Indian priest first raised sexual abuse issue

Joseph, George
India Abroad
05-10-2002
The first voice from the pulpit, raised against church authorities, came
from an Indian priest.

At the time, though, Father Percival D'Silva never expected that his
homily, in the midst of mass, would attract media attention across the
United States.

The Bandra, Mumbai-born D'Silva, associate pastor at the Shrine of the
Blessed Sacrament Church in Chevy Chase, Washington, DC, was speaking at
mass on Palm Sunday when he touched on the subject of sexual abuse by
Catholic priests. After a few introductory sentences, he called for the
resignation of Boston Archbishop Cardinal Bernard Law, accused of
protecting priests involved in child molestation.

"His name is Law but he is not above the law," D'Silva said.

"I must be honest. He should have the common sense and even the guts to say
'I resign'," D'Silva told the congregation. "If he loves the church, it's
time for him to go. He has to go."

"I tell you I will never hurt your children," he continued, his voice
trembling. "I love your children."

He said he was upset at the bad name even good priests were getting thanks
to the scandal; also that he was hurt by church leaders turning a deaf ear
to the allegations.

The applause began. Muted at first, then swelling into a crescendo. As it
peaked, people began to rise to their feet, in twos and threes - until the
congregation was on its feet, applauding as if it would never stop.

D'Silva, ordained 38 years ago in Mumbai by then Cardinal Valerian Gracias,
thought the matter would end once the applause did. He thought wrong -
there were reporters in the congregation, and the very next day, the story
broke in The Washington Post and, later, in The New York Times and other
papers.

It was even mentioned at a White House press briefing, where a reporter
asked Ari Fleischer if the President agreed or disagreed with Father
D'Silva. Fleischer did not answer.

"So many media people wanted to interview me, and I declined," D'Silva told
India Abroad. "I am not interested in publicity or popularity. It was not a
speech, but a homily."

His unhappiness with the church hierarchy remains. "When you shield
culprits, you will also become complicit in the crime."

Questioning the screening process that had let a lot of "weirdos" and
"sickos" into the priesthood, the priest alleged that many gays had taken
to priesthood thinking that it would be best suited for their activities.

A contributing factor, D'Silva feels, is the general atmosphere of
materialism and sex in American society. The Internet and other
technologies have made sex all pervasive, and the chances of sinning have
increased as a result.

Priests are also human beings," he noted.

He believes that Indian priests keep much higher standards, while admitting
that if a priest did molest someone in India it may not get public
attention since in India, people are reluctant to accuse priests and godmen
of such acts.

D'Silva quotes Cardinal Gracias as saying: "It is the highest peak that is
buffeted by the most ferocious winds. Snowfall is heaviest there. But the
peak will withstand everything and eventually glitter in glory."

The church, D'Silva says, is like that - and like that, it will survive
these difficult times.

It is ironic that none in the church spoke to him about his comments. When
Washington Archbishop Cardinal Theodore McCarricck met him, he merely
commented, "Oh, you are that famous priest."

Meanwhile Susan Gibbs, spokeswoman for the Washington archdiocese, told the
media that anything Father D'Silva said in his homily was merely reflective
of his personal views on the subject.

D'Silva's remarks, and those of others, reflect the growing concern over a
scandal that began in January, when it was disclosed that for years, the
archdiocese of Boston - most recently under Cardinal Law - paid millions of
dollars to settle claims by victims of sexual abuse by scores of priests.

Since then, bishops in more than 10 states have dismissed nearly 30 priests
accused of sexual misconduct involving children.

Article copyright India Abroad Publications, Inc.
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