Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio 76 years ago, made it clear to the world and the conclave from which he was elected that he will continue to publicly hold up two very large pillars in the Roman Catholic Church: no abortions and no same-sex anything. Most other sentiments and structural habits—for example, not allowing females as priests—will stay in place the same way they did a thousand years ago. But the new Pontiff stands at a crossroads. He has the authority, and hopefully the inner constitution, to finally begin dealing with the sex scandals that have maligned the Catholic Church for so long. And dealing with them effectively and with the victims—not the protection of the clerics—in mind. But will he?
The newly elected leader needs to view his job as just that: a job in a business that has millions of (mostly) paying customers. It is the youngest of these customers that need the most protecting. For decades, adolescents have been molested by priests, who were then sent to other parishes rather than being terminated and legally charged with a crime. The victims rarely, if ever, receive an apology or even acknowledgement of the abuse perpetrated on them by church authorities (unless, of course, they take legal action). This is a crime against everyone who believes in the all-around protection of our children, not just Catholics. No other corporation, particularly one this large, would be able to stay in business while perpetually being in the eye of a scandal.
Mr. Bergoglio needs to start cracking skulls. Chances of this happening stay slim. If the Pope wants to clean up the image of the Church, offenders must be fired and women must be hired—as priests. Nuns of the Roman Catholic Church require a larger platform and a louder voice. Priests need to marry (as long as they're acting as marriage counselors, anyway). Accepting abortion and same-sex marriage may not be in the cards for this Pontiff, but if the above changes were implemented, then the church would be much closer to acceptance of abortion and same-sex marriage and the dissipation of child molestation by the priesthood.
That Pope Francis is a Jesuit gives me hope. Social justice stands fast as a fundamental aspect of the Society of Jesus. Is it just to continue the practice of protecting rapists rather than innocents? Hardly. And the Pope knows this. Will his background of modesty and sympathy for the downtrodden of Argentina take shape in his championing of the victims? Perhaps. But at 76 years old, the Pontiff is running out of time. One cannot help but think that someone of that age just does not possess the mental capacity and physical energy to begin sorting out the horrific mess that is the Roman Catholic Church.
Elderly celibate men can no longer do the job required of the CEO of the Catholic faith, a multimillion-dollar business. Women need larger roles. Women having more prominent positions in the Catholic corporation will act as a catalyst for the subsequent protection of children and terminating of offenders.
When Pope Francis's term expires, I skeptically wonder how much will have changed in a place where the fabric that holds everything together is sewn with thousand-year-old thread. It is my strong belief that popery and the Catholic Church will eventually expire, like a flickering flame that was once a raging fire. But as long as this position and this business endure, let us institute some accountability and common sense.
