I will say again ...people are angry...catholics and any other of the faithful...that more isn't being done within the catholic church leadership to stop the cover ups and dodging the criminal activity happening within "the catholic church" which is the topic of this thread..."the catholic church"
I wholeheartedly agree.
Yes, public school teachers are a joke, they were a joke when I was in school (usually the band directors or coaches) and they're even more so now. In the UK the sexual shenanigans of priests of the CofE have such a well earned reputation that they're practically part of the national identity. Protestant ministers in the US engaging in "counseling sessions" with adult female congregants is SO ingrained into our public consciousness that well, does NO ONE remember Hawthorne's "Scarlet Letter"?
All of this is part of our cultural heritage and for the most part we express neither surprise nor great concern except when personally impacted. But the very idea that Catholic priests are breaking their vows and engaging in sexual sins with males above and/or below the age of consent draws forth a fiery outrage in every human heart...
AND RIGHTLY SO!
The idea that bishops of the Church are covering up the scandal and in some cases even facilitating it is so outrageous as to make me long for the days of the inquisition.
We Catholics must clean our own house and more importantly be seen doing it. Bishops, priests and laity must be involved in public penance for the scourge of homosexuality that God has allowed to infiltrate His priesthood. Abusers and predators MUST be removed from public ministry. Credible accusations MUST be acted upon. Facilitators must be stripped of ecclesiastical authority.
Maybe when the priests and bishops of the Church are seen to be keeping their vows and promises the laypeople may return to keeping their own.
And on that note: I'm back.
Good post...
I was visiting the Vatican site where the letter the Pope wrote to the Irish Church is recorded... and even he said basically the same thing. Admitted the evidence could not be denied. Also read of the Popes instructions to the leadership. No doubt he expects leadership to act WITH the civil authorities.....but if they will or not remains to be seen.
He also called on the membership to accept the fact this is a very serious problem within the church and for the membership to realize the truth that it is. No denying or protecting anymore. And He acknowledged leadership had indeed protected Priests and had not a few choice words to them as well.
I thought he wasn’t hard enough on the perps though. He still left a window open for them that is discomforting to say the least IMO. But he did basically tell them to fess up to their crimes.
I also think that as the catholic church “cleans house” these perps who haven’t yet been caught are going to move right into the Protestant churches, as well as others. Deceptive men they will formulate some way to continue their behavior in another setting. Am Very concerned about our children....