Crisis?
Amy Welborn cogently describes the dilemma Catholics have in wanting a hierarchical structure (to avoid the disunity of Protestantism) while at the same time having checks & balances. I appreciate the way she cuts to the core issue.
But instead of modelling the Church on American democracy (after all, we of little faith place more faith in political structures than religious ones), it might be better to ask what Jesus' model was.
The fact that he singled out Peter (despite the presence of many other apostles - there was no communication problem then such that he couldn't have had that discussion with all twelve) suggests that he intended a hierarchy. The fact that Jesus told some things in private to just the twelve (instead of the crowds) again suggests a hierarchical element.
The biggest reason bad priests were shuffled around and unfit ones ordained is because of the shortage of priests. But Jesus told us there would be few priests unless we asked for them. And how many of us pray for vocations? "The harvest is rich and the workers are few" he said. This is something I have failed to pray regularly about and need to change. The trigger for prayer is usually crisis - and crisis w/r/t priests is probably defined as the day Mass isn't convenient (i.e. there aren't enough priests to say three Sunday Masses). We'll all pray then, though it be late.
One of the worst things about the scandal is that it will mean many non-Catholics won't even give the Church a chance now. And that is a shame, but understandable. When you see Catholics threatened by the scandal of bishops doing bad, then you certainly are going to have non-Catholics completely turned off. But I also believe that there will be no more priests getting away with abusing children (either with or without the lay panel) because the bishops finally *get* it. The bishops know that they will go to jail the next time they cover for priestly misdeeds. So I don't believe there is a crisis w/r/to protecting children.
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