“We all considered sexual abuse of minors as a moral evil, but had no understanding of its criminal nature.”

— Retired Archbishop Rembert Weakland,
writing in his new book, “A Pilgrim in a Pilgrim Church”

UPDATE: The Anchoress has posted her own sage thoughts on Weakland, to wit:

Weakland seems a troubled man and a weak man who-against the very best advice in the world-is putting his trust in the princes of the world, whether they be medical or media men, rather than taking refuge in the Lord.

We are all sinners. None are perfect, save Christ, and all fall short. And none of us would want our sins revealed to the world, or the state of our souls speculated upon. As Montaigne said, “There is no man so good, who, were he to submit all his thoughts and actions to the laws, would not deserve hanging ten times in his life.” I believe that.

But it seems to me that if you are an Archbishop who has contributed hugely to scandalizing the church you presumably love, and to serving the Lord you have sinned against, there are better means of rehabilitation than to sputter about what you did not know, and seek your absolution from a fickle and exploitative world.

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