Posted on 03/23/2002 5:34:00 AM PST by father_elijah
Consider. Statistics show that the molestation factor is a factor across the board, protestant, catholic, what have you. But the only newsworthy molestation is that done by an RC Priest. Why? All religions stand nominally against this sort of thing, but only the Catholic Church embodies All That They Hate. It is against Abortion, it does not Ordinate women, it is ruled almost as a monarchy, thus the 'will of the people' is not observed. Moreover, for a millenium it has fed the starving, clothed the naked, and so forth, but all in the name, not of human rights, but of Jesus Christ.
This is intolerable.
Thus the targeting of the Church.
While I am no member of the "Latin or Nuttin'" crowd, I do believe that the heirarchy in the Developed Nations has abdicated much of their authority. Mostly in rosy hopes of better things to come. Much of the current controversy stems from the fact that twenty years ago, the heirarchy was confronted with a shameful abomination, but they were told by men of great secular learning that the men who had committed these acts could be 'cured', 'rehabilitated,' to again lead a productive life.
We now see this for the idiocy it is. You might as well put an alchoholic through AA, and then tell him to work in a distillery.
Moreover, the Catholic problem allows the 'progressive' types a way out. If a minister of a protestant church molests a teenage boy, what is the excuse? He is permitted normal sexual relations, his desires have not been stymied by an antiquated moral code. No, there is left nowhere to run. Only the truth remains. That a man in authority over a boy took advantage of him.
What does that sound like to you? I believe the term is Chickenhawking?
Ah, but with the Catholic Church, we have an out! It's not that this priest was a homosexual, and took advantage of his flock, no! He was a Forced Celibate! If only he were allowed all the sexual freedom that he needed, this would not have happened.
It's not his fault, you see, it's the fault of that Sex-hating, Homophobic, Mysogynistic Church of his. If only they'd come into the twenty-first century, he'd have been fine. Maybe he would have had a wife or a life partner; it's not his fault; it's not the fault of the gay guy, it's the fault of the church!
I personally foresee a massive housecleaning. And it ain't gonna be pretty. But what Lithasis fails to note is that this is primarily a problem in Euro America. The church still has her strong priests, but they are, naturally, the one's who's faith has been tested by more stringent means than 'sex' and 'what do I give up for lent this year'. Look to the priests of Asia, Africa and South America, the ones who's positions bring them threats of imprisonment and death, to see the steel in the Church.
Stand fast, fellow Catholics.
If they be guilty, remove them.
Let not the innocent be tarnished with this scandal. For many Priests (my own confessor included) are brought to tears by this state of affairs.
Lithasis' former comrades may believe they have beaten us. Let them join the ranks. Hitler, Stalin, Attila, how many other tyrants, schisms, heresies throuout history? And yet after two millenia, the church founded upon the Rock still stands.
And they refuse to report on an institution which has even a greater problem with sexual abuse of kids: government schools.
Click on my screen name for over 125 FR posts on the subject. A kid is sexually assualt by a school employee, on average, once a day in the NYC school system. Been tracking it for almost a year and there are several cases a week reported in the media. But few ever go national.
If they report it at the school, it's a personal issue, but if they report it at the church, it's the Pope's fault!
Do you think that Mary, Christ's mother, went to heaven? Just curious...
Ask the Holy Father that churches be required to restore the Tabernacle back to its proper location, in the center of the altar.
In my parish, the Tabernacle sits off on the side while the priest sits front and center. I personally spend most of my mass time focused on that Tabernacle and the flickering flame above it, a reminder of Christ's presence amongst us. He is the love of my life and no prelate should be allowed to upstage Him.
May God bless you in your work here on FP.
2000 years of history?
I see. You're from the "don't confuse me with the facts, my mind is made up" school.
Do you have ANY idea how silly and ignorant you sound?
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