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Richard Dawkins: I Will Arrest Pope Benedict XVI
London Times ^ | April 10th 2010 | Marc Horne

Posted on 04/10/2010 11:49:41 PM PDT by Steelfish

April 11, 2010 Richard Dawkins: I Will Arrest Pope Benedict XVI Marc Horne

Atheist campaigner Richard Dawkins RICHARD DAWKINS, the atheist campaigner, is planning a legal ambush to have the Pope arrested during his state visit to Britain “for crimes against humanity”.

Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens, the atheist author, have asked human rights lawyers to produce a case for charging Pope Benedict XVI over his alleged cover-up of sexual abuse in the Catholic church.

The pair believe they can exploit the same legal principle used to arrest Augusto Pinochet, the late Chilean dictator, when he visited Britain in 1998.

The Pope was embroiled in new controversy this weekend over a letter he signed arguing that the “good of the universal church” should be considered against the defrocking of an American priest who committed sex offences against two boys. It was dated 1985, when he was in charge of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which deals with sex abuse cases.

(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; News/Current Events; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: atheisthate; atheists; attentionwhore; dawkins; hitchens; nutjob; popebenedictxvi; richarddawkins; scientism; vatican
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To: redgolum
The “World Court” has seized heads of state, or former heads of state, even though the rule of Sovereign Immunity applied. In fact, Bush was threatened with indictment. And he may yet be forced to come before the court. As the UN and other superstate powers get stronger, they will start to force their will on other states.

Kidnapping and imprisoning, exiling, and/or executing other nobles, government leaders, and heads of state... sounds hardly any different than what Hitler had planned for Pius XII, what Napoleon succeeded in doing to Pius VI, or what different empires and powers have been doing for centuries.

It is hard to think that just because it has taken the guise of some international "World Court" that it is any more civil than the tyrants of any other age. There is nothing new under the sun.

361 posted on 04/11/2010 3:46:38 PM PDT by GCC Catholic (0bama, what are you hiding? Just show us the birth certificate...)
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To: Publius6961
Oh, list me among the unforunates who suffered 15 years of Christian Brothers/Jesuit education and never even once heard rumors of a pervert priest.

Me, too. Diocesan parochial education K through 12, Benedictine University, Jesuit medical school.

Never heard anything about it until about 30 years later and the few complaints were about events that happened 20+ years ago.

362 posted on 04/11/2010 3:51:27 PM PDT by johniegrad
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To: GCC Catholic
- give a penance that requires the penitent to divulge his/her sin outside of the confessional (that doesn't mean that the priest can't say for example that something stolen should be returned or that the criminal should turn himself in as a matter of justice - only that it cannot be compelled as a condition for absolution)

Thanks for posting the details.

This last part caught my eye. If someone confessing doesn't have to accept the punishment for their actions it makes you wonder how sorry they are. Criminals can pretty much just "game" the system. IOW, go commit crimes, confess, say a couple prayers and they are free to go do it again.

363 posted on 04/11/2010 3:52:13 PM PDT by wmfights (If you want change support SenateConservatives.com)
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To: wmfights
Criminals can pretty much just "game" the system. IOW, go commit crimes, confess, say a couple prayers and they are free to go do it again.

No one is free to commit crimes. They can be arrested at any time, forgiven or not.

364 posted on 04/11/2010 3:56:33 PM PDT by Judith Anne (2012 Sarah Palin/Duncan Hunter 2012)
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To: James C. Bennett
Are you aware that a large part of the Middle East, now Muslim, was once Christian? So too, Asia Minor.

Yes, many of us are aware of that.
And your point is?

Islam was not spread by missionaries or kind deeds; and after Sobieski (pbuh) kicked muslim butt big time, the muslim expansion came to a halt.

History is full of contradictions.
How can a small geographic area of the world be known both as the "cradle of civilization," and among the most backward, primitive, murderous, cruel and irrational culture of the 21st Century?

365 posted on 04/11/2010 3:57:33 PM PDT by Publius6961 (10% of muslims, the killer murdering radicals, are "only" 140,000,000 of 'em)
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To: Grunthor

These were two separate issues. The abuse is handled by the local diocesan Bishop. The defrocking goes all the way to the Vatican Congregation of Faith. Then Ratzinger called it a grave abuse and wrote that whatever that needed to be done must be for “the good of the universal Church.” The offending priest was defrocked two years later. It’s called “process.” This is what happens when the liberal NY Times reports this stuff and then when the true facts emerge they begin to qualify their earlier story with bits and pieces of new information. Of course, and by which time the damage is already done- which was the primary purpose to begin with.

Here’s an informative analysis:

http://spectator.org/archives/2010/04/08/the-end-of-history-and-the-las


366 posted on 04/11/2010 3:58:49 PM PDT by Steelfish (ui)
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To: BBell
Imagine how these two atheist would fair in an Islamic dominated society.

Within a week of having been parachuted into Iran with no means of escape I guarantee you that an amoral coward like Dawkins would be chanting "allah akbar" on Iranian TV.When you think about it,while being an atheist is a wonderful way to display utter contempt for Western values and civilization,embracing The Religion of Pieces is,by far,the best way.

367 posted on 04/11/2010 4:01:34 PM PDT by Gay State Conservative (Host The Beer Summit-->Win The Nobel Peace Prize!)
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To: Dr. Eckleburg; caww; sabe@q.com; Cardhu; Gamecock; Alex Murphy; 1000 silverlings; HarleyD
"And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea." -- Mark 9:42

A great reminder of how our Savior views this stuff.

Apparently some Roman Catholic apologists have no fear of disobeying Jesus Christ.

It's the "defending the church is the same as defending your faith mentality". I have family members who came out of that church and the EO church. I think the criminal behavior of priests that was covered up opened my FIL's eyes. He was disgusted by the whole thing especially the keeping it quiet.

But as Christians who read the Bible we are reminded that all men are sinners and corruption is our default setting unless and until the Holy Spirit intervenes to rescue us.

Amen

368 posted on 04/11/2010 4:03:06 PM PDT by wmfights (If you want change support SenateConservatives.com)
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To: Steelfish
“for crimes against humanity”.

Even Joe Stalin, a card-carrying atheist, would approve.

369 posted on 04/11/2010 4:04:49 PM PDT by windsorknot
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To: wmfights

That’s what so many who criticize the Catholic Church seem to miss. Much is said about the fact that there were pedophiles but it seems that many tend to not recognize that pedophiles are everywhere.

The Catholic Church should not be criticized any more than any other church, or any other organization, because pedophiles have slipped in. However, I do believe that ANY church should be setting the example in dealing with them, so in that respect the Catholic Church, and any other Church, should be more accountable than any other organization for not dealing with it in light of Biblical teaching on immorality.


370 posted on 04/11/2010 4:04:59 PM PDT by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
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To: Zionist Conspirator; Steelfish
Since Mr. Dawkins doesn't believe in G-d, he has no standards by which to determine what is or is not a "crime."

He's basing that determination on what? The very value system he rejects. Excellent point.

371 posted on 04/11/2010 4:07:03 PM PDT by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
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To: wmfights
This last part caught my eye. If someone confessing doesn't have to accept the punishment for their actions it makes you wonder how sorry they are. Criminals can pretty much just "game" the system. IOW, go commit crimes, confess, say a couple prayers and they are free to go do it again.

In theory, a criminal could try to 'game' the system by doing this - but if he isn't truly repentant, he only cheats himself from a supernatural perspective. And if he manages to get caught (even though the priest can't force him to turn himself in) he certainly doesn't help himself in a civil sense either.

However, if a priest knows that the penitent isn't repentant and has no intention of ceasing the sin that was confessed, then he can withhold absolution (this would be the case in situations such as if the criminal intends to keep committing the crime or even cases such as a divorced person who is 'remarried' and has no intention of giving up the sin of adultery with a new 'spouse'). Such a situation is rare - indeed, few who approach confession come without some resolve to amend their lives with the help of God's Grace - but it does happen.

372 posted on 04/11/2010 4:09:55 PM PDT by GCC Catholic (0bama, what are you hiding? Just show us the birth certificate...)
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To: James C. Bennett; wmfights; celmak
Maybe unfairly, but we do hold religious leaders to higher standards.

Yes, and it is for reasons such as these that man-made religious institutions enjoy such advantages as lesser scrutiny and more tax benefits.

You don't have a clue what you're talking about. *Lesser scrutiny* from whom? Those aren't reasons why they get tax breaks either.

Of course, exposure of their darker sides is beginning to change all that, now.

What darker side of religion? Maybe islam, but Christianity doesn't condone that kind of behavior at all.

And even if it was, since you are proposing the wrong reasons for tax breaks and lack of government interference, that's not the reason all that is changing.

373 posted on 04/11/2010 4:14:35 PM PDT by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
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To: Smokin' Joe
The accounts in the media of the reaction to them relfects questionable judgement in that reaction.

I would agree that the media always has an agenda and rarely is objective.

I was not there, I pretend no knowledge of what was said nor that which was done, nor of the protocols for handling such instances, but the appearance the media gives is that the choices were of questionable nature.

I would suggest watching the documentary "Deliver Us from Evil". I'm sure it's not totally objective, but there is a lot of well documented information.

It's the cover up that makes this so bad.

To present a gay-infused and often atheistic media as an unbiased attacker would be disingenious indeed.

I wouldn't disagree. However, there are so many other places to go to get information about this that some facts are well established.

374 posted on 04/11/2010 4:14:41 PM PDT by wmfights (If you want change support SenateConservatives.com)
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To: Smokin' Joe
The accounts in the media of the reaction to them relfects questionable judgement in that reaction.

I would agree that the media always has an agenda and rarely is objective.

I was not there, I pretend no knowledge of what was said nor that which was done, nor of the protocols for handling such instances, but the appearance the media gives is that the choices were of questionable nature.

I would suggest watching the documentary "Deliver Us from Evil". I'm sure it's not totally objective, but there is a lot of well documented information.

It's the cover up that makes this so bad.

To present a gay-infused and often atheistic media as an unbiased attacker would be disingenious indeed.

I wouldn't disagree. However, there are so many other places to go to get information about this that some facts are well established.

375 posted on 04/11/2010 4:15:34 PM PDT by wmfights (If you want change support SenateConservatives.com)
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To: Quix
9 - God loved Mary so much that He gave her the keys to His heart. ‘No one can go to God without Mary drawing him.’

8 - “Mary is the divine rainbow that appeared in the darkness of the flood, to announce to the world the peace God had granted.”

So Mary WAS there in the beginning...And God has granted the world 'peace'...

This religion has nothing to do with Christianity other than it stole the name...

Mary only, draws men to Jesus Christ???

And people call us brothers and sisters??? Not a chance...Theirs is the Pagan religion...Known thru out the world by different names but the same Pagan religion just the same...

http://www.philae.nu/philae/aspects.html

376 posted on 04/11/2010 4:21:20 PM PDT by Iscool (I don't understand all that I know...)
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To: Publius6961

I never said anything about arresting the pope, as much as I disagree with Dawkins, I disagree with the Catholic Church about as much. They don’t handle these scandals very well, and every other year you hear about another Catholic priest molesting a child. It’s disgusting, I’m just pointing that out, there is something fundamentally wrong with these men, not all of them, but how many bad apples can there be?


377 posted on 04/11/2010 4:21:39 PM PDT by IamCenny
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To: Publius6961

Oh I did turn a cheek but it wasn’t mine. *wink.*


378 posted on 04/11/2010 4:22:49 PM PDT by Irisshlass
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To: metmom
The Catholic Church should not be criticized any more than any other church, or any other organization, because pedophiles have slipped in. However, I do believe that ANY church should be setting the example in dealing with them, so in that respect the Catholic Church, and any other Church, should be more accountable than any other organization for not dealing with it in light of Biblical teaching on immorality.

Indeed, this is part of the problem as to why a church has a more difficult time in coping with this issue, and why the solution often seems so convoluted.

No matter how repulsive the act is (and frankly, there are few things more repulsive than pedophilia) these priest's aren't just scum that can be thrown into the gutter. THEY TOO ARE THE CHILDREN OF GOD - we can't forget that they are deserving of the dignity of their good names until they are proven guilty, and even when proven guilty, they are deserving of pastoral care from the Church, EVEN IF WE THINK THAT WHAT THEY DID IS UTTERLY EVIL.

I won't say that the Catholic Church (or any organization) has handled this problem well - but we must remember that churches are trying to do the difficult balancing act of caring for ALL of the people involved. God wills not the death of a sinner.

379 posted on 04/11/2010 4:22:54 PM PDT by GCC Catholic (0bama, what are you hiding? Just show us the birth certificate...)
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To: Steelfish

Look up his(big tent) past posts. It’s on the first page. He doesn’t have a bunch as he’s a newbie.
I’m not a Catholic, but I don’t like people who talk out of both sides of their mouths at the same time.


380 posted on 04/11/2010 4:24:27 PM PDT by Scotsman will be Free (11C - Indirect fire, infantry - High angle hell - We will bring you, FIRE)
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