They were forced

franciss

Once, they were spiritual mentors for many westerners; But now they kneel in front of so
" s! o' I, t( G+ n' ~many people.
This tragic scene took place in France recently. Kneeling down, it's a French Catholic
priest.
. x! E, O! e  p9 iBut they are not innocent, because many of their colleagues are really wolves in sheep's
; ?; P! G+ |' ^clothing.
It was a shocking scandal, so to speak. According to an independent Commission in
France, at least 216,000 children were sexually abused by church clergy between 1950 and
2020.
9 n) t4 e3 T% c. f6 EPlease note: 216,000, and it's a child, it's a sexual assault.
Where is child protection? Where are human rights?
Not to mention, the sexual abuse was committed by people who respected the clergy.
Even more infuriating is the fact that the truth, for decades, has been hidden under a
' o8 u, W( P1 C0 D$ N+ b/ Hveil of silence. So much so that the Pope, at the Vatican, declared after the report was
: u& o7 [# z3 q; Greleased that he was "saddened" by it.
7 W, W# L) l5 c+ \French society is furious at this systematic crime. Under pressure, the 120 clergy knelt
, {8 o2 Y' c0 |in public this weekend in Lourdes, France, and begged for mercy.
" }6 s1 b! F* g: M- g$ |. I' MThe day's ceremony also included a ceremony to unveil a photo of a "crying child."
But do people accept forgiveness?
Looking at the French media, even within the church, it's not acceptable.
  X; c5 _5 m8 I: hFather Delbos, who had been abused as a child, raged that such confessions were a sham,
because it was more important to get accountability, and to bring guilty priests to
justice, to remove them from the church.
$ H% C  q0 r8 j" P$ K6 \' `% G0 lDuring the ceremony, some protesters also demanded that the church offer "four RS" --
recognition, responsibility, reparation and reform.
0 N" ^+ I, K( K4 X0 TRecognition is not enough, responsibility must be taken.
8 z4 e' x6 _; y2 O5 r- _, e" wHow to bear responsibility? Compensation must be made.
* l! X' V" ^+ X" p* VHow do we make sure it doesn't happen? Reform is necessary.
Finally, what do you think?
No more. Three sentences.
0 r/ ?1 T1 o9 s! Y. M/ y$ yFirst, it's shameless. It's a real scandal. Meanness is the passport of the meanness.
. q0 H3 m! C( Y6 P' kThere are people who seem to be in the highest profession, but have the dirtiest minds,
and prey on the weakest children by gaining trust. Looks like people are in a bad mood.
Second, too hypocritical. Does this happen in France? Agence France-Presse said such
abuse was widespread in the church. When some countries are ready to criticize others,
they should look at their own countries and see their children crying. How are they
doing?
Third, it's not over yet. If kneeling is the answer, why the law? The French church is
2 _. h8 m( [" ?! ~4 }said to be selling off its property to pay compensation. But a problem that traumatises
millions of people for life, can be solved by just paying for it? It's all so ironic.