When someone comes forward after decades of being silent with claims of being abused, such a significant delay may create a level of suspicion in itself. I am not saying these victims have made fraudulent claims, I am merely pointing out a reasonable thought. One might ask, why did he or she not come forward sooner? Please, look at what I am saying as a possibility (my intentions are not to be offensive).
However, in cases where purported victims and/or confirmed victims have come forward immediately, we have the old ‘not my kid, its your kid’ struggle. No one wants to believe their child, or little brother or sister or older brother or sister has been inappropriate and/or dishonest. We certainly understand these things are possible, however, and we initially give our loved ones the benefit of the doubt. We must forgive our priests and bishops for the times they may have given their colleagues and friends the benefit of the doubt and been wrong. Believing a close friend or co-worker over a stranger is natural, especially when this acquaintance is accused of a horrendous crime. It is only human.
While what has happened to these children is awful (putting it mildly), as I speak from experience. However, what has happened to our late archbishop of Chicago, Joseph Cardinal Bernardin is very sad in a much different way. Most of us recall the nightmare when our late Cardinal was accused of abusing someone many years earlier. Luckily the whole thing turned out to be a fraud.
