Posted on 11/30/2011 1:52:20 PM PST by Alex Murphy
With all due respect, Pope Benedict XVI either lives in an alternate reality or needs better PR handlers. His comments over the weekend to U.S. bishops about the sex abuse of children showed a continued disconnect with the church’s mishandling of this ongoing scandal. The pope referenced the church’s “conscientious effort” to confront sex abuse by priests.
Uh? Perhaps the pope meant to say conscientious cover-up.
No institution has done more to deny and downplay the sexual abuse of young boys than the Catholic Church. No institution has done more to discredit victims and protect pedophile priests than the Catholic Church. And no institution has done more to avoid accountability for decisions made at the highest levels to cover up decades of sexual abuse of boys by scores of priests.
After decades of denial, it is really stunning for the pope to talk about the church’s “conscientious effort” to confront this scandal. At best, there have been some half steps brought on mainly by legal actions. If anything, the church has orchestrated a conscientious effort to minimize the scandal and hide behind any legal statute of limitations. But most everyone—including many Catholics like myself—is still waiting for church leaders to root out all the problem priests and hold others accountable for the cover-up.
The pope is right that all of society’s institutions—not just the Catholic Church—must be held to “exacting” standards in their response to sex abuse of children. He correctly called pedophilia a “scourge.” But then the pope had the gall to hold up the church as an example for how to confront the problem.
“It is my hope that the Church’s conscientious efforts to confront this reality will help the broader community to recognize the causes, true extent and devastating consequences of sexual abuse, and to respond effectively to this scourge which affects every level of society,” he said.
If other institutions follow the church’s lead regarding the handling of sex abuse by priests, well, then heaven help us all. David Clohessy, head of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said: “No public figure talks more about child safety but does little to actually make children safer than Pope Benedict.”
Of course, one can’t help but feel the pope’s recent comments were timed to coincide with the sex-abuse scandal at Penn State. In a sense he was saying: “See, the church isn’t the only institution with a pedophile problem.” At Penn State, former defensive football coordinator Jerry Sandusky has been charged with sexually abusing eight boys over a number of years. Some have said the two scandals are similar because of the cover-up that reached the top echelon of two esteemed institutions.
But that is also where the similarities end. Unlike the Catholic Church, Penn State has taken swift and decisive action, with more likely to come. Days after Sandusky’s indictment, university president Graham Spanier was forced out and legendary coach Joe Paterno was fired. Granted the university, like the church, initially did its best to cover up the abuse. But unlike the church, once the allegations came to light there were no excuses or denials or efforts to blame the media by the university trustees. Instead there has been real accountability. Those not charged with crimes were removed from power because they failed to alert law enforcement. Including JoePa, the proverbial pope of Penn State.
“The church to this day, while waving a moral flag, hasn’t even come close to the Penn State Board of Trustees response,” said Kristine Ward, chair of the National Survivor Advocates Coalition. She pointed out that no bishops have been fired. “Issuing self-satisfied pats on the back while children remain in danger only further diminishes the church’s credibility and deepens the laryngitis in its moral voice.”
The pope is correct that child sex abuse isn’t limited to the church. But no one has said as much. The reason so much attention has been paid to the church is because of the Vatican’s supposed moral authority; the abuse stretched around the world; and the cover-up was extensive. “While child sex crimes happen in every institution, in no institution are they ignored or concealed as consistently as in the Catholic Church,” Clohessy said.
Not even at Penn State.
So what perfect denomination do you recommend?
Good better best. Sometimes better will do.
It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.
Luke 17:2
They don't. Leo XIII's letter on socialism (1878)
From the first paragraph:
We speak of that sect of men who, under various and almost barbarous names, are called socialists, communists, or nihilists, and who, spread over all the world, and bound together by the closest ties in a wicked confederacy, ... strive to bring to a head what they have long been planning - the overthrow of all civil society whatsoever.And from further on:
For, "the church of the living God, which is the pillar and ground of truth,"(1 Tim. 3:15) hands down those doctrines and precepts whose special object is the safety and peace of society and the uprooting of the evil growth of socialism.And one more quote:
But Catholic wisdom, sustained by the precepts of natural and divine law, provides with especial care for public and private tranquility in its doctrines and teachings regarding the duty of government and the distribution of the goods which are necessary for life and use. For, while the socialists would destroy the "right" of property, alleging it to be a human invention altogether opposed to the inborn equality of man, and, claiming a community of goods, argue that poverty should not be peaceably endured, and that the property and privileges of the rich may be rightly invaded, the Church, with much greater wisdom and good sense, recognizes the inequality among men, who are born with different powers of body and mind, inequality in actual possession, also, and holds that the right of property and of ownership, which springs from nature itself, must not be touched and stands inviolate. For she knows that stealing and robbery were forbidden in so special a manner by God, the Author and Defender of right, that He would not allow man even to desire what belonged to another, and that thieves and despoilers, no less than adulterers and idolaters, are shut out from the Kingdom of Heaven.
So what perfect denomination do you recommend?
So what perfect denomination do you recommend?
Perfection in the sense you question implies doesn’t exist with humans so the question is pointless.
But I do believe what Jesus said about the kingdom being given to the nation that produced its fruits.
Remember Jesus said the kingdom was going to be taken from a nation that had holy writings, long established tradition, promises from God, a beautiful temple, a priesthood that offered sacrifices, holy men and prophets.
And yet none of that prevented Jerusalem’s destruction in 70 A.D. with the majority of it’s inhabitants.
Those leaving before this happened weren’t perfect but they did obey Jesus’ command in that interval between warning being given and escape being closed off.
Perfection in the sense you question implies doesn’t exist with humans so the question is pointless.Really? Then what do you mean by:
But I do believe what Jesus said about the kingdom being given to the nation that produced its fruits.So what "kingdom" are you claiming Roman Catholics fail of, and what denomination succeeds? Jehovah's Witness?
“So what “kingdom” are you claiming Roman Catholics fail of,....”
Why...What kingdom do you pray for? (Let your kingdom come) What kingdom is good news to be preached in the whole world?
“...what denomination succeeds?”
Succeeds? At what? Charitable works, gains in membership? Money? Evangelism? Chrystal Cathedrals? In following Jesus’ commandments and example?
If that ancient nation of Israel had all the attributes I mentioned earlier why were they NOT a success? What were they supposed to do as a nation (since the “You” Jesus used was plural) and yet did not do?
If you cannot say what “success” is how on earth....I'm just amazed that you ask the question of me instead of yourself, of the Scriptures
“Jehovah's Witness?”
No perfection there either, of that I'm certain. And I don't, never have here, make recommendations of what group or denomination a person ought to associate with. Nor have I ever suggested anyone leave any group.
Ah, still at it I see.
Penn State took swift action? LOL!
That might be the funniest thing I read today.
Okay - Obama’s comments about Israel were funnier - this is a close second.
And I don't, never have here, make recommendations of what group or denomination a person ought to associate with. Nor have I ever suggested anyone leave any group.Lukewarm are you? No denomination to call your own or simply unwilling to be held to scrutiny?
I suppose it’s rude to note that the church handling their child-abuse problem like Penn State did is largely what got them in trouble in the first place. And I’ll say it again...if you believe that Jerry Sandusky was going at it with kids in the showers and not a single hack covering the athletic program heard as much as a rumor about it until the grand-jury report came out, you’ll believe anything.
Now if there is something you want to discuss, name it and if I can contribute I will. Thanks
So you want to be able to hide your denomination? Why?
On FR I do not share any personal, make that ANY, personal information about myself.(at least I try not to).
Not age, occupation, Etc. and so forth. That has been my policy from the start and will continue to be.
What others choose to do is their affair but this is mine and for my own reasons which I feel no need to explain. Or justify.
LOL, so you are free to take pot shots at other’s faith but your own you hide?
As i said, if there is something on your mind...but I have no time for this.
......but I have no time for this.Right, time enough top bash others, but no time to be honest about what your own faith is. Lukewarm, at best. No salt, no zeal, just a dog-in-the-manger approach to crankiness. Very sad. Why the secrecy? Some prior FR identity?
Discuss the issues all you want, but do not make it personal.
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