The Pope - After a Week In 'Murrica

[Catholic_Lady]

The thing that bothers me the most is not that I think being a Catholic means that person condones what the hierarchy has done.  What bothers me is that I cannot, for the life of me, think of an organization that I would hold so dearly that I could allow myself to continue to identify with it after such a heinous cover up and refusal to compensate victims, especially when that organization claims to be the voice of a loving god.  How can anyone see fit to look for spiritual guidance from people that are more concerned with a holy image than they are from preventing child rape?

I get that not all Catholics are like that and that Catholicism is more than insecure men in robes and pointy hats, but we're talking about the leaders of this religion.  The head people that are supposed to get their guidance from a loving god are shuffling around child molesters, because protecting their image was more important than protecting the bodies and minds of little children.  There just comes a point where you have to jump ship no matter what, and what I'm stuck wondering is where do these Catholics that remain draw the line?  How much is too much before you're willing to stop supporting and identifying with an organization?

/suppressed emotions from having Catholic in-laws

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.