I've been following with sadness the stories about the abuse of children by priests in Ireland and Germany. Religion is not usually one of my topics on this blog, but we've been talking about it at home, so I thought I would put it out on the blog.

Terrible stories of sexual abuses of children by their trusted parish priests have been a mainstay in the news in the US for a while. American bishops have been chastised, benefits have been paid out to past victims, and a few of the worst offenders have been sent to prison. It was seen as an American problem. Now, victims in Ireland and Germany have come forward to tell their stories. The Pope himself may have been involved in hushing up past crimes.  

Catholics are horrified by the number of perverts at the pulpit and by the seemingly lack of concern by church hierarchy for the victims of this abuse. (See Maria Farrell's response.) The congregation at our local church has dwindled noticeably in the past five years. It's easy to get a good parking space now. 

The only way that the church will survive this disaster is through major reforms. We need to enlarge the ranks of quality priests by allowing women to become priests and by allowing priests to marry. The church must bend, rather than remain rigid. If it doesn't bend, then the church will end up toppling over in the storm like the many trees in our town.