The Catholic Church has had a long history of transferring its sexual transgressions to third party members in efforts to clear its name. Once again, the face of hypocrisy has unmasked itself. In wake of this month’s pedophilia cover-up, church members have once again ignorantly resulted to this tactic, blaming the Jews of all people for their own personal blunders.

The New York Times issued this report on April 3: ‘Last week, the center-left daily newspaper LA Republica wrote, without attribution, that certain Catholic circles believed the criticism of the church stemmed from a New York ‘Jewish Lobby.’

In an April 12 article in The Times, Giacomo Babini, the emeritus bishop of Grosetto, was quoted saying, ‘They do not want the Church, and they are its natural enemies. Deep down, historically speaking, the Jews are God killers.’ Additionally, statements have been released suggesting that a ‘Zionist attack’ was behind the criticism.

Such sentiments by members within the upper-level church hierarchy demonstrate that the Vatican has no intention of handling itself with the proper amount of integrity. It seems to be simply trying to deter any level of criticism, at any cost.

In what other legitimate political organization, specifically those that are engulfed within the ideals of freedom and democracy, could one be dismissed from a child sex scandal without any ramifications? None. If this type of situation ever came about within the confines of the United State political structure, the individual would take immediate responsibility, and there would be instant resignation.

Remember when the media erupted over Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s hiring of an expensive lady of the night? Imagine what would happen if we took a prostitution scandal and transformed that into one involving pedophilia ‘ the media would have a field day, and there would be consequences.

It seems that the only reason the church can get away with this type of behavior is that it is a religious organization. Because it is a ‘divinely inspired’ organization, it seems to feel that is sufficient justification for escaping any type of scrutiny and investigation.

In his Good Friday sermon, the Rev. Raniero Cantalamessa said that ‘the use of stereotypes, the passing from personal responsibility and guilt to a collective guilt, remind me of the more shameful aspects of anti-Semitism.’

I find it explicitly horrendous knowing this man serves as a religious leader for many Catholics across the globe. He is comparing the accusations against the church to thousands of years of hatred toward Jews. There is absolutely no merit to Rev. Cantalamessa’s statements.

It is time for the church to stop looking outward to transfer liability and start searching within. Its mistakes are not the faults of Jews, homosexuals, atheists or any other underrepresented groups on which it has laid blame in the past. This is the time for the church to demonstrate what true piety is and take responsibility for its actions.