Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Will New Vatican Commission on Abuse Answer the One Crucial Question?
Catholic Culture ^ | 12/5/13 | Phil Lawler

Posted on 12/06/2013 7:08:57 PM PST by marshmallow

Today’s Vatican announcement that the Pope will create a new commission answers every question—except the one question everyone is asking.

What we don’t know is whether the new commission will take action against bishops who fail in their own responsibilities: bishops who cover up abuse. So we don’t know whether the commission will address the root cause of the scandal.

We know that the new commission will issue guidelines for handling sex-abuse issues. But we don’t know if bishops will follow those guidelines.

We know that the new commission will develop “safe-environment” programs for use in diocese. But we don’t know whether these programs work.

Yes, we know that the new commission will consult with “experts” on abuse. But will they keep consulting the same experts on whose advise the bishops kept placing abusive priests back into parish ministry?

(Excerpt) Read more at catholicculture.org ...


TOPICS: Catholic; Current Events; Ministry/Outreach; Moral Issues
KEYWORDS:

1 posted on 12/06/2013 7:08:57 PM PST by marshmallow
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: All

yes, answer the one crucial question:

how come even though the catholic church has the exact same rate of abuse that any other segment of society has, they continually get signaled out?


2 posted on 12/06/2013 7:16:52 PM PST by willywill
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: marshmallow

Unless the Church purges homosexuals from the priesthood, the vile molestation of young boys by clergy will continue. The Church has faced a major crisis about every 500 years. The first was the sack of Rome in the 5th century when Church archives were lost, and many clergy were killed. In the 10th century there was the schism between East and West. In the early 16th there was the Reformation. The Church survived each crisis and even prospered. o there is the crisis of sexual molestation of young boys which has alienated the faithful. It is yet to be seen how this crisis will resolve. People of faith of course feel that since Jesus promised to be with the Church until the end of time, there will be a solution.


3 posted on 12/06/2013 7:18:02 PM PST by allendale
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: willywill
how come even though the catholic church has the exact same rate of abuse that any other segment of society has, they continually get signaled out?

Another Catholic thread today: The Catholic Writer Today, decries the departure of the Church's historical influence in the arts. Some want the Catholic influence to better the society, yet when the Catholics are just like the world, as you have pointed out, of what benefit is that?

Besides, there is little morality in society at large and it certainly isn't 'preached'. To whom much is given, much is expected. If you claim the high ground, you best live on it as well. The Catholic church has done poorly in this area.

4 posted on 12/06/2013 10:20:17 PM PST by xone
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: willywill
yes, answer the one crucial question: how come even though the catholic church has the exact same rate of abuse that any other segment of society has, they continually get signaled out?

1. Though it may seem that way, they aren't. Other abusers aren't usually helped by their overseers to hide, escape prosecution or stifle investigations. Other segments of society that commit abuse are usually caught and prosecuted and answer for their crimes. Those that get away with it do so without the help of their own overseers and the vast resources they have to hide their perpetrators.

2. Name "any other segment of society" that claims or has:

    a. they are the ONE, TRUE, church and no one can be saved outside of "her" and that her priests are the representatives of Christ or His stand-in

    b. a systematic and ongoing (for centuries) problem of covering up abuse and shuffling known abusers to new victims

    c. a hierarchy that fears a "scandal" more than the anger and righteous judgment of Almighty God and rationalizes their complicity

    d. has paid BILLIONS in settlements to its victims

3. Why is a comparison to ungodly systems acceptable with Catholics in the first place??? Isn't the church supposed to be the light to the world? An example of holiness? Aren't church leaders accountable to anyone?

No one denies that all religions have some "bad eggs" among their members, but perhaps the main reason Catholicism gets the press it does is because the abuse that has and does happen goes back a long time and even when abusers are reported there is sometimes no action taken by those who are supposed to be in charge. Children get abused and see nothing done about it and now that some of them are adults they see that they are no longer powerless to affect change or to bring the abusers to justice. Consider that this may very well be God working.

“Blessed is the one whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. For he wounds, but he also binds up; he injures, but his hands also heal. (Job 5:17,18)

5 posted on 12/06/2013 11:23:30 PM PST by boatbums (God is ready to assume full responsibility for the life wholly yielded to Him.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson