Controversy over who is ultimately responsible disciplining priests bubbled up again on Friday when the Associated Press reported that a 1985 letter by then-Cardinal Ratzinger to the Oakland, Calif., diocese showed the future pope resisting defrocking an Oakland priest who had a record of sexually molesting children. In the letter, written in Latin, the cardinal cites concerns over “the good of the universal church,” the AP quotes the letter as stating,” according to the Wall St. Journal.
This adds to a “growing chorus of critics say the future pontiff did not act aggressively enough to discipline priests involved in sex abuse cases in Europe and the United States when he headed the Vatican’s doctrinal watchdog office,” according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
If you are still a Catholic it is past time to quit this church.
There is no greater evil than molesting children. Any priest caught doing this should be IMMEDIATELY defrocked. He should be banned from the church and handed over to the cops, period. Moreover, the church should make it clear that the perpetrator is hell-bound.
But that isn’t how it works, is it? Time and again the church interferes and prevents justice. So it is time to leave the church.
No decent person should continue to be a part of this organization, which has allowed so much evil to be done to innocent children, all over the world.
Should the Pope quit? Who cares. You quit. Now. Just walk away and be sure to let church officials why you are leaving.
This is the kind of argument that really cracks us up! Dump the Government because we have bad representatives? Dump the Church cause those representating the Oligarchy won’t do what YOU want?
How many years had the Church been around again?
Long enough, not to have to listen to any “lay people”..anywhere!
If you want to prosecute the wrong doing of Priests…do so in the Courts. Do so, with all the gusto you can muster! If you want Justice…you need to go to the courts. If you want your Soul saved…go to the Church!
Ron,
I think what you meant to say was that if you want your kids to be buggered, go to the Catholic Church…
“If you want to prosecute the wrong doing of Priests…do so in the Courts”
Sadly that has not been easy. The Church covers up and hides abuse; the cops and DA look the other way.
The fix is really simple if the Church wanted to do it: any evidence or complaint will be immediately turned over to the police, period; and let the chips fall where they may.
Unfortunately “the good of the universal Church” must come first – translation from the Latin: “circle the wagons, boys.”
Don’t watch this unless you’re ready for serious irreverence and offensive language:
On second thought, I’ better not even post it here, just click:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VABSoHYQr6k&feature=player_embedded#at=18
*Art and Dave,
“Zero Tolerance” is name of the tune. Had a child we have ever known been a victim of Preist abuse….we would hound the Church endlessly. We would hound the Police in the jurisdiction endlessly. We would hound State electeds endlessly. Priest or Prophet…the rule stands:
NO Child Abuse…EVER!
Every Sunday you would find us carrying signs that tell the people in attendance that whoever is the offender…needs “redemption”and another place to practice their “Child Porn” activities! If the church finds that offensive…then the Church needs Cardinals and such who will defend the rights of “the lay children” and parishioners!
The church’s handling of this child molest and exploitation issue, over the decades, has always struck me as looking like a form of organized crime engaged in a form of human trafficking. I would love to see prosecutions, but first we must find a DA or Attorney General with the guts to take on Cardinals and the like. Wonder if such a prosecutor exists anywhere —-
Art,
Your never going to get rich posting subjects like this.
Instead, I suggest you proclaim your morality and alliegence tho the defenders of the offenders, claim, what a “good person” the defender(s) is, explain how the defender of RAPE and sodomy helped you.
THEN, develop a couple of websites in favor of the church and maybe even the defender. Once you have a couple of equally misguided members,call them “friends” sit back and watch the CASH ROLL in baby.
It may get ugly for a while, because your handlers might do something ugly, like force you to take potshots of innocent victims but, hey thats what you get paid for.
BONUS: When it’s all said and done, a couple of the friends who are in high places, might give you a phony contract for a half million bucks for writing about lawn care……or childcare, both of which you no nothing about.
REMEMBER, It’s ART (and the money) FIRST, you don’t really stand for anything.
LOL kenlay. Jerbal outed etc…
Matt Cunningham outed sex-abuse victims.
Quit all churches because they are anachronistic institutions based on a medieval view of the world. Join the 21st century where we can work together for a better future without biases and superstitions.
The Church is infalible. Only the people within can sin.
Now is not the time to quit the Church but rather embrace it. Through all of us it will become stronger.
The Catholic Church as an institution must reform itself, because neither the institution nor any of its members is infallible.
If the Church or its members were infallible then there were would be no need for Christ nor for the salvation that can only proceed from the grace of God (according to the Christian faith for those who are Christian).
1) The Catholic Church must actively identify all pedophile priests to the authorities, and aid in the prosecution of the pedophile priests.
As Jesus Christ said to the lawyers that were trying to entrap him into saying something that would get him in trouble with the authorities…
“Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, … and Give to God, what belongs to God.”
(Mark 12:17)
Meaning if the law requires you to pay taxes. Pay the taxes.
So in general, if there is a law imposed by the government, then you must follow that law (and in my opinion assuming it is a lawful and moral law). So by extension, the Catholic Church must turn over criminal pedophile priests, because otherwise it is violating Christ’s maxim.
2) The church must understand that the issue of pedophilia is a crime of violence against minor children, and NOT about sexual orientation. The church in a misguided way is also trying to pin the blame on Gay Priests by its “witch hunt” of gay priests.
This is a fallacy and is based either on ignorance or prejudice.
Ignorance about what a pedophile is.
IGNORANCE. A pedophile is someone who has a desire for YOUNG/UNDERAGE BOYS or GIRLS. And generally, because of the nature of church activities they have had more ready access to young boys…but they will just as easy rape or violate a young girl.
PREJUDICE. If the church is aware of the distinction, and they are engaged on a “witch hunt” against gay priests, then they are doing this because of prejudice, and are NOT addressing the root cause, which is PEDOPHILIA, and condemning other children to be abused.
For example, a Heterosexual/”Straight” priest has a strong sexual drive, which is normal. Additionally, a Homosexual/”Gay” priest also has a strong sexual drive, which is also normal.
However, just as the Straight priest has decided to serve God, and has taken a vow of celibacy; so has a Gay priest decided to serve God and has taken a vow of celibacy.
(The issue of celibacy or not, for priests is total separate issue from Pedophilia).
Even if the church turns pedophile priests in for investigation and prosecution, it can still administer to them according to its faith based values, but it must not neglect its “wordly”/lawful responsibilities.
Furthermore, doing the right thing takes moral courage.
There are strong indications/evidence that Pope Benedict as Cardinal Ratzinger failed in his duties to the larger society and ultimately to its church members, in violation of Christ’s maxim, because of his misguided view that it was better to protect the pedophile priests (and the church) rather than the victims/the children.
As Cardinal, He also oversaw the office of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith whose job is to hold errant priests accountable.
Pope Benedict must understand the grave nature of his failure and for the good of the church, and primarily for the good of the flock of Christ, he must consider holding himself accountable and should consider resigning, just as he held other priests accountable in many other areas.
There is Nothing written in stone that obliges him to stay as Pope. The Pope would not be violating any duty by resigning, and in fact would be living up to one.
According to the Christina faith, Christ gave up his life, for mankind’s salvation.
The Pope should consider giving up his papal seat for the good of the church and its faithful flock.
To my Christian brothers and sisters, and all others…keep your faith…maintain your spirituality…what ever your faith and spiritual beliefs…and don’t let the failings of a few individuals priests (the Pope included), keep you from trying to live up to your beliefs and your faith.
We all have our frailties and weaknesses, and I readily include myself, but don’t despair or stray from your faith.
Francisco “Paco” Barragan (my opinion only and not those of any group)
I just read this…it just came out:
“VATICAN CITY – The Vatican on Monday made clear for the first time that bishops and other church officials should report clerical sex abuse to police if required by law…”
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100412/ap_on_re_eu/eu_church_abuse
1) I think this is implied admission of its serious and GRAVE error in not reporting clerical sex abuse in the past.
2) However, I am concerned about the last part, “if required by law”.
I am concerned because the Church may claim or interpret this for example, as since the Statute of Limitations has expired or elapsed then there is NO need nor requirement for this to be reported.
That is why, I think and suggest that the church must PROACTIVELY identify and turn over pedophile priests whether they believe the “wordly” law applies or not.
This should be a UNIVERSAL/GLOBAL stance…to turn in all pedophile priests (those accused of committing clerical sexual abuse), irregardless of whether the church officials think the local or REGIONAL law requires or doesn’t require this reporting.
Francisco “Paco” Barragan (my opinion only)
As a cradle Roman Catholic, it was a huge leap for me to leave, but I was sick of feeling angry during mass so I took that leap a few years back. I turned to the Ecumenical Catholic Church (St. Matthew’s in Orange) where most of the priests are former RC priests who came out of the closet or (gasp!) got married. We even ordain women—whatta concept. It’s a relief to actually enjoy mass instead of being P.O.’d.
Priest calls for Pope’s resignation
http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/04/13/massachusetts.priest.pope/index.html?hpt=T2
Appalling comments by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, who also serves as the Vatican’s Secretary of State, linking homosexuality to pedophilia to deflect attention from the church’s grave mishandling of pedophile priests.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/europe/04/14/vatican.homosexuality.pedophilia/index.html?hpt=T2
(My opinion only and not those of any group)