In February 2004, CNN was able to view a draft copy of a survey prepared by the Catholic Church. It revealed that 4,450 of the 110,000 Roman Catholic clergy (4%) who served between 1950 and 2002 have been accused of molesting minors. This has resulted in 11,000 individual abuse claims filed against Catholic clergy during that interval.
In February 2005, Dr. Kathleen McChesney of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said that the crisis is not yet over because thousands of victims across the country are still reporting the abuse.
She said "In 2004, at least 1,092 allegations of sexual abuse were made against at least 756 Catholic priests and deacons in the United States. Most of the alleged incidents occurred between 1965 and 1974. What is over is the denial that this problem exists, and what is over is the reluctance of the church to deal openly with the public about the nature and extent of the problem." Source: Religious Tolerance Organisation - Ontario
In this chapter, I am going to elaborate on the murder of my brother. I call it murder because the priest who molested him took both his life and soul. Often priests who have molested children are described as ‘soul stealers.’
When I grew up as a Catholic, I was brought up on guilt. Priests and nuns were people who were to be obeyed; after all, we were taught that they were direct employees of God.
Priests were scary to me. Nuns were, too. My memories of these very strict teachers dressed in their full habits are of fear and dread. Dread, because they would tell us that if we did not go to Mass on Sunday or if we lied or were naughty we would end up in a terrible place called Purgatory. The nuns and priests made us fear God.
I have always wondered who am I and why am I here. This question has been with me since I can remember, and I always questioned why a loving father, God, would punish his children so severely, and for what real purpose?
For my brother, his mistrust in God and the Universe came about from the betrayal of God’s direct representative, a priest. In this case, what is even more disgusting is that this was the priest who befriended my family.
After Gary died, we tried to have Father Len prosecuted for his crime. We did not succeed as there was not enough evidence, although since then I have heard of others who have mentioned his name as an assaulter.
I believe in Karma. In other words, what you give out in this world, you get back. If you give good, you get back good; if you give bad, you get that back, too.
I believe when we die, we judge ourselves. I do not believe God sits on a throne and delivers our punishment to us. The God that I have learnt to love in my adult life and during my own spiritual journey is one of great love, without judgement.
When a soul dies, it has to review its life. It has to feel the pain or the happiness it caused others whilst here on Earth. It cannot hide from this, no matter how much it wants to. Only the truth is revealed, and no matter how delusional the soul was whilst incarnate on Earth, it can’t hide behind that delusion in the next life.
So, although the Catholic Church would not take on our case, I rest in my heart knowing that Father Len will pay for his crimes in the next life, if not this one. No, he won’t burn in hell, but he will feel the pain he caused my brother, myself, my family and everyone who was effected by Gary’s pain and death. That’s what gives me comfort.
