The Catholic Church dominates the scene like no one else. It's fascinating how it has appropriated pagan festivals, linked to the natural cycle of life. In the case of the solstices, moments of maximum solar decline, with varying success. While the winter solstice—commemorated in the Roman Saturnalia with great feasts and gifts—has been displaced by the Christian Christmas, the summer solstice is one of the few soirees that has resisted it. Since ancient Persia, fire has been given ritual value and the earth is honored in gratitude for prosperity.
It is not without symbolism that the hierarchy has chosen the month of June (summum of light and fertility) to begin the compensation process for sexual abuse. What a paradox that the healing exercise begins with such darkness. The bishops ironically baptized their report ("To give light") and they filled him with cynicism: "The history of the Church reveals a special concern to avoid and prevent the practice of pedophilia since the second century.". But there is little illumination. They do not admit public scrutiny or independent auditing. Nor is there any deep reflection on the effects of repressing affections. Pope Francis' lament about the "sissy environment" (""frocciaggine") in the Vatican or the gay trend in seminaries reveals the extent to which, within the Roman flock, the most open pastors consider sexual diversity a risk. It goes without saying that it is also overlooked that, if half of the population were women, we would have avoided at least half the attacks, since there are no episodes of raping nuns. The fault isn't dogma, but tradition.
The other stale tradition that still goes to mass is opacity. "Discretion," they say.
Following custom, the dioceses do not report any compensation payments or publish anonymized list of cases or aggregated data. by the ARA newspaper, that the Barcelona case debuts with the compensation awarded to a victim of Casa de Santiago, amounting to 65,000 euros. A few days later, another was granted, for a smaller amount, which has not been disclosed. The appraisal report is prepared by a commission (PRIVA) tailored to the clergy by trusted experts. The victims cannot verify, because they are denied a copy, whether the cardinal endorses the proposal or whether asymmetry is the norm. Perhaps all abusers are equal, or some are more equal than others... The reason for denying proper access seems concocted with artificial intelligence: "to avoid exploitation." To put it bluntly: they fear it will become a Calaf market. But it seems to me that what worries the leadership is not the hubbub, but the uproar. Are they afraid that abuse survivors will exploit their misfortune? Are they afraid of uncontrolled rebellion or concerted action? It's sad, the distrust of people who have been silently carrying a painful trauma for decades. The hierarchy, accustomed to maneuvering in the shadows for its own benefit, has lost faith in its fellow man.
The right to receive explanations extends, in an expanded form, to the great Christian family for the decades of sacraments celebrated by pedophile ministers, with a devalued virtue. Everyone else, including unbelievers, also has the right to supervise the accounts and question the privileges: shady dealings to accumulate wealth with the frantic registration of controversial properties; secure financing via income tax, thanks to agreements with the Holy See; tax immunity, which exempts them from paying property tax, property transfers, corporate tax... like the rest of us. It doesn't matter, for a secular state! They also have the right to know where compensation comes from. I'll bet a pea that the bishops neither sold assets nor created a special fund with voluntary contributions, as in France or Canada. Nor is there any clue as to how they declared the "anomalous" outflows. "Business" expenses? Donations? I'll be suspicious, but the news about Vatican corruption isn't much help; the exorbitant, under-the-table charges for officiating funerals; the irregular contracting of various services (cleaning, music, etc.)... or the suspicion of the anonymous channel for reporting violations. The faithful would be wise to consider where their contributions end up before checking the personal income tax box.
As in every ritual, the form matters. Reparation, as its name suggests, should not be a formality—but rather an act of institutional redress—that occurs when the perpetrators are dead or the case has expired due to systematic cover-up. This isn't voluntary generosity, but rather a process forced by the avalanche of complaints. It's especially hurtful that it's conceived as a simple economic transaction; a bank transfer handled by management and administrative staff, and that's it. Like someone collecting a policy or selling a parking space at the notary's office. It's done on Obispo Street... but without the bishop. It's hard to swallow that Omella has ignored the recommendations (of his commission) to welcome the survivors. That he avoids asking for forgiveness not from the pulpit but from the heartbeat. That he doesn't attend to them, one by one, with the utmost consideration. They don't need pomp or adulation, but dignity; as well as serious guarantees of non-repetition. No formality, all formality. Perhaps the cardinal finds it superfluous to show his face, as the highest authority, just as he did with the Parliament's commission of inquiry. Perhaps he reserves the cardinal's purple for solemn Masses in the cathedral or the intrigues of the curia. Perhaps his schedule is so tight he can't keep up. Perhaps, when it comes to delegating, it doesn't occur to him to do so to the president of the ecclesiastical tribunal and not to the attentive employee who handles the proceedings. Perhaps it's due to a gender quota, even if it's in a subordinate role. Perhaps, just perhaps. I implore Monsignor not to shake off his fleas, figuratively. They did it literally in ancient Crete, around St. John's Day, to invoke the purifying power of ritual fire, not to ignore the moment. With great power comes great responsibility.
