Image. (I have not read this book, but I like the cover.)
Eighty-eight-year-old Pope Francis died this morning and rather than the customary few days of kindness in the press, only hours after the man’s death critics are shouting that he did too little to address the clergy sex-abuse scandal in the Catholic church. Members of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, argue Pope Francis is the third in a string of popes who “covered up sex crimes before they became pope.”[1] These stories gained global attention in the 1980s and ‘90s, but documented cases allegedly date back a thousand years—the Wikipedia page on this scandal is too lengthy to print.[2]
Unfortunately, clergy sexual abuse of children is not simply a Catholic problem. It is pervasive. It has touched every denomination and many, many churches. It is so common, in fact, it is difficult not to conclude that this is a special tool of the devil, an incredibly effective weapon he uses not only to crush the hearts (and faith) of children, but to neutralize members of the clergy who might otherwise have done good work. Jesus said we have an enemy who seeks to “steal, kill, and destroy” John 10:10. Surely an evil as destructive and life-altering as priests, pastors, and youth ministers who abuse children is a weapon of the devil.
Should we excuse those who perpetrate such evil, knowing they may have fallen into the enemy’s trap? Absolutely not. Those who sexually abuse children—or anyone—should never be allowed to work with children or on a church staff again. Churches should use criminal background checks to screen both volunteers and new hires. The abusive crimes of both paid clergy and church volunteers should be made public.
Second, any efforts to sweep the matter under the rug—to keep the abuse from the public—should also be publicly reported and condemned.[3] On this score, U.S. state governments have actually done a better job than most Christian denominations. Churches and church-related ministries tend to be so concerned with maintaining our witness, that we cover up the worst sins of our leaders, when we should be exposing them to the light of truth and publicity. Will news of another abusive pastor cause people to stumble? Yes. But his misdeeds must be publicized anyway, if we are ever going to heal wounds and re-gain trust.
Why clergy? Why do churchmen commit these most horrible, most personal crimes? As discussed, on a spiritual level, this is probably an attack from the enemy. But on a human level, these men are particularly vulnerable: they are charming, good with people, skillful leaders, and sometimes just prideful enough to think they can talk their way out of anything. In their flesh, some ministers are born manipulators. Con men. God forbid you have con-man skills and no integrity or conscience.
“Among my people are found wicked men. They lay wait, as one that sets snares. They set a trap, they catch men. As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit, therefore they are become great … Shall I not visit for these things? Shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?” Jeremiah 5:26-27,29.
God writes his indictment. Then he promises that punishment is coming: raiders from another land.
“Behold a people cometh from the north country … They shall lay hold on bow and spear. They are cruel and have no mercy. Their voice roareth like the sea, and they ride upon horses set in array for war against thee” Jeremiah 6:22-23.
What can be done? Return to God. Repent!
“Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings” Jeremiah 3:22. Return unto me, and if you will put away your abominations, then you will not be banished, Jeremiah 4:1. “Break up your fallow ground … circumcise yourselves to the Lord, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah … lest my fury come like fire” Jeremiah 4:3-4.
No one likes to talk about circumcision. But perhaps it fits when discussing clergy sexual abuse of children. What Jeremiah is saying is change yourself, even if it hurts. Don’t be like the non-believers and the pagans. Remove the worldliness and evil from you, from your personal body, but also from your corporate body.
I would paraphrase this passage this way:
Cut off the sexual abuser from your church. If someone in a position of church authority, whether paid or volunteer, used that authority to gain access to his or her abuse victims, then you must rid your church of that person. Better yet, turn the entire matter over to local law enforcement.
Why not just fire a person and forget the matter? Because they will move to the church across town and do the same thing again. Therefore, you must surrender the entire matter to local law enforcement.
Finally, a word about grace. Does God forgive? Of course. Will God forgive and restore humble, repentant former-abusers? Yes, I believe he will. But because these abusers have used the church to facilitate abuse, effectively abusing not only the abuse victim, but the church itself, I believe the church cannot concern itself with the restoration of the abuser. When abuse happens at the church, at church functions, or in relationships created by the church, the church must focus on providing grace and restoration to the VICTIMS of abuse. God will take care of the abusers as he sees fit.
AΩ
[1] https://www.wgbh.org/news/local/2025-04-21/survivors-of-clergy-sex-abuse-say-pope-francis-response-to-crisis-was-insufficient
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church_sexual_abuse_cases#International_extent_of_abuse
[3] While efforts to cover up abuse should be made public, there is no duty to publicize allegations that are actually baseless. But how much time should church leaders spend quietly investigating an allegation before making it public or turning it over to local law enforcement? For expert guidance, review the resources tab of the website of attorney (and grandson of Billy Graham) Boz Tchividjian: https://bozlawpa.com/.
Household Words: 