Priest's affidavit accuses late bishop

AP via North Jersey.com ^ | Wednesday, May 01, 2002 | JOHN CURRAN

[drstevej]

"The Religion Forum is a great place to come and discuss Religious Matters. So if you don't feel like arguing Campaign Finance Reform today, come on over..."

====

Exactly. I do agree that more restraint is needed, especially avoiding personal attacks. I also would hope people would not use the abuse button tactically against people with opposing views.

Personally, I have appreciated the dialogues and have built some friendships. I have been misunderstood by others. But that is very American -- the essence of what attracted me to FR.

[Jim Robinson]

The answer is no. I will not recombine the forums. I went way out of my way to separate them because I got tired of the constant abuse and headaches.

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

The issues surrounding the evolving scandals of sex abuse are going to be discussed in the media whether Catholics on FR participate or not. While some of the polemical and mean-spirited attacks on Catholicism as a whole are disturbing, there is a need for Catholics to distinguish between the unfortunate policies which led to the current scandals and the mission of the Church which remains an important aspect of American and international culture. Catholics continue to comprise a significant element of the conservative voting coalition in national elections. In shaping traditional values and offering an alternative to the expanding culture of death, the Catholic Church, however peripheral, is an important institution involved in the great debates of American politics. This is part of the reason why Bill O'Reilly on FOX and Alan Keyes on MSNBC continue to cover these scandals and to offer their own criticisms of the policies which led to them.

Given the fact that some aspects of the sex abuse situation in the church are related to homosexual subculture and the politics of the gay rights movement, the scandal story does relate to other issues active on the American political scene. While it is certainly likely that anti-Catholic bias of elements of the big media has played a role in the way the story has been spun by spin doctors, that is not the only reason why this has been a front-page item in major newspapers. The story raises issues of how we think about religion, sexuality, and institutional power. All three of these areas will continue to stimulate lively and spirited discussion in American society. Whatever damage may result, you can bet in the next national election candidates from both major parties will court Catholic voters in their efforts to proceed to high office. Whether anyone will attempt to exploit the current difficulties of the church for short-term political gain remains to be seen.

The links posted by various Catholics on FR threads have been informative and interesting. They have done some good in clarifying the dramatic distinction between conservative, orthodox Catholics and the misguided lunacy of some of our Church's nominal leaders in this country. In a free society, free discussion and debate, even on religious topics, remains one of the last bulwarks against tyranny. May it always be so.

God Bless.

[OrthodoxPresbyterian]

And for the record, again -- this is no mere Presbyterian Parochialism on my part. Let Rome attend to her Frenchmen; she claims that nation as her own. Let Rome attend to her Spaniards and her Italians; again, she claims their heritage as her children.

America is OUR National Baby. We CONCEIVED the very idea of, "America".

The Right Calvinist Attitude towards the nation of America is as a ferocious motherly Lion towards her beloved cub.
It is inconceivable to American Calvinists to discuss "American Politics" under any other conception.

[Brian Kopp DPM]

Thread Title:

Priest's affidavit accuses late bishop

Thread theme:

Homosexual chickenhawking in the priesthood.

Conservative Activism mandated by such a NEWS item: Get conservative Catholics active and help them fight the rot by political, religious, and other forms of conservative activism and media discussion and debate in the culture at large!

Discussion regarding this thread in the Religion Forum Ghetto?

Calvinism conceived the very idea of such a thing as, "America". She is Our Baby. More than any other Creed, she is our charge, our responsibility, before the judgments of a Holy God. WE are responsible for this Ship of State. Her Sins will be held against OUR Presbytery, if we fail.

The very fact that you might disagree with this statement, elucidates the virtue of the Religion Forum.

I rest my case.

Banishing these threads to this Religion Forum Ghetto where cretins like OP refuse to look beyond their own theological construct nose as to the larger ramifications and necessity of grass roots activism is the essence of my frustration.

Call it self centered pouting. I don't give a damn what you call it.

You know the point I'm making and why I'm making it.

[katnip]

Though I mostly just read and don't contribute very much. It can't be a bad place with the likes of Askel5, patent, and yourself here. (lots of others too, but I can't bring their screen names to my mind without a little thought). If you all leave though, the ghetto will be a dismal place.

Bump in agreement from another "tin ear", "no vocal range" participant :)
I'm just happy Free Republic and you guys are all here. I don't care if it's in the ghetto or front page.

[OrthodoxPresbyterian]

Banishing these threads to this Religion Forum Ghetto where cretins like OP refuse to look beyond their own theological construct nose as to the larger ramifications and necessity of grass roots activism is the essence of my frustration. Call it self centered pouting. I don't give a damn what you call it. You know the point I'm making and why I'm making it.

Judgment begins in the House of the Lord.

If I am Right therein... then you're Wrong.

I won't even call you a "cretin" in making that observation.

For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? (1 Peter 4:17)

OP

[sinkspur]

Call it self centered pouting. I don't give a damn what you call it.

You know the point I'm making and why I'm making it.

Yeah, I know the point you're making. And you've made it.

You'll have to decide what to do next. This is NOT worth leaving Free Republic over.

[JMJ333]

And for the record, again -- this is no mere Presbyterian Parochialism on my part. Let Rome attend to her Frenchmen; she claims that nation as her own. Let Rome attend to her Spaniards and her Italians; again, she claims their heritage as her children.

Actually, France was the first country founded on Catholicism--born in 496, and known thereafter as the "eldest daughter" of the church. Rome has a spiritual duty toward France as well.

[fatima]

Jim,I like the new forum and we did have a wonderful priest,who is away right now helping us.At first it was strange to be here and not come up on all the regular threads but I got use to it.We have more freedom here to do things that we could not do in the other forum and I see this growing.I could see the problems and complaints you were having with this topic and others in the general forum.You decided to spoil all of us and give everyone what they wanted.I smiled when you were all done and John with all the different forums for it had it all for everyone.I tried to freepmail you when this forum went up as I never thought I would see this on free republic and I wanted to thank you,we named one thread after Our Lady and for me this makes me very happy.

[EODGUY]

God is the consummate healer, HM, and I will ask that He relieves your physical illness and returns you to this forum.

God Bless,

EODGUY

[OrthodoxPresbyterian]

And for the record, again -- this is no mere Presbyterian Parochialism on my part. Let Rome attend to her Frenchmen; she claims that nation as her own. Let Rome attend to her Spaniards and her Italians; again, she claims their heritage as her children.

Actually, France was the first country founded on Catholicism--born in 496, and known thereafter as the "eldest daughter" of the church. Rome has a spiritual duty toward France as well.

Yup.

That's my point.

[JMJ333]

Yeah...I did misread that. My apologies. Thats what happens when you stay up until 3 freeping...lol

[american colleen]

Bump in agreement from another "tin ear", "no vocal range" participant :) I'm just happy Free Republic and you guys are all here. I don't care if it's in the ghetto or front page.

Me too! I think I might have lost it in the last few months if not for the Catholic FReepers here - it mattered not to me whether I went to the ghetto or the breaking news section when I felt like I was in Hell.

I'm sure I'm missing the larger point, but that is not new for me.

[the_doc]

What the anti-Calvinists don't realize is that the religion threads are the most important threads on FR. (Gosh, I don't knock out these posts for fun. However, I admit that I do read yours for fun!)

[Brian Kopp DPM]

I got tired of the constant abuse and headaches.

And here we see the root cause.

Please, just one more question:

1)How many of the chronic abusers and those who caused the most headaches were Roman Catholic?

2)How many were anti-Catholic fundamentalist bashers?

3) Of all those banned in the last 12 months for abuse on Religious Threads, how many were Catholics defending our Faith?

4)How many were anti-Catholics attacking our Faith?

It would be interesting to see the overall numbers. But from my observations over the last 10 months, I already know the answer.

Final Question:

5)When the problem is obviously the anti-Catholic bigots, why is it the Catholics who must suffer by being refused the opportunity to engage freely in conservative activism in the News Forum?

I know why these threads are moved.

Its not because of Catholic behavior. Its because of anti-Catholic behavior (and I'm sure the abuse button pushing caused by such anti-Catholic behavior.)

I realize you cannot come out and admit this, Jim. But it is obviously the reason you posted that thread in January, A word of caution regarding the bashing of Mormons, Catholics, Jews, anyone at all on Free Repub

But such has it always been. The innocent suffer because of the sins of the wicked.

I know your hands are tied by the anti-Catholics here, Jim. I know its easier to just eliminate the problem.

But please persevere in attempting to do the right thing, even in the face of difficulties that arise from the ignorance and hatred of some FReepers.

Try to be even handed and just regarding the placement of these threads, and return to placing justice ahead of the easy route.

[OrthodoxPresbyterian]

What the anti-Calvinists don't realize is that the religion threads are the most important threads on FR. (Gosh, I don't knock out these posts for fun. However, I admit that I do read yours for fun!)

TOTAL agreement!!

However, as long as the Moderators continue moving Religious Threads over to the Religion Forum, I am happy to debate them here. For America to be Reformed, let the Church first be Reformed; and then let her present "Political America" with an Edwardsian-Whitfieldian united Front.

[OrthodoxPresbyterian]

Of all those banned in the last 12 months for abuse on Religious Threads, how many were Catholics defending our Faith? How many were anti-Catholics attacking our Faith?

And how many anti-Calvinists attack our Faith, knowing full well that they won't be Banned, because CALVINISTS DO NOT HIT THE ABUSE BUTTON? (Knowing ourselves competent to suffer any "bashing", we refuse to squelch Free Speech?)

[OrthodoxPresbyterian]

De nada, mi Romanist amigo.

I agreed with your point.

[drstevej]

I think Jim's decision was stated directly and unambiguously.