Posted on 11/24/2009 4:10:44 PM PST by NYer
Statistics released Nov. 24 by the FBI show hate crimes against religious groups increased by 9% from 2007 to 2008.
USA Today reported that in 2008, there 1,519 incidents against people based on their religion, the statistics show.
The figures reveal that while anti-Jewish attacks made up the highest percentage of the attacks (17%), there was an increase in hate crimes against Catholics — 75, up from 61 in 2007.
Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, said the increase may be due to the Church becoming more vocal on life issues such as abortion and homosexual unions.
As the Catholic bishops take a stronger stance, he said, it filters down to the laity, and as more traditional Catholics become more vocal, they become targets for those who disagree with them.
“Unfortunately, it spills over into violence,” he said, adding that it’s just going to get worse before it gets better.
“I’ve never seen our country so culturally divided and so polarized,” he said. “These issues are not going away.”
Why? I've been here long enough to recognize who the anti-Catholic bigots are and with only a couple of exceptions they identify themselves as Christians.
I'd like a public response by NYer to what I consider to be "Protestant-baiting" and bashing.
Can you show us an instance of "Protestant bashing"?
Nonsense. If they don't self-identify, they are readily labelled as such.
They self-identify.
My apologies. She was "attacking" all Protestants with that post. To suggest as she did that "christian" Freepers approve of hate-crimes against RCs,
WRONG. Here is what NYer wrote:
Is is most disappointing to see the number of so called "christians" in this forum who have joined in on these attacks.
The term "number of" indicates that she does not include all or even most non-Catholic Christian FReepers.
and that Protestant leaders "silently" approve is beyond the pale.
Again, let's look at what NYer wrote:
Their religious leaders have remained silent on these matters.
You see she wrote THEIR leaders, in no way does this suggest that all or even most non-Catholic Christian leaders engage in such behavior.
Unfortunately, along with it exists anti-Protestant bigotry along with just plain school-yard childishness.
Again, find an instance and post the link.
Me too! How about it NYer?
Everything in the universe could have been created fully formed, including memories, yesterday.
Free Republic is private property, you can say whatever Jim Robinson will allow you to say. Personally, I think you should be able to say whatever you want about the Church, it makes far more sense to get it all out in the open.
What about if I referred to the catholic church as the whore of babylon? Have I gone too far and should I now be silenced? Maybe banned?
This is no doubt the root cause - a refusal to be bow to the "be tolerant or else" crowd.
Free Republic is private property, you can say whatever Jim Robinson will allow you to say.
OK how about on a public street? Should I be silenced or charged with a crime?
Try to keep up. What you are or are not allowed to say is entirely at the discretion of Jim Robinson. I really don't care what opinions you offer about the Church, I only draw the line at statements that are demonstrably false.
No.
OK, gosh, I’ll try to follow :-)
I think your objection would be reasonable if Catholics were the only ones who would be perceived as posting provocative threads.
However, that isn’t true, as there are many threads posted here that are decidedly pointing accusative fingers at the Catholic Church and are put up because they are intended to provoke a response.
It’s all too obvious. And I believe that those kinds of threads, along with the usual multiple ping lists, are in the majority on this forum.
OK then, we’re good
And what? Should that be stopped? Should there be apologies?
“As the Catholic bishops take a stronger stance, he said, it filters down to the laity, and as more traditional Catholics become more vocal, they become targets for those who disagree with them.”
Quod Erat Demonstrandum — right here on this thread by this jerk.
It’s about time you got that all settled.
When Protestant ministers commit illegal acts, such as sexual abuse, they are turned over to the police.
When Roman Catholic priests commit immoral yet legal acts these accusations are ignored and denied by church authorities.
When Roman Catholic priests commit illegal acts, such as sexual abuse, again these accusations are ignored and denied. At the very most, a pederast priest is shuffled from parish to parish, his foul history hidden from the new congregation, so that these despicable acts can continue.
No police. No jail time. Just more of the same.
A few priests have been so flagrant in their sins which could no longer be hidden that the police had to step in. But that occurs only after the RCC has done its utmost to protect the priest at the expense of his victims.
Pope Benedict XVI faced claims last night he had 'obstructed justice' after it emerged he issued an order ensuring the church's investigations into child sex abuse claims be carried out in secret. The order was made in a confidential letter, obtained by The Observer, which was sent to every Catholic bishop in May 2001. It asserted the church's right to hold its inquiries behind closed doors and keep the evidence confidential for up to 10 years after the victims reached adulthood. The letter was signed by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who was elected as John Paul II's successor last week. Lawyers acting for abuse victims claim it was designed to prevent the allegations from becoming public knowledge or being investigated by the police. They accuse Ratzinger of committing a 'clear obstruction of justice'... It (the letter) orders that 'preliminary investigations' into any claims of abuse should be sent to Ratzinger's office, which has the option of referring them back to private tribunals in which the 'functions of judge, promoter of justice, notary and legal representative can validly be performed for these cases only by priests'. 'Cases of this kind are subject to the pontifical secret,' Ratzinger's letter concludes. Breaching the pontifical secret at any time while the 10-year jurisdiction order is operating carries penalties, including the threat of excommunication. Confidential letter reveals Ratzinger ordered bishops to keep allegations secret.
Accuse a priest publicly and be excommunicated. Astounding.
Had anyone other than a Roman Catholic pope/bishop concocted this repugnant defense concealing such crimes, they'd be in jail alongside the pederast priests.
Wow, using a left-wing anti-Catholic’s rag’s spin- not a surprising move.
I have no intention in getting into round 2 with you on this subject.
This is not an interrogation room.
I commented on what I believe and there is no reason for it to be puffed up into a new and useless series of questions.
I accept that the Free Republic Forum is free.
All in all, a very workable rule which should keep any personal rancor to a minimum.
Sadly there are some who see any criticism of their church as a personal insult. Those FReepers have been instructed to post somewhere else since the open RF is like a "town hall" with all its various and often conflicting points of view.
Are you calling me a jerk? Because if you are, we have agreed to limitations to our free speech on this site. Personal attacks and name-calling are, sadly, prohibited.
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