Public outcry is justified- Law must go

The Boston Globe ^ | April 24, 2002 | William J. Bennett

[My Identity]

OPE JOHN PAUL II will wrap up his summit with American cardinals today on the priest sexual abuse scandals. That the pope has called for this meeting is a sure sign that he has recognized the dire straits in which the American Catholic Church leadership is, even if some members of that leadership do not.

[My Identity]

I agree.

[Vladiator]

But every diocese and every order should enact a policy of zero tolerance for breaking the vow of celibacy - especially when it involves a minor - whether it is a heterosexual or homosexual matter.

Yeah, right. If priests have sex with a minor, boy or girl, they, like us lay people, should face serious jail time was well as a good defrocking. But if by "zero tolerance" he means a priest gets the boot if has sex with one of the adult parishoners, I hope Billy Boy has a good source for replacements.

[Bonaparte]

Bennett misses the point. Church "leadership" has been utterly ineffective. The solution can only come from the parishioners. If they are unwilling to clean up their own church, then so be it. They will continue to lose adherents.

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

With the exception of referencing the American Catholic Church, which is a heretical group, and not the Roman Catholic Church in America, Bennett makes good points.

[My Identity]

If they are unwilling to clean up their own church, then so be it.

Did I miss something? When did parishoners get a vote? LOL!

[thinktwice]

Boston catholics should find themselves some misison priest to give their money to.

[07055]

But every diocese and every order should enact a policy of zero tolerance for breaking the vow of celibacy

A minor quibble with an otherwise excellent article.

Gays in the priesthood have no problems with the vow of celibacy. They can't get married anyway (yet) so are giving up *nothing* by taking a vow of celibacy.

The focus needs to be on the vow of *chastity.*

[chiefqc]

Law has a problem, his ego and power will not let him see the forest for the trees.

Accept the responsibility of your office, admit you were wrong and then move out of the way so that the trust can return.

[uncbob]

Each diocese and order should be able to determine for itself the question of whether to admit men with homosexual orientations.

And I hope the congregations would be made aware of the policy so they can decide whether to support the parish

[Catholicguy]

"Each diocese and order should be able to determine for itself the question of whether to admit men with homosexual orientations. "

Thanks, Pope William of Washington. However, a law already exists that prohibits ordaining homosexuals. In 1961 The Sacred Congregation for Religious issued the following "Those affected by the perverse inclination to homosexuality or pederasty should be excluded from religious vows and ordinations." It has never been rescinded.

What Bennett suggests has already been tried - in opposition to Rome and the kinder and gentler Papacy of Pope John 23rd - and we can see the results all around us.

It is amasing how far we have fallen and how fast it has happened. We ought to return to FOLLOWING a law that has never been changed rather than advocate local expirementation that has proven to be a failure.

Where has COMMON SENSE gone?

[victim soul]

The days of the so-callee American Church are over!!!Alleleuia!!!!