CARDINAL LAW’S RESIGNATION [Rabid Bigots Falsely Accuse Pope]

CatholicLeague ^ | 12-13-2002 | Bill Donohue

[Notwithstanding]

Their so-called smoking gun theory boils down to this: the pope in 1999 recommended that a defrocked priest ought not return to the area where he committed his offenses. They take this eminently sensible advice and use it as a hammer to bludgeon the pope. Just so everyone understands what’s going on here, what the pope did was to say that a former priest—someone who had been returned to the status of a layman—ought to start a new life in a new location. Isn’t this what parole boards recommend to released inmates—that they not return to the neighborhood that nurtured their maladies? Shame on Massachusetts Attorney General Thomas Reilly and others for disseminating this mindless charge.

[concerned about politics]

I think the church should have removed the homosexual pedophiles as soon as the story came out. Save the kids first, priests later. I think the wrong guy is getting canned.
The "boy toy" popes could use this as an opourtunity to preach to those behind bars. After the sermon, they could engage in a few extracurricular activities together. The priests may finds they have a lot in common with these lost souls.

[concerned about politics]

First, the percentage of criminal priests is lower than that of the population at large. Virtually all of the cases were HOMOSEXUAL in nature, not child molestation. This in NO WAY condones the behavior and crimes of the offending priests. They should be defrocked and prosecuted. But the fact remains that the priests who are sinned so badly are a small percentage of the total priests in America.

But....but.....they're "priests", and they had sex with kids, dude!

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

But the leader of the Catholic Church also gave pedophile priest Robert Burns' superior one way to get around the order.

"The local [superior] . . . is able to dispense from this clause of the decree if it is foreseen that the presence of the suppliant will cause no scandal," the pope wrote

I believe this is the part people are referring too when they say the pope was acting inappropriatly,

Becky

[sitetest]

Dear scannell,

A man who is laicized, especially if he has been a priest for a substantial period of time, and especially if he became a priest at a relatively early age, is a man bereft of resources. In this case, once having served his term in prison, this particular ex-priest will also be a convicted felon, alone in the wide world.

If he fails to receive any assistance from anyone in learning to make his way in the world, to find a way to earn a living, put bread in his mouth, a roof over his head, he will descend into misery, not that such a misery would be undeserved. But, once having been released from prison, the rest of us have an interest in seeing this man refrain from the behaviors that got him sent to prison. Allowing him to slide uninterrupted into misery is a poor way to try to prevent that. People in extremis often revert to their worst selves.

Thus, knowing all this, and trying to do what is right in a terrible set of circumstances, the Church may extend some assistance to this man once he completes his prison term.

I don't know what may or may not have happened in this case, so the following comments are of a more general nature. But they may apply in part or whole to the present case.

I've read where the Church has provided individuals like this with the funds for intensive psychotherapy, as well as financial assistance, to make an honorable life for themselves after having served their time in prison.

If you think that is an evil thing, or a bad idea, please suggest some method to reduce the rate of recidivism among these men, and please limit your suggestions to methods which are legal, and which the Church could follow. Remember, the Church may not jail, or execute, or commit to a mental hospital, anyone. Once he serves his term in prison, the Church cannot use force against this ex-priest to keep him from molesting other children.

Even with such assistance, there is serious danger of relapse by such a man. But without such assistance from the Church, the likelihood that he will offend again is very high. So, in the effort to "clean up after their own mess", the hierarchy of the Church may decide that it would not entirely abandon this man, but would provide him assistance after his prison term, to try to get him on the "straight and narrow".

The former priest, having served several years in an environment far less pleasant than the old church rectory, is likely highly desirous of avoiding reincarceration, and is likely eager for the help of the Church in establishing a new life.

This being the case, the Church has substantial leverage over the former priest. "Live where we tell you or forego our assistance," may be what is said. It isn't a legally-binding force that the Church has, but it is a powerful incentive, nonetheless.

Now, again, perhaps you're disgusted that the Church would assist this man after prison. But I'm not sure that the Church has a better lawful alternative. Certainly, few would criticize the hierarchy for washing its hands of such a man, "He's a convicted felon, no longer a priest, we drummed him out of our ranks years ago, we are no longer responsible for him, we condemn him."

Who could argue with that?

But I don't know how that would actually protect our children.


sitetest

[Dave S]

There are no more 'perverts' in our church than in any other. You know, you sound so, smug and self-righteous, and it's disgusting!

I've heard public media reports that at least a third of priests are gay. Isn't that a little atypical of the total population. Might you have fewer priests hitting on young boys if you had fewer gay perverts in your ranks? I certainly think so.

As far as RCC not having more perverts than other churches, first of all I think you are in denial to make that claim. Additionally, even if it was true, you still would have more cases of abuse because you dont punish the guilty. You just merely ship them off to damage someone else's kids.

And my 'priest' is just fine, thank you! And all of our pastors, and priests who have come to our parish as visitors, have been fine, capable, men.

Didn't parishoners say wonderful things about Shanley and some of the others convicted. How do you know your priests have been fine, other than to best of your knowledge, they have never been publically punished?

[ninenot]

“Finally, some are already beating the war drums going after bishops of other dioceses. This is absurd: everyone knows that no other diocese in the nation was qualitatively or quantitatively comparable to Boston. To suggest otherwise is to play into the hands of Fifth-Column Catholics.”

Perhaps, Bill.

On the other hand, "everybody knows" that Bill Donahue of Catholic League is heavy on rhetoric and sometimes under-supplied with facts.

Maybe Mr. Donahue will personally guarantee the cleanliness of all the rest of America's dioceses--like, for example, L.A., SFO, and Chicago.

[concerned about politics]

There are no more 'perverts' in our church than in any other. You know, you sound so, smug and self-righteous, and it's disgusting!

Many other churches have spoken out against homosexuality throughout their entire existance. It's considered an abomination in the Holy Bible.
A pro-gay church will attract gays. The Catholic gay outreach program could be why.

[ninenot]

And why would he recommend that the man go somewhere where no one knew of the scandal?

For the simple reason that those who HAD been molested would live in fear of the perp if he were back next-door after time in the Big House.

At this time, the State of Wisconsin is trying to place perps back in the same town where they came from (all types--rapist, murderer, child-molester.)

Needless to say, the recipient towns are NOT happy about this--and there have been some rather, ah, TENSE confrontations...

[Russ7]

The Church may look stupid to you but as a loyal faithful Catholic I see a battle between good and evil being played out. Evil does not get stamped down immediately...not even by the pope. It is a battle which will go on until Jesus returns. Then.....evil will have NO power. Evil is currently permitted by God. It is up to us to pray for triumph over evil. Check out the St. Michael prayer as starters.

[smoking camels]

It is incredible that anyone would defend the posts I referred to. This person is a loose cannon. I can endure the attacks from your type because I expected them.

[ninenot]

...too old and infirm to do anything except to be a showpiece, and the "Lavender Mafia" control the info and access to him, and are the real power in the RCC hierarchy...just my take, as I have no proof that he is evil...(yet)

You are entitled to your opinion.

It's not necessarily wrong, but certainly a bit over the top.

Asking that JPII have perfect control over all the lives of Catholics is like asking GWBush to have perfect control over US citizens. It's not realistic.

You will note that JPII speaks out when necessary, and is quite firmly on the 'right' side.

You ARE correct that there's a good deal of fact-manipulation and dissembling going on in the reporting chain to the Pope.

when someone like Law will get a position in Rome, instead of jail.

Are you morally certain that Law will be posted in Rome??

[smoking camels]

Whether it is my church or not does not change the fact that I believe there are great problems within the Church starting at the very top. For the Church to prosper these must be dealt with. Also this "Notwithsatnding" person is a loose cannon. If I am in the Church they make me crings with embarassment; if I am not in the Church they give me something to mock in the Church. Either way they are looking stupid and a disgrace to the Church.

[concerned about politics]

So this is what the last days of the Catholic Church are going to look like. Buggering boys undermines the moral base and the laywers rip the gold off the Vatican altars. We may get one more Pope, when this senile one dies, but that's probably about it.

Well, St. Malichai (sp?) said 2 more. The next will deny Christ altogether and live a short life. The one after him will be the last.
Political correctness is a religion of desolation ruled by the Anti-Christ. Those who get involved in it suffer the consequences.
"God will not be mocked."

[smoking camels]

Please! My posts here were not about the Church! They were about "Notwithstanding's" moronic rantings. Peace?

[Russ7]

Our pope John Paul II is not basically like John Gill as you suggest. This is a terrible attack on the Catholic Church. Our pope is Jesus Christ's vicar on earth. The Catholic Church has lasted over 2000 yrs and survived worse attacks then what your punny intellect can launch. Our popes can be traced back, one by one, all the way back to Peter who was the first to be given the authority to act as Christ's vicar on earth. Who's your "pope"? How far back is your popes history traceable? eh?

[concerned about politics]

"Pope-haters & catholic-haters - please continue to show your true colors. We are taking this all down."

Me thinks your some kind of nut. What's your problem?

LOL. "Taking this all down". I feel like we're in Iraq!
Are they going to kill our children, or what?

[smoking camels]

it's called FREEDOM of speech. I have the right to say anything I want. just because you don't like it.... tough titty buddy!

[concerned about politics]

Our popes can be traced back, one by one, all the way back to.......

Actually, they came from the Babylonian religion, and were taken over by the Roman empire who needed them to assist their military. Wella! The Roman Catholic church appeared.
Where did you get this "peter" stuff from?
Actually, the Church of God is not a building nor it's priests. It's the people who listen to and follow his wisdom. Homosexuals are not favored at all!
The kingdom is within you.
If you study Revelations, Jesus favored the poor church, so why would he favor the Catholic Church today? "It is easier for a Camel..."
"If your rightousness does not exceed that of the Pharoes...."

[concerned about politics]

"If anyone were to hurt one of these little ones, it would be better for them to have a millstone tied around their neck and be thrown into the sea than for them on judgemant day."
I wonder what Jesus, and Peter, would think of a homosexual pedophillia cover up within a Church that claims their names.