10 Myths about Priestly Pedophilia

[Jacquemar]

They don't need to have any kind of beliefs for the Priests Masses to be effective in the process of healing for all parties involved.

I'm not even going to be begin taking this apart because it just angers me that you want to bypass the justice system in favor of theurgetic magical rituals.

I am far more sensitive than you Think. I watched my former Superior fall from grace involving what he had supposedly done in the early 1980's. I got to know one of his "victims", because he was following my superior from one place to another. One day he flashed the head of his penis in front of me, and I told him off. Later, I told the Bishop about it. I don't think the Guy is a real victim, even to this day. I believe that particular so-called victim was a chronic liar, and I will always pray for him and my former superior.

I really don't understand how this shows that you're sympathetic to the victims of priestly abuse when you don't even think that particular victim was one. Please explain further.

 

[Zaphod]

It would happen even less if they sent them off to prison...

 

[Jacquemar]

The so-called victim I have known for 8 of my 9 years in Religious Life. I do know that he is Bi-polar, has Multiple personalities, and suffers severe depression, he also almost never took his medications for all that he suffers. These things I believe contribute to false accusations. I also thought it was weird and strange that he followed my superior from Wisconsin to Tucson/Patagonia Arizona, then all the way to Steubenville Ohio. Yes, I still have my serious doubts about this "victim". I am sure there are real victims out there, and that they are not accusing the priests knowing that they can get easy $$$$ from the Diocese/Archdiocese. I have known innocent priests who have committed suicide because they just cannot handle what is going on. The Church is losing many innocent priests through the so-called victims. Yes, there are truly guilty priests out there too.

You are obviously more sympathetic with the church than the unfortunate victims. That is unbelievably sad.

BTW, There is nothing Magical in the Catholic Church.

I beg to differ. Pick up Iamblicus or James Frazer.

 

[Jacquemar]

I know my Church, and know what really goes on in the Mass, therefore, I have no need to look elsewhere.

OOPS! My first comment is in the quote box

I give up. Mikey... you can keep it all.

 

[Jacquemar]

Don't thank me Mikey. If I had more fortitude, I'd continue.

 

[thewiz]

First, I do not think there have been innocent priests sent to prison. And from the view of the church, Canon Law is so exhaustive that it often failed to identify abusive priests which resulted in the worldwide church scandal still unfolding.

The underlying problem that I have seen in all of this is the glee which the priesthood embraced being put on pedestals and made Gods, and the willingness of the laity to cooperate. Jesus never commanded his disciples to hide from the people; rather he said true Christian's should be evidenced by their actions. He, himself (if one believes Scripture) went out among the people....God became man to experience everything that mankind experienced.

The church became corrupt and those in power did not focus on the people as would a good Shepard. Instead it circled the wagons, denied, blamed, and sought only to hold onto that privilege. Sadly, I see recent reforms as seeking to restore this "mystery" and superiority in complete ignorance as to what is still unfolding. Rome is again demanding blind loyalty and orders silence to those who would speak out. Unfortunately I don't feel the Church learned anything from the scandal;rather it now strives to push aside reforms and enlightenment of Vatican II. The laity should rise up but I fear it will again roll over once again.

 

[Jacquemar]

The church became corrupt and those in power did not focus on the people as would a good Shepard. Instead it circled the wagons, denied, blamed, and sought only to hold onto that privilege. Sadly, I see recent reforms as seeking to restore this "mystery" and superiority in complete ignorance as to what is still unfolding. Rome is again demanding blind loyalty and orders silence to those who would speak out. Unfortunately I don't feel the Church learned anything from the scandal;rather it now strives to push aside reforms and enlightenment of Vatican II. The laity should rise up but I fear it will again roll over once again.

Regardless of Vatican II, the main problem with the catholic church is people like the poster who started this thread. They blindly and unquestioningly believe whatever the catholic church tells them. For example, for centuries unofficial church doctrine said that "limbo" existed. Then church changed its mind and limbo magically disappeared. Catholics believed in it one day... the next it was gone. These are the kinds of sheep that the Catholic wants and caters to. Forget logic and reason, if the church says it, then it must be so.

The narrative of one of the above posters, if true, is another example of the problem. The catholic church quickly attempts to blame the victims of priestly abuse, or a defenseless scapegoat like gays and lesbians, in an attempt to thwart the justice system and fair minded people who are placing the responsibility where it belongs. And a typical attitude among catholics is the following: "He's a priest; he received a calling from god; therefore he MUST be innocent." That kind of logic is what the catholic church feeds on to continue wielding it's social, political, and religious power.

I've known a few catholics, my former "god parents" for example, who express outrage at the church and the scandal, yet they still attend church and, of all things, give it money! I know a few others have done the same thing. The populace will only leave the church when they've been given a proper education, or at least when something else fills the voids in their lives. People will put up with a lot of oppression and pain before they revolt, and I don't think this will happen until a scandal so heinous surfaces and leads the catholic church to it's ultimate dissolution. I firmly believe that christianity, catholicism in particular, will die out or will be replaced with something else, just as has every religion that came before it (no matter how impossible that now seems), but I doubt that I will live to see it happen.

 

[Jacquemar]

^^ Wow... I don't know what to say...

This Pope is... I can't think of word horrible enough to describe him.

 

[palbert]

The English chemically castrated Alan Turing. That's a better start than any above. Intense aversion therapy shoould be required also.

I say this as a victim of childhood sexual abuse. [Text: Removed by Moderator]

 

[Mariatenebre]

Regardless of Vatican II, the main problem with the catholic church is people like the poster who started this thread. They blindly and unquestioningly believe whatever the catholic church tells them. For example, for centuries unofficial church doctrine said that "limbo" existed. Then church changed its mind and limbo magically disappeared. Catholics believed in it one day... the next it was gone. These are the kinds of sheep that the Catholic wants and caters to. Forget logic and reason, if the church says it, then it must be so.

The narrative of one of the above posters, if true, is another example of the problem. The catholic church quickly attempts to blame the victims of priestly abuse, or a defenseless scapegoat like gays and lesbians, in an attempt to thwart the justice system and fair minded people who are placing the responsibility where it belongs. And a typical attitude among catholics is the following: "He's a priest; he received a calling from god; therefore he MUST be innocent." That kind of logic is what the catholic church feeds on to continue wielding it's social, political, and religious power.

I've known a few catholics, my former "god parents" for example, who express outrage at the church and the scandal, yet they still attend church and, of all things, give it money! I know a few others have done the same thing. The populace will only leave the church when they've been given a proper education, or at least when something else fills the voids in their lives. People will put up with a lot of oppression and pain before they revolt, and I don't think this will happen until a scandal so heinous surfaces and leads the catholic church to it's ultimate dissolution. I firmly believe that christianity, catholicism in particular, will die out or will be replaced with something else, just as has every religion that came before it (no matter how impossible that now seems), but I doubt that I will live to see it happen.

You know I find it funny that you speak against the scape goating of gays and lesbians but you yourself scapegoated and hated straight women who have probably done more to help gays then any non gay group in the world.

As for the Catholic Church they have long been an old boys club which has sheltered it's priests even when they do something unspeakable as pedophilia and yet then scape goat gays and lesbians as evil.

 

[Kulindahr]

I find it amazing in this thread that so many, such as Fury of Firestorm, post against others by attacking things that weren't even said. Maybe that isn't too surprising on a topic so fraught with emotion that all a kid has to do is say "He did it!" in order to totally destroy the life of an adult regardless of any innocence or guilt.

 

[bort138]

Hate isn't always a bad thing.

For example I hate it when children are molested and raped and their rapists are shielded from the law by one of the most corrupt and morally bankrupt institutions on the face of the earth.

I hate it when people have the audacity to blame the victims and are so blinded by their own faith that they fail to acknowledge the institutional atrocities being committed by the Catholic Church.

 

[Jacquemar]

It seems that anyone who hates and judge an entire Institution for the wrong-doings of a few, shows no Mercy, no Forgiveness, just hatred that has turned their Hearts into Stone. I don't condone the wrong-doings of the few, and I do have compassion for the real victims, but not those who falsely accuses an innocent Priest. I do Forgive all parties involved, and if given the Chance, Mercy will be shown. After all, we all fall short of the glory of God. If we don't show Mercy and Forgiveness, then we should not expect the same from God. I'll remind everyone here that none of us is without sin, and none of us can claim to be without sin, even those who think otherwise.

I highly doubt you would be so apt to forgive and so willing to defend a pedophile who WASN'T ordained.

I also think you should answer the above poster's question. What DO you think about the Pope's comments??

 

[bankside]

Let's be clear about what this pope has said: he is not asserting that pedophilia was becoming acceptable in the 1970s. He is instead blaming the lax, amoral, outside world for tricking the church into indecision, confusion, and turning a blind eye regarding matters of morality

He wants us to believe that the open-mindedness of the 1970s is the problem, and the direct cause of the priests becoming confused and accidentally starting to fuck the children of the parish.

This odious ratzinger plumbs the depths of shameless depravity ever deeper in attempting to deflect blame from the church. Every Catholic should be embarrassed by his disgraceful remarks, and worse, his disgraceful conduct. The man should be in jail. As Paterno was to Sandusky, Ratzinger is to the pedophile priests: a man of authority who knew or ought to have known what was going on, and who turned a blind eye to the suffering of innocent victims of sexual abuse in a cowardly attempt to shore up the hollow reputation of a corrupt institution.

 

[bankside]

If there ever was a god, his opinion about pedophilia wouldn't matter to me, because I know pedophilia is wrong anyway. If there ever was a god, any of his potential punishments for misdeeds wouldn't matter to me, because I know we need to ensure justice for victims here and now.

It is the right of any victim to forgive an attacker provided i) they are alive to do so, ii) they believe the attacker regrets the previous actions and iii) is satisfied that no one else will ever be a victim of the attacker. No one else has that right, and certainly not the man in charge while it was being covered up.

 

[bankside]

Your idea of forgiveness has strings attached to it, but the idea of Christian forgiveness has no strings attached.

I would suggest my idea of forgiveness has ethics attached to it.

 

[Jacquemar]

Forgiving is never easy for anyone, and as for defending the quilty, ordained or not....never. As for the Pope's words....in this case he is not speaking infallibly, even though he spoke in the realm of Morality, and even so, then God will judge him when he passes on, not you or anyone else for that matter. God will judge him far more severely than the others.

I can't change your minds as they are already made up.

You are right for once.

You know what Mikey, you actually impressed me with these answers. I still find fault with your logic, but you impressed me nonetheless.

 

[Spensed]

Your idea of forgiveness has strings attached to it, but the idea of Christian forgiveness has no strings attached.

It's not as simple as that. There is a notion of "go and sin no more". One can't forgive a continuing evil without condoning it.

Also forgiveness is a choice. It does not speak to what punishment or consequencies should fall on the person being forgiven. Christian forgiveness may well have strings attached to it.

The point is that they are not relevant to the act of forgiveness. One can forgive someone and still wish them to serve out their own penance.

 

[thewiz]

Awwww....thank you! I love you, too!