What are you hiding? (Bangkok, 2009)
I see Catholic church officials almost everyday now on TV, for the child abuse cases that took place in Europe.
I chatted briefly with a friend, based in Hong Kong, who writes for Catholic media.
All she said was, “I look at the ‘good side’ of the Church.”
I said that all these cases could turn out to be “good,” if the church did the job. By the “job,” I mean recognising the cases and bring them to justice.
But what surprised me more was that, she did not know any of these cases.
I wonder now: do Catholics know any child abuse case inside their church?
Any institution has abuse. Recognition is the first step. I am afraid the cases that are on TV are just a tip of a huge iceberg, completely swept under carpet.
Why does this happen? Because they try to look only at “good side”?
I am not quite sure of this “good side” either. If she means charity work, I know Catholic charity organisations that are corrupted. Then she said, “Oh, those people like to tell funny stories.” But I have seen it with my eyes. They did not tell me funny stories. I saw it.
Is it how Catholics hide the “bad side”? I am afraid so. Church cares more about unity than integrity. Because it is an institution, a creation of human being.
