Unlike the agencies you mention above, the Church has always been special. Even for non believers.
The media has grossly under reported abuse by foster parents, by public school teachers, human services professionals, and (to some extent) by Protestant ministers. All trusted members of society.
On the contrary. If it wasn’t for the media, we wouldn’t have known about the abuses in the first place and they would probably still be going on full force unabated.
As Archbishop Michael Sheehan of Santa Fe said, “Do not put your trust in human beings, because they will fail you. Instead, place your trust in God and in His Sacraments, because these are the things which will never fail.”commenter:
Unlike the agencies you mention above, the Church has always been special. Even for non believers.
The Church is the place you go for hope when hope fails.
The Church is the place you trust when trust fails.
That’s why when abuse happens in a place of God or by a man of God it’s so shocking, and why I think the media puts such a heavy spotlight it.
For this, we should be grateful. That said, there are still outlets that have gone too far, still reporting old abuses as if it is current news.
Yes, I noticed that too, but I think it’s because the victims from so long ago still feel the pain.
Archbishop Michael Sheehan is absolutely correct. The trouble is that many see priests and bishops as something above human.
There is no room and no need for this to be expressed from the pulpit. The last thing the Church needs right now is apologists for sex abusers. The only thing the priest needs to say is that they need to be found out, turfed out of their position, and stripped of their ability to act as a priest. That is all. If they want to turn away from sin they can do so in prison.
Sure you can. the Bible has numerous examples of those who have lost faith and then returned to God. Indeed, the prophets are regularly calling people to turn back to God.
I’m glad you’re not my confessor.
Call me cynical, but I really don’t think that the media gives this the unrelenting attention it does because they hope in the Church and want to trust her.
True. Sensationalism sells. But there would be nothing to sensationalize if the Church didn’t cause the problem to being with.
I think it goes beyond ‘sensationalism’. It seems more like a particular group’s attempts to tear down the Church, with whatever ammunition is at hand.
Sounds a lot like conspiracy theories to me. This does NOTHING to fix the problem.
Why? Do you think that punishment too harsh for a paedophile?
The trouble with that idea is that our God is a God of love and mercy. Yes, it is tempered with justice. But the Catholic Church is here for the salvation of souls, and that means dispensing love and mercy in generous amounts. The worst, most depraved abuser can receive healing and forgiveness when she shows contrition, confesses her sins, and does penance. She must resolve not to sin again, but the wonderful part of God’s mercy is that she can receive that forgiveness over and over and over again. She should suffer temporal consequences for her abuse, but I ask the people calling out for blood: are ye without sin? Cast the first stone. Is this The Worst Sin you can think of? Is this wretched abuser worse than Hitler and Stalin put together?Gorgias:
Why? Do you think that punishment too harsh for a paedophile?
I don’t. I don’t think most people would either.
Nobody is disputing this. But the key words are that they are contrite and do penance. Certainly an abuser priest should not remain in their position or be put in a position where they could abuse again.
This is a ridiculous statement to utter in this conversation. We are not talking about cheating on a spouse, or some one night stand between two high-school kids. We’re talking about the sexual abuse of children. It’s perfectly reasonable to expect these criminals to face the harshest punishments our judicial system has to offer. Let’s not even get into trying to compare them to Hitler and Stalin. Hitler and Stalin weren’t claiming to be serving Jesus Christ for one thing. It doesn’t matter who is worse. Just that a priest abusing his power to interfere with children is up there with the very bad sins. The fact that he is a priest actually makes it worse and magnifies the evil because the consequences are much worse.
Nope. People already know this. What is the need to say this? No sympathy should be shown for offenders from the altar. No abuser should ever be held up as an example of repentance.
Nope
No paedophile or non-paedophile?
Yes but that still hasn’t happened in some places and it’s a terrible scandal. The justice that the Church needs to serve here is removal from the clerical state, and from any activity that affords them access to minors.
I disagree. You can’t have both. Here’s why. When you dismiss a man from the clerical state, or when you exclaustrate a monk or nun, and dispense their sacred vows, you release them from the temporal and spiritual control of the Church. You release them from their duties and responsibilities as clerics or consecrated religious.
A few issues here.