Pilfering Priests

Time ^ | Thursday, Feb. 15, 2007 | TIM PADGETT / DELRAY BEACH

[Gamecock]

simple perusal of NYer's posted articles will help in educating anyone who is really, actually interested.

Ping to 79. BTW, there have been precious few Catholics here who have commented on this article, even though I am sure they have popped in just because of the title.

[Gamecock]

The onus is on Alex to explain how a "by-and-large" Catholic doesn't have a problem with immoral priests.

Exhibit 1: My #81

[Alex Murphy]

That is incorrect. A simple perusal of NYer's posted articles will help in educating anyone who is really, actually interested. There few to no anti-SSPX, anti-Latin Mass threads, and a simple perusal of ANY recent Catholic threads posted by Catholics will help to dispel that erroneous notion. Again, if anyone is actually, really interested in fact and not food fight.

To her credit, NYer's posted articles are exactly what you describe.

The problem you have is that she's the exception, re the types of threads that Catholics post on FR.

[Mad Dawg]

Well when one uses the term contempt, it's hard to see the post as a joke.

While I would hate to contradict someone who knows so much more about the truth than I do, who knows not only what I do but what I intend better even than I myself know, and in fact knows so much mor43e than I that he doesn't even need to read what I've written before he tells me I'm wrong (okay, I wouldn't hate it, not really), but to those of us whose native language is English, the phrase "genial contempt" is a common, almost an colloquial oxymoronic phrase, close in meaning to "affectionate contempt", which often describes one spouse's views of the other's efforts in this or that area, for example, how the boss lady feels when I offer to help clean house.

Lacking all those recent posts, I guess it could be construed as not serious.I am overwhelmed by your graciousness. You come out swinging, express in the most contemptuous (there's that word again!) possible terms what you do not understand about some of our ceremonial behavior and the attitudes which motivate it, and then allow that maybe, just maybe, there is a certain light-heartedness in the phrase "genial contempt". How very kind!

[1000 silverlings]

I'm sorry but the term "affectionate contempt" especially when applied to my soulmate and spouse is not one I am familiar with, let alone experience. I suppose therein lies the problem. Now you may have the last word

[Alex Murphy]

Exhibit 1: My #81

Exhibit #2: This thread. See especially this post, and the first thirteen posts in general. Two people - myself and NYer - posted the exact same material within minutes of each other. Check out the reactions to mine. For some Catholics, it's obvious that who posts Catholic threads is of greater importance than the content itself. You should see some of the hatemail I've received, just for posting press releases from the official Vatican website!

To her great credit (and others' shame), NYer actually thanked me for posting it first. IMO other Catholics on FR would be wise to follow her worthy example and conduct.

[Gamecock]

I don't know, maybe they have a life, maybe they have a job, or a house to run or kids to raise or shopping to do or laundry or dishes to wash or groceries to get or dinner to fix and they don't spend their whole lives on FR, even if it's at the risk of offending someone by not posting on their thread.

And yourself? What are your thoughts on the article?

[Gamecock]

Irrelevant to my point

No, it speaks volumes.

[diamond6]

In my experience, Catholics by-and-large don't have a problem with having immoral priests."


My family and I are Catholic.....and I have a big problem with immoral priests. Many I'm sure do, but just don't say anything. It's terrible for anybody to give scandal to our Catholic Church; those people need much prayer, whether they are priests or laymen.

[Gamecock]

Was that so hard?

Enjoy your husband's day off. My wife and kids are out of town, but I will be meeting them tomorrow afternoon.

[sandhills]

I love it when these diocesan auditors talk tough. "We've got a tiger by the tail." Give me a break.
Hey, Hamel, show us the bishops' books and I'll believe that you can take bull by the horns.

[diamond6]

So let's just let it drift off into obscurity and actually support each other in the worship of the One, True God."


Everytime I see one of these threads I just shake my head. My best friend is an evangelical christian, we both rejoice in beliefs that we have in common, and leave alone the beliefs we dont' share. I don't understand why christians are so hateful...........to other christians.

People, take a breath. We are all on the same side!

[Mad Dawg]

BTW, there have been precious few Catholics here who have commented on this article, even though I am sure they have popped in just because of the title.

What's to comment? You want comments? Here ya go:

• Time magazine always sounds good until they write about something one knows about. Then one realizes how half-cocked they are and how baseless their opinions.
• Dog bites man. Priests are sinners. Color me not at all surprised. I used to be a real live collar-wearing clergydude. I knew I was a sinner. There's nothing to see here, IMHO.
• YEAH, it would be good if the bishops would get their priests to adopt some book-keeping safeguards. My faith does not rise or fall on such things.
• I have this sense that people who never try to climb high mountains will never fall spectacularly. I appreciate those who venture great things. If they fall, maybe they need to hang up the ropes and pitons for a while -- maybe forever, but I'm still grateful for the attempt.

Will that do?