Pope Benedict, Sexual Abuse and Humility of Persons in Authority

I have said before that the statistics of childhood sexual abuse are maddening (which really doesn’t say enough!) Furthermore, most child sexual abusers are known, trusted individuals and people with a form of power.  “Respect your elders,” children are told. But, what happens when children are asked to be submissive in a traumatic fashion which will impact them for years to come?

Is there a righteous defiance we can teach children that doesn’t lead to self-righteous rebellion?

I am not a papal scholar but I believe that much of Pope Benedict’s legacy will be haunted by the Catholic church’s failed response in confronting the child sexual abuse by priests. This morning, I wonder, is Pope Benedict’s resignation an act of humility?

In short, he states, “I am no longer able to perform my duties.” Sounds like humility to me, but a further step might be added, “...and I failed at times in the past.”

Powerful people need humility if only to know when to call it quits. People in authority need humility to be able to protect the defenseless.

Alice Miller wrote, “Wherever I look, I see signs of the commandment to honor one’s parents and nowhere of a commandment that calls for the respect of child.”

Again, I ask, what do we teach our children? How do we protect them from the “powerful” people who live next door or just down the hall or across the globe who defend predators with silence?