Catholic Sex Abuse Scandal Harming Pope's Poll Numbers

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I believe that the time has come for the Vatican to face Justice for the heinous crimes it has committed throughout the centuries against innocent victims: From the victims of The Inquisition whose only crime was refusal to conform to Roman Catholicism and thereby face martyrdom at the burning stake-as well as Rome's present controversial worldwide-child abuse sexual scandal conspiracy involving Church prelates, Bishops even the Bishop of Rome-No one is above the law, even though the Vatican enjoys Sovereign Immunity, it will ultimately face the Justices of the world as well as God's Justice and Judgements-Currently in the State of Oregon the Federal Judiciary has turned down an Appeal fom the Vatican and thereby opened the way for litigational court proceedings against the Vatican respecting a case involving child-sexual-abuse-In my opinion, Soveriegn Immunity doe not apply with respect to the Vatican: Let the Vatican be tried in a Court of Law like anyone else-!! Vinney7461 Vinney

Vinney7461 of CA 10:35PM June 28, 2010

Yes, the Catholic Church is an "institution", the same way the United States is an institution. The United States is a nation established by men, while the Catholic Church is a Nation, a Kingdom, established by God. That was the Gospel: "The Kingdom established by God is here" - Jesus was anointed (baptized) as the King.
He appointed Peter (and his successors) as governor until he returns, to proclaim the Gospel and welcome all who desire it into citizenship in this people, this nation, this Kingdom on earth, as it is in heaven.
What keeps us joining to the Catholic Church, the Kingdom God established, and remaining its citizens is that we find life here.
While some people are two-faced (such as priest abusing children while proclaiming that people who do such things will not inherit the Kingdom), they will be found out and, like Judas, go their own way.
But we are citizens of a Nation, Bonnie, all who were baptized in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are citizens of that nation, some fully aware of it, others having gone their ways and forgetting that citizenship over the years. Others, thinking religion is simply a facet of their life as Americans (or whatever country) and forgetting it is their whole identity: You say you are an American (identity); I say I am a Catholic / Christian / Citizen of the Kingdom God established (identity).
The Pope is Holy, not because he is sinless, but, in the pure definition of that word "holy" the Pope is "set apart for use by God in temporally governing His Nation on earth". Catholics are also holy in the same way, not because we are sinless, but because we are a people set apart by God which He regards as His People on earth.
All the baptized were marked as holy, as citizens of His People. Some make a mockery of their identity, others do not. Polls will not change Church government as they do American politicians; if anything they will simply show where we have not spoken the message of the Gospel clearly, because anyone who has heard it clearly will not want to be apart from the Kingdom of God.

John of MN 9:25PM April 27, 2010

I think we all should be united. We all have flash and flash is week. I am not worthy to be saved but its because of God's grace that i have been saved. If i have been forgiven than i should learn to forgive. I should try to find out the log in my own eye first and should pray to God that He may give wisdom to church to handle this issue. Further, it is devil who create doubt in minds as he created in the minds of Adam and Even in the garden. Devil tried to create doubt in the mind of Jesus as well but he was defeated by Jesus. I have no doubt in my mind that pope is a good leader. Actually its devil who want to stop him from what he want to do. I also feel bad because of these pedophilia cases and i think action should be taken against the responsibale but at the same time also beleive that obediance is the key to success and whatever pope will do will be acceptable.

Shahid of ID 11:53AM April 22, 2010

Schaefer, you pompously assure us that you grasp the standards of factual evidence "more than you can possibly imagine." How nice for you. But just how does that work? Are you a god? Or do you too claim a direct line to absolute authority? Short of that, you're only another eminently fallible human, like the rest of us; and your demonstration of rational ability thus far has been sadly deficient even by those standards. To condescend after your farcical post merely displays your fatuity.
Your "answer" to why people remain Catholic was nothing of the sort, just a regurgitation of unsupported dogma – unless, that is, you were offering an illustrative example to say that people like yourself remain Catholic because they've lost the ability to think independently, and can only recite whatever nonsense they're fed.
No, analogies can never be exact; but that limitation does not mean that entirely unrelated comparisons can be described as analogies. They must bear some resemblance to be relevant. Thomas Jefferson, police officers and teachers did not claim any divine sanction for their actions, or purport to dictate moral codes to the world. There is also a vast difference between individual attempts to cover up individual acts and a church-wide system that abetted molesters for decades.
As for what I meant by saying you've decided to believe because you believe, etc., I will try to use smaller words this time around. I mean that your arguments give unsupported assertions (whoops, there go the big words again – sound them out and have someone help you look them up) the same weight as empirical fact, because you're desperate to protect your faith from anything that might disturb it.
In short, your caveat that you'd favor Benedict's resignation if there's evidence that he soft-pedaled molestation investigations is just so much smog – because the rest of your liturgically faithful blather makes it clear that you have absolutely no intention of looking for any such evidence, or of acknowledging those facts if they're shoved in your face. You will rationalize any outrage as just another assault upon the holy by the ungodly. Indeed, you're already doing it.
Are you an archbishop, or perhaps Benedict himself? You might as well be; because it's just such a cavalier attitude that has let priestly pedophiles slither free for many years. You're no different from the hierarchs who repeatedly convinced themselves that if they just shuffled an abuser on to one more parish and made him promise not to touch any more children, then this time things would surely be OK. After all, he'd "repented" and "confessed," so you just had to believe it. And each exercise in deliberate blind optimism crept closer to criminal cover-up.

Jim of FL 3:19PM April 21, 2010

You fail, Doorpost. I asked you to make three demonstrations if you wanted to be taken seriously. You managed to almost answer half of one, then sought to conceal your inadequacy with a lot of blather about an imaginary media cover-up.
Did I say there was no sex abuse by teachers? No. Not at any point. I asked for proof that it it was widespread. That, by cutting-and-pasting from Wikipedia, you nearly managed to provide. Give yourself a cookie.
The rest of your "evidence," however, is a sham. The article reports that about 10 percent, maybe 14, of public-school students had gotten some sort of sexual attention from school employees. Whether this is a higher incidence of abuse than children face from other sources such as families is not addressed.
Those reports, by the way, have been criticized for failing to distinguish between kinds of sexual harassment: a leer or risque remark counts the same as full-on sex. How does that compare with priests buggering thousands of little boys? You can't say.
And your one relevant statistic, that "one critic" says teachers may be 100 times worse than priests? That's the best part. It's not from a direct study at all, but is an offhand comment quoted by the always-willing-to-bash-public-schools National Review. But really how would we know? We don't know the proportion, because while there's solid research on abuse in schools, the Catholic Church KEEPS CONCEALING ITS OWN DATA. We can't know the actual abuse rate by priests until they come clean.
As for the rest of my questions, you don't even try to address them. In fact, the only reason you got your handful of facts on public schools is because teachers and administrators COOPERATED in these studies. That you even have those statistics to use demonstrates your inability to answer the rest. Your final score is 0.5 out of 3.
Once again I ask: Where do you get your statement that Benedict has confronted the problem of sex abuse? Contrasting the church's culture of secrecy with public schools' open investigation, it looks like just the opposite is the case.
Yes, I referred to you as "bile-filled." Listen to yourself: "glaringly ignorant," "hypocrite," and snide remarks about arrogant "people in Media" doing their jobs. Now who's being childish – or are you too busy bawling and beating your fists on the floor to answer?

Jim of FL 2:32PM April 21, 2010

of U.S. Catholics have an unfavorable view..."
Which means 75% have a favorable view, right Bonnie?
Bonnie, do you think God only finds favor with the sinless? If so, you are sadly mistaken. I know not ONE Christian that proclaims themselves sinless. And that includes the Pope!
I daresay there is not a single faithful Catholic or Christian who is not deeply disturbed at these sick men who have hurt or traumatized innocent young people. But as Christians we know that all people have evil within them, and it is ONLY through loving Jesus Christ and living by his example can we avoid evil taking hold within us. The sick priests that committed these heinous acts OBVIOUSLY succumbed to this evil. As do teachers who commit vile acts with their students. As do spouses who commit adultery, or parents that abuse or molest their own children. And so on.
Do I know for sure if God communicates with Pope Benedict? A man whose life is devoted to doing God's will? Who prays each and every day without fail?
My faith tells me yes, my humanness tells me 50/50. It's possible, JUST like I believe it's possible for God to communicate with ANYONE HE CHOOSES.
Yes, even you, Bonnie.

Donna of TX 2:22PM April 21, 2010

Is like having the fox comment on the well being of the chickens. You are a snake in the grass Erbe and anyone with a brain can see it. You are like a fish out of water commenting on anything religious so stick to what you know best which is promoting the killing of unborn children in the womb and fighting for lesbian rights. This is where your expertise lies, so stick with it and stay out of arenas which you know nothing about.

sara of IL 10:46AM April 21, 2010

I think that it is important to know that one must be concerned with "our own soul" first and foremost. Making right with God, listening to God's voice in your everyday life, praying, reading, and learning the truth will set you free. God created every single person out of love, and we are all very precious in His eyes.
Bonnie-You are as precious to Him as anyone else that has commented here. Open your heart to His love because there is NOTHING to equal it on this earth. He has a tremendous heart and His Mercy is endless!!!!!
I was baptized Catholic, but not raised Catholic. I reverted back to Catholicism after I married. Before that I was looking in from the outside- critizing the Pope, its priests, its people; holding them up to a standard that I certainly wasn't living myself.
I am Catholic today, and remain Catholic because of the True Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. When I receive the Eucharist; I am receiving the Body and Blood of Christ. Christ shed his blood on the Cross so that I may have eternal life. For that I am so blessed and eternally grateful. I expect that many of you will view this as strange, crazy etc.. Just like people did in Jesus' time.
Martyrs, Saints etc.in the Holy,Catholic Church shed their blood because of their great love of Christ. They often were brutally tortured, and would rather die than renounce their faith in Christ.
I do believe that Pope Benedict is the "Vicar of Christ" on earth. He is humble, and an awesome servant of Christ. Many good and holy popes have been attacked much like Our Holy Father is being done in the media today. This doesn't take away from his holiness. He will still be our Holy Father. He will still reign as Pope. People may point the finger and try to blame Pope Benedict XVI for every bad thing that's ever happened but ONE MUST REALLY LOOK IN THE MIRROR at themselves. Let us not cast stones when we really need to remove the boulders from our own lives.
When it is all said and done- we will each face Jesus someday when we die- whether we believe this fact or not. Jesus isn't going to ask us about Pope Benedict XVI has done or not done- He is going to ask us what did we do in our lives. We will be accountable for our own souls.
For those of you that hate the Roman Catholic Church than ask yourselves why do I hate it so much ? Are you like St. Paul who persected the Church before his conversion? Do you not know how much God loves you, and how you are a Child of God!!! How merciful HE is?
The Roman Catholic Church was founded by Christ over two thousand years ago. Every Christian knows that good and evil exist.. Satan is very real. He prowls around the earth eagerly looking for souls to snatch.. Some of these unfortunately are priests- weak, sick, sinful.
If you want to critize than do so first with knowledge and truth. Study the Holy Father's teachings, read the Catechism of the Catholic Church, attend Mass, ask our Lord to show you the WAY. HE LOVES YOU!

Therese of IN 10:53PM April 20, 2010

The beagle has sanded.
That dog won't punt. Obstruction of justice is perhaps a dish best served inside a corporation. When served to members of Congress from Oklahoma by ones from New England, it loses much of its appeal. An example of this is the soup course.
The soup course to obstruction of justice is essentially interchangeable with the soup course to conspiracy to intimidate federally protected witnesses, conspiracy to intimidate federal jurors, conspiracy to intimidate federal judges in the courses of federal trials, conspiracy to coerce any of these to limit their attempts at relevance.
The soup course is, as soup tends to be, several components put closely together, an example being military service as engaged in automatically although that's not said as a view into a novelistic treatment of U.S. home life, mixed with a strongly spiced "self-made" voluntary military at the point of artificially created "contact with domestic persons," and the third ingredient could be "so far so good."
If the beltway bistro's bigwig doesn't have "so far so good," a fresh stock of "never been interfered with" will do just as well. Be sure to launder the "never been blocked" thoroughly to remove police who view sitdown actions.
But as said above, not really a good soup because it's a course in obstruction of justice. And the problem really is that there are a number of other courses to that, none of which really connect to the soup. For example, there is ignorance about the United States. It that is served before the soup, it can be too sarcastic. If it is served after the soup, it may prove to be overwhelmed by the soup's pungency.
And there are at least four other courses, one of which is Senators speaking "ahead of" daughters working in stores. It's no wonder that conspiracy to intimidate is rapidly going out of favor, even in the beltway bistros it has long been a mainstay in.

Don Treact of WA 9:32PM April 20, 2010

She is an abortion loving, unborn child hating, radical feminist, who might be the most un-motherly, unholy female on the planet, as well as the most unattractive.

steve of FL 12:50PM April 20, 2010