Ceaseless Scandal

by Poet on the Piano   Sep 24, 2018


I’m angry, and I definitely don’t have as much of a right
to that rage as the victims,
but seeing you speak at the pulpit tonight, I realized
how weak you sounded.

I’ve always felt comfort, wisdom and compassion
in your voice, yet you confessed to the congregation
how much you hate saying bad things about any
authority – the shepherd we all have to obey and
aimlessly follow no matter what wrong they provoke.

While we listened to the mandatory letter, I didn’t
even bother to hide my scowl, how irreverent it
must have looked to cross my arms in a holy place.
I’m disappointed every time the phrases start the same:
“Remember, these are just allegations,
keep the faith at such a difficult time”
like it’s not been a trend for the Church to refuse
to set a trial –
after all, it thrives off of hierarchy and vulnerability;
prison is never an understood consequence
for the guilty.

What ever happened to swift acts of justice?
Believing victims instead of reading the merits of
clergy members and assuming they would never
abuse their power?

How ironic that a statement released a few weeks ago
apologized for the Church’s failures, yet it’s a cycle
they continue to feed and benefit from.

History repeats itself while apologies somehow
accuse the innocent.
You plead for more people to fill your wooden pews
yet how can we trust a man in a cassock again?

5


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Latest Comments

  • 5 years ago

    by Milly Hayward

    Unfortunately it doesn't matter what type of group whether religion or otherwise, Where you have a group of people in power there will always be someone that uses their power for self gain or gratification. It seems to be a down fall of humanity. Well written piece. Milly x

  • 5 years ago

    by Michael

    MA,
    Such a powerful piece, that brings so much into question. I totally agree, how on earth can something that is meant so trusting and worshipped be trusted!
    Very well put together

    Much love, M :)x

  • 5 years ago

    by Dagmar Wilson

    Nomimated

    • 5 years ago

      by Poet on the Piano

      Thanks Dagmar. And yes, Mr. Darcy, they should. It rarely happens in the cases I've been studying. We just had a scandal in our own diocese (around 80 churches/parishes) and the first public statement our bishop made was saying he didn't want to bring negative attention to our city, so he held off on the investigation. He changed his mind and just last week, his name was cleared, a week before a huge donation campaign he hosts for our city. Around 1,000 pages of an investigation was released publicly last month and I noticed a common pattern: the language clergy members use. Even in the recent press releases, the Church hesitates to even say "assault" let alone "rape". And in a recent case, the victim had passed away and the family member reported it, which doesn't make it any less serious... but people still acted like they knew the bishop could never be guilty. I'm no longer a practicing Catholic (this whole issue is partly a reason why) but I've been studying on these cases and I have connections with the Church since I'm a musician for our diocese, so I've been trying to spread awareness and call them out when they're using problematic language and insinuating blame on victims.

  • 5 years ago

    by Mr. Darcy

    Surely consequences should speak as loud the actions?

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