Valid criticism

An investigators' comments confirm the need to continue to examine the actions of some Catholic leaders.

Frank Keating may not have chosen his words as carefully as he could, but he made vital points about the Catholic Church. His stand is supported by remarks by no other than Pope John Paul II who said last April:

“Because of the great harm done by some priests and religious leaders, the church herself is viewed with distrust, and many are offended at the way in which the church’s leaders have acted in this matter.”

Last June, Keating was named to head a sexual abuse oversight panel for the Roman Catholic Church. He is a former federal prosecutor and governor of Oklahoma — as well as a Catholic. Keating said from the outset he would call for dismissal of any bishop found to have covered up molestation by clerics.

Because of this direct, aggressive approach to his assignment, Keating created enemies among the church hierarchy. Last week, the Los Angeles Times quoted him as saying that some bishops “act like LaCosa Nostra” and had been hiding information from his national review board.

The comparison to “mobsters” offended some, opposition grew and Keating has since resigned. In his departure letter, the former governor said his comments were “deadly accurate…. To resist grand jury subpoenas, to suppress the names of offending clerics … that is the model of a criminal organization, not my church.”

The longer one studies the case, the more on-point Keating’s comments seem.

Consider these more expansive views of the ousted oversight leader:

“I have seen the underside that I never knew existed. I have not had my faith questioned, but I certainly have concluded that a number of serious officials in my faith have very clay feet. That is disappointing and educational, but it’s a fact. To act like La Cosa Nostra and hide and suppress, I think, is very unhealthy. Eventually it will all come out.”

The resigned chairman says most bishops support the investigative board’s work but he was frustrated by the foot-dragging of others as they tried to sweep dirt under the carpet with silence and non-cooperation.

The Keating furor is unfortunate in that it draws focus away from the real issue: Clearing the air on the Catholic priest sexual abuse scandals. While Keating may regret his comparison to organized crime, he should take solace from the fact Pope John Paul II also feels too many people in important positions have hindered the investigation, adding to the distrust of the church not only by outsiders but by Catholics themselves.

The bottom line is that accountability and penalties for the guilty still are needed — and Keating’s aggressive tone in resolving the issues should be heeded.