Scandal in the Church

It is becoming common for dioceses to release the name of priests who've been credibly accused of sexual misconduct.  This week, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse released just such a list, going back to 1950.

All of the offending priests who are still alive are in positions where they cannot do any harm now. In fact, that has been the practice of most, if not all, US dioceses since the scandal first broke in the early years of the last decade.

Now, it's claimed that not all offending priests are listed there, and, by all accounts, the diocese is cooperating in searching records to bring out all names. 

With the extra names, the list will reach maybe 100 names.

100 priests over 70 years.

Now, let's get some perspective.  How many priests have served in the diocese during the same period?

There are currently 127 parishes in the diocese.  Given the recent number of parish closings, let's say that there were 150 parishes 20 years ago.  And, at the time, many parishes had as many as 5 priests in residence, so, let's take 3 as an average.
So, we're talking about a minimum of 450 priests active in parishes 20 years ago.  The number was certainly higher, since not all priests are in parishes.

Using figures for the shrinking number of priests, we arrive at roughly 1200 priests active in 1950, the first year of the report.

There certainly have been many more priests active in the diocese in the last 70 years, but let's use 1200 for the sake or argument.

What does that tell us?
1 out of every 12 priests (in this scenario) are offenders. They betrayed Christ.
Jesus picked 12 men, and one out of those 12 was an offender. He betrayed Christ.

There is NO excuse for these 100 men, none whatsoever.
Remember his words? "But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea".  Matt 18:6
God will take care of them.

But, will you abandon Peter because of Judas?
Will you abandon the Sacraments because of Judas?
Will that clean up Judas's action, or will it just hurt you?

Don't leave the Church because of those who've betrayed Christ.
Don't hurt yourself to spite them.

12/7/2018

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12/10/2018 - update

I came across this article to further support the idea that abandoning the Church at this time, for this reason, is foolish at best.
Enough, Mr. Dreher! (An Open Letter from a Concerned Catholic Priest)