The Vatican: Equating the abuse of minors with the attempt to "ordain" women?
How is this for some drama? No, I don't mean that the recent promulgation of substantive norms for discipline by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is so hot- it happens regularly, and is generally pretty dry stuff- but the fact that if NPR says one more time that the "Vatican has equated the ordination of women with the sexual abuse of children," I am going to SCREAM.
Instead of behaving with such obtuse sloppiness in such honeyed tones, the media would do well to begin simply with the facts: the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has issued revised norms for disciplinary measures in central areas of Church life. The attempt to make priestesses is defined as a "more grave delict" against the life of the Church; (Article 5) the sexual abuse of minors is defined as a "more grave" violation of the moral law itself. (Article 6) These are different categories entirely, which even the New York Times is fair enough to recognize, in its brief citation of Msgr. Charles J. Scicluna, the Vatican’s internal prosecutor:
“Sexual abuse and pornography are more grave delicts, they are an egregious violation of moral law,” Monsignor Scicluna said in his first public appearance since the sex abuse crisis hit. “Attempted ordination of women is grave, but on another level, it is a wound that is an attempt against the Catholic faith on the sacramental orders.”
These are the facts and the relevant distinctions. That a horde of antsy feminists and dissenting Catholics wish to take this opportunity to propose that a defunct Church revise its foundational tradition with respect to the sacrament of ordination... that is another maelstrom of a different color. Expect some thoughts on feminist revisionism here in the next few days.
Instead of behaving with such obtuse sloppiness in such honeyed tones, the media would do well to begin simply with the facts: the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has issued revised norms for disciplinary measures in central areas of Church life. The attempt to make priestesses is defined as a "more grave delict" against the life of the Church; (Article 5) the sexual abuse of minors is defined as a "more grave" violation of the moral law itself. (Article 6) These are different categories entirely, which even the New York Times is fair enough to recognize, in its brief citation of Msgr. Charles J. Scicluna, the Vatican’s internal prosecutor:
“Sexual abuse and pornography are more grave delicts, they are an egregious violation of moral law,” Monsignor Scicluna said in his first public appearance since the sex abuse crisis hit. “Attempted ordination of women is grave, but on another level, it is a wound that is an attempt against the Catholic faith on the sacramental orders.”
These are the facts and the relevant distinctions. That a horde of antsy feminists and dissenting Catholics wish to take this opportunity to propose that a defunct Church revise its foundational tradition with respect to the sacrament of ordination... that is another maelstrom of a different color. Expect some thoughts on feminist revisionism here in the next few days.
posted by MM at 12:56 PM
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