Some ideas to respond effectively to the abuse crisis

[MagdalenaRita]

From what I have read about the attitude of the Church, at least pre Vatican II and for some time afterward, it has been the opinion of the church that homosexuality is a matter of arrested psychological development. Many if not most teens experience something called “transitory homosexuality” as a teenager. It can and is often very subtle. Most men progress from that point, but some remain psychologically “stuck” at the phase. (And I know I am not explaining this in very scientific developmental terms)

I have heard this before also.

 

[Peeps]

I apologize if this sounds creepy.

Just last week I was listening to a television documentary–one reason why self-defense or “fending off” or “pushing away” or “just say no” doesn’t work is that the teens actually feel sexual pleasure and kind of don’t want to stop.

This is extremely confusing for the teen, who knows (or senses) that this is very wrong and twisted, but can’t stop because it feels so good. It’s no wonder that these young men (or older boys, if you prefer) are so conflicted and damaged by the grooming by a priest (or any authority figure who is supposed to be helping and protecting them).

 

[Peebo]

I’d have to agree with you I grew up as a kid and teenager back in the 50’s and 60’s…I can’t recall anyone telling us kids to be careful around ANY adult…in fact you were to be respectful to adults…priest and otherwise…now obviously it did happen but it wasn’t talked about back then…as kids we would go out hiking by ourselves or with friends most of the day…our parents didn’t tell us not to talk to strangers…not to be wary of strangers.etc…it was just a totally different era…the only time I ever encountered anything was when I was 13… in 1st year high school…kid I used to ride home with told me an adult male neighbor had sex with him…I didn’t have a clue what he was talking about…I never heard him mention it again neither…of course now we find out these things did happen…not just in the Catholic church…but pretty much everywhere but was all hushed up…now all these years later it’s all being grouped together as if it just happened instead of for past decades…and no doubt beyond…yes…it’s wrong…it’s disgusting…but it needs to be put in perspective…people who have growns up in the 80’s 90’s were more aware because it was being talked about more…even things like telling kids don’t talk to strangers etc was being instilled into them…so now there is a sense of horror…and rightly so…but it wasn’t so back in those days…if you go back 50-70 years…I don’t doubt the number of good devout priests would far outweigh those who have brought shame to the church…and the church has implemented new rules since 2002 to see this abuse doesn’t happen again…as much as is humanly possible…so while we can show outrage much of it happened in a much different period of time…I’m sure there are a few seniors here like me who can remember back then that there may have been a rumor or whisper here or there but that was it…

 

[FiveLinden]

This one point alone, and the very fact that you include it, negates any credibility to your post. Abuse of children has nothing to do with celibacy. Married men, unfortunately abuse children and minors with, again, unfortunate, regularity

The Australian Royal Commission into institutional abuse made this recommendation. My post is directed not only to stopping abuse but to restoring the reputation of the Church. Celibacy, once admired, is now hopelessly entangled with abuse in the public mind. Incidentally, your belief in the apple principle (that one wrong idea ruins all others) is not widely held.

 

[dumbox]

This post reminds me of the DNC’s motto during the O administration…“never let a crisis go to waste”.

It crams in as much liberal agenda as possible, and it won’t solve anything.

Get rid of the homosexualist culture in the priesthood and 80% of the problems, if not more will go away.

 

[FiveLinden]

It crams in as much liberal agenda as possible, and it won’t solve anything.

I’m sure I could have added in more liberal agenda. You underestimate me. On your assertion that ‘it won’t solve anything’ are you seriously saying that none of these ideas would lead to any improvement at all either in the safety of minors or the reputation of the Church in the wider community?

 

[SeriousQuestion]

Repeal the restriction on homosexuals (not active) becoming priests because of the false idea it gives of the cause of the abuse problem

Aren’t you giving the false notion that celibacy and men are the problem in points 2 and 4?

 

[glorybe]

Thank you, that’s the answer I was looking for (names not released until found guilty) perfect.

 

[FiveLinden]

Repeal the restriction on homosexuals (not active) becoming priests because of the false idea it gives of the cause of the abuse problem

Well it might be true or it might be false.But the Church will be better respected if it accepts these ideas as widespread in the wider community and adjusts its practices accordingly. If avoiding scandal was a good enough reason to put children at risk it is a good enough reason to change some practices not essential to Church teaching to avoid scandal. Celibacy and male dominance in the Church are now inextricably tied up in the public mind. If the Church wishes to be respected, it must change what it can change.

 

[dumbox]

What’s missing is faithfulness, not new policies, procedures, lock-out safeguards, as if this were some piece of dangerous machinery that we had to design in safeguards.

And as far that married priests point is concerned…that’s just preposterous.

These people who on the one side of their mouth say “rape” and abuse are “power not sex” out of the other side of their mouth say that the FIX is to to get rid of the discipline of priestly celebacy, which is intended to teach self-mastery, denial, cheerful self-gift!

They don;'t even see their own contradiction. Not the sharpest knives in the drawer.

 

[MagdalenaRita]

If the Church wishes to be respected, it must change what it can change.

The Church will always be at odds with this world. Would it like respect yes, but it doesn’t change what is right and wrong to earn respect from society. The Church obeys God and not man.

 

[FiveLinden]

The Church will always be at odds with this world. Would it like respect yes, but it doesn’t change what is right and wrong to earn respect from society. The Church obeys God and not man.

As I said, I am carefully proposing only what can be done within Church teaching.

 

[Theo2]

I find it weird reading the Pa grand jury rsport that some kids got abused becaused they slept over at the rectory. That should not have happened in the first place, it’s just plain creepy.

Most of that and going on trips with the priest occurred years ago. The parents trusted the priest blindly. Hell, there were a lot of cases it happen in their home with the parents in the house.

Can seminarians and other laypeople be taught self defense oe something? Again, most of the victims int the report were teen boys. Maybe they were threatened or pressured or something else that is why they were not able to do anything, but I would assume that at their age, many of them would be able to fend off or push away a perp attempting to assault.

Did you ever think they wanted the attention and the sex?

On the spiritual side, parents should always pray for the safety of their children, like asking their guardian angels and St Michael to protect them from harm and ill intentioned people. Use holy water and blessed salt often.

Prayer is good but parents should protect their children and not let anyone go into their bedroom without the parents knowing whao is going on. Even if it is their sons classmates.

 

[FiveLinden]

Did you ever think they wanted the attention and the sex?

What a cruel and unpleasant calumny.

 

[fin]

Yes, that i why i said that as mich as possible to not let the children be alone.

 

[fin]

I never said they wanted the attention, that is why they may have not pushed off the perp due to fear oe blackmail.

 

[Theo2]

What a cruel and unpleasant calumny.

I don’t see any lie in what I said. First I presented it as a possibility not a fact. Second I am not talking about children but seminarians.
If you don’t think it possible , where have you been all your life?

 

[FiveLinden]

I don’t see any lie in what I said. First I presented it as a possibility not a fact. Second I am not talking about children but seminarians.
If you don’t think it possible , where have you been all your life?

‘Teen boys’ = children. An appalling calumny, given the number of proven cases.Your lie is established by a multitude of investigations, and by admissions by abusers.

 

[SeriousQuestion]

Most Seminarians aren’t teenagers.

 

[Theo520]

Where are your “rules for parents”?

They too have ongoing abuses issues, and probably should likewise never be alone with a minor