[Domestic Church]

"I do think (speculating here) that there is a diabolical element."

I agree. When I saw the web pages on Goodbye Good men and started reading that(and recognizing the respected names supportive of this book) I could no longer consider the info on the rcf.org site just far out, can't possibly be that bad and so on. Then I had some references mentioned there confirmed by trusted friends who were close to Father Hardin. Clearly to me, diabolical is the only way to describe the orchestrated undertow of this crisis. Shortly before this broke, back in February, the Holy Father spoke about evil being at its most dangerous when it is unrecognized and unseen...and he has been speaking for many months of a new spring.

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

I don't know what to think of some of the most sensationalist allegations out there. I DO know personally of some rather disturbing situations, but some things are hard to prove. Someone swears such and such actually happened involving X,Y, or Z persons, but when it gets to something about someone deliberately doing something for specifically anti-Catholic reasons or motivations, that can be hard to prove. That doesn't mean such things don't happen.

Unfortunately, there are also mentally unbalanced people who allege really wild fantasies. Sorting out the real from the schizo-affectively imagined fantasy can get tricky. If someone came forward, say, with allegations like the ones about Shanley and claimed that a priest you know well, like, and think is fine, did them, you tend not to believe that kind of thing. That it is possible for some individuals to be so compartmentalized that they can do outrageous things and then resume a routine, mundane, appearance of normality, makes it all the more confusing.

I will guess that part of the whole sex abuse problem has something to do with the fact that very wholesome, innocent, orthodox people have trouble realizing that such outrageous and profane conduct does take place. Evil can be bizarre.