Tom Beaudoin

About the author: Tom Beaudoin is a visiting assistant professor of theology and religious education at Boston College.

Zero tolerance is a phrase designed to appease public outrage and is in part based on a need for revenge, a morally unacceptable motivation that goes against Catholic teachings. In Catholic teachings not all sins have the same moral severity nor should all receive equal punishment. Although all sexual abuse of children is abhorrent, the severity of each case of abuse by priests is different and should be punished accordingly. Zero tolerance, however, fails to consider the circumstances of each case and punishes all accused priests equally. Moreover, although zero tolerance suggests that the church will instantly defrock any priests...