March 7, 2012    Letter to "The Age" by Peter Johnstone, Melbourne

Fr  Robert Barron blames the secular media for “one of the darkest periods in (the Church’s) history”, through propagating the “negative side” of the sexual abuse crisis (‘Catholics facing dark days, says US priest’,  The Age 6/3).

Shooting the messenger will not alter the very negative facts. The Catholic Church is still in denial about the official cover-up and protection of paedophile priests. That cover-up, driven by the Vatican, resulted in further abuses by paedophiles moved to new parishes where they could exploit more vulnerable children, and incidentally bring shame on the overwhelming number of good priests and the people of the Church.

The Church has failed to address the real problem, namely an autocratic, centralised, male-dominated institution with unaccountable authority exercised in the interests of the institution at the highest levels, resulting in injustices and maladministration.

Fr Barron preaches a back to basics approach and tells us to hope for saints. I suspect many saints have left the Church in despair with most of the alienated young people now targeted by Fr Barron. Talks and television series from evangelists are a distraction. A fundamental renewal of the Church’s governance is required to enable a real focus on Christ’s teachings.

Peter's previous postings  (Feb 7 and Feb 14)