No less than the leader of the Roman Catholic Church acknowledged that some priests and bishops had sexually abused nuns, and said that the problem could be found anywhere even as some new congregations and some regions are more likely to see it happening.
According to Agence France Presse, Pope Francis made the admission after a journalist asked him about the abuse of nuns. This month's issue of the magazine Women Church World says nuns have been silent for decades because they feared retaliation. The magazine also says the Vatican had been receiving reports of priests abusing nuns since the 1990s, a situation made worse by forced abortions and children not recognized by their priest fathers.
But the Pope's mere admission does not make the Church more righteous or less responsible for the crimes. It is the only thing to do. Denying it or keeping silent is hypocritical and reprehensible.
Francis also acknowledges that more needs to be done and that the Church does want to do something to correct what is happening. Last year, a bishop in India was arrested for raping a nun 13 times between 2014 and 2016.
This would be an exception, however, to the countless instances of abuse not only of nuns but of children and other victims all over the world and across generations.
An even greater sin is institutional denial and condonation. Church leaders have often resorted to transferring erring priests to other locations instead of defrocking them and handing them over to law enforcement, to be prosecuted like common suspects.
The knowledge of clergy abuse is nothing new to the Catholic faithful. They have kept their faith despite it, acknowledging that Church leaders are fallible humans whose failings must not be equated with the church. Meanwhile, scandal after scandal has supplied Church critics with ammunition—look no farther than President Duterte—to insult God, question its teachings, and mock its leaders.
Catholics look to Pope Francis for real leadership on this grave matter. He could provide spiritual guidance, sure, but he must also lead trailblazing efforts to show that the Church does not protect its own despite the damage and injustice they inflict upon others.
In the end, the Catholic Church is an institution like many others: plagued with scandals and failings despite the veneer of holiness. May its faithful be steadfast in upholding its core values and teachings while staying away from the fanatical belief that it can do no wrong.