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.”
OTOH, I will happily discuss, respectfully, of course, why I do not consider myself a Catholic. I know what I believe and, most importantly, I know why I believe what I do. I can defend my faith without being hateful. In fact, I think it is hateful for anyone who disagrees with me to call me hateful, or an anti-Catholic bigot solely because I disagree with them. I don't hate anybody!
My mother is Catholic and I love her dearly. I even take her to Mass every Sunday. We often discuss faith issues and it doesn't devolve, ever. Could I do that if I was anti-Catholic? There is a huge difference and it would be great if some here could acknowledge that.
I am sure that the difference is very clear between a reasonable discourse among those who disagree, and what is the much more incendiary and derogatory type of posts that are frequently posted on this “town hall” format.
It’s that kind of prejudice that I believe is counter-productive and fails to offer authentic witness to life in Christ Jesus.
Thnaks for your post.
And, thanks for your thnaks ;o)
Have a very Happy Thanksgiving!!!
Perhaps you would prefer to ignore the letter and what it actually says. Ratzinger's letter affirms "Crimine Solicitationis."
Because Petronski asked for the letter, here is a copy of it (although it seems to be fast disappearing from the internet)...
And so we're all familiar with what Ratzinger is hitting his bishops over the head with, here is the actual Vatican document...
13. The oath of keeping the secret must be given in these cases also by the accusers or those denouncing [the priest] and the witnesses...11. Because, however, what is treated in these cases has to have a greater degree of care and observance so that those same matters be pursued in a most secretive way, and, after they have been defined and given over to execution, they are to be restrained by a perpetual silence (Instruction of the Holy Office, February 20, 1867, n. 14), each and everyone pertaining to the tribunal in any way or admitted to knowledge of the matters because of their office, is to observe the strictest secret, which is commonly regarded as a secret of the Holy Office, in all matters and with all persons, under the penalty of excommunication latae sententiae, ipso facto and without any declaration [of such a penalty] having been incurred and reserved to the sole person of the Supreme Pontiff, even to the exclusion of the Sacred Penitentiary, are bound to observe [this secrecy] inviolably...
Did ya get that? Not only is everyone in the church sworn to secrecy upon threat of excommunication, but the accuser is likewise told he must keep his mouth shut or else he, too, will be excommunicated.
No police. No civil authorities. No press. No attorneys. No doctors. No therapists. And apparently not even a victim's own family is to know about the accusation.
Roman Catholic apologists will now, no doubt, spend time and effort finding a meager sentence here and there hoping against hope to use it to refute the obvious. Or they'll blame the translation as faulty. Or they'll just ignore the entire thing and have Thanksgiving dinner with the relatives, certain that none of the children at their dinner table has been sworn to keep a secret about "another Christ."
The former was spoken by God, the author of all that is, was and will be, including radical discontinuity. Whereas the latter is fiction and superstition.
Wishing you a Blessed Thanksgiving.
What makes you think they haven't.
This rabidly-anti-Catholic claim is not only false, it is not supported by the documents you linked.
Calling Christ a liar? On the day we give Him thanks?
As Machen willed.
Who first came up with this idea of "false memories?"
In this case, I derived it logically from your premise.
If "the universe could have been created fully formed," it could have been done so yesterday.
If the universe had been created yesterday, we would be aware of that fact. "False memories" is the ridiculous motto of every uniformitarianism addict out there.
Would you disagree?
Yes I do.
The Torah, including Genesis, was composed by G-d Himself long before the creation of the universe. The universe is a mere derivative of the Torah.
According to the view of some schools of Judaism, which does not accept Jesus as the Messian.
Has it ever occurred to you that they know what they are talking about?
You are caught again between Judaism and Christianity. Judaism is not Christian enough for you and Christianity is not Jewish enough for you.
Why would I want Judaism to be "more chr*stian" (G-d forbid!)?
Here are links to the PCUSA, United Methodist, Missouri Synod Lutheran, Baptist (Southern and American), and Assemblies of God. You can Google any denomination and get their Child Abuse Policy.
http://www.pcusa.org/sexualmisconduct/create-policies.htm
http://archives.umc.org/interior.asp?ptid=2&mid=7302
www.lcms.org/ca/dcs/family/Content%5Cdoc_articles%5C370.doc
http://www.sbc.net/localchurches/ministryhelp.asp
http://www.ag.org/top/Legal_Matters/child_abuse.cfm
Unlike the Roman Catholic Church, there is no Pope or Magesterium, a “centralized authority”, so that all that the denomination can do is recommend. However since all but a couple of states make Pastors, teachers, and youth workers mandatory reporters and since most insurance companies that insure churches will not write liability coverage unless there is an abuse policy for the church in place and most insurance companies provide a suggested abuse policy for the church, most churches have policies.
Church Mutual www.ChurchMutual.com
www.GuideOne.com
Zurich Liability Ins. www.ZurichNA.com
This Thanksgiving morning I’m thankful for dr. e. and how God has used dr. e. to expose the Truth.
Here’s praying that the truth will set many Romanist captives free.
Amen.
How?
You disagree with: If "the universe could have been created fully formed," it could have been done so yesterday. Why? Do you think God couldn't do it or wouldn't do it?
Has it ever occurred to you that they know what they are talking about?
No. On the first part: " G-d wrote the Torah in its entirety. It is not the work of "inspired men" at all. It was dictated to Moses letter-for-letter…"
This is mistaking the finite for the infinite which would be idolatry. The orthodox Christian view of scripture differs in this from the Jewish schools and would call their view Bibliolatry. We have the same objection to the views of Islam on their scriptures.
On the second part, I believe Jesus is the Messiah.
Why would I want Judaism to be "more chr*stian"..
I'm very sorry, I had mistaken your beliefs for Messianic Judaism. My apologies.
Amen
wagglebee, I’m always on your side.
I was callng the other guy a jerk for highjacking your thread and trying to turn it into another anti-Cathilic tirade.
Perhaps it's time that changed, at least insofar as childhood sex abuse is concerned and should be mandatory. It could be an independent organization that represents all non-Catholic christian denominations. Otherwise, it is easy for an abuser to slip from one congregation and move to another. That is how predators operate.
Here are links to the PCUSA, United Methodist, Missouri Synod Lutheran, Baptist (Southern and American), and Assemblies of God. You can Google any denomination and get their Child Abuse Policy.
Thank you for posting those links. The PCUSA link sets the disappointing tone.
The church has the opportunity to declare and affirm its core values and convictions in relation to the care of the people in the church and those who participate in its mission.Developing and relying on written policies is one step toward creating safe churches. However, there is no single "right" way to create a policy and there is no one easy guide to follow.
IOW, there is no mandate to implement a policy. No mention of fingerprinting all ministers and volunteers who work with children.
The United Methodist link is to a news article from 2005 regarding a bishop and 2 volunteers who will make up an independent panel that will receive and assess reports on alleged child abuse at a denominational mission facility in Africa a generation ago. The policy will apply but not be limited to the “recruiting and screening of all employees and mission personnel. No mention of the US or any other country. Sad.
Moving on to the Southern Baptist Convention, that site provides:
An assortment of records and links to better equip you to exercise diligent scrutiny when hiring staff or choosing volunteers in an attempt to protect your church from the devastating effects of sexual abuse and other moral failures of those in ministry.
The links are to external web sites; there is no set policy for SBC.
The Assemblies of God provide a solid opening statement:
Hundreds of churches have been sued in recent years as a result of the sexual molestation of minors by church workers. Unfortunately, many church leaders continue to ignore this problem and resist implementing a preventive-maintenance program. Too often the thinking is, No child has ever been molested in our church, so why worry? This is a dangerous response to what one church insurance executive has called an epidemic.
They have understood the situation very well, including the mindset of those who claim "this has never happened in our congregation". Like the other denominations, they quickly fizzle with a lengthy list of recommendations. Again, no set policy in place. No requirements for fingerprinting and background checks on all ministers and volunteers who come in contact with children.
Contrast the above with the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People established by the Catholic Church.
The primary goal is to protect children, to keep them safe in churches, schools and homes. Another goal is to heal the victims/survivors of clergy abuse.
The accomplishments in just a few years are ones for which the Church can feel proud.
Consider these facts:
The Charter has changed the culture of the Church forever. Making sure children are safe has become an integral part of everyday church life. The English-speaking Catholic Episcopal Conferences meet each year to review how each Conference handles clergy sexual abuse. The Church in the United States stands as a leader among that group. The impact of the U.S. church goes well beyond its borders. There is much for which to be proud. Knowing that and focusing on the why of this work can revitalize efforts to continue to work to provide safe environments for children and to welcome the victims/survivors to the healing they deserve.
with an eye for the greater good.
http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Part%202.pdf/Files/Part%202.pdf.
As usual, the Devil is in the details.
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