Anti-Catholic double standard? Or not?

[dixieagle]

Just speculation, but maybe the reason it’s not reported is because no other churches have an organization like the Catholic Church…like, if it’s abuse within churches that don’t have a hierarchy, then you could say that it’s just some sick individuals (not saying that makes it ANY better). But if it’s in a church where there’s such a strong hierarchy, sexual abuse by clergy makes it look like it’s being condoned by the entire Church.

Have you ever hit the nail on the head!

I think that there are multiple reasons why the Catholic clergy abuse scandal gets so much press. First, the Church has strict teachings with regard to sexual morality that fly in the face of popular culture. When a number of her own priests flagrantly disregard these teachings, it is noteworthy and smacks of hypocrisy. The celibacy issue is another flashpoint; clearly, the perpetrators are not fulfilling this vow (not to mention sinning grievously against their victims!) When it is revealed that, time and again, bishops have moved perpetrators from parish to parish, stonewalled, employed sharp lawyers to beat down victims (I have seen this up close, multiple times) and in some instances continue to do so, then that is, frankly, fodder for a mainstream press that is predisposed to anti-Catholicism to begin with.

I will never understand why more of the good priests out there aren’t mad as heck at the perpetrators who have sullied the good names of good priests and the Church, or, if they are angry, why they don’t speak out loudly against them. If they, and the bishops, had made it clear from the beginning that this sinful, destructive behavior would not be tolerated, then we wouldn’t be in the mess we are in.

I also believe that one of the reasons (and there are many) that there have been so many instances of heinous abuse in the Church is that the practice of mandatory celibacy has provided, for centuries, a respectable “cover” for sexually disordered men. It is my belief that a number of these abusers are sociopaths who intentionally sought Holy Orders because of the easy access to vulnerable young people it would provide. It’s a disquieting thought, but after finding out about horrible “abuse rings” in Massachusetts where I grew up, I came to the conclusion that Satan has been hard at work among our clergy, aided and abetted, sad to say, by arrogant bishops more interested in maintaining power and privilege than doing God’s work and protecting His lambs.

My husband is a fine Catholic man and journalist who has, to his great pain, had to cover multiple instances of abuse of both children and vulnerable adults in out own diocese. As a result, he has been “disinvited” from Catholic events which he, for years, had emceed, etc. The coverups, stonewalling and hiring of vicious lawyers continues, and it has caused a real crisis of faith for him. Thank God for the good priests we know, though I wish they would be more vocal; however, in this diocese, that gets them sent to the boondocks. Very, very sad.

Sorry for the lengthy post, but this is of huge importance to us and a very painful subject.

 

[Hellisreal]

Good thread. If non Catholics will read it and all the posts here, it may open the door for some more people to know what is really happening and maybe some of them will actually stop and think first, speak later.