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Catholic priest blames children for sexual abuse
Digital Journal ^ | 8-31-2012 | Greta McClain

Posted on 09/08/2012 5:07:45 AM PDT by Renfield

New York - A prominent Catholic priest says he believes “youngsters” are often to blame for sexual abuse by priests and that priests who are first time offenders should not be jailed for their crime.

Father Benedict Groeschel, founder of Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, is well known as the host of Sunday Night Prime with Father Benedict Groeschel, a weekly show on Catholic television network EWTN. It was not what he said on his television show that has sparked controversy however, it is comments he made in an interview with the National Catholic Register that has outraged many. According to a UPI report, Groeschel told the newspaper

"People have this picture in their minds of a person planning to -- a psychopath. But that's not the case. Suppose you have a man having a nervous breakdown, and a youngster comes after him. A lot of the cases, the youngster -- 14, 16, 18 -- is the seducer."....

(Excerpt) Read more at digitaljournal.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: agendadrivenfreeper; groeschel; pedophilia; priests; yellowjournalism
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To: Last Dakotan

Watch the show, just once.

Geeze, just geeze.

It has been on for like 20 years.

If you want to say something against the man could you simply give him 5 minutes of your time?


41 posted on 09/08/2012 7:35:31 AM PDT by stanne
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To: bboop; Renfield

Posted a month ago? Like most of the 30-odd commenters on this thread, I missed it.

Many thanks for posting this, Renfield! It takes a mind of guilt to hate and fear the revelation of truth.


42 posted on 09/08/2012 7:36:58 AM PDT by James C. Bennett (An Australian.)
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To: verga
Fr. Groeschel had a massive stroke and has expressive aphasia. He literally has no control over some of what he says. THis is whom the press goes after for headlines and the Church haters her will jump right on the pile.

Okay, I can accept this.

The man needs to have his caretakers refuse to let the press at him.

43 posted on 09/08/2012 7:38:15 AM PDT by Lazamataz (Communist Party = Democrats. Socialist Party = Republicans. WE NEED A CAPITALIST FREEDOM PARTY!)
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To: stanne

So, if this Catholic priest actually indulged in paedophilia now, his current condition would be sufficient to excuse him of the crime?


44 posted on 09/08/2012 7:39:50 AM PDT by James C. Bennett (An Australian.)
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To: Lazamataz

Yes, Laz, they are on it.

Have been since it came out a month ago.


45 posted on 09/08/2012 7:40:45 AM PDT by stanne
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To: James C. Bennett

Any one with reasoning ability can look at his bio (and noyone who comments on him ought to read his bio, by the way) can assume he hasn’t . . .

Oh I am wasting my efforts


46 posted on 09/08/2012 7:45:44 AM PDT by stanne
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To: stanne

What facts? That he was a good priest? Who’s arguing that he wasn’t.
Some say he has no control over what he says. That appears to be so, but what does he say? Does he start praising Satan? No, he starts arguing a point that I suspects is common in the priesthood but that other priests know not to say.


47 posted on 09/08/2012 7:54:13 AM PDT by conejo99
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To: conejo99

What Ever


48 posted on 09/08/2012 7:55:10 AM PDT by stanne
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To: Renfield
People have this picture in their minds of a person planning to -- a psychopath. But that's not the case. Suppose you have a man having a nervous breakdown, and a youngster comes after him. A lot of the cases, the youngster -- 14, 16, 18 -- is the seducer.

There is nothing wrong with this statement, and Father Groeschel has a PhD in psychology to put behind his words. Do the critics?

49 posted on 09/08/2012 7:58:29 AM PDT by annalex (fear them not)
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To: conejo99; stanne

LOL, exactly.

Their “justification” runs along the lines of “help this many people for this long a duration and you can commit this many crimes...”

Modern-day indulgences, anyone?


50 posted on 09/08/2012 8:21:26 AM PDT by James C. Bennett (An Australian.)
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To: RFEngineer
Do you even care to find out if this guy has any victims from his past postings, or are you prepared to eliminate this possibility without looking into it because he said “sorry”?

Yes, by all means, let's get the witch hunt started. Join in with your leftist buddies at SNAP and see if this addled old man, who has a brain injury, actually abused some kids (even though none have accused him). Further, if he also said he could fly, why don't you push him out of a window to make certain he is not lying?

I think your goal, like most anti-Catholics, is to see the Church shamed and diminished, rather than to seek justice for abused children.

51 posted on 09/08/2012 8:26:54 AM PDT by GOP_Party_Animal
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To: James C. Bennett

That is a wild accusation.

Wild.


52 posted on 09/08/2012 8:31:11 AM PDT by stanne
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To: stanne

Not really.


53 posted on 09/08/2012 8:32:39 AM PDT by James C. Bennett (An Australian.)
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To: James C. Bennett

“Justifying”?

Who is justifying what?


54 posted on 09/08/2012 8:38:00 AM PDT by stanne
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To: stanne

Comments #27 and #28 by DManA and RFEngineer put a stop to the justification game being played out to defend the Catholic priest. Refer to those comments for further clarification. That’ll be sufficient.


55 posted on 09/08/2012 8:49:48 AM PDT by James C. Bennett (An Australian.)
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To: James C. Bennett

Nobady is trying to justify anything.

A cursory look at Fr. Groeschel’s work bio, which takes a lot less effort than “refer to this number comment and then that number comment” will tell the laziest of commentors that Fr. Groschel’s character and occupation run completely adverse to perverted activity.

He is above reproach and it would take some serious proof to indicate otherwise.

You are wasting your own and my time.

Do one twintieth of what he’s done in any one year and you will be too busy to even think of perverted activity.

Ignorance is dangerous.


56 posted on 09/08/2012 9:03:27 AM PDT by stanne
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To: RFEngineer
Groeschel made a mistake, admitted it and apologized for it and lost his gig. However, if you think that there aren't some homosexual opportunists, who haven't reached the age of 18 and are thus legally considered children, who act just like Groeschel said they do then you're more naive than you've already exposed yourself as on numerous occasions here in the past.

Do you even care to find out if this guy has any victims from his past postings, or are you prepared to eliminate this possibility without looking into it because he said “sorry”?

Groeschel has been a public figure for a very long time so if he had any victims in the past as you allege they would have come forward a long time ago.

57 posted on 09/08/2012 9:05:16 AM PDT by A.A. Cunningham (Barry Soetoro is a Kenyan communist)
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To: James C. Bennett
So, if this Catholic priest actually indulged in paedophilia now, his current condition would be sufficient to excuse him of the crime?

As long as we are speculating, are you still beating your wife and both your male and female concubines and would your lack of intelligence be sufficient to excuse your behavior?

58 posted on 09/08/2012 9:09:59 AM PDT by A.A. Cunningham (Barry Soetoro is a Kenyan communist)
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To: Renfield

Oh good grief.

Say you’re an adult, responsible priest. Father Jones. Supposing it IS true. Some little girl or boy in your care says hey Father Jones, let’s go have some whoopee. What is your response to this.

Nuff said.


59 posted on 09/08/2012 9:10:18 AM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (let me ABOs run loose, lew (or is that lou?))
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To: GOP_Party_Animal

“I think your goal, like most anti-Catholics, is to see the Church shamed and diminished, rather than to seek justice for abused children. “

Ah, I see. Only you care that he’s Catholic between us. I only care that it’s an odd statement that could come from someone with a guilty conscience and that it’s appropriate to look into it. It’s not like he rambled on about pink elephants or something.


60 posted on 09/08/2012 9:10:28 AM PDT by RFEngineer
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