Posted on 03/09/2007 9:39:24 PM PST by Caravaggio
In the face of modern challenges to the Faith, Catholics who have a high profile in media, culture and government have a very grave responsibility to witness it correctly; otherwise, they will be held accountable in heaven for their anti-witness which affects the faith of millions.
For example, last Friday Sean Hannity took a few moments out of his afternoon radio show to make an apology. When I heard that the rather brash Hannity was actually going to apologize for something I was interested to find out what that would be. At first he sounded very sincere in saying we have to take responsibility for our mistakes. Fine so far. Then he went on to tell his hearers that he had taken two bites of a chicken sandwich that day because he had been traveling and literally forgot it was a Friday of Lent. He stopped eating it when he realized it was a Friday, but he used the opportunity on the show to make a fairly big deal about the "eat meat on Friday and you can go to hell" issue.
Well, even though he claims to be a "good Catholic," Hannity is hardly a credible commentator on Catholic matters. The chicken sandwich scandal was fairly trivial in the overall scheme of his show, but it said much more about the depth of his faith than anything else. I suspect that a great number of Catholics live their faith in the same way—rule-bound and juvenile—but we need something better from a public "Catholic" like Hannity. We need a vibrant witness of someone who knows and embraces his Faith as deeply as he articulates his political passions.
(Excerpt) Read more at hli.org ...
Nothing could be further from the truth. I posted nothing in defense of Hannity and I am a most orthodox Catholic who attends an approved Tridentine Mass when I have the opportunity. Read my posts more carefully.
A good priest friend of mine says quite accurately "one can fall in to the ditch from either side of the road". The liberal (cafeteria catholics included) and the extreme schismatics. One must follow the teaching of the Church and all I post confirms that.
I will continue to pray for your immortal sould Tribemike and for reconciliation of the SSPX with Holy Mother Church.
Thanks for the article. Matthew 7:1 is clear. But, it can't be interpreted to say that we can't form an opinion of conduct that we know is evil. As far as hearts and salvation are concerned, that is between a person and Christ. That's what I can't judge. I can however be confident in His salvation for me. Thanks again for the article.
In Christ
That's not the only thing he said and/or he was hinting at. No one's denying that the bishops have a lot of responsibility.
Gosh, that article's an oldie but a goodie. I remember reading it about 5 years ago, maybe longer and still use parts of it today against those who use the teaching "judge not" in an erroneous manner.
My email keeps getting returned from that link.
Do you have another?
You said, "First - it would be fair to say "a few Catholic priests".
Only if you understand the word "few" to mean several thousands.
According to the John Jay report commissioned by the U.S. bishops, allegations of sexual abuse were made in 1950-2002 against 4,392 priests. The number is generally believed to underestimate the prolem.
Agree 100%
Rush started out as ultra conservative. Then he went the way of the big business country club Republicans for a long while.
Do you have any figures on how many allegations were valid?
I guess few was not accurate, I should have said percentage.
My point was that not all Catholic priests are homosexuals who molest young boys. How many Catholic priests are there or have there been during that period? What percentage of that number would 2000 be?
I'm not prepared to call Sean Hannity evil because I might disagree with him on something.
By scripture, do you mean the Bible?
Catholics do not depend solely on Sola Scriptura
Regardless of what Christian religion you belong to, the first one was the Catholic Church founded by Jesus Christ and entrusted to the apostles for teaching. As from the first, God speaks to his Church through the Bible and through sacred Tradition. Sacred Tradition
Yes, by Scripture I mean the Bible. I am Christian but I do not belong to any demonation. I believe the Bible to be written by men inspired by God so it is God's Word. You say that Jesus Christ founded the Catholic religion, can you show me scripture to prove that? There is no religion mentioned in the Bible that I can find. The word "church" in the Bible points to all followers of Christ, so the true church is the body of Christ.
Catholic Lady makes a great point..."Do you have any figures on how many allegations were valid?"
"allegations of sexual abuse were made in 1950-2002 against 4,392 priests"
Allegations...I checked the site you posted. Although allegations against a large number, don't see the proof as far as convictions are concerned. Anything more up to date?
Jesus said his Church would be "the light of the world." He then noted that "a city set on a hill cannot be hid" (Matt. 5:14).
This means his Church is a visible organization. It must have characteristics that clearly identify it and that distinguish it from other churches.
Jesus promised, "I will build my Church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it" (Matt. 16:18). This means that his Church will never be destroyed and will never fall away from him. His Church will survive until his return.
Among the Christian churches, only the Catholic Church has existed since the time of Jesus. Every other Christian church is an offshoot of the Catholic Church.
The Eastern Orthodox churches broke away from unity with the pope in 1054. The Protestant churches were established during the Reformation, which began in 1517. (Most of today’s Protestant churches are actually offshoots of the original Protestant offshoots.)
Only the Catholic Church existed in the tenth century, in the fifth century, and in the first century, faithfully teaching the doctrines given by Christ to the apostles, omitting nothing.
The Catholic Church has existed for nearly 2,000 years, despite constant opposition from the world. This is testimony to the Church’s divine origin. It must be more than a merely human organization, especially considering that its human members— even some of its leaders—have been unwise, corrupt, or prone to heresy.
When you read the Bible, do you read it in the original language written or do you read some version written much later by some man? How do you know the translation is accurate? How can you depend on your interpretation of what is written to be accurate?
With over a billion dollars paid out to victims, I would say that many courts of law found thousands of allegations to be true.
So is Sean Hannity.
"With over a billion dollars paid out to victims, I would say that many courts of law found thousands of allegations to be true."
"I would say that many courts of law found thousands of allegations to be true."
No, that is not a true statement.
Huge sums of monies were paid to actual victims and also in settlements, (some without ever having seen the inside of a courtroom), but those numbers were not even in the hundreds, much less thousands.
Actually, the list that you posted shows reletively few convictions, charges, etc.
Allegations are unproven...
I would be very interested in seeing if you had any similar lists for the public school teachers who have been accused, charged, convicted, etc. of molesting students in the public school system. Just read about 13 women, (some repeat offenders). Again, just the facts.
Reverberations from a sex scandal still roil the Catholic Church
By Bret Schulte
While Catholics tend to support their local priests and parishes, the hierarchy of the church is regarded warily. A study this fall by Catholic University sociologist Dean Hoge shows that 72 percent of Catholics believe the bishops' handling of the sex-abuse crisis is more serious than the abuse itself. When bishops in Portland, Tucson, and Spokane declared their dioceses bankrupt this year after being charged in multimillion-dollar lawsuits, enraged victims accused them of cynical attempts to avoid potentially embarrassing trials. Bishops say the bankruptcy process ensures the survival of their dioceses while guaranteeing a fair settlement to victims.
About 20 dioceses have reached major multi-plaintiff settlements since 2002, with some staggering payouts. In early December, the diocese in Orange County, Calif., reportedly reached a $100 million settlement with 87 abuse victims. After two years of negotiations, the Los Angeles Archdiocese and lawyers for 544 victims are approaching a settlement that could reach $1 billion. Cardinal Roger Mahony has drawn fire for failing to share with prosecutors documents that he contends would breach the confidentiality of bishops and priests. The case is further complicated by allegations of abuse stretching back to 1931.
Insurance firms have covered some of the cost under broad liability policies, but some dioceses have been squeezed. Boston had to sell property that included the archbishop's mansion. Meanwhile, donations from angry Boston Catholics have plummeted, leaving the archdiocese with an unfunded pension liability of $80 million.
And abuse victims are unlikely to be mollified. "Settlements are no panacea," says David Clohessy, national director of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. "No one in authority has paid the price," he says. While at least five high-level Catholic officials have resigned since 2002, none have faced criminal charges. Some priests have been convicted, but most of the abuse appears to have occurred before 1980, meaning many of the accused are dead or protected by a statute of limitations. Tim Ender, who was molested as a teen in the 1970s and was part of the Orange County settlement, is far from satisifed. "I'm not even close to finding closure," he says.
Shortage of priests. Some 700 priests have been removed from the ministry since 2002, exacerbating a priest shortage. The number of priests nationwide has dropped from 58,632 in 1965 to about 43,304 today. The church ordained only 533 new priests this year, down by about half since 1965.
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/041227/27church_2.htm
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/041227/27church_2.htm
Struggling to Keep the Faith
Reverberations from a sex scandal still roil the Catholic Church
By Bret Schulte
Posted 12/19/04
Nearly three years after a series of staggering revelations of sexual abuse by its clergy, the Roman Catholic Church is still working its way through the fallout, with equal amounts of pain and hope. In Boston, where the story first broke, the archdiocese faces financial ruin. More than 80 churches are slated to be closed as church authorities fight a $10 million annual deficit, brought on by dying parishes and a 50 percent decline in donations since 2002. Yet for all their anger, area Catholics seem to be clinging even more tenaciously to their faith, with many parishioners fighting to have the closings reversed. That would include people like Ian Driscoll of St. Anselm in Sudbury, one of eight parishes staging 24-hour protest vigils. Ian is 12. After school, he goes home to eat, do his homework, and practice the trumpet. Then he goes to the church, where he sleeps every night, usually accompanied by his mother. He made plans to skip a Boy Scout trip last weekend so he could spend the night at the church as part of a celebration marking the vigil's 100th day. "When you have something, you don't care about it as much," he says. "But once you're going to lose it, you like it more."
A lot of American Catholics are reacting like Ian. In Boston, an $85 million settlement with more than 500 victims exacerbated an existing crisis for an overextended archdiocese in need of an overhaul. A mountain of pending lawsuits has forced three dioceses to declare bankruptcy this year, and in Los Angeles, a record settlement may be in the offing. As a result of the sex scandal, the American Catholic Church is no longer governed solely by all-powerful bishops. Sex-abuse victims, police investigators, attorneys, prosecutors, and insurance companies have forced a new openness in the church and unbolted the door to lay Catholics clamoring to get involved.
When you read the Bible, do you read it in the original language written or do you read some version written much later by some man? How do you know the translation is accurate? How can you depend on your interpretation of what is written to be accurate?
The "Holy Spirit" is my teacher and guide, He would not lead me astray, I have my eyes fixed on Jesus, not any man made organization. I will pray for you for it appears that you have your eyes fixed on the Catholic Church.
"Some priests have been convicted, but most of the abuse appears to have occurred before 1980, meaning many of the accused are dead or protected by a statute of limitations"
One of the problems with this issue...allegations made, as noted in article, spanning some 70 years...are the numbers as high as some would like us to believe? Apparently not, as evidenced by the list you posted, and the information presented in this article, (which I haven't cross-checked with the list you posted).
"Actually, the list that you posted shows relatively few convictions, charges, etc."
I see nothing in the posted article that contradicts my above statement.
As you and I both know, settlements in lawsuits do not necessarily prove guilt or innocence...
Again, allegations are just that...allegations. Thanks for trying, but I was looking for more concrete evidence.
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