A Moral Issue Only? Assessing Theologically the Sexual Abuses of the Catholic Church

The public image of the Roman Catholic Church emerging out of the sexual abuse scandals is that of a disrupted institution going through a season of internal turmoil. A significant factor in determining the present-day moral disaster lies at the very heart of the theology of the Roman Church. After surveying the relevant reports showing the self-protecting attitude of Rome, this session argues the problem has to do with the Roman theology of authority which warrants the primacy of the interest of the church over biblical truth and public transparency.