The Rev. Mark Reamer of St. Francis of Assisi Church in Raleigh reflected on the sex abuse scandal in his Easter Sunday homily, excerpted here.
"As a Catholic, I am saddened, as a priest scandalized myself that such a self-centered betrayal of trust of the vulnerable by brother priests has gone on - especially without the intervention of those entrusted with the authority to stop it. Why would someone want to remain in this scarred and scandal-filled church? Much less join it?
"I offer not a defense of the church - I have no intention of defending the horrible actions of those who have committed sinful and criminal acts. If anything, I agree with speech writer Peggy Noonan, who wrote in an op-ed [on April 2, 2010] in The Wall Street Journal. She notes:
The press has been the best friend of the Catholic Church on the scandals because it exposed the story and made the church face it. The press forced the church to admit, confront and attempt to redress what had happened. The press forced them to confess. The press forced the church to change the old regime and begin to come to terms with the abusers.
"There is a freedom once something is known - and now we've got to deal with it. ...
"Why would someone want to remain or even to enter this scarred and scandal-filled Roman Catholic Church? Ultimately, I am drawn by hope. A hope that is stronger than despair ... a truth that towers over the world of falsehood ... the Light of the World that scatters every darkness. That, in all its greatness and mystery and wonder, is our faith."
