No that's not what I'm saying. Let me use a hypothetical that should be quite illustrative.
The continued criticism of the Church for the scandal, to the exclusion of other abuse elsewhere, is akin to a judge constantly handing guilty verdicts to accused molesters who are Catholic, to the exclusion of other people of other failths/systems. IOW, it's like giving a guilty verdict to an accused preist when an equally guilty public school teacher gets a pass.
Both are guilty and should be convicted (in this hypothetical), but only one gets convicted. If any judge was found to have a record of such bias, he would be asked to recuse himself from such cases. As he should.
As far as comparing the rate of abuse in the Church with the general population, I think this is perfectly valid for two reasons. One, while priests are called to a different vocation than most, simply having a different vocation does not imply, nor is it intended to imply, that they are somehow more "holy" than the laity. They are human beings like the rest of us and thus are equally as fallable.
Second, given that the rate is the same if not lower (I tend to believe it's lower, but I have no desire to get mired in a debate about that, especially since that isn't relevant here), then the reason to single the Church out for abuse becomes even more indefensable. That is, if the rate if abuse is equal to the population as a whole, which it is, then it is inaccurate to call this a "Catholic problem". It should be called a societal problem, or a human problem.
That is, again, if one is intellectually honest.
Refreshing, after all that hysterical screeching from the guess-whos above.
The guilty are claiming their convictions are unfair because not all the guilty have been convicted. Should they then be set at liberty til a sufficient number are called to account?
“IOW, it's like giving a guilty verdict to an accused priest when an equally guilty public school teacher gets a pass.”
If the teacher is never brought to trial how is it unfair for the priest to pay for engaging in what he knew to be a crime and a sin, by his own admission at times?
Perhaps he should refuse to pay a traffic ticket too until all murderous teachers are in irons.
“As far as comparing the rate of abuse in the Church with the general population, I think this is perfectly valid for two reasons. One, while priests are called to a different vocation than most, simply having a different vocation does not imply, nor is it intended to imply, that they are somehow more “holy” than the laity. They are human beings like the rest of us and thus are equally as fallable.”
Such a comparison absolutely is not valid and the Catholic church views priests on much different level than the laity or the general populus.
“19. Thus the priest accompanies the Christian throughout the pilgrimage of this life to the gates of Heaven. He accompanies the body to its resting place in the grave with rites and prayers of immortal hope. And even beyond the threshold of eternity he follows the soul to aid it with Christian suffrages, if need there be of further purification and alleviation. Thus, from the cradle to the grave the priest is ever beside the faithful, a guide, a solace, a minister of salvation and dispenser of grace and blessing.
20. But among all these powers of the priest over the Mystical Body of Christ for the benefit of the faithful, there is one of which the simple mention made above will not content Us. This is that power which, as St. John Chrysostom says: “God gave neither to Angels nor Archangels”—the power to remit sins.” (Pope Pious XI from The Catholic Encyclopedia)
It simply will not do to, on the one hand claim special holy callings, functions and powers deserving of the utmost deference and respect and yet when it comes to accountibility for the shepherding of Christ's flock and the predations upon it, say, “They are human beings like the rest of us and thus are equally as fallable.”
Jesus own words link extraordinary authority and privilege
with extraordinary accountability.
“And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given of him shall be much required and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.” (Luke 12:47-8)
The Catholic church has made the claim of being holy, the apostolic church, the see of Peter by Christ's commission, etc. so now it cannot claim that the secular, the worldly and the heretical be held to the same standard, nor can it's shepherds seek refuge in mere ordinariness that these other groups possesses. If they do, how can they be “no part of the world” as Jesus prayed at John chapter 17?
Intellectual honesty? It's either one or the other.
this I will make a comment on... The abuse scandal in the Catholic Church. Out of all the molestation charges 2% were committed by Catholic priests. That leaves 98% from every other walk of life. I lay some blame on those who shuffled these men from parish to parish. I lay all the blame on those who entered the priesthood who knew they had a problem. Just as they do when they become teachers, boy scout leaders, ministers or what they choose to put themself in a position of taking advantage of children.We think it’s bad now...wait a few years. The way the children have been exposed to pornography...we haven’t seen anything yet. There are more important issues to be bickering about. We have to pray and act to change this country. This country I still believe is a Christian nation. Maybe if we’d act like it things would change. Our energy would be put to better use. How about fasting against pornography? How about prayer groups going into battle against pornography...that is one battle we’d better be wearing strong armour. We’d better put on our combat boots because I have a feeling ...no...I know we haven’t seen anything yet. satan is causing division among the troops and the army is weakened...he loves this bickering...it takes our eyes off the real battle. This is a spiritual battle. The battle is with him. I know it, you know it. The victory is ours. It was won for us by our Lord. Our mission is to bring as many as we can with us. To point them in the right direction. The grace of God will take care of the rest.