In recent weeks there have been many criticisms and indeed even attacks against our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI regarding the way in which he has dealt with the tragedy of sexual abuse that continues to harm Holy Mother Church and her beloved, innocent children. However, one must only look at the Holy Father’s position in perspective and see the difficulties he faces in order to feel inspired to pray for Benedict, our Pope that God may grant him strength and vigor in dealing with tragedies of sexual misconduct by members of the clergy.

There is one thing above all that must be understood: there is no right way to deal with acts of total violence perpetrated by men against young people. The wounds that sexual abuse leaves behind are so horrific and painful that we must trust in the Lord’s healing power, and not our own, to make all things new. This is not to say that we should do nothing to help, but rather, that no one person, not even the Pope – the Vicar of Christ – can heal the wounds that priests have inflicted on innocent children. So, we must therefore make it our priority to pray that the Lord protect and strengthen all of the victims of these most horrible acts of violence.

In this light, we come to understand the plight of bishops everywhere, and indeed especially the Pope – the Bishop of Rome. Those called to shepherd the flock as bishops must first recognize their obligation to pray for and to serve the victims of these instances of abuse. Secondly, bishops must treat the priests who perpetrate these abhorrent acts sternly, while also showing compassion for the perpetrator by helping him to make up for his sins, to keep him from the occasion of sinning further, and to find him the help he needs that he might see the dreadful wrongness of committing these heinous crimes.

Seeing the complexity of the issue and the position in which these acts of violence puts our bishops, we must see beyond our human temptation to criticize those in authority and instead recognize our threefold obligation. First, we must pray for the victims whose dignities have been violated by men who should have been models of self-sacrificial love but failed to live that call. Secondly, we need to pray with compassion for reparation and healing in the perpetrators who commit morally disordered acts of violence. Thirdly, we must pray in support for Benedict, our Pope, and all the bishops in union with him. May the Holy Spirit fill them with the Wisdom of God, that they might do all things well in shepherding Holy Mother Church out of this darkness into the Light of Christ.