‘A Deceptive Front’

To the Editor:

In a story in the May 15 issue, “U.N. Committee Asks About Clergy Sex Abuse,” the leaders of the Church feel it incumbent to acquiesce to the United Nations on a matter that is none of their business, and has little, if anything, to do with a treaty to fight torture. This institution and its Committee Against Torture (CAT) is nothing more than a façade, and through surreptitious means seeks to impose its own agenda on the Church. Before recent hearings, a Vatican spokesman issued a warning that the U.N. should not cave into pressure from ideologically driven special interest groups.

Tremendous strides over the last 10 years have been made to correct the mistakes that led to the sexual abuse scandal that has plagued the Catholic Church. Yet the U.N., in a special and separate committee of human rights observers, feel it is their right to cross-examine the Church and its response to the scandal. This is all a deceptive front to embarrass the Church and undermine its spiritual influence, and use the scandal to force the Church to passively comply with U.N. demands and conventions, and its objectives in matters related to abortion and birth control.

The Holy See has Permanent Observer status with several international organizations, the U.N. being one of them. We should keep in mind, however, that the Vatican City State has the singular characteristic of being an instrument of the independence of the Holy See, and of the Catholic Church, from any earthly power, and in a way, it is a sign of the Church’s supernatural character. 

James Kelly of the Solidarity Centre for Law and Justice best summed up what I believe the position of the Church must be, “To protect religious freedom and to avoid becoming inextricably and perpetually entangled in debates over the propriety of certain Catholic teachings and practices, the (CAT) should refrain from what would amount to an unfortunate mistake.”

Bob Pascarella

Bronx