaded no contest and was sentenced to three years probation.

While Kiesle took an extended leave of absence, the bishop of Oakland wrote the Vatican to have the priest defrocked. Instead of this happening immediately, a debate ensued in writing between the bishop and Ratzinger’s office. A letter signed by Ratzinger in 1985 stresses to think of the “good of the universal Church” as opposed to just defrocking the priest, which happened two years later.

The amount of letters that Ratzinger’s office received about this kind of conduct is startling. The only thing more shocking was that these complaints were not given more attention. The Vatican, to this day, harbors Cardinal Bernard Law, who personally wrote memos about transferring priests who had been accused of sexual abuse to different parishes. This is a man who knowingly covered tracks for people who have raped and tortured children, and the Catholic Church lets him walk free within their confines.

This all speaks to a much larger issue, which is the attitude the Catholic Church displays when these allegations come up. It seems the first thought of church officials is not how can they protect the children, but more along the line of how can they protect their institution.

What does this say about that institution? To me, it says that it’s more important, in their eyes, to have people believe in their organization than to make sure that child rapists are locked up. In fact, only recently did the Vatican officially say that bishops should report such accusations to civil authorities. Why should that have to be said by the higher ups? Should that not be common sense? It should, but the church is still debating whether to adhere to civil law or canon law. Once again, the true attitudes of the Vatican show, and they’re disgusting.

It should never be a question of protecting the religion or which laws to adhere to. It should always be about protecting the children.

But this just shows an even bigger problem, the one called religion. Because Catholicism has so many followers, many people feel reluctant to criticize them so harshly. Because it’s a religion that so many take so seriously, it may seem like in going after the leadership we are also going after its followers.

Well the time has come to wake up and see these people at the top of this institution for what they are — criminals. If these people were not covered by religion, they would be in jail. And to those who doubt me on this, I bring up an analogy Bill Maher made. Imagine if instead of a religion, the pope were the CEO of an international chain of daycare centers where employees were caught raping children, the crimes being covered up and the rapists transferred to different branches where they were put in direct contact with other children. I am very sure that that daycare would be bankrupt and out of business. So, why would we give a religious institute that kind of exemption for these crimes?

But in the end, justice is what matters. The main thing is that the people who committed these crimes and those who covered their tracks are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Catholic League President Bill Donahue and the Vatican Secretary of State have called this a homosexual crisis even though there is no link between pedophilia, hebephilia or ephebophilia (sexual attractions based on various stages of adolescence) and homosexuality. Another cardinal said the treatment of Catholic priests was like that toward Jews during the Nazi regime. But wanting justice for the rape and torture of children from those who are actually responsible is hardly persecution. Examples must be made. Though I’m sure Pope Benedict XVI does not condone child rape, for the role he has played in protecting those who have, he must serve his time.

Charles Bright is a student at NOVA and president of the Alexandria campus Gay-Straight Alliance.

By: Charles Bright

By: Contributing Author

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