A Betrayal Of The American

A Betrayal Of The American Experiment: As the American Catholic Church continues to drag its feet in cleaning up the scandal of priestly pedophilia, the ultimate price of the hierarchy's policy of cover-up, denial and delay are beginning to take their toll in the public square.

For while Catholics have been arguing amongst themselves as to what their responsibilities are, non-Catholic observers in the public square are beginning to weigh in to consider what the responsibilities of society at large are in light of the Church's reprehensible behavior.

Case in point: Friday morning's column by commentator Charles Krauthammer. After reviewing the sordid events that so many of us have become uncomfortably familar with, Krauthammer had this to say:

How could they not have called the cops? Of course, they were acting to protect the institution. But they were not just acting on the instinct of self-protection. They were acting under the illusion of isolation. Cardinal Law's wanton disregard for the fundamental requirements of social order -- that crimes be reported and that the citizenry assist in their prosecution -- could only occur in an institution so supremely insulated that it appropriates for itself almost extraterritorial status. It is as if within the kingdom of the church, the norms of the larger society do not apply.

This is shocking. It violates the most elementary notions of civil society. Civil society grants the church autonomy in ritual, belief and practice -- up to the limits of criminality. This is the basic accommodation that any religious community must make within a liberal democracy. Cardinal Law's invocation of the language of social work, of therapy and confession, makes you wonder: What is his conception of citizenship?

Indeed, Law is legally a citizen not just of the United States but of the Vatican. He said he was not aware of this until just a few weeks ago. But aware or not, he has been acting for years like a holder of foreign citizenship. (Indeed, there has even been talk about whether any of the princes of the American church might enjoy diplomatic immunity if hauled into court by civil authorities.)

For centuries, the accusation of double-loyalty has been used as a bigoted canard in the United States against Jews and Catholics alike. But just because this has been the case in the past, doesn't mean it isn't true right now.

In fact, it would be dishonest for me to say anything other than I know that Krauthammer is exactly right. And Church officials should tremble at his words.

In the past, I've noted that the Latin phrase, pro deo, et pro patria,or for God and for country is enscribed upon the facades of thousands of Catholic schools across America. It came into use precisely because of the charge of double loyalty that was lobbed at American Catholics by Protestants who feared that America would be overrun by a tidal wave of papists who would outbreed them and take control of the country.

But the slogan wasn't without meaning. For there is little doubt that since Cardinal Gibbons of Baltimore was installed as the first American Cardinal, that the Catholic Church's contribution to American civil society has been enormous -- a living and breathing example of pro deo, et pro patria writ large.

Among its achievements are the creation of some of the most respected centers for higher learning in this country; a network of charity hospitals and social services that touch more Americans than any other organization; and a system of primary and secondary education that alone seems able to successfully educate our inner-city youth.

That the American Catholic Church has been able to achieve all this is a testament to the sacrifice of millions of Catholics, as well as the Church's sense of mission. More amazing still, is that it has been able to achieve all this in a nation in which Catholics, though the largest single religious denomination in the U.S., are still a decided religious minority.

These achievements are also testament to the success of the American experiment, for there is little doubt that the American Catholic Church could have achieved nearly as much anywhere else. So, while the America may owe the Church much for its contributions, the Church in return also owes America much for giving it the room to live, breath and grow in this country as it has in no other.

So, while American Catholics are rightly concerned to be concentrating on rectifying the betrayal of the faith and the faithful, as Americans we have another duty. We also need to consider what has to be done in light of the fact that the Church, in working to conceal the actions of criminals in its midst, has so deeply betrayed its obligations to civil society at large.

Never in the history of the American Church have the words pro deo, et pro patria rung so hollow. And never in the history of the American Church have the spirit behind those words meant more to its survival.

Over the past few weeks, President Bush, when asked about the scandal, has expressed his confidence that the Church can clean this mess up on its own. Let's hope so. Because if it fails, civil authorities will be more than prepared to deliver a brutal refresher course on the Church's obligations to those outside its flock.

Eric 02:48 PM

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