Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report on Catholic sex abuse released

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anikins said:
The claims are not ancient. We are not speaking of something that occurred a century ago, but a scant 50 years ago.
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If you empower a grand jury to look through the last fifty years of any organization you’ll find all sorts of things. So why don’t they give this treatment to other organizations or religions? More importantly why don’t they empower them to look through their own government school systems. That is where the sex abusers are worst these days.
 
This isn’t a time for whataboutisms. I agree that other institutions should also be looked into but it’s good that they are focusing on the Church right now because other institutions do not have as serious of an issue with wide-spread historical systematic cover-ups of abuse.
 
Do they do this to any other institution? If not then this isn’t fair play. An element of justice is equality. The claim of whataboutism is an affront to justice.
 
Once again, I agree that other institutions should be looked into as well but that doesn’t mean that the Catholic Church should not be looked into.
 
Funny how that never happens though. What am I supposed to do when I notice a pattern of never investigating other groups?
 
MagdalenaRita said:
Plus what concerns me is that most of these priests are deceased and can not defend themselves. I am not saying they were innocent and I am sure a lot of this probably is true, especially if they have reports from particular bishops regarding particular priests, but on the flip side if most of these priests are deceased how can anyone say these allegations are facts without being able to actually talk to the priest accused.
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Some of them were interviewed before their deaths, and admitted misconduct.
 
Ours ran for 5 years, investigated all institutions and discovered the truly disturbing extent of this.

When it comes to child protection, I am sorry, but child protection and safety rights must come before other secular or religious rights. The argument about constitutional rights is a parallel to the one in the church that saw so much cover up.
 
Tis_Bearself said:
Fine for your country and its system, which I’m sure you’re convinced is the greatest in the world.
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I don’t think any system is the greatest in the world. They all have their error and loopholes and issues.

There has to a time where people say enough is enough, no religious or secular law will protect a person , however long ago the crime against the child was.
 
Investigate them yourself? Not sure what to tell you but calling the very necessary investigative reports into the abuse within the Catholic Church a smear campaign is not the answer.
 
Roseeurekacross said:
The argument about constitutional rights is a parallel to the one in the church that saw so much cover up.
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It’s not just an argument, it’s law. If someone wants to start lobbying to get that changed, fine. But we can’t just violate the law to investigate violations of the law.
 
The silence from the Vatican this morning on the Pennsylvania Grand Jury report is deafening. Is there another institution on earth in which the CEO would decline to quickly address such a profound moral and legal failure?
 
You are right that the silence from Rome is deafening; but I would not expect them to say much of anything, and in this case the Pope or the Vatican probably will not do anything for a number of reasons. Firstly, I have the distinct impression that the powers that be in the Vatican right now don’t truly comprehend what a major crisis this is as a whole and see these reports as just separate isolated incidents (Cdl. Wuerl himself recently said in an interview that he didn’t believe this was a crisis but later backtracked after receiving criticism in the media). Secondly, I think there are very few if any high ranking prelates in the Vatican right now that regard the U.S. as anything more than a minor nuisance worthy of their attention and fewer still probably understand the U.S. legal system and the significance of this report. Thirdly, one of the members of the hierarchy singled out in the report (Cdl. Wuerl) is one of Pope Francis’ favorites and a member of his inner circle, so they’re not going to want to draw attention to it to protect him (another example: he still has not removed Cdl. Maradiaga from his C9 council even though he faces persistent accusations of covering up sexual abuse).

I personally agree with Robert Royal that they should cancel the World Meeting of the Families this year and replace it with some kind of public penance by the Church. Not that they would seriously consider such a proposal, but I think it would be a sign that they at least care. Right now there doesn’t seem to be much urgency in Rome to do much about this situation.
 
I agree about replacing the World Meeting of Families with that. That would probably never happen, though.
 
I’m not sure what point you’re trying to make. Nobody in the US thinks this is okay, including Catholics and including the clergy who try to stay true to their vows. Nobody is hemming and hawing about “enough is enough” on this or on any of the last 5 investigations.

However, we don’t just go violate the Constitution because there’s been a wave of crimes, no matter how much you think that might be a good idea, and there are a lot of legal process issues here that frankly, non-lawyers don’t understand, don’t appreciate, and it’s pointless to discuss with them. Even some lawyers do not think rationally when it comes to heinous crime issues, whether it’s child sexual abuse or terrorism or spree killings.

I also don’t really think this is a good place or time for you to be going on about how you all did things in Australia. As far as I’m concerned, Australia and US are the pot and the kettle, and I’m not all that impressed with how your governing body handled it, especially with the attempts to destroy the seal of confession which is likely to produce very little benefit IMHO. And that will be my last response to you on this matter.
 
This hits sooo close to home. I am friends with one named bishop and totally relieved that the bishop I’m related to was NOT on the list. And neither were any of my uncle’s (a priest) were on there. But, that is only a small relief.

My family is doing a joint Adoration tomorrow.
 
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