Ethics and Injustice – the Catholic Church and others.

It is outrageous that an august institution like the Roman Catholic Church should deny the prevalence of physical and sexual abuse and paedophilia within its ranks. For this to be allowed to happen is shameful and indicates that, firstly, the Catholic Church leaders have forgotten (or chosen to ignore) the difference between religion and spirituality. Secondly, the Catholic Church leaders would appear to be (to use an appropriate term) hell bent on preserving the Church’s image, regardless of the consequences.  

Just because someone who attends a church and is well versed in the contents of the Bible (or the Koran or anything else), and can quote it, as the saying goes – chapter and verse – does not mean that they are a “good” person; they may be “religious” but are they spiritual? Spirituality is difficult to define. Generally I think that referring to someone as “spiritual” means that the person has empathy, an awareness, an understanding that there is something above and beyond a person’s apparent existence, something more; that a “Great Artificer” (God, the Divine, Allah) exists and that Humans have souls and a higher purpose than mere existence. The quest for and the fulfilment of this purpose is (or should be) a Human Being’s principle aim.

It is my understanding that the Catholic Church, in fact any organisation or groupings of people performing a similar function, through its leaders and teachers, should be guiding, instructing and helping their followers to do just that – to try and understand that higher purpose. I am not sure that any Religion, of whatever Faith, does this today.

For the Catholic Church leaders to prevaricate, obfusticate and generally deny the problem of abuse and paedophilia within its priesthood is criminal and plain wrong. They are not protecting their image – they are tarnishing it. Worse still they are damaging the mental and physical wellbeing of those they are charged with protecting – their parishioners; the reason for their very existence as a church. The Catholic Church is risking everything for what? For an image? What image and what is ethical or honourable in what they are doing? What they are doing is destroying trust and damaging the wellbeing of countless individuals.  

It is odd that an institution founded on honesty and penitence should struggle so. Today’s Catholic leaders might also recall that clerical abuses of power, defended by legalistic quibbling, greatly angered an itinerant preacher in Palestine two millennia ago (The Economist Mar 18th 2010).

While, fortunately, there are many very good and devoted people in all religions, it is, as always, the case that a few “bad apples spoil the barrel”. Therefore it is hardly surprising that it is not just the Catholic Church that is struggling with the problem of sexual and physical abuse and paedophilia. A search, even a cursory search, of the internet reveals the astonishing and distressing fact that these issues are present in all the Christian Churches, in Islam, in Judaism, in Buddhism and in Hinduism. No one seems to be able to control it or be prepared to do anything about it.

Wherever and whenever males are involved with women and children (and being a male I am distressed to admit this is almost entirely a male problem) male perceptions of “dominance” and “power” come into play and sexual temptation will be ever present. Just because “The Book” (Bible, Koran or whatever) does not explicitly condemn the sexual and physical abuse of women and children does not mean that it is acceptable in any shape or form.

Being a male I am only too aware of the influence of testosterone in daily living. But I believe that I have been able to exercise a measure of restraint and self-control over my actions. My thoughts and dreams are of course another matter entirely. This is where the so called “teachings” and the teachers have failed. Imams, Monks, Preachers and Priests, by virtue of their positions and “superior” knowledge should lead by example; should lead with love; not with fear and certainly not with a “do as I say, not as I do” approach. This “holier than thou” attitude helps no one and destroys that most subtle element of life, trust in others.

It is the “Golden Rule” and a basic tenet of ALL religions that one should treat others as you, yourself, would like to be treated.  This is the ethical, moral way – in fact the only way. Self-restraint, self-discipline, empathy and an understanding of the unwritten “Law” of Cause and Effect; that whatever a person does will have unanticipated consequences; that what goes around comes around; that a person reaps what they sow; that they will have to sleep in the bed they have made, appear to be beyond the comprehension of Church leaders and leaders of other religious organisations. There are countless myths, legends and children’s stories, in all languages, detailing the consequences of wrong doing and of harming people. Does anyone read and reflect on these today?

Is it any wonder that there is so much violence in the world when those who are supposed to promote, preach and “spread the Word” about “loving thy neighbour as thyself”, themselves by their actions, do nothing of the sort.

That ALL the “great” religions of the world have declined to such an extent that they have lost their moral compass and are seemingly unable to distinguish right from wrong, is a sad reflection on our day and age. Trying to get back to the roots of any religion by reverting to an outdated, primitive and “fundamental” interpretation of the Bible or the Koran, or any other “Book”, will just compound the problem.

It would appear that Religion today, as practiced by all faiths, has been reduced to a shell hollowed out by hypocrisy, immorality, injustice and unethical conduct.

Shame on you!

(For the record I was baptised as an Anglican – Church of England – but I do not attend any church and do not align myself with any particular faith).