Faith and Logic: Qur'an explains remedy for Catholic sexual abuse scandal

"Jesus never taught monasticism, while those who invented it for themselves did so out of a lack of compassion and mercy."

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | Articles
Source & Credit: Chicago Islam Examiner | March 21, 2010
By Qasim Rashid | Chicago, IL

Ireland recently emerged as the latest nation to fall victim to the atrocities of sexual child abuse within the Catholic Church.  This, after the Murphy Report uncovered not only the scandal, but the Church sanctioned generation long cover-up.  While Pope Benedict attempts to manage this disaster through late apologies and impractical explanations, abused children continue to suffer, and many more remain at risk.

While the harm done to the victims of this scandal can never be undone, the Holy Qur'an provides a solution to prevent future abuse.

The Holy Qur'an says, "We gave [Jesus] the Gospel. And We placed in the hearts of those who accepted him compassion and mercy. But monasticism which they invented for themselves — We did not prescribe it for them — for the seeking of Allah’s pleasure; but they did not observe it with due observance." (57:28)


In this verse God makes several points.  First, that He did indeed reveal the Gospel to Jesus, verifying the truth of Christ.

Addressing the heart of the matter, God juxtaposes those who accepted Jesus and received compassion and mercy with those who invented monasticism for themselves.  That is, Jesus never taught monasticism, while those who invented it for themselves did so out of a lack of compassion and mercy.  Moreover, the Holy Qur'an points out a historical fact.  In the early Church, Priests were allowed to marry.  Monasticism, meanwhile, is a man made innovation.

In concluding the verse, God states that those who invented monasticism for themselves did not observe it with due observance.  This ultimately points out that Islam only prescribes celibacy up to a point, i.e. marriage.  However, the uncompromising observance of celibacy throughout life is ultimately detrimental to the individual and the society.

The child sexual abuse debacle in the Catholic Church exemplifies what happens when human nature is ignored and stifled.  If the Pope wants to save his legacy, and more importantly spare future children from suffering through this horrendous torture, he must allow Catholic Priests to marry. Should Pope Benedict comply, he will have accepted the true teachings of Jesus (as) on the subject and will become the recipient of God's compassion and mercy.

Should he choose to remain void of compassion and mercy for his Priests and the children who have been abused, well, we've already been down that road.

Read original article here: Qur'an explains remedy for Catholic sexual abuse scandal
 

Qasim Rashid is a contributing member of Majlis Sultanul Qalm, USA (MSQ USA) and regularly writes for Examiner.com and various other publications on topics ranging from Islam to human rights. Leave your thoughts and comments, or email Qasim at 1muslim.examiner@gmail.com