Broadcast April 11 2010
As a minister I find I wear a clerical collar (or dog collar) less and less these days.
One reason is I think they just look stupid, but a more serious reason is that they tend to create a barrier between people and the person who is wearing them. Folk feel they have got to change their speech or behaviour when they meet someone wearing a collar, and I don’t think that is a good thing - although I have heard of a bishop who would always wear one on long train journeys – because he reckoned that this would always guarantee him a seat to himself!
Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, said the other day that he was told that in some areas of Ireland it was hard for priests just to walk down the street wearing a clerical collar because of the sexual abuse allegations engulfing that country and others in these last weeks
It is a sad state of affairs when any member of the clergy should be held responsible for the actions of a few of their colleagues.
But it also a sad state of affairs that – as seems to be alleged in many places around the world - the church should play a part in covering up criminal behaviour. That too is unacceptable.
It was good to see that Cardinal Keith O’Brien has spoken out forthrightly on the issue in his Easter message.
In contrast Pope Benedict chose not to refer directly to it, but said that “humanity was suffering from a profound crisis.”
But as leader of the Catholic Church it is essential for him to say more about this issue and give assurances as to what will be done.
The idea that this is the “petty gossip of the day” (as suggested by the Pope’s senior adviser) is an insult to all those who have suffered.
Many would point out that the church is much more than the sum of paedophile priests, and that’s right.
Yet moral authority has to be earned, and it is up to the church to admit mistakes and make certain that the right steps are being taken to ensure the safety of children.
Christians believe we have to confess our sins to God. And sometimes we also need to confess our sins to the world.
That’s a hard thing to do, but it is necessary to move forward and restore trust.
The church leadership are responsible for rebuilding their reputation by speaking out now and addressing the issue in full.