But they pimped their children

[dsc]

South Park ran a NAMBLA episode once which was kind of funny. One of the running gags was for people to advocate tolerence but Stan keeps bring up "but they rape children". The simple fact is, on one level it is easier to understand, while not condoning, the priests who actually abused the alter boys. At least the overwhelming majority of them were abused themselves. But just what is the excuse for those who moved the abusive priests around? They repeatedly, and for decades, moved abusive priests from one parrish to another with not one word of warning to the parents or children. As a result, thousands of children, both girls and boys (though mostly boys) were abused in the worst possible way. Not only were their bodies raped, but their souls were as well. They were literally raped by God's representative on earth. Men to whom they told the most scary and important secrets of their lives. And when they finally found the courage to tell they faced lawyers and church officials whose stonewalling would have made mafioso blush. Those who believe in the Catholic faith have to believe that several of those victims were consigned to Hell by virtue of them having killed themselves (a mortal sin) or by rejecting God. And one doesn't have to be Catholic, merely empathetic, to know that several of them ended up in Hell on earth via addiction and or sexual confusion or disfunction for their entire adult lives.

At long last we are seeing major settlements by the diocese responsible for this reprehensible behavior. LA alone is paying $600 million to several thousand victims dating from the 1950's. It is not just about time, but beyond time. Thank goodness for small favors. To date they have paid close to $2 billion. Much more needs to be done.

First, every outstanding case, except those where there is some real doubt as to the priest's guilt should be settled immediately. No more vile depositions, no more private detectives digging up dirt, no more gay baiting of defendents, and no more stonewalling.

Second, every priest, bishop, and cardinal involved in any way, shape, or form in shuttling abuse priests about should be defrocked. No exceptions. In addition, those who repeatedly did so should be criminally tried by the Vatican if necessary.

Third, Pope Benedict should travel to the middle of the US and, in a public place large enough to hold any victim who wishes to attend, offer to wash the feet of any victim as a sign of supplication. The travel expenses of any victim should be paid to go to this.

Fourth, for a period of one year, or until the first three are done, whichever comes last, the entire Catholic heirarchy should take a self imposed exile from politics and commenting on public issues. Until they get their house in order they have no business offering public moral pronouncements of any sort. I know this will lead to their silence in many areas that we agree with but there is a principle here.

Finally a smaller and chastened Church can hopefully find a true moral voice. Currently the notion we should take moral advice from people who pimped children makes no sense at all.

[Sapere aude]

1. 100 0r 1,000,000 bad priests does not make up the Catholic Church

The Church is mostly it's members not it's leaders. The members did not condone child rape. They were victims too. They do not deserve punishment.
It's not like a part of Church law is to rape children.

Bad priests and those who covered for them should be punished and the Church needs to find a way to prevent the abuse.

[noamnety]

2. Not so sure of that foot washing thing

Would not want to be molested by a priest, then have part of my "settlement" be yet another guy in a priest suit putting his hands all over me. Sounds like a trigger.

[dsc]

3. true

I used that because it is a common Catholic rite but it may be a bad idea.

[demigoddess]

4. In order to clean up their act, they would have to cut the misogynistic

dogma out of their religion. I just do not see it happening.
Little boys were the major victim because all churches teach that women are inferior and unclean, so a priest tempted would naturally turn to boys instead of girls most of the time.
The celebacy is based on the idea that marriage with a woman is inferior to an all male society, such as the church.
I just do not see them actually accepting women and girls as equals.

[Toasterlad]

5. The Pedophiles Would Be Pedophiles If They Never Heard of the Church.

Pedophiles and self-loathing gay men become priests to escape the question, "So why aren't you married?" It gives them a god-given, built-in excuse not to date or marry women. For the pedophiles, there's the added bonus of altar boys. The church's doctrine doesn't make these people what they are, but it does provide a hell of a hiding place for them. That's not to say the church isn't misogynistic. Or evil. Because it is.

As for what to do about it, how's about sending the pedophiles to jail for about 8,000 years? I never hear about any of these asshole priests ever actually being TRIED for their crimes, only sued for them.