Over the past several weeks increasing attention has been called to the sex offense scandals of the Catholic Church. While the Church has felt that undisclosed monetary settlements would smooth the issue over, it is clear judging by the reaction of millions of patrons across the country that this is not the case.
For once, money cannot buy the Church out of trouble.
The desperation of the situation is clear. In fact, on Monday, Pope John Paul II summoned a dozen bishops from the United States to the Vatican in order to discuss how to handle the significant public image damage that has been done.
While the Pope's efforts may be viewed as noble, at the same time his actions resemble those of a desperate CEO on the verge of bankruptcy after being found guilty of tax fraud. The motives are questionable.
Aside from the appalling accounts of abuse and pedophilia that have arisen out of the scandal, one of the biggest themes that has emerged from this situation is that of hypocrisy within the Catholic faith.
It has become clear that religious leaders within this organization teach one thing, yet their actions are clearly that of their own motives, and are of a nature that goes against the doctrines of this faith.
While much of the hypocrisy that has been publicized appears to be political, such double-talk has also occurred on a domestic level.
In fact, on April 9, the Canadian press reported a story out of Oshawa, Ontario in which a homosexual student in a Catholic high school began a legal battle to take his date to the school prom.
According to the press report, Marc Hall, a senior at Monsignor John Pereyma Catholic High School, asked permission from school officials to bring his date to the school prom. Based on the school's attitude that homosexuality is not necessarily immoral, Hall felt confident that the school would be receptive to his request. As he explained, "They teach you in Grade 12 morality that there is absolutely nothing wrong with homosexuality and yet they contradict what they teach."
The school board's response to Hall's request was denied for they believed that allowing the prom date would demonstrate support of the homosexual lifestyle, something the Catholic Church is against.
Mixed messages? I think so.
While both of these arguments present valid points from their individual perspectives, as a once devout Catholic, I cannot help but be infuriated by the situation.
Aside from the blatant discrimination against the gay community, the Church seems to have its priorities a bit skewed. In light of all the problems in the Catholic Church, does it honestly matter who a young man chooses to bring to the prom? Would it have made a difference if his date were a priest? Furthermore, within a church that is meant to teach love and acceptance, doesn't blatant discrimination go against church doctrine? None of the Catholic Church's arguments makes sense.
Over the past several years, my personal experience with the Catholic education system has awakened a sense of frustration and disgust with the hypocrisy within. During my graduate studies at a popular Catholic university on the East Coast, I witnessed this on a variety of levels.
Not only were homosexual students not allowed to discuss their sexuality on a campus that preached love, acceptance, and open-mindedness, but the organization running the school system was corrupt with lies and questionable behaviors. Professors slept with students, while the supposedly religiously devout provost of the university had an open adulterous affair with his secretary.
Even more appalling, priests who had taken a vow of poverty drove to their impoverished parishes in their Mercedes while wearing religious garments designed by, I kid you not, Georgio Armani.
The situation was shocking, and on a personal level it made me question my faith.
I wondered to myself, how could a revered institution be filled with so much corruption, lies, and hate? Unfortunately, there is no answer. In order for the Catholic Church to function, religious leaders must appear to be moral. Sadly, their behavior outside of the church demonstrates otherwise.
The prom case in Canada serves as a metaphor for how the Church has handled scandal. They brush over serious moral issues such as child abuse, and focus instead on a school dance.
Marc Hall should be allowed to take his date to the prom. There is no question about it. While the Catholic Church does not agree with homosexuality, they do preach love and acceptance — and for once it would be nice to see the clergy practicing what they preach.
Karen Engler is a graduate student in literature.
Reach her at karen.engler@asu.edu.
