One thing I HATED in the McCarrick Report was that there was never a moment when the victims of abuse were taken into account **as victims of abuse**. The only victim presented is the reputation of the Church and the self-victimization of McCarrick. No one advocates for victims.

Even those who critique McCarrick or try to discipline him, do so from the stance of protecting the reputation of the Church, not the victims. It is a strategic concern where McCarrick’s character and freedom is constantly accommodated at the expense of his victims.

I realize how cynical this sounds, but the Report itself reads to me as yet another attempt to protect the Church’s reputation. I am not satisfied by this. Transparency is a start but very far from being a moral end.

Telling the truth after so many lies is nothing to be proud of. The only way forward, if there is a way, is to focus on the victims of abuse and realize that this superficial fear of “scandal” is a major part of the problem. The reputation is gone already; it will not come back.

I do not think Francis or the Church in general quite appreciate that this isn’t something you can recover from through best practices. This is not something you can show your receipts for and address through audits. Honesty and better accounting are not enough for atonement.

I give no “way to go, buddy” salutes to O’Connor or Francis for this. The report is not some great leap into reconciliation. This is but one insignificant point where we open our eyes and merely begin to see what has been in front of us the whole time without guilt for seeing it.

Anyhow, this is my primary point of irritation. I am going to take a walk and try to do a thread or maybe a Medium post with a more analytical take tonight.