We need to talk about Clericalism

The release of the McCarrick report has once again brought the
church’s sex abuse crisis back to the headlines—and once again
Catholics are asking: What is the root cause? Clericalism, writes
Sam Sawyer, S.J., a Jesuit priest and our colleague at America
Media. While we may not know what drive any individual person to
abuse, he believes the McCarrick report confirms that clericalism
explains how Theodore McCarrick was able to rise through the ranks
of the hierarchy despite persistent rumors of sexual
misconduct.  We ask Sam how clericalism plays both at the
Vatican and in our own parishes, and what priests and laypeople
alike can do to root it out.  In Signs of the Times, we
discuss the U.S. bishops’ general assembly and the creation of a
new working group to address what Archbishop José Gomez called the
“difficult and complex situation” they see in Joe Biden—the second
Catholic president in U.S. history. How should the bishops engage
the Biden administration on issues like abortion and religious
liberty? Links from the show: U.S. bishops express concern over a
having a Catholic president who is pro-choice The McCarrick Report
confirms it: Clericalism powered the sex abuse crisis. What’s on
tap? Boulevardiers: 1 ½ ounces bourbon, ¾ ounce sweet vermouth, ¾
ounce Campari. Twist of orange peel, for garnish Learn more about
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