Dear Sir
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing” (Edmund Burke).
We are approximately a week away from the universal celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. A tradition, a religious calling, a human impulse to show reverence for the innocent and family, mother and child. We are told that God loved us so that a child was born to this world, and it was God, who grew up and walked with humanity as one of us. Who represents this belief, who among us proclaims from the religious towers throughout this world? The Roman Catholic Church and its Protestant cousins.
You’d think such a large and magnificent organization would show its undying love for the people of God. If it has done something wrong in the past, it would move towards some form of real apology, empathetic response to those whom it has wronged?
Well it has shown lip service and empty promises to the various individuals and groups it has wronged. Church lawyers have fought tooth and nail with those individuals that were abused by members of the clergy. More money has gone to these lawyers than the many people wronged throughout this world by men and women who were supposed to protect and assist the innocent.
What of the Aboriginal and 1st Nations of Canada, USA and beyond into Brazil and Africa? The Religious World was supposed to educate, assist and protect these people, many trying to find a path within our modern societies, whose world has been assaulted and ravaged by greedy manipulative Europeans and our own citizenry. Any word for them, an apology and recompense too?
Answer: While the Church has been saddened, and has made unofficial apologies, often by a Bishop or two, but never by those in true power. Now there has been empty promises like offering the Aboriginals of Canada approximately $30 million, of which five million had been so far collected. It seems to add continual insult to those in need, who have suffered a direct assault upon their religions, culture and very psyche.
Do we allow this very rich organization to continue its policy of redirection, manipulation and empty promises with the hope that each crisis will fall silent in time? I think not. Seemingly, the Pope will not apologize, nor the Cardinals of the Vatican (an independent state). Perhaps it is time to take this organization on directly and demand our government force the many issues Canada’s Aboriginal Peoples and our government has with the Canadian Roman Catholic Church, The Vatican and His Holiness Pope Francis.
The Canadian Church is apparently worth $5.2 billion, with a cash reserve and investments of 1.7 billion. The Church owns large tracks of land and investment properties throughout Canada.
The Vatican owns approximately 177 million acres throughout the globe. Estimates place its financial worth at 10 billion to 1.15 trillion dollars. The Vatican’s Bank is a mysterious and often corrupt institution riddled with alliances to corrupt funds often linked to The Italian Mafia(proven).
So, you have to ask yourself why such influential and wealthy organizations cannot pony up the cash, a Papal apology and empathetic assistance for those its members have injured? The historical accusations against the Church cannot be denied or ignored. Or can they? The Church is really good at claiming to investigate a claim or injury and continue to investigate it forever. Promise much, do little. The Church protects its members. It also claims to protect the innocent. Who comes first in line? The accused or the victims?
Well if we look at how the Church has responded in the past, the victims are often ignored, given passive empty words with promises and if the passing of time does not work, there are the legal avenues the Church will take. They cannot admit guilt as an organization. They will never admit they were in part or directly responsible for the deaths of so many children in schools they maintained, or the deaths of people in many aboriginal villages throughout the globe. Both Catholic organizational and individual legal responsibilities will be protected at all costs.
What should the Canadian government do? Devise a proper amount of money needed to assist those wronged as a group and individually, send that invoice to the Canadian Church absent of which:
- The Canadian government should freeze all the Churches assets in Canada;
- The charitable status of the church will be frozen also, put aside allowing the Canadian and Provincial governments to issue bills for the payment of all taxes due, just like an average Canadian must pay;
- All living individuals responsible for wrongdoing towards any Canadian and the Aboriginal Community will be investigated, and if found lacking, charged with wrongdoing;
- The Vatican will be diplomatically isolated by the Canadian government, who should acquire further assistance from other nations whose citizens have also been wronged;
- A global class-action lawsuit against the Church is recommended;
- The Canadian government must demand the Church establish policies and methods that will ensure the investigation by civil police of anyone accused of a crime, no matter their status.
Think I am being a bit harsh? No way. The way I see it, if someone openly claims to be something good, honest, empathetic and charitable like the Church does, it must be held responsible for its wrongdoings. Protect the victims at all times, bring civil justice to bear upon individuals and their organization.
The global victims of the Church of Rome can forgive certainly, but never forget, and always get justice above all.
“The Hottest Flames of Hell are reserved for those who remain Neutral in Times of Moral Crisis”. Edmond Burke has lots to say about the human condition. I prefer to go back to a more contemporary philosopher Uncle Ben Parker who said: “With Great Power come Great Responsibilities”, well said Ben.
Steven Kaszab
Bradford, Ontario
