The Pope - After a Week In 'Murrica

[Minimalist]

I think the ironic question has to do with why you continue to associate with the church given its cover up of childhood abusers.  No one thinks you approve of the rape .. just that you continue to financially support those who do it.

Excellent.  You nailed it.

[Catholic_Lady]

I think the ironic question has to do with why you continue to associate with the church given its cover up of childhood abusers.  No one thinks you approve of the rape .. just that you continue to financially support those who do it.

Excellent.  You nailed it.

The reason why is because Catholics support the rape of children, as do I. So I give them money to make sure they continue to rape kids. There, happy now? Now why you are associating with such a vile person such as myself, I do not know.

[Thumpalumpacus]

Oh my gosh, not EVERYONE in the Church covered up for child abusers!

It's not like we're all child rapists or people who cover up for them!

No one has made either claim.

The people involved in all this either by doing it or by covering it up make up a tiny fraction of Catholics, and NO fraction of Catholic doctrine!

No one has made either claim.

Also, Catholicism is a faith, not just an organization, as you guys see it.

But it is an organization. You yourself consistently rely upon their official, approved Catechism in your discussions, rather than your own sensible self. The organization compiled that Catechism over the centuries; it was not simply the opinions of individual believers.

And it's not like its premise is to promote child abuse, or something, though from what some people are saying, that's what it sounds like ya'll think.

And again, no one has made that claim.

 

The people involved in these heinous acts did so very very wrongly, but it's not like there can't be many more good people doing good things, and a good pope working to make sure this doesn't happen again.

A good tree doesn't produce bad fruit.

 

I don't care how ya'll word it - whether you think I support it, or approve it, or whatever, if that's how you see me then don't talk to me. I wouldn't.

I don't for a moment think you approve it. I know you're a good person. But if you're still giving money to that organization, you're still helping to move those bad fruit around so that they may escape justice for their crimes.

[Thumpalumpacus]

Excellent.  You nailed it.

The reason why is because Catholics support the rape of children, as do I. So I give them money to make sure they continue to rape kids. There, happy now? Now why you are associating with such a vile person such as myself, I do not know.

You're deliberately equivocating financial support of the Church for the moral support of molestation, when it has already been made plain to you that the issue is your financial support of an organization that has demonstrably shielded molesters.

No one has said you approve of molestation. I'm sure you find it as abhorrent as I do, honestly. You're being asked to think about what your tithing supports -- the sheltering of molesters -- and whether you're comfortable with that. If you're not okay with those activities -- and no doubt you're not -- ceasing donations would seem to be an easy answer to the dilemma.

If you choose another answer, do you not still wonder how your money is being used? I would, were I in your shoes. It's why I vote for antiwar candidates, it's why I refuse to donate to certain charities with a track-record of scandal. I wouldn't let my money assist those whose activities I find obnoxious, and neither should you.

[Cato]

At least Shark Week only affects one channel. Pope coverage is out of control.

[Catholic_Lady]

Sorry to Min and others for having gotten mean last night. It was late and I was tired/grumpy and my brain was melted from the intense Mafia game all day yesterday. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, of course. My apologies.

[Crossless2.0]

Sorry to Min and others for having gotten mean last night. It was late and I was tired/grumpy and my brain was melted from the intense Mafia game all day yesterday. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, of course. My apologies.

I'm sure there was nothing said that can't be forgiven at the cost of one selfie in a Catholic schoolgirl uniform.

And I'm not talking about Min.

[SteelCurtain]

C_L, I know, and I think everyone here (even Min) knows that you do not approve of the molestation of children.

I think Thump's post is worth heavy consideration, though.

If enough Catholics (believing full-heartedly in the "Truth" of the Church) stopped tithing and donating to their diocese until EVERY LAST molester was put behind bars, EVERY LAST priest/bishop/cardinal/pope who shielded a perpetrator was taken to justice, and EVERY LAST victim was fully compensated, then it could be said that you are not supporting an organization that shields pedophiles from justice and hides funds to avoid paying to victims.

Two questions:

1) Do you think that those things should happen? That every molester should be put in jail, that every person in the Catholic hierarchy who shuffled or obfuscated to protect a molester should be tried, and that every last victim should be compensated?

2) Do you think that the Church has the power to facilitate any of that, and do you think parishioners should take a stand until that has happened? Why not?

What irks me is that these diocese spend millions of dollars on making sure the Church looks like a freaking throne room and their priests are outfitted with enough gold to make Mr. T jealous (See St. Patricks Cathedral in Manhattan---just finished a major "re-model" --- Jesus would love that... he always said "Make my house as a kingdom, make it look like we be ballin'"--paraphrase) and then claim they have no liquid assets to pay out victims. That, to me, is a fucking travesty.

[Nay_Sayer]

Another day of old frankie taking over the TV. Once again books save the day. When is this old fart going home?

[Minimalist]

Sorry to Min and others for having gotten mean last night. It was late and I was tired/grumpy and my brain was melted from the intense Mafia game all day yesterday. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, of course. My apologies.

I'm sure there was nothing said that can't be forgiven at the cost of one selfie in a Catholic schoolgirl uniform.

And I'm not talking about Min.

Lucky for you.