The thunder-boomers from the Pennsylvania grand jury report continue echoing. Bill Donohue, whose organization stands to lose a lot of money as Catholics face the reality that the church is irremediably corrupt and withdraw their support, is especially worried.
The twin scandals of the summer of 2018 have taken a toll on Catholics. First we learned of the alleged acts of sexual abuse by (former cardinal) Theodore McCarrick, and then we learned of old cases of alleged clergy abuse found in the Pennsylvania grand jury report (most of which were never substantiated). Catholics are understandably livid, but the white-heat reaction that is evident in some quarters has only added to the problem.
Conservative Catholics have been especially strident in their comments. Unfortunately, they are being played. To be specific, their call for grand jury investigations in every state, and the wholesale release of priest personnel files, is playing into the hands of the enemies of the Catholic Church. So are their appeals to parishioners asking them to withhold contributions. Even worse are their demands for a mass purge of bishops.
Those who despise the Church are loving it: these Catholics are unwittingly carrying their water for them.
Yeah, well …ho-hum. There is some projection going on here, methinks. The humdrum truth is that the trusting simpletons that such as Donohue et. al. feed upon aren’t going to be played any longer.