Light of the World - Ch 3

 Light of the World  - Pope Benedict XVl, Published by CTS

Chapter 3 - Causes of the Crisis and a New Opportunity

In this chapter, one gets a further and fascinating insight into how the Holy Father views the abuse crisis.  He is quite clear that one can see it both as the work of the Devil, fighting against the priesthood, and particularly in the Year of the Priest; and also that one can see it as providential, at least in terms of the timing of the revelations and discovery - as calling us all to a renewed and humbler appreciation of the priesthood.

He points out that the whole affair really raises that most profound mystery, the mystery of evil.  And that of course leads us straight to the person of the crucified Christ.  This is all situated, of course, in a culture that had gone astray in the decades leading up to the abuse cases, and the Holy Father makes a clear statement of the dangers of a relativist or consequentialist ethical approach in this context.  The case of Marcial Maciel is also considered in similar terms.  

This short chapter concludes with the Holy Father hoping that the crisis will provoke a catharsis in which we recognise anew our fundamental values, both within the Church and in wider society.

All in all, this chapter provides another fascinating insight into the Holy Father's thinking - and also introduces some themes that it will be good to recall when we address the much leaked, and much distorted, comments about condom use later in the book.