I must admit that there is a tendency among some Catholics to shy away from discussing

the abuse scandals.

And I think this reluctance, well, I could have two causes.

Number one, it's a horrible and painful thing.

So it's easier not to talk about it.

And that feeling doesn't justify ignoring the situation, but of course, it is an understandable

feeling.

Number two, I think many Catholics know that the outrage against the church, though

deserved, objectively speaking, is in many cases disingenuous.

You know, they know that a lot of people simply hate the Catholic church and they hate Catholics

and they're eager to jump on any opportunity to criticize it.

And they also know that if they themselves as Catholics publicly criticize the church

for the sex scandal, a lot of other people will join them in the criticism, but the criticism

will quickly morph into an assault on the church in general and on Catholics in general.

I've experienced that myself this week.

I can't tell you how many times as I've been talking about the scandals, I've had people

say, I agree.

Catholics are Satanists and I'm like, no, that's not what I'm saying.

That's not what I said at all.

I know you don't agree.

And so there's a lot of that.

I think a lot of Catholics are like, I don't want to be a part.

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