Posted on 09/05/2002 8:34:39 PM PDT by Ronaldus Magnus
Edited on 04/29/2004 2:01:10 AM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]
VATICAN CITY -- Pope John Paul II says that to preserve itself, the Roman Catholic Church has to be much more careful not to let men with "deviations in their affections" enter the priesthood.
The 82-year-old pontiff also re-affirmed the Church's rule on celibacy, saying it should not be seen as a "useless" imposition but a vital part of a tradition in which the priest offers himself unconditionally to God.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
This from the same guy who is opposed to the "one strike and your out policy" that the American bishops agreed to regarding pedophile priests (one act of pedophilia and your out).
This pope's stand is nothing but window dressing and "smoke and mirrors" blown up the skirts of the "faithful" to keep them from bolting in the RC church in droves.
If this man were "of God," he would immediately remove cardinal Law and others guilty of the same crimes of playing musical chairs with KNOWN pedophiles from their positions of authority and would order an immediate review of all RC priests regarding their involvement in homosexual or pedophile activity. If he were a man of God, these people, after an honest evaluation of the evidence would be removed. He will never take these Biblical steps because I dare say half of the priests would be out the door or in jail where they belong.
You may attack the above statements all you like, but the reality is this, actions speak louder than words. Until the above takes place people are deluding themselves if they think Roman Catholicism and the pope are truly concerned about the problem or those within their care.
The pope in Rome cares nothing for the victims of the pedophile priests, if he did, he would not have ordered cardinal Law to RECIND the settlement the diocese of Boston had agreed to for the 86 victims of pedophile priests in Boston. And the joke that they should not be ordered to pay these victims because they "do not have the money" or "it will bankrupt the diocese" is ludicrous! If I commit a crime and am ordered to pay the penalty, I cannot say to the court "no. I do not have the money to pay the penalty." There answer is "you will pay or go to jail!" The court also does not care if the fine will bankrupt me or not. Try this line of argument the next time you get a speeding ticket and see where it gets you. We are not talking speeding tickets; we are talking about the on-going rape of multitudes of minors by men hiding behind the protection of "the church" and their vestments.
As for the argument that the RC church does not have the money to pay... They have money for new cathedrals in LA and gold-filled rooms in the Vatican and gold encrusted vestments, but NOTHING for the victims.
Finally someone has said the "d" word. Men with deviations in their affections == "deviants". Let the wailing and gnashing of teeth begin. LOL!!
Absolutely. These weren't just deviants, these were ARROGANT deviants.
With a deep respect for the Pope,what about the loser's that are already in the priesthood that have been reassigned.He needs to get rid of them or we keep our money.As far as I can tell, most are being booted.
patent +AMDG
Exactly. It's sort of like the French saying that the solution to the War on Terrorism is for the U.S. to appease the terrorists' demands. Negotiating with terrorists is always a loosing proposition.
This from the same guy who is opposed to the "one strike and your out policy" that the American bishops agreed to regarding pedophile priests (one act of pedophilia and your out).I dont believe the Pope has done anything with respect to the American policy. In the end he probably will oppose it, but mostly because it doesnt give the priests due process, it treats them like criminals as soon as they are accused.
Even a priest is entitled to fair treatment, to contend otherwise is un-American.
If this man were "of God," he would immediately remove cardinal Law and others guilty of the same crimes of playing musical chairs with KNOWN pedophiles from their positions of authority and would order an immediate review of all RC priests regarding their involvement in homosexual or pedophile activity. If he were a man of God, these people, after an honest evaluation of the evidence would be removed. He will never take these Biblical steps because I dare say half of the priests would be out the door or in jail where they belong.This Pope is more a man of God than you will ever be. Your ranting speaks much more about you than about the Pope.
That you would make different prudential decisions than he does is one thing. To accuse him of not doing his best to serve God is quite another.
The pope in Rome cares nothing for the victims of the pedophile priests, if he did, he would not have ordered cardinal Law to RECIND the settlement the diocese of Boston had agreed to for the 86 victims of pedophile priests in Boston.The Pope did no such thing, the diocesan finance council did.
And you seem to equate caring with money, apparently. How very, American of you.
And the joke that they should not be ordered to pay these victims because they "do not have the money" or "it will bankrupt the diocese" is ludicrous!Ah yes, lets force them to spend money they dont have! Theres a plan.
If I commit a crime and am ordered to pay the penalty, I cannot say to the court "no. I do not have the money to pay the penalty." There answer is "you will pay or go to jail!"Which is exactly where the priests who did this should go. The fact is, you cant identify a criminal statute that the diocese has violated.
The court also does not care if the fine will bankrupt me or not.The Court hasnt done anything here. This was a settlement between two individuals, not a Court ordered judgment. If it goes to trial, perhaps the Court will order out such big payments. Perhaps it wont. That is the risk both sides take, and that is why they try to reach settlement.
Nobody agrees to a settlement that will bankrupt them though. They might as well try their chances in court if that is the demand.
As for the argument that the RC church does not have the money to pay... They have money for new cathedrals in LAThe LA diocese isnt being sued here, the Boston diocese is. The Boston diocese does not control the funds being used in LA.
and gold-filled rooms in the Vatican and gold encrusted vestments,Well, unfortunately all that is controlled by the illuminati, so we cant just pass that out. We need permission from the aliens too.
but NOTHING for the victims.I believe that the victims in this country have gotten nearly a billion or so. That isnt nothing.
patent +AMDG
Among other things, you confuse civil proceedings with criminal ones, and voluntary settlement negotiations with court-ordered penalties.
SD
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.