Catholic League: Hysteria Marks Pope's Critics

[thereseozi]

catholicleague.com/release.php?id=1814

HYSTERIA MARKS POPE’S CRITICS

March 30, 2010

Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments on the pope’s critics:

Seldom have I seen such delirium over an innocent man, namely Pope Benedict XVI. Christopher Hitchens, the rabid atheist, wants to know why the European Union is allowing the pope to travel freely. Perhaps he wants the pope handcuffed at the Vatican and brought to the guillotine. Margery Eagan of the Boston Herald, another big fan of the Catholic Church, says, “The Pope should resign.” One looks in vain for a single sentence that implicates his guilt in anything. Then we have the Washington Post indicting priests by painting all of them as child abusers in a cartoon. There are many other examples of this kind of hysteria.

As indicated in our New York Times op-ed page ad today, the pope is innocent. Indeed, he is being framed. No one has any evidence that he even knew of the case of Father Lawrence Murphy. Indeed, his office didn’t find out until 1996 and then it did the right thing by summoning an investigation (it could have simply dropped an inquiry given that the statute of limitations had run out). No matter, the pope’s harshest critics are blaming him for not defrocking a man whom he may never have heard of, and in any event was entitled to a presumption of innocence. Or was he? There are not just a few who would deny civil liberties protections to priests.

It is a sad day when al-Qaeda suspects are afforded more rights than priests. That this kind of intellectual thuggery should emanate from those who fancy themselves tolerant and fair-minded makes the sham all the more despicable.

Copyright © 1997-2010 by Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights.
*Material from this website may be reprinted and disseminated with accompanying attribution.

 

[RebeccaJ]

Here’s the text of the ad:

GOING FOR THE VATICAN JUGULAR
Recent accusations against the Vatican deserve a response.
• Fr. Lawrence Murphy apparently began his predatory behavior inWisconsin in the 1950s, yet
the victims’ families never contacted the police until the mid-1970s. After an investigation, the
case was dropped.
• The Vatican did not learn of the case until 1996.
• Cardinal Ratzinger, now the pope, was the head of the office that was contacted.
There is no evidence that he knew of it. But even if he did, he would have had to allow for an investigation. While the inquiry was proceeding, Murphy died.
• The Times questions why Murphy was never defrocked. But only the Vatican can do that, and since it never learned of the case until he was dying, it was never a realistic option.
• The Times says the Vatican’s canonical inquiry was done in secret. Correct. The proceedings of internal investigations—even in organizations like the Times—are never shown on C-SPAN.
• The Times says repeatedly that Church officials did not report accusations of abuse to the police. The common response of all organizations, secular as well as religious, was to access therapy and reinstate the patient (I prefer the term offender). Today it is obvious that a more hard-line approach is necessary, though therapy is still popular in many quarters.
• The Times continues to editorialize about the “pedophilia crisis,” when all along it’s been a homosexual crisis. Eighty percent of the victims of priestly sexual abuse are male and most of them are post-pubescent. While homosexuality does not cause predatory behavior, and most gay priests are not molesters, most of the molesters have been gay.

Here’s what’s really going on. The Times has teamed up with Jeffrey Anderson, a radical lawyer who has made millions suing the Church (and greasing professional victims’ groups like SNAP), so they can weaken its moral authority. Why? Because of issues like abortion, gay marriage and women’s ordination. That’s what’s really driving them mad, and that’s why they are on the hunt. Those who doubt this to be true need to ask why the debt-ridden Times does not spend the same resources looking for dirt in other institutions that occurred a half-century ago.

Bill Donohue
President
CATHOLIC LEAGUE for Religious and Civil Rights
450 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York 10123
(212) 371-3191 Fax: (212) 371-3394
www.catholicleague.org

 

[Zoe_Brain]

The Times continues to editorialize about the “pedophilia crisis,” when all along it’s been a homosexual crisis…The Times has teamed up with Jeffrey Anderson, a radical lawyer who has made millions suing the Church (and greasing professional victims’ groups like SNAP), so they can weaken its moral authority.

So it’s all the fault of the Gays, and the “professional victims”. A conspiracy.

Whew, what a relief! I thought the Church might have a problem for a while there.

Odd that 40% of the membership of the “professional victims groups” are female, when the problem is so obviously the Gays though.

 

[jaf46]

I want the Pope to be innocent. I don’t want to have to face any information suggesting that the Pope, then Cardinal Ratzinger, had anything to do with enabling that sick individual to prey on more and more innocent boys by moving him from parish to parish. That would make the Pope complicate in perpetuating this horrendous crime/sin and I don’t want that to be true.

However, I know the world in all of its ugliness and shame. I have seen enough to know that no one is above the most evil acts imaginable. I hope to be fair and open as more light is shed on this situation. For me, if the Pope is guilty, then I must face the fact that the church of my birth is based on lies and hides behind an elaborate mechanism of smoke and mirrors to hide the truth.

If the Pope was engaged in this sort of activity while holding the title of Archbishop Ratzinger, then I have been duped and the Catholic Church is a liar. I will have to seriously consider a new Christian affiliation.

 

[Zoe_Brain]

For me, if the Pope is guilty, then I must face the fact that the church of my birth is based on lies and hides behind an elaborate mechanism of smoke and mirrors to hide the truth.

If the Pope was engaged in this sort of activity while holding the title of Archbishop Ratzinger, then I have been duped and the Catholic Church is a liar. I will have to seriously consider a new Christian affiliation.

Please don’t.

I speak not as a Catholic - for I’m not one. Nor as a Christian - for I’m not one of those either. Nor as a maker of excuses for the Vatican - I think my record there is self-evident.

I do believe in salvation through confession of one’s sins, to ones-self. Right now, there’s a battle going on for the Church’s soul. But it’s not one of external enemies besieging the Church - for they cannot prevail - it’s one that is raging within. Does the Catholic Hierarchy continue to deny, to systematically cover up, to conceal the way that other denominations do more informally? Or does it attempt to reform itself, to reveal the hidden evils within, regardless of consequences? To make a True Confession. To say “It’s no-one’s fault but mine. My fault. My own fault. My own most grievous fault.”

What’s more important, True Integrity or Pious Appearance?

If the latter, it’s a sepulchre, fair-seeming on the outside, but filled with corruption within.
[BIBLEDRB]Matthew 23:27[/BIBLEDRB]

But if the former, no matter its public shame and humiliation, no matter how its Pride is humbled… then nothing can prevail against it.[BIBLEDRB]Matthew 16:18[/BIBLEDRB]As I said, I’m no Christian. I don’t believe in scripture. But for those who truly do, then I cannot see how you have a choice here. If the Church, in the manner of a humble penitent confesses its sins, searching them out with a true and contrite heart… then you have to be Catholic.

I genuinely expect it will. But I think a little pushing, even from such unworthy unbelievers as myself, might be in order here. Because I don’t think it’s certain that this battle will be won, not in the 21st Century anyway.

 

[Shaken]

Here’s what’s really going on. The Times has teamed up with Jeffrey Anderson, a radical lawyer who has made millions suing the Church (and greasing professional victims’ groups like SNAP), so they can weaken its moral authority. Why? Because of issues like abortion, gay marriage and women’s ordination. That’s what’s really driving them mad, and that’s why they are on the hunt. Those who doubt this to be true need to ask why the debt-ridden Times does not spend the same resources looking for dirt in other institutions that occurred a half-century ago.

Bill Donohue
President
CATHOLIC LEAGUE for Religious and Civil Rights

Thanks for all the research (I presume this was researched). I intend to circulate this among other concerned Catholics.

 

[anode]

Here are two links to YouTube clips of Bill Donohue’s response to the testimony of the Ryan Commission by victims of religious sex abusers in Ireland:

youtube.com/watch?v=ptVOpbEpn0k&feature=related

and,

youtube.com/watch?v=YhSIfuoz5aE&feature=related

both entitled The Compassion of Bill Donahue, Part I and Part II.

Donohue *trashes *the horrific testimony of the victims of horrendous physical and sexual abuse in Ireland, who were then subsequently abused by lawyers representing the Irish church for the Ryan Commission.

What does Donohue know? Was he there?

 

[timotheos]

I want the Pope to be innocent. I don’t want to have to face any information suggesting that the Pope, then Cardinal Ratzinger, had anything to do with enabling that sick individual to prey on more and more innocent boys by moving him from parish to parish. That would make the Pope complicate in perpetuating this horrendous crime/sin and I don’t want that to be true.

However, I know the world in all of its ugliness and shame. I have seen enough to know that no one is above the most evil acts imaginable. I hope to be fair and open as more light is shed on this situation. For me, if the Pope is guilty, then I must face the fact that the church of my birth is based on lies and hides behind an elaborate mechanism of smoke and mirrors to hide the truth.

If the Pope was engaged in this sort of activity while holding the title of Archbishop Ratzinger, then I have been duped and the Catholic Church is a liar. I will have to seriously consider a new Christian affiliation.

This is precisely the time that you have to really understand on what your faith is based. If you believe in a church managed by human beings, your faith will eventually be tested by scandal, accusations, and mistrust. If you believe in a Church lead by the Holy Spirit, then you know that it will be lead by a critical mass of Magesterial authorities, leading with the truth, regardless of the actions of any single members. But the person in question here is the Holy Father. Be honest: the matter of his innocence or guilt has already been decided in the minds of those who would pose the question. There are plenty of reasons to trust in the ultimate triumph of the Church, but there is no shortage of those who believe any hint of even potential suspicion is enough to warrant its destruction.

 

[Non_Serviam]

catholicleague.com/release.php?id=1814

Seldom have I seen such delirium over an innocent man, namely Pope Benedict XVI. Christopher Hitchens, the rabid atheist, wants to know why the European Union is allowing the pope to travel freely
Copyright © 1997-2010 by Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights.
*Material from this website may be reprinted and disseminated with accompanying attribution.

Here are two links to YouTube clips of Bill Donohue’s response to the testimony of the Ryan Commission by victims of religious sex abusers in Ireland:

youtube.com/watch?v=ptVOpbEpn0k&feature=related

and,

youtube.com/watch?v=YhSIfuoz5aE&feature=related

both entitled The Compassion of Bill Donahue, Part I and Part II.

Donohue *trashes *the horrific testimony of the victims of horrendous physical and sexual abuse in Ireland, who were then subsequently abused by lawyers representing the Irish church for the Ryan Commission.

What does Donohue know? Was he there?

I watched these clips yesterday and was speechless by the end of them. If the Catholic League feels the need to apply the term “rabid” to anyone, it should be to itself. If the sort of hate in these clips is its idea of “responding to accusers” then like any other victim of rabies, it should be put down for its own good and the public good.

There have been a number of other sources and posters on CAF that have provided clarification and correction to some of the media stories and have acknowledged when stories have pointed out wrong action on the part of clergy. These are helpful responses. Donahue’s bullying, blustery screeds are not.

 

[anode]

Good show, Non…

 

[Ecoclimber]

I watched these clips yesterday and was speechless by the end of them. If the Catholic League feels the need to apply the term “rabid” to anyone, it should be to itself. If the sort of hate in these clips is its idea of “responding to accusers” then like any other victim of rabies, it should be put down for its own good and the public good.

I don’t want to get into a :slapfight: but…ABC News reported the other night that the percentage of Homosexual priests 4 -9% was higher than the norm in society 4-8% whereas it is only .08% among teachers.

On a Catholic Apologist site Dr. Robert Sungenis reported in an article that
Richard Sipe, a psychotherapist and former priest, has studied celibacy and sexuality in the priesthood for four decades. He has authored three books on the topic. He once estimated that 30% of the priesthood is homosexually oriented. Elsewhere, he is quoted as estimating that between 25% and 45% of American priests are homosexual in orientation.

The Doyle study gives us even more room for pause when we consider the other statistics it reveals. Doyle’s study also found that in 1990 about 12,000 priests were sexually involved with adult women.

catholicintl.com/epologetics/articles/pastoral/homosexual-priests1.htm

“Where is the Vatican and the USCCB on this? Well, after having gone through the
homosexual/pedophile scandal of 2002, which had been brewing for the previous 30 years since the end of Vatican II, the USCCB, through the National Review Board, is, get this, “considering” whether or not to ordain homosexuals! On a recent Eternal Word Television Network’s Town Meeting featuring the National Review Board’s report, the spokesman told Raymond Arroyo they were still debating whether to ordain homosexuals. Can you believe this? Talk about bold and in your face. (Unfortunately, EWTN and Raymond Arroyo have already decided to bow to anything the bishops say, and thus hardly an eyebrow was raised at the network).”

catholicintl.com/articles/Refuting_Homosexuals_Who_Use_the_Bible_to_Defend_Homosexuality.PDF

I would like Robert Sungenis to debate Bill Donohue on this subject. Better yet, I am going to contact Dr. Sungenis to do just that and debate Bill Donohue. It will be interesting to see if Mr. Donohue is up for a challenge.

 

[OriginalJS]

The media frenzy is the result of the decades long cover up and enabling of sexual abuse by priests and bishops. Makes great headlines and juicy stories. Millions, if not billions, of dollars have been paid by various dioceses to settle claims. That’s not hysteria - that’s reality. The Church has to stop denial and handle this issue.

 

[o_mlly]

I want the Pope to be innocent. …
If [not], then I have been duped and the Catholic Church is a liar. I will have to seriously consider a new Christian affiliation.

I also hope and I believe that Pope Benedict XVI is a good man.

And I hope you’ll re-read last week’s gospel – Luke’s account of our Lord’s passion. Christ did not want our first pope to sin but, knowing all things, he prophesied that Peter would be a liar thrice. After lying, Peter wept bitterly and Christ neither abandoned him nor His Church.

That the Church is holy resides in its Head, not its members.

 

[Darryl1958]

…

Odd that 40% of the membership of the “professional victims groups” are female, when the problem is so obviously the Gays though.

Not really. It was the leftists feminists that made victimhood into a professiona nd a political cause in the first palce.
Only in a Christian or a post-christian world would this even be possible of course. Other societies don’t spend much time on such trivialities as the victimhood.