Honest leaders can save Catholic church

EDITORIAL BOARD Editor in
Chief  Timothy Kudo

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 Michael Falcone

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 Cuauhtemoc Ortega

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 Maegan Carberry
 Edward Chiao
 Kelly Rayburn

Editorial Board Assistants
 Maegan Carberry
 Edward Chiao

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Cardinal Roger Mahony has learned the hard way that the
implications of recent sexual misconduct scandals in the Catholic
church will be far-reaching and damaging ““ the accusations
actually reached him. And while the allegations against him are
questionable, their very existence has already done enough to
severely wound the church.

Unfortunately for the many good-hearted Catholics of the world,
the scandals have tainted the church’s reputation, leaving
both priests and parishioners feeling confused, hurt and
suspicious. Not only does this hinder priests in doing their true
work, it forces Catholic believers to feel uncomfortable, and even
unsafe, in their own church.

The recent misconduct incidents demonstrate how priests are
still human, even though they are expected to live up to rigid
religious doctrines in order to maintain their position. More
importantly, they demonstrate the need for honest leadership and
careful consideration of the church’s current and future
ability to serve its people in a healthy environment ““
without compromising the church’s fundamental beliefs.
Clearly the saint-like standards to which priests are held,
literally and figuratively, have proved so daunting that hardly
anyone is willing to be a priest these days. If the church is
unwilling to reconsider it’s stringent policies on celibacy
and female priests, it may find itself in an even worse situation.
The church must take decisive action to begin confronting and
repairing the damage done.