Postscript to Breaking the law

Father Tom Doyle

In response to my last blog Breaking the law, a Roman Catholic friend asks if he does not detect a slight sympathy for his Roman Catholic convictions. Although, he has to say to say that he agrees with a lot of the content of my argument, and from a position of heartfelt sorrow.

He is certainly right in discerning sympathy for individual Roman Catholics — though not exactly for Roman Catholicism as such. I have instanced Archbishop Romero — a man of the highest courage and conviction. However, I am also thinking of those Italian nuns who sheltered hundreds of Jewish children during the war, gave them non–Jewish names, and saved them from certain death. Moreover — back in the 1970s — returning from Florence by train, I remember sharing a couchette with — among others — a nun. She was integrity from head to toe, and would have been stunned by the recent revelations. I guess that Papal power is the problem — it has become an end in itself, and what has this to do with Christ? He would I think have been white with anger at the prospect.

{ 'We need infallibility about as much as a duck hunter needs an accordion.' Fr Tom Doyle } 

Having watched the BBC Panorama programme on Monday, What the Pope Knew, I was heartened and inspired by the views of Father Tom Doyle, an American Dominican Priest. Just about everything has been done to silence him. He has been called a blasphemer, traitor, and heretic, and is all but barred from serving mass or being involved in public ministry without church approval. Here is a short extract from an interview with Ruben Rosario of the Catholic News USA, 29 March 2010:

Doyle: I remember an archbishop said to me: "Tom, calm down about this. No one is ever going to sue the Catholic Church about this."

Rosario: And here we are, well over $2 billion in payouts so far and counting.

Doyle: Exactly, as well as more than 4,000 civil cases.

Here is a further extract from an interview with George Negus on the Australian TV programme, Dateline, broadcast in 2005:

GEORGE NEGUS: People are asking questions like, "Will we see priests and bishops end up in jail as a result of this?" "Will we see the Pope having to consider resignation?" But you've actually said, "Punishing the perpetrators is completely missing the forest standing behind the trees. The clerical culture entwined with the institution needs to be fearlessly examined and dismantled as we know it." Isn't that more-or-less what I was saying before - knocking the whole edifice down and rebuilding? You're questioning almost the very basis of Catholicism. 

FATHER TOM DOYLE: It's unfortunate that it takes this type of destruction to move it towards change, but that's what has to happen, I believe. I'm not one anymore to mince words and be diplomatic and fart around with this. I mean, this is it. I've spent 25 years talking to people who've been ruined because of this stuff, and you know, the whole damn thing, they ought to sell the Vatican to the Mormons or to Disney or something and go out and start all over again.

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After note My wife pointed out that my use of the word ‘stench’, was a bit strong, and that the Vatican is not a midden. I do agree!