Tag: Pope Francis

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Letter From The Editor Opinion

Prayers and Predators

CREDIT: Wikipedia | Jeon Han

So the pedophile ring wasn’t in a Washington, D.C., pizza parlor basement. It was in a Catholic church. Shocker.

It’s always hard to write about the Catholic Church’s ongoing and ever-resurfacing problems with priests who molest young people in their charge. I have many good friends who are Catholic, and I would never disparage their religious beliefs nor doubt their commitment to living a good and moral life.

That said, this issue of sexually inappropriate behavior by Catholic priests never really goes away. It’s been with the church for centuries — a simmering, permanent crisis that boils into public consciousness with metronomic regularity.

Wikipedia | Jeon Han

In recent months, Catholic authorities have launched investigations into sexual misconduct in parishes in Philadelphia, Boston, Nebraska, Washington, D.C., Australia — and has accepted the resignations of six South American bishops. All of these troubling stories are bad enough, but the grand jury report released last week in Pennsylvania takes the church’s recurring scandal to revolting new depths.

The 900-page report reveals that, over the course of 70 years, 300 “predator priests” in six Pennsylvania dioceses molested, abused, and raped more than 1,000 children. That’s 1,000 children. In one state.

The report details how church leaders and bishops covered up the crimes, concealing them from the children’s parents and law-enforcement authorities, and routinely transferring predator priests to unsuspecting parishes where they could re-enact their crimes. One section of the report describes a ring of pedophile priests who marked their child victims with the sign of the crucifix.

This is horror movie stuff. And amplifying the horror is the fact that we know pedophilia causes life-long psychological trauma to its victims — and creates more pedophiles, and more victims. It is, literally, a vicious cycle of pain, anger, and guilt.

Only two priests of the 300 cited in the grand jury report suffered consequences for their actions. The rest either died, the statute of limitations expired, or they were allowed to quietly resign or retire. It’s outrageous, but it’s not surprising. It’s been the church’s response to these things for centuries: Keep it quiet and hope it goes away.

But it won’t; it’s sex-abuser Whack-A-Mole. The church can’t keep up, and it’s too big to change its basic operating structure.

In essence, the Catholic church is an international organization worth billions of dollars — in real estate holdings and with a steady income stream of contributions from its parishioners around the globe. Its hierarchal structure is similar to that of a huge, multinational corporation. For want of a better term, the church’s principal “employees” are its priests, nuns, bishops, and cardinals. When those higher up the corporate food-chain — the bishops, primarily — cover up the sins of their underlings, it creates a corporate culture of permissiveness, an understanding that criminal behavior will be tolerated in order to spare the organization’s reputation. And too often, the bishops themselves have participated in the deviant behavior.

The current Catholic leader, Pope Francis, has been a breath of fresh air, for the most part, and seems to recognize that there are significant flaws in the very structure of his church that interfere with its proscribed goal: to encourage adherents to live a life based upon the teachings of Jesus Christ. But that’s hard to do when some of your employees are doing the devil’s work — creating hell for thousands of young people — and when their bosses are letting them get away with it.

The pope issued a scathing statement this week, condemning the “crime” of priestly sexual abuse and its cover-up. He asked for forgiveness from the victims and urged Catholics to get involved to help abolish the pattern of abuse and cover-up.

“With shame and repentance,” he wrote, “we acknowledge as an ecclesial community that we were not where we should have been, that we did not act in a timely manner, realizing the magnitude and the gravity of the damage done to so many lives. We showed no care for the little ones; we abandoned them.”

Strong words. I’d like to believe they will lead to change, but I’m not optimistic. As long as the church requires its priests and nuns to remain celibate, it will continue to create — and sustain — a culture of sexual repression. Enforced celibacy doesn’t take people closer to God. It makes people more susceptible to guilt and temptation — and deviance of the ugliest kind.

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Opinion The Last Word

The Power of One Man

It is amazing to see how one man is able to create such joy. He attracted thousands upon thousands of people of all races and religious backgrounds to galvanize around a common ideal. His followers clapped and cheered with the ecstasy that comes with the release of long-held, pent-up emotion, and everyone seemed so happy. A record number of people watched him this week on national TV. Even longtime doubters who had previously lost faith are returning to the fold in record numbers. No, I’m not talking about Pope Francis. I’m talking about Justin Fuente.

Did you see that game? I haven’t seen a shoot-out like that since Waco. Of course, I’m talking about the Memphis Tigers’ 53-46 win over Cincinnati last week. It was all you could ask for in a football game: 45,000 screaming fans, lots of scoring and suspense, thrilling long runs and acrobatic catches, and a key interception to end the game. What a way for the Tigers to make their national television debut.

The Liberty Bowl wasn’t packed out, but I’ll bet it will be soon. The Fuente-coached Tigers were 7-17 after the first two seasons. Now they’ve won 11 in a row and are averaging almost 50 points a game. I’ll leave the stats to Geoff Calkins, but most impressive for me is that the Tigers are 4-0. The last time the Tigers went 4-0 was in 1961, and risking the revelation of my decrepitude, I was there.

My father took me to the games of the then-Memphis State University in Crump Stadium when I was a child. That’s where I first learned to hate the Confederate flag. Ole Miss fans would come to town with lots of swagger and would take over the Peabody Hotel. They were drunk and obnoxious and treated Memphis like a home game. In the stadium, they would wave a sea of Stars and Bars flags and sing “Dixie” after every touchdown, with Colonel Reb smiling from the sidelines. The roar of that “Hotty Toddy” cheer still rings in my ears. It was among the first uses of public profanity heard in the South, and parents covered their children’s ears before the revolting Rebel fans yelled, “by damn!”

The Memphis side of the stands responded with thundering chants of “Go to hell, Ole Miss, go to hell!” Dad didn’t object, so I guessed it was alright in this context. What amazed me most was my father’s reaction to a Memphis State touchdown. Not ordinarily a demonstrative man, he would leap to his feet, look at me, and holler, “whoo hoo hoo,” several times in a row. I always found it interesting that he had such enthusiasm when it wasn’t even his school. He just adopted the Tigers and passed the custody on to me.

Billy “Spook” Murphy was coach in 1961, and the quarterback was the “golden boy,” James Earl Wright. I always smiled when I thought of what his monogrammed shirts spelled. Wright was injured, and the torch was passed to Central High graduate Russell Vollmer. Both men have since been inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame. With Vollmer as quarterback, the Tigers went 26-3-1 in three seasons.

Any old-timer can see the comparisons to Paxton Lynch. There’s a problem, unfortunately, with Coach Fuente. How you gonna keep him down on the farm after he’s seen the national spotlight? There’s no question that he’s already in demand at major colleges with huge football budgets, but since this is Fuente’s team, wouldn’t it be nice if he stayed in Memphis and built a powerhouse?

Of course anything can happen, and like most fans, I’m not looking past the University of South Florida. But with an electrified fan base in Memphis, Ole Miss better watch their ass next time they come to town. And, oh yeah, the Pope was a winner too.

Randy Haspel writes the “Recycled Hippies” blog, where a version of this column first appeared.

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Opinion The Last Word

The Rant

CREDIT: Neneo | Dreamstime.com

Neneo | Dreamstime.com

Pope Francis

Although I am not a Catholic, I survived Catholic school, where I learned a thing or two about a pope or two. So, I can say with all sincerity that the new pope is dope. My papal-span is like an arc, beginning with Pius XII, who was sometimes referred to as “Hitler’s Pope,” and ending with Benedict XVI, formerly Joseph Ratzinger Jr. of the Hitler Youth and the Nazi infantry. The resigned pope’s father, Joseph Ratzinger Sr., was a member of the Nazi “Order-Police,” under the control of the SS, an inconvenient fact that was whitewashed from Pope Benedict’s Wikipedia bio. I guess Benedict took his red Prada shoes into retirement since the current pope, Francis I, would never tolerate such a display of personal vanity. In his short tenure as Bishop of Rome, Pope Francis has given the faithful so much change and hope for the future, he should be called the Barack Obama of Catholicism.

Pope Francis was born on December 17, 1936. I believe that any pope who shares my birthday must be destined for greatness. Now I have someone to brag about who was born on the same day as I was besides such Catholic luminaries as Manny Pacquiao, Bob Guccione, and Chris Matthews. It’s no coincidence that the new pope took the name Francis. Born in Buenos Aires, which has one of the largest concentrations of poor people of any major city, the new pope is named for Francis of Assisi, mostly known for his concern for the well-being of the poor. Pope Francis has stated that he will remain in the Vatican guesthouse rather than live in the Apostolic Palace. Most startling of all was the manifesto written by the pope last August and released last week. The “apostolic exhortation” is called The Joy of the Gospel, and though it was written as instruction for priests and pastoral workers, Vatican correspondent John L. Allen wrote that the work “amounts to Francis’ ‘I Have a Dream’ speech.'” While adhering to basic Catholic tenets, Francis’ populist views, according to Charles Camosy of Fordham University, “would likely be considered too liberal for a prime-time speaking slot at the 2016 DNC.”

Of course, Americans of a certain political bent have rejected the pope’s message as leftist propaganda. Famous Christian thinker Sarah Palin reared her ugly head to declare the pope was far too liberal. Other politicians have had so many running commentaries that differ with the pontiff, I thought it might be fun to compare some quotes:

“Justice requires … mechanisms and processes specifically geared to a better distribution of income.” — Pope Francis

“I know there are some who believe that if you simply take from some and give to others then we’ll all be better off. It’s known as redistribution. It’s never been a characteristic of America.” — Mitt Romney

“It is vital that government leaders take heed and broaden their horizons, working to ensure that all citizens have dignified work, education, and health care.” — Pope Francis

“And what is Obamacare? It is a law as destructive to personal and individual liberty as the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 that allowed slave owners to come to New Hampshire and seize African Americans and use the federal courts to take them back to … slave states.” — New Hampshire state representative Bill O’Brien

“The Church has no wish to hold back the marvelous progress of science. On the contrary, she rejoices and even delights in acknowledging the enormous potential that God has given to the human mind.” — Pope Francis

“All that stuff I was taught about evolution and embryology and the big bang theory — all that is lies straight from the pit of hell.” — Georgia representative Paul Broun

“Today everything comes under the laws of competition and the survival of the fittest, where the powerful feed upon the powerless. As a consequence, masses of people find themselves excluded and marginalized: without work, without possibilities, without any means of escape.” — Pope Francis

“You can’t help those who simply will not be helped. One problem that we’ve had, even in the best of times, is people who are sleeping on the grates, the homeless who are homeless, you might say, by choice.” — Ronald Reagan

“I exhort all countries to a generous openness which, rather than fearing the loss of local identity, will prove capable of creating new forms of cultural synthesis.” — Pope Francis

“Just build the damn fence.” — Senator John McCain

It’s so refreshing to hear the pope say, “We have to state … that there is an inseparable bond between our faith and the poor.” This stuff is enough to make a free-market capitalist’s head explode. “I beg the Lord to grant us more politicians who are genuinely disturbed by the state of society, the people, the lives of the poor.” Uh oh. The pontiff just took out the entire Republican Congressional Caucus. Pope Francis’ message appears to be resonating. His favorability rating among Catholics is almost 80 percent, and lapsed members are returning to their churches with a renewed commitment. It’s incredible what one dedicated man can do to restore faith to a disillusioned people. Just ask Jesus.

Randy Haspel writes the “Born-Again Hippies” blog, where a version of this column first appeared.

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Letters To The Editor Opinion

Letters to the Editor

New Park Names

Chris Herrington’s article about Helena, Arkansas (“Looking South,” March 14th issue), gave me some ideas about the renaming of the three parks in Memphis.

Forrest Park could be renamed Emancipation Park. The general’s statue and grave could remain to remind us of the facets of ourselves from which we as a nation and as individuals strive to emancipate ourselves. If Forrest really had a change of heart in his later years toward a certain segment of the citizenry, as some historians claim, he would be quite honored by the sentiment. The SCV boys in their play-soldier uniforms can still march around him and bang their drums on their holy days. What the hell, they’re basically harmless old fellows.

Confederate Park could be renamed Battleview Park. The replica cannons can remain, because it is, after all, a legitimate Civil War site. Perhaps a more fitting tribute would be an interpretive center detailing the brief river battle that ended Memphis’ existence as a Confederate town, but that is not worth the argument now.

As for Jefferson Davis Park, let’s face it. Other than a brief stopover, the man has no legitimate Memphis ties. Ship his plaque to Biloxi or to his birthplace in Kentucky. Rename the park for Ida B. Wells. Give her one all to herself. She deserves it, and who better to surrender his place in line than old Jeff? Surely, he’d be gentleman enough to agree.

Donald Adams

Memphis

Journey

I was a little disappointed and surprised that a smart, cool writer like Chris Herrington would write that someone spoke “Filipino” (“Undeniable Journey,” March 14th issue). That is not a language, and it made me cringe a little reading it. Just so you know, Filipinos don’t speak Filipino, as was mentioned in the otherwise interesting article about the Journey front man.

Donna Boyd

Memphis

[Please see sections 6–9 of Article XIV, 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines. — Ed.]

The New Pope

I was delighted to learn that the newly elected pope chose for himself name of St. Francis of Assisi, generally known as patron saint of animals. Indeed, Catholic and Anglican churches hold ceremonies blessing animals on his feast day of October 4th.

On one of his nature walks, Francis reportedly preached to the birds and is often portrayed with a bird in his hand. On another occasion, Francis concluded a pact with a ferocious wolf that was terrorizing local townsfolk, whereby the wolf would quit preying on the town’s sheep in exchange for being fed regularly. He even persuaded local dogs to stop harassing the wolf. He freed a rabbit from a trap, returned caught fish to their stream, and fed half-frozen bees in wintertime.

I hope that Pope Francis will inspire Catholics and all persons of goodwill to show nonhuman animals the respect and compassion they so richly deserve, particularly when it comes to subsidizing their abuse and slaughter for food at the checkout counter.

Morris Furman

Memphis

The GOP Budget

I just read the latest Republican budget proposal. It’s the usual “protect our endangered billionaires” policy and the same anti-middle-class, anti-poor tactics Republicans are known for.

They want to abolish the Affordable Care Act, stripping 60 million Americans of health insurance. They want to give seniors a couple of hundred dollars to pay toward $10,000-a-year private insurance policies and abolish Medicare. They want to extend the age for receiving Social Security until after you are dead. They want to be sure your surgeon can amputate the wrong leg and then simply say “Oops! Sorry!” and cruise off to their lake house in their Bentley without so much as a slap on the wrist for their incompetence.

But they’re not totally heartless. They want to keep all those tax breaks for the struggling oil companies that make a paltry few billion in profits every quarter. They want to make sure that all our sorely oppressed millionaires and billionaires continue to pay a lower tax rate than their maids. They want to deprive prospective college students of education funding so that the elite will have an ample source of maids, pool cleaners, and butlers.

Jim Brasfield

Memphis