Pope Benedict XVI Innocent Until Proven Guilty

There appears to be abundant evidence that the Holy See was fully aware of endemic, systematic and institutionalized rape of minors by representatives of its organization. Daily new evidence of abuse and cover-ups emerge, and the leader of the church, Pope Benedict XVI seems to be implicated in the cover-up, at the very least demonstrating criminal negligence on his part.

With mounting evidence, a case for prosecution evolves. However, at this point we must stop short at calling for Benedict’s head on a plate as his culpability is yet to be proven in an international court of law.

Much of the disgust and backlash has resulted from the appalling handling of the scandal by the leadership in the “Holy City”. The child rape issue has been top of mind for a number of years now with many cases coming to light. The deflection by the Vatican of the horrors of the perpetrators of the crimes, trivializing the issues with comments such as “petty gossip” and comparing the call for justice to “anti-semitism” has understandably created outrage. The bishop of Tenerife went so far as to blatantly claim that many of the victims were “asking for it” by their behavior and demeanor.

As far as the Vatican and the pope are concerned, however, we have but evidence against them that they were indeed complicit with the cover-up, fully aware of the crimes committed and their inaction, or action to relocate offenders demonstrates culpability. But only after the case is proven or otherwise in a court of law.

The only moral action that the Vatican can perform is to surrender all documentation to the authorities, allow questioning under legal interrogation, and submit those of accused into the hands of the justice system. If they have nothing to fear, they will not even reach a court of law. If they are hiding their guilt under the cover of their religion or status as a state, then the moral bankruptcy of the institution is without question.

The Vatican has the following choices:

1) Claim immunity and ignore or deflect the accusations
2) Claim they have nothing to answer and ignore or deflect the accusations
3) Offer full co-operation to the justice system

The final option is the only moral action that the Vatican can perform. I call on Pope Benedict XVI as the leader of the Universal Church to contact the authorities and offer his full co-operation for an investigation in clear daylight. Any other action would be immoral and demonstrate the implicit guilt felt by the Holy See in this matter, and therefore justice should be sought through coercion.