Vatican Issues Report Critical of Policy

Atlantic Journal-Constitution ^ | 23 February 2004 | NICOLE WINFIELD, Associated Press

[Robert Drobot]

"....non-Catholic sex abuse experts who criticized the policy adopted by U.S. bishops of removing abusive priests from the ministry, saying it was overly harsh and would not protect the young."

The Church received the report it paid for.

But why turn to those outside the Church?

Could it be that those on the inside would advised for retention of the zero-tolerance policy which some American bishops are not implementing in the first place?

[Catholicguy]

But why turn to those outside the Church?

Why should we in the Church care what you think? You are outside the Church. The philosophical position undergirding your statement is self-negating in that you are including yourself amongst those who ought be excluded as being worthy of being considered or consulted by the Church because they are outside of it.

Isn't it amusing how often schismatics take their daily dose of bitter Irony yet seldom notice as it is washed-down withn the honey or self-righteousness.

Have a nice day.

[Robert Drobot]

Ping.

[Robert Drobot]

You didn't answer the questions I raised. Could it be you're lacking in some way? You drool the same 'ole tired mantra on every thread. Do yourself a favor; get lost.

[Desdemona]

But why turn to those outside the Church?

As secretive as the church is accused of being, I would imagine credibility.

In one way, I agree with the conclusions - it is not fair to society to just release these men and unleash them on the general public. In another, there is no punishment on earth, at least that is currently accepted, that can truly make up for what they did.

I agree with the monastic prison idea. Lock them up and throw away the key. There's no other way.

[AAABEST]

Psalm 64:8
So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves: all that see them shall flee away

Pretty soon everyone is going to start ignoring you. You're causing me to regret that I took up for you the other day.

All you seem to do is run into every thread spewing hate and attempting to start a flame war with an unrelated argument. Do you stay up at night devising ways to spite those of us who choose to worship as traditionalists?

You become very personal and are constantly trying to smear those who aren't bothering with you. For your own sake you should stop doing this.

[autopsy]

This is unbelievable. How is it that some people think things are getting better? I think things will get a lot worse before they get better.

[joesnuffy]

Sooo...the Vatican shopped for a group that turned out the report they wanted?

And the merry merry pedophile priest dance goes on
this time with a bit more discretion, secrecy, more of the occult...?

[AAABEST]

I agree with the monastic prison idea. Lock them up and throw away the key. There's no other way.

The monastic prison is a great idea. There are other ways to deal with evil people who are supposed to bring children to God, but instead ruin their lives because they decide to have an orgasm on them.

[dsc]

"This is unbelievable. How is it that some people think things are getting better? I think things will get a lot worse before they get better."

The thing is that it seems that how things look is lagging way behind how they are.

Most of the offenses occurred years ago, and it doesn't look like so many are occurring now. In other words, it seems like this behavior is on the downswing.

Likewise, fidelity seems to be more common among younger priests than among their elders.

At the same time, like the death of the thousand cuts, as soon as one scandal gets stale, another is dragged out of the closet--but they're all old scandals, from twenty years ago, or thirty, or more.

Also, with every scandal uncovered, it seems the resolution of decent people to clean the stables grows, while the number of people who are still able to hide their heads in the sand declines.

So there are two things to look at: perceptions of how things are, and how things really are. Perceptions continue to deteriorate, but I think the corner has been turned.

[Salvation]

Isn't it just absurd -- that the Vatican does this right, FINALLY -- and they get criticized.

Would they hire back sex abusing teachers, counselors, nurses, doctors, etc. NO, they get canned just like these priests are getting canned.

Prayers for the Pope and all at the Vatican are forthcoming!

[autopsy]

Most of the offenses occurred years ago, and it doesn't look like so many are occurring now.

Maybe the instances of child molestation are less, but we all know the seminaries are full of homosexuals and vocations are way down. True, there are pockets of orthodoxy, but for the most part the priesthood has been hijacked by radical feminists, homosexuals and apostates.

[dsc]

"Maybe the instances of child molestation are less"

Not child molesting, except in a very, very few cases--just the typical predation on youth of garden-variety homosexuals.

"but we all know"

Yes, we all know, and the fact that we all know is good, in my estimation. Rather than the situation actually becoming worse, the furor is indicative of growing exposure and opposition.

Just my subjective read of the situation, of course.

[DallasMike]

Why should we in the Church care what you think? You are outside the Church.

You're going to be surprised in heaven to see a lot of people that, here on earth, you labeled as "outside the church."

The subject of predatory clergy (of all denominations) is a concern for all Christians and even non-Christians -- not just those who happen to be Catholic.

[Thoramir]

This is exactly the kind of Psychobabble BS advice the church received BEFORE the sex scandal broke. The church needs to make sure this kind of behavior ends before it worries about the well-being of abusers. Allowing them continue ministry gradually makes the behavior acceptable and is precisely what allowed the abuse to occur in the first place.

[saradippity]

I am grateful for the report from the Vatican committee of "outsiders". The "pantyhose" concept of punishment is not prudent,fair or rational. The American bishop's "zero tolerance" policy was an attempt to get the public and media off the back of the bishops rather than address the problems created and countenanced by their decision to go out into the world,armed with nothing but the fuzzy faith,spirituality of Vatican II.

To remove every offender from the priesthood and hang them out to dry is a travesty and does not serve justice,not for the priest,society or the Church. There is quite a difference between a priest basketball coach in the past,who swatted or slapped the bare or covered bottoms of the team and a priest who seduced a boy into a homogenital relationship.

The Church has a great oppurtunity to lead the way out of this morass,using justice first and only after determining justice,tempering in with mercy.If they (the bishops) fail,I believe we can kiss western civilization good-bye,this is a great oppurtunity for the Church in this country,pray they will not fail.

[sinkspur]

The Church has a great oppurtunity to lead the way out of this morass,using justice first and only after determining justice,tempering in with mercy.

The only way the Church will lead the way out of the sexual abuse crisis is to regain the trust of Catholics and non-Catholics. And the Church will not do that if it opposes a "zero tolerance" policy.

The thought of allowing abusive priests to remain in the priesthood terrifies people, since the Church hierarchy simply can't be trusted to police these guys.

Bishops say they won't be allowed to function in a diocese, then we find out that Robert Sanchez, former archbishop of Santa Fe who was forced to resign after having a series of affairs with women, and who ADMITTED to sheltering abusers, is celebrating Mass in Alaska in a Catholic parish. (This, courtesy of the Dallas Morning News).

The fight is as much PR as it is a matter of faith, and tolerating even one abuse in the priesthood is a non-starter, PR-wise.

[american colleen]

I agree with you... zero tolerance basically cuts the offender (whatever the degree of offense was/is) loose and leaves him adrift among the laity. It's almost like the bishops don't have to think at all.

If they were "good" enough to ordain then they are "good" enough to take responsibility for - for better or worse.

[saradippity]

Zero tolerance is only another means to create confusion,because it is so unjust. Lies,confusion,chaos seems to be the means and the objectives of many on these threads.

It is sad because one can sense a true love for the Church in many of these same people.

[heyheyhey]

The American bishop's "zero tolerance" policy was an attempt to get the public and media off the back of the bishops rather than address the problems…

They are scared to death to address the real cause of the problems. With the "0 tolerance" they tried to show how "tough" they could be when dealing with the problem, but, in reality, they showed weakness.

armed with nothing but the fuzzy faith,spirituality of Vatican II

Personally, I don't believe Vatican 2 has anything to do with the situation. I've read all the documents and found them to be of the greatest Christian profundity.

The people who claim to act in the "spirit" of Vat. 2 (the National Catholic Reporter mob-type characters) are a direct reaction to the "Latin traditionalist" followers of "pope Pius 13." Both are pagan and anti-Catholic.