And then, of course, there is the case of revenge. What better way to vent your anger against a priest than accuse him of being a sexual predator who molested you years ago. No one can prove it didn't happen, and an accusation these days is as good as a conviction. What a sweet revenge for troubled individual who has fabricated an injury by a priest who may have done nothing more than speak a hard truth in love.
The cases of child abuse are horrifying and I've read several books about them, but that doesn't mean all priests are guilty or that there aren't liars who will take advantage of a feeding frenzy to get a free handout.
Who is defending the rights of priests? Not their bishops!
I've been reading the accounts of the trial and conviction of Fr. Gordon MacRae who has spent 16 years in prison for an accusation of sex abuse that he denies. He refused a plea bargain that would have given him a reduced term in exchange for pleading guilty. He could have been out of jail thirteen years ago by saying two little words, "I'm guilty." It's hard to imagine that a guilty priest, a sex abuser in fact, would remain in prison for years rather than admit guilt. What does he have to gain? More prison time. Even parole is linked to an admission of guilt. I have no way to know whether Father is guilty or innocent, but I find it hard to believe a guilty man would cling to innocence when he had so much to gain by pleading guilty.
There are no doubt innocent priests in prison or suspended. Some were advised by diocesan lawyers to avoid trials and minimize settlements by accepting plea bargains admitting guilt, even when they were innocent. (That actually happened to me after an arrest at a Catholic church where Call to Action was meeting.) I also know a priest in that situation. In many cases, dioceses would rather settle than engage in litigation to defend their priests. What do you think they would do if the accused was the bishop?
Pray for all innocent priests who are suffering like Our Savior, falsely accused and executed for our sins. May their sufferings be joined to His on the cross in atonement for the sins of the world.
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