[patent]

But, I think it would be a stretch to claim that any priest was molesting a child while acting as a priest.

Nazi Germany had a great way of dealing with the Church when it interferred with their politics. They frequently arrested priests and charged them with pedophilia. Most of these priests didn't do anything other than act as a priest. The mere fact that a charge has been made does not mean the priest was actually molesting a child, we should not forget that, especially in the histeria that seems to be coming.

You refer to past history indicating abuse by Bishops of their authority to resolve these issues, but past history indicates civil authorities have used these powers illegitimately as well.

patent

[07055]

Nazi Germany had a great way of dealing with the Church when it interferred with their politics. They frequently arrested priests and charged them with pedophilia. Most of these priests didn't do anything other than act as a priest. The mere fact that a charge has been made does not mean the priest was actually molesting a child, we should not forget that, especially in the histeria that seems to be coming.

Clearly, the people need to be vigilant to any abuses of religious freedom as fallout from this scandal. Hopefully, we now have stronger political institutions than were in place in Germany at that time.

I am hesitant to give any religion the right to avoid laws that apply to the rest of us. I feel the same way about churches that claim the right to use illegal drugs as part of their beliefs. And I would not shield Mosques involved with terrorism merely because of religious freedom.

True, there have been some abuses when reports of child sexual abuse are involved (I believe that our former attorney general Janet Reno has some first hand knowledge of that). But, such abuses don't argue that the reporting laws are broken beyond repair---just that we must be careful not to let hysteria take over.