The Catholic Church Sucks!

[flowerchild]

Pope Ratzo: Conspiracy Against Pedophile Priests
by URI DOWBENKO

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI) sees media conspiracy in the way the Roman Catholic Church's pedophilia scandals are handled in the United States -- despite the fact that Church policy mandates moving child molestor priests around to different parishes like a Vatican Shell Game.

Is he in Boston? Is he in Phoenix? Is he in Chicago? No, he's hiding in the Vatican -- with a boy kneeling in front of him.

According to Catholic News (http://www.cathnews.com/news/212/27.php)
Ratzinger, the former head of the "Inquisition" a/k/a the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith said -- "I am personally convinced that the constant presence in the press of the sins of Catholic priests, especially in the United States, is a planned campaign, as the percentage of these offences among priests is not higher than in other categories, and perhaps it is even lower."

Not higher than rabbis? Or politicians?

"In the United States, there is constant news on this topic, but less than 1% of priests are guilty of acts of this type," he said.

 

[vraiblonde]

"In the United States, there is constant news on this topic, but less than 1% of priests are guilty of acts of this type," he said.

He misses the point. Stuff happens - it's what you DO about it that counts. Had the Vatican done the correct thing with their pedophile priests, there wouldnt have been such a furor. The problem was that they DIDN'T do the right thing - they kept their priests in the loop to prey on other unsuspecting families instead.

 

[Tinkerbell]

What do other religious groups do with the pastor's who molest/abuse children? Don't know? That's because no one in the press bothers to point it out because it's not NEARLY as newsworthy as a Catholic Priest doing it.

Priests are human and makes mistakes, even horrendous ones. I do not condone what happened, nor do I agree with how my Church dealth with it. However, the Pope has a point. The press really jumped on this and went spastic with it because it is the Catholic Church. Also, the Church has looked at how they screwed up, and have fixed much of the problem and are fixing the rest.

Also, the acts of individuals within the Church does not define the Church itself. I am a Catholic, VERY unashamed of it, and believe in the Catechism of my Church. I do not worship the priests. I worship God.

 

[Railroad]

I'd give the Pope a break on this - but more importantly, I'd give the Catholics a break on this one. I can think of a few reasons why I'm glad I'm not a Catholic, because there are a few issues of doctrine with which I have problems, but I would hesitate to denegrate a Christian organization, embattled as Christians are these days from all directions.

It's important to remember this:

"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" - Romans 3:23

Besides, it's not for us to judge, anyway. We can only urge repentance.

 

[BigSlam123b]

What do other religious groups do with the pastor's who molest/abuse children? Don't know? That's because no one in the press bothers to point it out because it's not NEARLY as newsworthy as a Catholic Priest doing it.

Priests are human and makes mistakes, even horrendous ones. I do not condone what happened, nor do I agree with how my Church dealth with it. However, the Pope has a point. The press really jumped on this and went spastic with it because it is the Catholic Church. Also, the Church has looked at how they screwed up, and have fixed much of the problem and are fixing the rest.

Also, the acts of individuals within the Church does not define the Church itself. I am a Catholic, VERY unashamed of it, and believe in the Catechism of my Church. I do not worship the priests. I worship God.

The reason you seldom hear about it happening in other sects is because most other churches allow their ministers, pastors, etc. to marry. The Catholic church is full of men who are horny and have no way to release the tension. Many priests are also closet gays who are trying to surpress the homosexual tendencies by joining a faith that requires them to obstain. Eventually they give in to their desires and we end up where we are. The answer is to allow the priests to marry. Man was not meant to obstain.

 

[bresamil]

The reason you seldom hear about it happening in other sects is because most other churches allow their ministers, pastors, etc. to marry. The Catholic church is full of men who are horny and have no way to release the tension. Many priests are also closet gays who are trying to surpress the homosexual tendencies by joining a faith that requires them to obstain. Eventually they give in to their desires and we end up where we are. The answer is to allow the priests to marry. Man was not meant to obstain.

What about the pastors that are married and still you discover they're banging the church secretary, or little boys, or hookers? What's their excuse? The fact is gay is gay, pedophiles are pedophiles, and horndogs are horndogs.

 

[vraiblonde]

What do other religious groups do with the pastor's who molest/abuse children? Don't know? That's because no one in the press bothers to point it out because it's not NEARLY as newsworthy as a Catholic Priest doing it.

Or it's possible that other churches actually fire their pedophile ministers and let the law prosecute them, instead of covering up and sending them around to victimize other kids.

I'd give the Pope a break on this - but more importantly, I'd give the Catholics a break on this one.

I give neither of them a break. Catholics who did not call for the heads of their religious leaders who perpetuated and condoned these acts are just as guilty as the pedophile priests themselves. They get all bent out of shape about a couple of gay people who aren't hurting anyone in the slightest, but were strangely silent when it was one of their own who was not only partaking in homosexual activity, but victimizing young boys in the process.

The hypocrisy is stunning.

 

[Tonio]

That's because no one in the press bothers to point it out because it's not NEARLY as newsworthy as a Catholic Priest doing it.

I think the Pope is wrong in claiming that the press is anti-Catholic. I think the press sees the Church as just another big organization focused only on self-preservation, like a corporation or a bureaucracy. In the Church's case, it transferred the priests instead of defrocking them, which was an attempt to cover up the wrongdoing.

 

[terbear1225]

What do other religious groups do with the pastor's who molest/abuse children? Don't know? That's because no one in the press bothers to point it out because it's not NEARLY as newsworthy as a Catholic Priest doing it.

Priests are human and makes mistakes, even horrendous ones. I do not condone what happened, nor do I agree with how my Church dealth with it. However, the Pope has a point. The press really jumped on this and went spastic with it because it is the Catholic Church. Also, the Church has looked at how they screwed up, and have fixed much of the problem and are fixing the rest.

Also, the acts of individuals within the Church does not define the Church itself. I am a Catholic, VERY unashamed of it, and believe in the Catechism of my Church. I do not worship the priests. I worship God.

well said. I am married to a Catholic but am not Catholic myself. I do agree with most of what you said, though I could not have expressed it nearly as well as you did. I find it very interesting that the media tends to focus in on the sins of certain groups of people while generally ignoring those of other groups. Yes, the Church did make some very poor decisions in the handling of it's problems, but to lump all Catholics or even all priests into the same group is a mistake. IMO

 

[terbear1225]

Or it's possible that other churches actually fire their pedophile ministers and let the law prosecute them, instead of covering up and sending them around to victimize other kids.



I give neither of them a break. Catholics who did not call for the heads of their religious leaders who perpetuated and condoned these acts are just as guilty as the pedophile priests themselves. They get all bent out of shape about a couple of gay people who aren't hurting anyone in the slightest, but were strangely silent when it was one of their own who was not only partaking in homosexual activity, but victimizing young boys in the process.

The hypocrisy is stunning.

To be fair, the majority of Catholics were just as unaware of the problem as the rest of us. And again, to lump all Catholics into one group with regards to thier views on people who are homosexual is a mistake.

 

[Cletus_Vandam]

Perhaps it also has something to do with how high of a regard Catholics tend to hold their religion and themselves.

Typically society (and the media) like to beat down those that brag when they slip. This isn’t any different.

 

[Tinkerbell]

So, a few evil men in the Church, and that makes us all evil? What kind of reasoning is that?

How in the world would I know what every priest is doing? In fact, the Catholics DID stand up after they knew what had happened and demanded that the Church fix the problem. Did the media tell you about that?? Nope. Did the media say anything about the changes that have been made? Nope.

Plenty of other religious groups have pastors/ministers married and not married that molest young children. In fact, the percentage of those that do it in other churches and the percentage of the priests that did it is the same! There is just as much of this happening in other religious groups. But the media isn't interested. Those religious groups aren't worldwide and quite as large of the Catholic Church.

The priests are married - to GOD! That is their choice and they are well aware of it when they make that choice. If they want to serve the Church and be married, they can be Deacons. The concept that gay men become priests in order to quash their "gayness" is ridiculous!

I also find it interesting how the media had nothing but negative things to say about the Catholic Church and the Pope, until Pope John Paul II got sick and there was a conclave. I mean, perfect media stuff there, a conclave - first in a long time. So the media starts being all nice and stuff so they can get their news coverage and ratings... and then when it's all over - BOOM - start bashing the Pope again.

 

[Railroad]

I give neither of them a break. Catholics who did not call for the heads of their religious leaders who perpetuated and condoned these acts are just as guilty as the pedophile priests themselves. They get all bent out of shape about a couple of gay people who aren't hurting anyone in the slightest, but were strangely silent when it was one of their own who was not only partaking in homosexual activity, but victimizing young boys in the process.

The hypocrisy is stunning.

Okay, Vrai, but my point was based on the idea that one of my good friends down here in Smotherin' Maryland has no power to change what goes on in the Catholic Church. Understanding that all the communication with the Vatican would have to be sort of handled by at least a couple of layers of "Men of the Cloth," I can hardly turn to my friend and give him crap about the priests in Boston or wherever.

 

[vraiblonde]

In fact, the Catholics DID stand up after they knew what had happened and demanded that the Church fix the problem.

You're missing my point. Certainly your random Catholic down at the Holy Face had no idea that some pedophile in Peoria was transferred to Dubuque so he could get him a new boyfriend. But the higher-ups sure did, because they're the ones that transferred him to keep him from prosecution as a child rapist.

Demanding that the Church fix the problem is all well and good, but I feel that good, moral Catholics should have demanded the resignation of those who put forth the transfer orders. And that didn't happen, as far as I'm aware. There were a few mea culpas and that was it.

So, a few evil men in the Church, and that makes us all evil?

Let's put it in a different light:

Let's say your local Boy Scout leader was accused of multiple acts of child rape. And let's say that the National Boy Scout Council hushed it up and sent this predator to another troop. How would you feel about the Scout leadership then?

Edited to take out the insinuation that Tinkerbell is evil. I'm sure she's a perfectly nice person, however misguided.

 

[Railroad]

You're missing my point. Certainly your random Catholic down at the Holy Face had no idea that some pedophile in Peoria was transferred to Dubuque so he could get him a new boyfriend. But the higher-ups sure did, because they're the ones that transferred him to keep him from prosecution as a child rapist.

Demanding that the Church fix the problem is all well and good, but I feel that good, moral Catholics should have demanded the resignation of those who put forth the transfer orders. And that didn't happen, as far as I'm aware. There were a few mea culpas and that was it.


Let's put it in a different light:

Let's say your local Boy Scout leader was accused of multiple acts of child rape. And let's say that the National Boy Scout Council hushed it up and sent this predator to another troop. How would you feel about the Scout leadership then?

Edited to take out the insinuation that Tinkerbell is evil. I'm sure she's a perfectly nice person, however misguided.

Vrai, please bear in mind that as an individual Catholic, one is a peon. If you put yourself in the place of one Catholic in a pew in a church, the idea of taking on the international hierachy must be frightening indeed. Conflicts arise - will I be excommunicated for my blasphemy against the Church? etc., etc. If you've been raised as a Catholic, you're positive you're going to he11 for fighting the establishment. If you're a devout and serious Catholic, you might mix that fear with the need to have the Church continue to be your familiar refuge, your place away from the world. These are just a few of the reasons I can think of to refute the idea that a self-respecting Catholic should or would have been up in arms against the Church management.

 

[vraiblonde]

Vrai, please bear in mind that as an individual Catholic, one is a peon. If you put yourself in the place of one Catholic in a pew in a church, the idea of taking on the international hierachy must be frightening indeed. Conflicts arise - will I be excommunicated for my blasphemy against the Church? etc., etc. If you've been raised as a Catholic, you're positive you're going to he11 for fighting the establishment. If you're a devout and serious Catholic, you might mix that fear with the need to have the Church continue to be your familiar refuge, your place away from the world. These are just a few of the reasons I can think of to refute the idea that a self-respecting Catholic should or would have been up in arms against the Church management.

Re-read that, please.

"I'm scared to speak out against pedophiles in my church because they might not let me be a member anymore. Or they might be mad at me!"

That is not a religion - that is a cult.

 

[Nickel]

If you put yourself in the place of one Catholic in a pew in a church, the idea of taking on the international hierachy must be frightening indeed. Conflicts arise - will I be excommunicated for my blasphemy against the Church? etc., etc.

Why would you want to be a member of a church/organization that would kick you out for raising the flag on a child molester or criminal? If anything, I'd be packing my bags at the first sign that they were just going to ignore the issue.

 

[FromTexas]

If anything, I'd be packing my bags at the first sign that they were just going to ignore the issue.

 

[Nickel]

Are you trying to say that fat kid is me? His boobs are probably bigger than mine.

 

[FromTexas]

Are you trying to say that fat kid is me? His boobs are probably bigger than mine.

No, but it does look like he ate you... and a few of the seven dwarfs, too.