Steam, as in Blowing Off

The bishops of California are asking for contributions to cover the combined almost 1 billion dollars in sexual abuse settlements. No. That's what I would tell them. Did the laymen and women in the pews have anything to do with this horror? No. Do I feel that this is an unjust punishment for the church? No. Does the church need to reverberate with the impact of these financial blows to give it a fraction of the pain that was caused to these children? Yes. Let it reverberate. And yes, the financial impacts will cause much pain. Fewer people will be served. The dioceses where the most sin occurred will need to pare back to the bare bones. And that is how it should be. Pare back until you have left only what you started with - the people. And maybe then, dear leaders, you will appreciate the gift God blessed you with, the sheep God intended you to shepherd, to put first above church politics, clericalism, and fear of legal implications.