Replies

While this scandal has its basis in thr truth of the matter it asserts, it is nonetheless turning into a classic sex tinged American witch hunt. This is the same type of nonsense as the rash of child molestation in day care cases of the late 1980's which were later determined to be rubbish. What is going on with this story is nothing more than a conflagration of mass hysteria. There is no fact finding, or weighing of evidence. All one person needs to do to get the ball rolling in any disocese is to claim that 40 years ago a priest touched their leg. Though most likely there would be absolutelyt no evidence of this, rest assured that that priest will be fired and have his reputation destroyed. One must remember that though some allegations are true, many will not be and shit for brains that read this story are going to start concocting their own recollections about events that in actuality never happened. There is a reason why the Salem Witch trials are still taught today. They are not just a quaint tidbit of colonial Americana but a reminder of a dark streak in the American psyche that has resurfaced today under the guise of sacerdotal scandal.

What is going on with this story is nothing more than a conflagration of mass hysteria. There is no fact finding, or weighing of evidence.

There is some danger of false accusations, Cuban, but, man, let's face it.

Only one priest, who later admitted to having two adult homosexual affairs, has protested that he's been wronged.

Unfortunately, this isn't a witch hunt.

It's a disaster for the Catholic Church.

BTW, I'm a Catholic, a former deacon, and I don't have "shit for brains."

Good comparison. The historical analogy is apt as well - the Salem witch trials. Somebody comes out of the woodwork and claims a molestation or touching and it's off to the races. And don't be mistaken: there's cold hard cash to be made in such an accusation.

I was born and raised in the Catholic Church and left it as a young adult. I was an altar boy for many years. Went to an all boys Catholic School which was run by Dominican priests. Never experienced this kind of nonsense. This is not to deny the reality of some accusations. But by the same token - there's gold in them thar hills.

Why must everyone defending a lost cause invoke the Salem witch trials? THERE WERE NO WITCHES, that's why the Salem trials were so stupid. But plainly, there are pedophile priests, and a fair number of them. The rights of the innocent should be protected--but the possibility that there are innocents should not deter us from rooting out the guilty.

The same old record has been played over and over again. You cover up a terrible wrong, you trim, you sanitize, and the whole thing metasticizes, and becomes a nuclear bomb. It brought down Nixon, and it will bring down Arthur Andersen. And the church does not seem to have "confessed" yet. It is still in a state of denial. It needs to make official public statements of contrition and shame. It needs to describe its program for change. It needs to ask for forgiveness. I say this as one outside the church, or any church. But I know I think what generically is needed to contain the disease.

It will be sad if this great institution, which has done so much good, particularly through its parochial schools, becomes mortally wounded in the US, and ceases to have much force in American affairs. As it was, a certain anemia seemed to be present.