Pope speaks out about sex abuse scandals

Associated Press ^ | March 21, 2002 | By VICTOR L. SIMPSON - Associated Press Writer

[MeekOneGOP]

	Posted on Thu, Mar. 21, 2002
	Pope speaks out about sex abuse scandals By VICTOR L. SIMPSON Associated Press Writer VATICAN CITY - Pope John Paul II on Thursday broke his silence on the sex abuse cases rocking the Roman Catholic Church, saying the "grave scandal" was casting a "dark shadow of suspicion" over all priests. In an annual message to priests worldwide, the pope said "as priests we are personally and profoundly afflicted by the sins of some of our brothers who have betrayed the grace of ordination." He said they had succumbed "to the most grievous forms" of what he called, using the Latin phrase, "mystery of evil." "Grave scandal is caused, with the result that a dark shadow of suspicion is cast over all the other fine priests who perform their ministry with honesty and integrity and often with heroic self-sacrifice," the pope said. John Paul said the Church "shows her concern for the victims and strives to respond in truth and justice to each of these painful situations." It was the first time the pope publicly addressed the issue since widescale accusations of sexual misconduct by priests surfaced in the United States in recent months. The accusations have led to the resignation of one bishop, from Palm Beach, Fla., and tarnished the reputation of Cardinal Bernard Law of Boston for failing to take action against a child-molesting priest. The problem has worldwide implications for the Church. In January, the Catholic Church in Ireland agreed to a landmark $110 million payment to children abused by clergy over decades. More than 20 priests, brothers and nuns have been convicted of molesting children. Sexual abuse cases involving cover-ups have also been reported in England, France and Australia, among other countries. John Paul has been described as particularly saddened by sexual harassment allegations leveled against the archbishop of Poznan in the pope's native Poland. Archbishop Juliusz Paetz, who worked with John Paul at the Vatican and was sent by him to Poland in 1982, denied the allegations in a letter read in parishes last Sunday. For years, the Vatican viewed such reports as attempts to discredit the church or as part of an orchestrated campaign against celibacy. At a Vatican news conference to present the pope's letter, Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos said John Paul was "supportive" of bishops and priests in dioceses shaken by the scandal. But he refused to answer specific questions about the sex scandal, reading a written statement that defended the Church's efforts to uphold morality and punish wrongdoers within their ranks. He cited a study showing that 3 percent of American clergymen had the "tendency" to abuse minors and that 0.3 percent were pedophiles. He said there were no comparative studies for other categories "including parents and relatives."

---

© 2001 startelegram and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved.
http://www.dfw.com

[meandog]

Protestants usually fire their ministers on the spot

...unfortunately, not alltogether true, in the case of us Episcopalians--we, too, (sigh) have to go through a bishop just as like maligned Catholics!

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

What precisely would you do as an Episcopalian if you encountered a similar scandal in your parish? And what if the bishop tried to cover it up? Would you hold your silence out of respect for the Church or expose those involved? And...what if Spong was your bishop? What would you do then?

[meandog]

What precisely would you do as an Episcopalian if you encountered a similar scandal in your parish? And what if the bishop tried to cover it up? Would you hold your silence out of respect for the Church or expose those involved? And...what if Spong was your bishop? What would you do then?

I'd try to get on as a delagate to my General Convention and bring up the issue in conference (though, I'm sure I'd get shh-h-h-hd down by the priests and bishops there; however, most conventions are covered by the media, so at least the issue would bet out). If Sprong were my bishop, I'd convert to catholicism!

[BlessedBeGod]

You're probably right about this, but our problem, as is always the case, is that the COVER-UP by the bishops has caused the boil to fester. Protestants typically fire the offending minister on the spot.

Our bishops protect each other. They don't want to take another bishop to task, because they may be the next one to be taken to task. They look out for each other, like the AMA or the ABA.

Since only a small percentage of bishops in the U.S. are loyal to the Church (about 13%), they are outnumbered and ineffective in rooting out evil among their ranks.

[BlessedBeGod]

A close friend of mine just left seminary because of the rampant homosexual activity that is going on there.

Just out of curiosity, was the seminary that he went to generally regarded as conservative or liberal?

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

"If Spong were my bishop, I'd convert to Catholicism."

LOL!

I love it. I actually met Spong once and he had some hot female in tow who was all over him.
(not the one pictured)

BTW, American Catholics have their own version of Spongism.

[BlessedBeGod]

Bishop Reginald Cawcutt of South Africa, an openly active gay, said that if Ratzinger puts the hammer down, he will begin an exposition that will rock the church.

I cringe while saying this, but it could only be for the best -- if for once to root out all the perps.

[BlessedBeGod]

while the seminaries in dioceses with bishops like Rembert Weakland can only manage one or two ordinations a year.

Party Time!

Rembert Weakland's retirement date is April 2, 2002, a mere 12 days away!

The Holy Father is already waiting by the fax machine for his resignation.

This will at least stop Weakland from reassigning gay priests who have actually been prosecuted for lewd acts in public.

[ELS]

Letter of the Holy Father to Priests for Holy Thursday 2002 - text

Pope Said Keenly Aware of Priestly Scandals

[LouD]

There is a problem, and it needs to be dealt with - Which was the point of the Holy Father's comments.

However, the problem is with a small minority of priests - while your cartoon attempts to stereotype all priests as pedophiles.

I am a Catholic, but I never claimed to be a good one. I've never quite gotten the hang of that "turn the other cheek" thing - So, let me reiterate: You are an anti-Catholic bigot, *sshole.

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

Remembering Weakland, Iconoclast and Church Wrecker: A Kook for Our Time

[redhead]

Does anyone have a picture of that rondel on the wall (usually reserved for portraits of the saints) of the newly ravaged cathedral that contains a portrait of none other than ol' rembert weakling himself?

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

An Update on "Renewal" and "Opening the Windows to the Modern World."

[StickyWings]

I pray they do the right thing, rid the priesthood of these low life. It is the right thing to do ASAP!

[antaresequity]

Not one mention of the fact that each and everyone of these perverts are Homosexuals....

[heyheyhey]

Not one mention of the fact that each and everyone of these perverts are Homosexuals....

"Though this be madness, yet there is method in it."
- Shakespeare

[AniGrrl]

Actually, that's not quite true. On MSNBC last night, there was a 4 person panel "Sins of the Fathers" that included Kenneth Woodward (religion editor for Newsweek) and he went out of his way to point out that this isn't really about pedophilia and prepubescent children, but homosexuality and teens.

I believe he also went out of his way earlier to point out this really wasn't about celibacy.

I was, needless to say, throughly surprised.

[ThomasMore]

was the seminary that he went to generally regarded as conservative or liberal?

Conservative! It is also considered one of the more manly! We both wonder what some of the other seminaries are like.

[redhead]

The "Adoremus Bulletin" this month had a photo of a rondel with RW's picture in it. It was as VULGAR a thing as I have seen in a long time.