ABSTRACT
When we turn from the theoretical ideals of Christian life to its historical reality, we are bound to be disappointed by innumerable cases where we and others have done wrong. Nonetheless, it is not a reason to become complacent toward moral failure in our ranks. On the contrary, the aspirational character of Christian commitment is reason to humbly renew our commitment to being corrected and hopefully transformed. Especially in the face of recent horrific sexual and financial scandals, the Catholic community must earnestly seek out whatever theological insights and practical principles that might help to close the distance between aspirational and real virtue. In April 2019, the Catholic Church in Japan announced the beginning of investigations into sex abuse against minors by its priests. Two months earlier, in February, a nun in Kerala claimed that the Bishop of Jalandhar, Franco Mulakkal, had sexually abused her, and the bishop stepped down.
