The Pope - After a Week In 'Murrica

[Losty]

---

Ok, I honestly can see BOTH sides of this.  I fully understand the emotional pull many have on here being ex-Catholic or family members who are Catholic as well as seeing the innumerable stories of pedophilia in the Church and the associated cover ups.  

Let's be fair here.  We all agree that child molestation is abhorrent.  We all agree that perpetrators and those that help them should be held accountable.  We all agree that victims should be compensated. 

Every day we support things that we may or may not know are doing immoral things or shady things.  Ever buy something at Wal-Mart?  Ever buy Nike shoes?  I'm sure you are aware of the child labor in the sweatshops over products these brands sell.  Sure it's not molestation, but is it right?  Are you supporting it when you make a purchase there, when other options are available?  

Catholics are not giving their money to intentionally support pedophilia or help cover it up, we all know this.  Just because those in power do those things, does not mean those doing good for the church need to suffer.  This is not something that can be fixed over night and admittedly they had steps in the right direction, IMO.  Most people are tithing to the local church/diocese.  If there is found something going on there and it is not swiftly dealt with, then I would agree an appropriate response would be to withhold tithing or move to a different diocese, but that's not what you seem to be proposing.  You seem to be saying, please correct me if I'm wrong, that all Catholics should stop supporting their local churches/diocese, because of the faults of others in different states/countries.  I just don't think that's fair to those doing things the right way.  I understand the motivation, but not sure it's the right answer.

---

My bold.

I'd also like to say that not all those in power do these things, lol. It's not like everyone in the Vatican took wrong actions. The handful of those who did are guilty, but it's not like everyone was in on it. I'm sure that's what you meant, King, but wanted to specify for the others.    

I agree with this post 100%. Thanks for explaining it when I was not of the right temperament to do so.

Who were the ones that, when they found out, stood up and said this is disgusting and unacceptable and I will do everything in my power to cooperate with authorities and see these perpetrators brought to justice? Because it seemed to me that once it started coming out the all banded together to hide things and protect each other.