Ceaseless Scandal

I’m angry, and I definitely don’t have as much of a right
to that rage as the victims,
but seeing you speak at the pulpit tonight, I realized
how weak you sounded.

I’ve always felt comfort, wisdom and compassion
in your voice, yet you confessed to the congregation
how much you hate saying bad things about any
authority – the shepherd we all have to obey and
aimlessly follow no matter what wrong they provoke.

While we listened to the mandatory letter, I didn’t
even bother to hide my scowl, how irreverent it
must have looked to cross my arms in a holy place.
I’m disappointed every time the phrases start the same:
“Remember, these are just allegations,
keep the faith at such a difficult time”
like it’s not been a trend for the Church to refuse
to set a trial –
after all, it thrives off of hierarchy and vulnerability;
prison is never an understood consequence
for the guilty.

What ever happened to swift acts of justice?
Believing victims instead of reading the merits of
clergy members and assuming they would never
abuse their power?

How ironic that a statement released a few weeks ago
apologized for the Church’s failures, yet it’s a cycle
they continue to feed and benefit from.

History repeats itself while apologies somehow
accuse the innocent.
You plead for more people to fill your wooden pews
yet how can we trust a man in a cassock again?