The Pedophiles

Today’s readings cover a number of different points, but our Lord’s words at the beginning of the Gospel (from Luke 17th chapter) leap out.

Scandals will inevitably arise,
but woe to him through whom they come.
He would be better off
thrown into the sea with a millstone around his neck
than giving scandal to one of these little ones.

(The word translated here as “scandal” is the actual Greek word from which the English word comes. It can also be understood in the sense of a “stumbling block,” an “occasion of sin,” or a “thing that causes sin.”)


As I hear or read these words, I cannot but help think of the horrible scandal of pedophiles among the clergy.

In my life, I have known literally hundreds of priests and out of those hundreds, I later learned that a handful had sinned against at least one child (these men are all barred from public ministry – and more than one is in prison). May God bring healing to all their victims.

It is a terrible, horrible crime. It makes me very angry and the idea of throwing these offenders into the sea with a millstone around their necks very much resonates with my anger.

Several other relevant points also call out to me from today’s readings.

“If your brother sins, rebuke him.” Certainly those who knew of these sins and did not do what they could to rebuke or stop the sin deserve some blame. Likewise, all of us need to be mindful of our own obligations to point out sin (exercising prudence and true charity). We dare not always choose to “look the other way.”


…and if he repents, forgive him.
And if he wrongs you seven times in one day
and returns to you seven times
saying, ‘I am sorry,'
you should forgive him.

This is very important. We must forgive – even the man we know has committed terrible evil against children. This is necessary for our mental health (holding onto anger and hatred endlessly is very destructive) and necessary for our salvation. We must even forgive repeated offenses. We must always forgive.

That is not to say that we ignore our obligations to society and to victims. We must forgive the repentant offender (even the habitual repentant offender), but we must also protect against that offender. Too many bishops, religious superiors, and even civil parole boards have erred in this regard - with pedophiles and other criminals - almost always meaning well while needlessly permitting evil.


How do we forgive these monsters who have abused children? It is difficult – very, very difficult – and so, we need the Lord’s help to do the impossible, to forgive the unforgivable.

And the Apostles said to the Lord,
"Increase our faith."
The Lord replied,
"If you have faith the size of a mustard seed,
you would say to this mulberry tree,
‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,'
and it would obey you."


Finally, when we reflect on scandals committed by celibate clergy, we are reminded by today’s first reading that priests and bishops in the early Church were married. Marriage, however, is no guard against pedophilia - most pedophiles are married. Celibacy is not the issue. Celibate or married, church leaders must be (and usually are) “temperate, just, holy, and self-controlled - holding fast to the true message as taught.”


None of us are perfect, but we – as individuals and as a Church (each in our own way) – must strive toward ever greater perfection, healing where there is harm and growing in the fullness of truth, charity, and holiness in the mighty name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.