Would you attack the Church if you could?

[Cyberman]

Agreed, though I think when you say "Catholic Church" you are using too broad of a term.

Sorry to be pedantic (he lied), but catholic is already a broad term, by definition.

[vorlon13]

We could give a discount to the One True Faith.

As soon as they figure out which one that is.

Indeed

[Thumpalumpacus]

Agreed, though I think when you say "Catholic Church" you are using too broad of a term. All Catholics make up "the Catholic Church", yet of course the vast majority of us played no part in the crimes or in covering up those crimes. But yes, the individuals involved in any way (those who are still alive obviously) should get their day in court.

I should think it's obvious that I'm talking about the hierarchy and not the laity.

That said, I don't understand why the laity didn't leave in droves when the criminal behavior of the hierarchy became apparent.

[Catholic_Lady]

Agreed, though I think when you say "Catholic Church" you are using too broad of a term. All Catholics make up "the Catholic Church", yet of course the vast majority of us played no part in the crimes or in covering up those crimes. But yes, the individuals involved in any way (those who are still alive obviously) should get their day in court.

I should think it's obvious that I'm talking about the hierarchy and not the laity.

But not everyone in the hierarchy is involved either. 

That said, I don't understand why the laity didn't leave in droves when the criminal behavior of the hierarchy became apparent.

Because it isn't part of the Catholic faith to believe that priests, bishops, cardinals, and popes are without sin. If I still believe in the dogmatic teachings of the Church, there's no reason why I should stop being a Catholic due to the crimes of some of its important people.

[vorlon13]

Until recently it was such that anyone in the hierarchy who did discover a pedophile on the org chart either did nothing or reassigned the priest or filed a lawsuit against the victim to shut them up.


Kinda weird, ain't it, who ever finds a pedo ALWAYS works out of the same playbook.

[Cyberman]

http://churchandstate.org.uk/2013/05/chi...ic-church/

An ‘indemnity deal’ had been signed between two representatives of the Conference of Religious of Ireland (CORI), an umbrella group representing 138 religious congregations, on behalf of eighteen religious orders that had run the residential institutions, and the then Minister of Education, Michael Woods. It would not have been unreasonable to expect that many of those responsible for the acts condemned by the Commission would end up in court, then in prison. Instead, the deal that had been cut between the government and CORI not only ensured immunity and privacy, it went even further: the religious orders were also indemnified from any legal action, whereby any costs would now be met by the Irish taxpayers in return for a transfer of property and assets to the sum of €128 million. No representatives of the victims had been involved in any of these negotiations.

[Joods]

To the OP:

Hate breeds hate. Violence against the church only puts you at the same level of low as the church. Violence against them shows others you are Willing to do the exact same thing gs you complain they do and really, what does that solve.

Better to rise above and be the example to follow instead of the one to dismiss.

[vorlon13]

http://churchandstate.org.uk/2013/05/chi...ic-church/

An ‘indemnity deal’ had been signed between two representatives of the Conference of Religious of Ireland (CORI), an umbrella group representing 138 religious congregations, on behalf of eighteen religious orders that had run the residential institutions, and the then Minister of Education, Michael Woods. It would not have been unreasonable to expect that many of those responsible for the acts condemned by the Commission would end up in court, then in prison. Instead, the deal that had been cut between the government and CORI not only ensured immunity and privacy, it went even further: the religious orders were also indemnified from any legal action, whereby any costs would now be met by the Irish taxpayers in return for a transfer of property and assets to the sum of €128 million. No representatives of the victims had been involved in any of these negotiations.

Why would the church poohbahs want to meet with the victims ?

It might make them feel bad and take steps to rectify the problem,  Can't have that, now, can we ?

[Thumpalumpacus]

I should think it's obvious that I'm talking about the hierarchy and not the laity.

But not everyone in the hierarchy is involved either. 

How many went to the police when they heard of the priestly depredations? That's right -- none. All it takes for evil to prosper is for good men to do nothing. If you know of crimes being committed and don't take action to stop them, are you not party to those crimes?

Of course not everyone in the hierarchy was involved in molesting child -- but read this and tell me that Francis's predecessor not only knew of the depredations as a Cardinal, he took active steps to shield those molesters.

That said, I don't understand why the laity didn't leave in droves when the criminal behavior of the hierarchy became apparent.

Because it isn't part of the Catholic faith to believe that priests, bishops, cardinals, and popes are without sin. If I still believe in the dogmatic teachings of the Church, there's no reason why I should stop being a Catholic due to the crimes of some of its important people.

So you don't have a problem financially supporting an institution that even today is shielding molesters from justice?

You're looking at it through the prism of doctrine. I'm looking at it from the prism of what it is I will and won't support. I refuse to support any organization which shields criminals from justice, and that includes financial support.

[Alex K]

You've reading too much of Dan Brown's drivel.

Sigh, sarcasm's lost on you it seems