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To: Petrosius
The problem with these meandering, meaningless declarations from the RCC in 2002, 2005 and 2006 is that there are NO penalties whatsoever for ignoring or concealing child sex crimes committed by its clergy.

Instead, these documents continue to portray the pedophilia at the heart of the RCC as being simply isolated cases in isolated places, rather than a widespread, ongoing criminal enterprise.

All talk. And nothing changes. And Crimen Sollicitationis still inhibits the victims from going to the police under penalty of excommunication.

Destroyed if you do/destroyed if you don't. That's the choice Rome gives the children who are raped by its priests.

91 posted on 06/23/2011 8:57:54 AM PDT by Dr. Eckleburg ("I don't think they want my respect; I think they want my submission." - Flemming Rose)
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To: Dr. Eckleburg
Instead, these documents continue to portray the pedophilia at the heart of the RCC as being simply isolated cases in isolated places, rather than a widespread, ongoing criminal enterprise.

That is because, despite the attempts of the portray it otherwise, these are isolated cases. In a church of over one billion member, the number of cases is quite small. And please, do not try to state that I am minimizing the horror of what happened. The crimes of these priests and the negligence of their bishops are the most wicked and unspeakable. There are no penalties that could be harsh enough. But these things happened because they, both the priests and their bishops, acted against the teachings and laws of the Church.

And Crimen Sollicitationis still inhibits the victims from going to the police under penalty of excommunication.

Again, repeating a falsehood does not make it true. Show me one, just one, person who has been excommunicated for reporting these crimes to the police. Even if I were to grant your false presentation of Crimen sollicitations you should update yourself with the present norms. The following is from Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith's Circular Letter to Assist Episcopal Conferences in Developing Guidelines for Dealing with Cases of Sexual Abuse of Minors Perpetuated by Clerics, dated May 2, 2011:

Sexual abuse of minors is not just a canonical delict but also a crime prosecuted by civil law. Although relations with civil authority will differ in various countries, nevertheless it is important to cooperate with such authority within their responsibilities. Specifically, without prejudice to the sacramental internal forum, the prescriptions of civil law regarding the reporting of such crimes to the designated authority should always be followed.
Thus, protecting the seal of Confession, all are required to obey laws regarding reporting abuse to the police.
123 posted on 06/23/2011 6:30:44 PM PDT by Petrosius
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