Editorial Commentary
Khen Lim
Image source: blog.gaycatholicpriests.org
In 1 Corinthians 6, Paul suggests that when two Christians
have a legal dispute, they should settle it without taking their case before an
unbelieving judge to arbitrate.
Civil cases are inherently different from their criminal
counterparts. A crime represents a danger to society, meaning that it must be
reported to law enforcement agencies according to Romans 13. This means the
investigation, arraignment, hearing, sentencing and incarceration are all
within the authority of the government.
For example, if you knew that a leader in a church is a sexual
predator preying on young and defenceless Christian youths, Paul says you will
be doing the right thing to call the cops because society considers such a
person to be dangerous. In this sense, none of us would be doing the right
thing concealing or ignoring it ‘to protect the reputation of the church.’
In view of these lessons from Paul, how does one explain why,
for more than a century, the Catholic Church hid cases of child sexual abuse
away from public view and scrutiny but did nothing to redress the complaints?
When pressured, the Vatican simply relocated the predator priests where many of
them repeated their crimes all over again.
Sexual crimes do far more damage to individuals and society
than the Catholic Church understands. It’s one thing to compel the victims not
to ever speak to the public again but it’s quite another to leave them
un-compensated and the crimes unaddressed.
It’s time to look at Romans 13 again.
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