The Link If they are sincere, and I don't believe that they are, they need to figure out if any of these pervs are still around and drop the hammer on those that are.
iamtigerwoods, I am not Catholic and have no plans to be. From what I read the Catholic Church in Ireland has been dealing with these priests since 1995 when at least the ones who were found out were passed on to the authourities. The Commission started 3 years ago covering abuses mainly in the 70's and 80's. Now let me say that I don't think any of that should be used to excuse what happened, but it does appear the Church is trying to admit the abuses and their coverup from decades ago, and trying to be sure that nothing like this ever happens again. I am on board with prosecuting these scum to the full extent of the law (minus capital punishment of course). I just don't see how you can make a logical jump from these abuses to their being nothing worthwile in the Catholic Church.
tiger, More evidence that you have no idea what you are talking about. You apparently have some kind of axe to grind. The "Church" is the people that make up the Catholic Church. The "Church" is not solely the clergy, nor is it solely the laity, nor is it solely Rome nor is it a building that people meet in. It is all of the above together, primarly it is the people that make up the church. So to cast a net that says that the "Church" exists for itself with no spiritual aspect is just plain ignorant or stupid, which one are you? Unfortunately, the Church has some problems that should be fixed, this is one of them and the perps should be dealt with harshly, the behaviour is reprehensible and unexcusable. But for you to say that nobody derives any spiritual benefit as a member of the Catholic Church is dumb. Why are you not hammering Evangelicals because the leader of their faith (name forgotten) was hiring male hookers? Why aren't you blasting away at the folks who faithfully follow televangelists like Hagee, Hinn, Baker, Swaggert? Why aren't you hammering Atheists or Agnostics, I'm sure there have been perpetrators of dispicable crimes amongst their ranks? What is your axe you are trying to grind? Let's hear it.
Orangesweat, The Church is not a building. It can be called a church building, or a Cathedral, or a Sanctuary..and yes, I know you are going to say, people say I am 'going to church' and they mean the building.... by technical theological definitions a building is never a church. The Church is people. It is actually all people who have ever believed or will ever believe or currently believe. The Church is a gathering of people made up of those across time and space.
The Church is a theological faith. The laity and hierarchy are the followers/members...or congregation. JMHO
To say this is as simple as taking care of the "perps" is dishonest. Molestation by the clergy has been widespread. The leaders of the Church chose to try to bury the issue, pay off victims and not prosecute the guilty. The money you put in the dish on Sunday is being used to pay the millions in lawsuits that the Church has settled and/or will settle. But you feel free to pretend it is an isolated event...That it's no big deal..and put your hush money in the dish every Sunday morning.
iamtigerwoods, the fact that one clergy committed a single act of sexual abuse is one too many. On that I am sure we all agree. Your most recent post is accurate. The Church hierarchy took money put in the plate to try to cover up what happened, and for DECADES! That is true and no one here has tried to deny it or defend it. Your first post said that the Church wasn't about anything spiritual. That is what people take issue with. The Church has more priests who DO NOT abuse anyone than priests who do. That isn't to exonerate the priests who abused or those who covered it up. But to essentially equate every one in the Church with those who committed these atrocities is simply not true either.
I see the Church as the folks who run the Church. They set the "agenda", if you will. And they chose to bury this, deny this, and pay folks off. That anyone would choose to continue to participate and "support" this organization, I fail to understand. You can find your spirituality anywhere. Why associate with pedophiles and those who chose to protect them?
No doubt that the majority of priests are good guys trying to do their best. Like most corrupt organizations, it tends to start at the top. Does anybody think that the average salaried employee at Madoff Securities had anything to do with the fraud? Nope, it's management. I will state without a doubt that Cardinal Mahoney here in Los Angeles is dirty, and has participated in a criminal conspiricy to cover up molestations. Does that mean Fr. Joe down at St. Vincent de Paul is dirty? Absolutely not. (he's a great guy BTW, and does a ton of good works).
