Pope Francis must do more than apologize

SouthCoastToday.com ^ | 7/10/2014 | Editorial

[Dr. Thorne]

True reconciliation only begins with an apology.

It takes more than saying one is sorry to heal the wounds that come from hurting others. That takes justice — a commitment to make things right, to change whatever actions have caused harm, and to hold those responsible for that harm accountable for their actions.

Pope Francis on Monday met with a group of Roman Catholics who had suffered sexual abuse at the hands of Catholic clergy, and he offered a sweeping apology to them for the wrongs done against them when they were children.

[Salvation]

Links don’t work.

[JPX2011]

I would appreciate a response that you acknowledge it.

Even though it wasn't addressed to me I'll acknowledge it. Somebody just said a little while ago that prots are "passing the trash" when they indict the entire RCC for the sins of individuals and I agree with that. So I don't think it's right to further pass it on by pursuing a line of argument that attempts to indict teachers (even though I don't believe I've personally used it). Which you have demonstated as a falsehood anyway.

[usconservative]

The RC church in the USA has done more than any other organization to screen potential clergy, employees, etc who might abuse kids. The church has paid out millions of dollars to victims, It has defrocked many of the offenders. It has apologized over and over.

Here's the precise problem the RC Church is up against, and I say this as someone who was born into the Catholic Church, attended CCD, received my first communion, was confirmed and married in the church: The church hid the problem of child molesting priests for DECADES. They moved the priests around from church to church hoping to bury the problem. The church blamed the victims. The church was literally dragged kicking and screaming to the truth.

It was only when the church was dragged kicking and screaming to the truth that the apologies finally started, compensation for pain caused by the offending priests started to be paid (as if money really "fixes" the damage sexually abusing a child does????) and some of the offending priests were defrocked and removed from the church.

Now the reality: so much of the continued pain that was caused to the victims of sexual molestation by catholic priests could've been dealt with upfront by simply perp-walking the offending priests out of the church and into the waiting hands of the police and states attorneys for prosecution. Doing so would've sent a clear message to the victims of sexual abuse that the church took what happened to them seriously, that the church loved them and didn't blame them for what happened, and started the healing process.

But that's not what the church did, and you and I both know that. They hid the problem for decades instead, blamed the victims, shuffled priests who were sexually molesting children around between parishes and tried burying the problem.

While you defend the church's actions, you may want to look at things from the victim's perspectives too and by all means try to understand why so many remain so skeptical all this time later.

Peace to you.

[usconservative]

Most of the clergy implicated in the sex scandal are long dead.

Not so sure about that, as of 2010 nearly 60 percent of Chicago's Roman Catholic parishes have had a priest publicly accused of sexually abusing a child according to a report released by three advocacy groups. (Reported by NBC Affiliate in Chicago.)

[verga]

helpforhurt.org Put it in the browser and it will take you right there. It is far from the only site that has this information. Type in "Who commits the most child abuse into Bing or Google and you will get a multitude of sites: http://www.stopitnow.org/csa_fact_who_abuse

http://www.childabuse.org/facts

[JPX2011]

Not so sure about that, as of 2010 nearly 60 percent of Chicago's Roman Catholic parishes have had a priest publicly accused of sexually abusing a child according to a report released by three advocacy groups. (Reported by NBC Affiliate in Chicago.)

That link (which takes one to the the website for self-proclaimed abuse attorneys, BTW) says that the abuse allegations cover the timeframe from 1917-2009. So, I don't see where it refutes NKP_vet's assertion that most of those implicated are dead.

What I wonder is at what point does this go from seeking justice to seeking reparations?

[NKP_Vet]

This quote jumped right out at me.....

“If you are suffering from the effects of childhood sexual abuse from one of these priests, or any person of authority, please feel free to call us for a free and confidential consultation”. My edit: Makes no difference when it happened, 20 years ago, 40 years ago, or if the priest is dead and can’t defend himself. So please, lawyers working for SNAP, need to make some money in these hard economic times. And the Catholic CHurch has the money. How many priests abused you, 1, 5, 10. Come on now. You know it happened. Come and see us for a free consultation. We can all get rich.

“The report, released Monday by Voice of the Faithful, African American Advocates for Victims of Clergy and Sexual Abuse, and the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests (SNAP), revealed that that 97 priests have been publicly accused of sexual abuse in Chicago from 1917 to 2009”

SNAP, leftist, anti-Catholic, ambulance chasing lawyers. Follow the money. Notice the key word is “accused”.

Listing also provided by the leftist Huffington Post. Can you please find a website without an agenda?

[usconservative]

I used that link specifically for the NBC Affiliate story in Chicago. Feel free to disregard the rest of the site as I did.

Agree, I don't know what those "organizations" are or what their agenda may be. You can however google Catholic Priest Abuse in Chicago and find references as recently as 2012 where Catholic Priests abused women/children in the Chicago Archdiocese.

BTW: it's the NBC affiliate portion of that site which I referred to which made the claim that some 60% of Chicago Parishes were impacted by a priest who'd committed sexual abuse. That in and of itself speaks volumes.

Let's also recognize here that aside from the above 60% claim, it is a very small minority of Catholic Priests who have committed these terrible acts.

[usconservative]

So, I don't see where it refutes NKP_vet's assertion that most of those implicated are dead.

The statement was actually long dead. I don't think 2009 is long ago

and if you truly believe there have been no cases of catholic priests sexually abusing children or women since 2009 then I'd have to respectfully disagree.

[NKP_Vet]

You need to quit using Catholic-hating liberal websites to try and prove your claim. And let me say once again that there’s more sexual abuse among protestants and Jews than there are Catholic. But the agenda of the leftist media is to destroy the credability of the Catholic Church so that’s why you only hear stories about Catholic priests, when the vast majority of priests have never sexually abused anyone, child or adult.

[usconservative]

How does this data from the US Conference of Catholic Bishops rate in terms of credibility?

This is from the Catholic Church itself, and its report on the Implementation of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. You'll find links to individual reports up to 2013 which documents 152 Catholic Priests and other Clergy who've been accused of sexual molestation.

I present this as data for the sole reason of showing this issue is not "long dead" rather it continues. It's unfortunate that it does.

[usconservative]

You need to quit using Catholic-hating liberal websites to try and prove your claim.

Then look at the report I just posted from the Catholic Church and the Conference of Bishops. It tends to validate the "liberal Catholic hating websites" you refer to.

And let me say once again that there’s more sexual abuse among protestants and Jews than there are Catholic.

I have no doubt that sexual abuse occurs among protestants, jews, Baptists, non-denominational and every other house of worship you can name. When you make the claim that MORE occurs there than in the Catholic Church, you'd be well advised to have data to back that claim up. Fact is, the Catholic Church is the largest organized faith in the world. Good luck proving your claim, and I await your data. It should be a healthy debate.

But the agenda of the leftist media is to destroy the credability of the Catholic Church so that’s why you only hear stories about Catholic priests, when the vast majority of priests have never sexually abused anyone, child or adult.

You'll not get an argument out of me about the agenda of the media, blame shifting however doesn't make the problem go away.

Now, I've posted a link with a table that references the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC and their own internal data and reports showing molestation cases continue into 2013.

Is the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC a leftist organization?

[NKP_Vet]

Bishopaccountability.org is another leftist Catholic Church hating organization. Their goal has always been to tar and feather all Catholic priests.

http://www.catholicleague.org/bishopaccountability-is-anti-priest-2/

http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2014/03_04/2014_03_13_Donohue_PopeStabbed.htm

Pope Stabbed by Mccarthyites

By Bill Donohue
Catholic League
March 13, 2014

http://www.catholicleague.org/pope-stabbed-mccarthyites/

Bill Donohue comments on the latest left-wing attack on the pope:

BishopAccountability.org purports to be an abuse watchdog, but in reality its only real agenda is to discredit the Catholic Church. Its latest stab at Pope Francis brings further discredit to its reputation. Indeed, as will be demonstrated, its report on the pope is pure McCarthyism.

Yesterday, it published a report on Pope Francis’ record with priests accused of abuse in Argentina when he was Archbishop Jorge Mario Bergoglio. The report accuses Bergoglio of not having addressed abusive priests during his tenure as Auxiliary and Archbishop of Buenos Aires (1992-1998 Auxiliary; 1998-2013 Archbishop) or as president of the Argentine Bishops Conference (2005-2011).

The report is so seriously flawed that even a high school dropout could shoot holes in it. To read our analysis of it, click here. The heads of every diocese in the U.S. are being sent a copy of our analysis, along with a statement about our previous research on BishopAccountability.org.

[usconservative]

Bishopaccountability.org is another leftist Catholic Church hating organization.

And that's your excuse to ignore the CARA reports published by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops? They're leftists too?

Ok, I see a rational and reasonable discussion isn't going to occur here. Everyone you disagree with is a Catholic hating leftist.

Click here to directly read the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops own report ... So the Catholic Bishops themselves are lefty's? Is that what you're going to tell me?

[NKP_Vet]

Try reading some Bill Donohue for a change. And please stay away from leftist sites. Your credibility is really taking a hit. Like the leftists, you have an agenda. Tar and feather the Catholic Church.

[usconservative]

Once again, you refuse to read what the Catholic Bishops THEMSELVES had to say. It's not my credibility that's taking a hit here friend, it's yours.

You have eyes that refuse to see. You have ears that refuse to listen and your mind is closed to every attempt at logic, reason and proof.

So let me quote directly from the report sent to Cardinal Timothy Dolan (is he a leftist?):

In the 2012 audit period, dioceses/eparchies provided outreach to 428 people who came forward during the2012 audit year seeking assistance with healing and/or reconciliation.

That's 428 claims of sexual abuse by Catholic Priests in 2012 alone, according to the report by the United States Conference of Bishops. Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan is the President of that organization and IIRC one of this country's most respected Bishops. That is, unless you're going to call him a leftist too?

[NKP_Vet]

Dolan is a democrat operative.

[AliVeritas]

Sounds like you or someone close to you has personal experience.

You said you were raised Catholic and that the person should look at it from the victims perspective.

Do you have any resource links that can those who are living through this?

[IrishBrigade]

That’s 428 claims of sexual abuse by Catholic Priests in 2012 alone, according to the report by the United States Conference of Bishops.

...you’ve done a lot of posting, to prove, as far as I can tell, that some Catholic buggery was going on recently...I do believe everybody acknowledges that...anything else to report...?