The Dallas Outlook

NRO ^ | June 12, 2002 10:20 a.m. | Rod Dreher

[CatoRenasci]

This is very good. He's right about needing "new men." He's wrong to think the existing hierarchcy can be converted short of a miracle on the order of Saul becoming Paul on the Road to Damascus.

Every bishop, archbishop or cardinal who has covered up credible allegations of sex abuse by priests of minors of any age, and every bishop, archbishop or cardinal accused credibly of homosexual relations with anyone, adult or minor, should resign and retreat to a Trappist monastary for the rest of his life, do penance and pray for God's Mercy.

[CJ Wolf]

Hey, at least now we know the real reason why the Catholic priests don't like condoms. It's the same old problem most guys have, it just doesn't feel as good.

< flamesuit on! >

[yendu bwam]

I told him that I remain Catholic not because I had any faith in the bishops' handling of the sex-abuse matters, but because I believe that Catholicism is true.

This is also why I remain Catholic. I have lost faith in the hierarchy of the Church to protect children, to be honest with the laity, to teach actual Catholic morality (esp. sexual morality), to rid the priesthood of its thousands of active homosexuals, and so on. Though I respect the Pope, I am losing faith in him too. A good and strong Pope would not let this happen, and would act vigorously to clean up the moral morass into which the Church has fallen.

[yendu bwam]

A leading Catholic psychiatrist told me it's absurd to think that someone who molests a minor only does it once.

Without a one strike and you're out rule, kids will be molested who didn't have to be. Further, the Church is doing absolutely NOTHING to PREVENT these abuses. Putting active homosexual priests in close company with teenage boys is like putting an alcoholic in charge of a liquor store. Only in the former case, many lives are ruined.

[MrMatt]

I agree with this author. Not being Catholic, one thing continues to perplex me with most of what is being written about this topic. That is that most articles and comments never get around to the fact that the behavior is not only counter to church teachings--but it is also ILLEGAL! While the Catholic Church is a fine institution that does a tremendous amount of good, there is an overriding impression from both the church hierarchy and the membership that this is something that can and should be dealt with from within the church. These bishops have aided and supported felons in their avoidance of prosecution and perhaps have stood by while additional felonies have been committed.

[ghost of nixon]

It also proposes that priests who, in the past, have been diagnosed with pedophilia, or who have committed more than one act of sexual abuse of a minor, should be laicized.

Laicized? I don't what that is, but it sounds like what the priests were doing to the young boys. I guess "an eye for an eye" is in effect here.

[Richard Kimball]

What is also significant about this is that the Catholic Church has been totally neutralized as a force for representing any kind of moral standards for the country. This is not to say that there are no moral Catholics or Catholic priests. What is does mean is that any priest who speaks out against any type of sexual sin can immediately be neutralized by the opposition with a snide remark or joke.

It's very clear that pedophilia is the taboo currently in the sights of the nihilists. Who can speak out against it now? When the next book comes out claiming that "adult-child sexual relations can be positive", the Catholic Church will either remain silent or be ridiculed out of the debate. Since all conservative Protestants have already been effectively marginalized by the mass media, the final obstacle is out of the way for the final descent.

[oline]

I agree with your sentiments...


A poster asked what "laicized" meant -- it means that the priest would be made a lay person - he would be inactivated.

[CatoRenasci]

If you cannot trust the priests, bishops, or even the Pope (because of his age and infirmity) to teach true Catholic doctrine, how can you know what true Catholic teachings are? Do you, as a Faithful Catholic decide what true Catholic teachings are? While I don't disagree with you that the hierarchy cannot be trusted to lead, be honest or teach true doctrine, you need to understand that this is putting you perilously close to the Protestant position in fact, if not in your intent.

[yendu bwam]

I trust the Catholic Catechism, which cannot be in conflict with scripture. - - It's abundantly clear that if the homosexual rapists and the hierarchical cover-ups in this scandal had followed the words of Christ (as well as what's in the Catechism), there would have been no problem whatsoever. As for active homosexuality, the clear cause of all of this, it's forbidden in the Catechism and in scripture. But nobody in the Church has the strength or integrity to remind anyone of this. Pandering to active homosexuals (in the laity and the priesthood), wanting to be just so PC, and succumbing to intellectual pride has all taken precedence over teaching authentic Catholic morality (including sexual morality). My priests (in my Church), who are conservative and believe in scripture and the Catechism, still can't find the little bit of courage they need to address any of these issues forthrightly. The Church needs a massive injection of holy truth and integrity - not to mention making the safety of children the first, rather than last, priority. My children suffer from not hearing Catholic truth (and they are at risk as well in the company of priests).

[yendu bwam]

I should add that thousands and thousands of Catholics have been pleading with their bishops and priests to stay true to scripture and the Catechism for years - and all they get is ignored (and their kids get raped).

[saradippity]

I never thought I wuld be agreeing with you on the subject but I am. Well,that is, with 90% of what you say.

I would add,in addition to the hierarchy,who must be removed if they have ever been credibly accused of being in a homosexual relationship with a minor or an adult,so must the priests.

[yendu bwam]

When the next book comes out claiming that "adult-child sexual relations can be positive", the Catholic Church will either remain silent or be ridiculed out of the debate.

If the current scandal is any indication, groups of priests will actually start promoting pedophilia, pedophiliac acts will be ignored and your toddlers will stop being safe around priests. Actually, rapist Shanley DID promote pedophilia, and was promoted and transferred.

[Erasmus]

Laicized? I don't what that is, but it sounds like what the priests were doing to the young boys. I guess "an eye for an eye" is in effect here.

I thought it was what Goldfinger tried to do to James Bond.

[sinkspur]

Is your bishop on the list?

[Salvation]

Pray for Catholic priests and Bishops

[ArrogantBustard]

Laicized? It's Catholic-speak for "fired". "Let go." "Terminated". "Given the Pink Slip". "Axed".

[ArrogantBustard]

No. And the diocese has a formal policy that homosexuals shall not be ordained and that sexual abusers shall not be permitted to continue in ministry. This policy has existed in some form since the early 1970s.

AB

[CatoRenasci]

Of course, I did not mean to suggest that abuser priests not be removed. I was focusing on the cover-up aspects. You're quite right that the homosexual priests must go. We should start signing communications with the hierarchy with the old Monty Python "rule #1" from the "Bruces" skit: NO POOFTERS!