The Pope and the Polygamists [Allen]

[Catholic_Opinion]

By JOHN L. ALLEN JR.
New York
There’s a peculiar bit of subtext to media coverage of Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to the United States, one to which I may be particularly sensitive, given that I have spent a considerable portion of the last four days sitting on a television set somewhere listening to the segments that either precede or follow reports about the pope.
Simply put, the subtext is this: At least as a TV story, the pope is barely holding his own against the polygamists.
read more

More…

 

[SolaFide]

Maybe because they don’t want to draw attention to the fact that the polygamists didn’t have enough money to “buy off” the law and media like the Catholic church did when someone in the polygamist sect claimed pedophile abuse. It’s amazing what millions of dollars can buy you.

A great post from Ray Comfort:

When a sixteen-year-old apparently called authorities from a religious sect in Texas and said that she had been sexually abused, a small army was sent and over 400 children were taken from the compound. So, it’s clear that America feels strongly about the sexual abuse of children. Explain then why Roman Catholic bishops and cardinals, who were accused of covering up sex scandals within the church or abusing children themselves, were not prosecuted. According to NBC News “not a single one of the 19 accused bishops lost his title or was prosecuted.” The pope simply paid off the folks with a couple of billion dollars.

Some have insisted that there was an urgency with the sect’s case, but not with the pedophilia within the Catholic church. They maintain that there is therefore no link between the two issues. That doesn’t address the fact that these so-called men of God betrayed their office, they betrayed the trust of parents, and they seriously violated the law. If time lessens guilt, then let’s not raid compounds immediately and prosecute sex offenders. Instead, let’s leave the issue for 20 years. Time will eradicate their guilt.

There is a double tragedy with this double standard. The media loves to call the Roman Catholic church “Christian,” when its official doctrine of justification by works flies in the face of the Bible. If the difference between Catholic and Christian isn’t made clear, I can understand why so many reject what they believe is “Christianity.” The great loss will be theirs, because they are throwing out the baby of everlasting life with the very dirty bathwater of religious hypocrisy.

 

[Ana]

The media loves to call the Roman Catholic church “Christian,” when its official doctrine of justification by works flies in the face of the Bible. If the difference between Catholic and Christian isn’t made clear, I can understand why so many reject what they believe is “Christianity.” The great loss will be theirs, because they are throwing out the baby of everlasting life with the very dirty bathwater of religious hypocrisy.

You’d better go and find out the “official doctrine” of the Church concerning justification. Throwing out lies makes you lose credibility. Especially when talking to Catholics. Don’t you think we know that the official doctrine is NOT justification through works?Just trying to be helpful.

 

[Dale_M]

SolaFide;3579486:

Explain then why Roman Catholic bishops and cardinals, who were accused of covering up sex scandals within the church or abusing children themselves, were not prosecuted. According to NBC News “not a single one of the 19 accused bishops lost his title or was prosecuted.” The pope simply paid off the folks with a couple of billion dollars.

Ray Comfort is putting forth misinformation. The Pope hasn’t paid off anyone. The financial cost of the sex abuse crisis has been borne by each individual diocese, which means it affects all Catholics.

As for comparing the FLDS sex abuse and the Catholic sex abuse cases, I think the important difference is that the FLDS abuse was current and ongoing, whereas the Catholic cases were in the past - sometimes many years or decades in the past. This has made prosecution in the Catholic cases more difficult.

Mr. Comfort seems to have made up his mind that all 19 accused bishops are guilty as charged. I am not sure why he is convinced of this - if he has special inside knowledge of events he should have come forward earlier.
Ray Comfort:

the very dirty bathwater of religious hypocrisy

This is perhaps a line he may want to consider for himself. Passing judgement on others is a particular weakness of Christians, and it certainly is not Christian behavior.

 

[Ana]

Maybe because they don’t want to draw attention to the fact that the polygamists didn’t have enough money to “buy off” the law and media like the Catholic church did when someone in the polygamist sect claimed pedophile abuse. It’s amazing what millions of dollars can buy you.

A great post from Ray Comfort:

When a sixteen-year-old apparently called authorities from a religious sect in Texas and said that she had been sexually abused, a small army was sent and over 400 children were taken from the compound. So, it’s clear that America feels strongly about the sexual abuse of children. Explain then why Roman Catholic bishops and cardinals, who were accused of covering up sex scandals within the church or abusing children themselves, were not prosecuted. According to NBC News “not a single one of the 19 accused bishops lost his title or was prosecuted.” The pope simply paid off the folks with a couple of billion dollars.

Some have insisted that there was an urgency with the sect’s case, but not with the pedophilia within the Catholic church. They maintain that there is therefore no link between the two issues. That doesn’t address the fact that these so-called men of God betrayed their office, they betrayed the trust of parents, and they seriously violated the law. If time lessens guilt, then let’s not raid compounds immediately and prosecute sex offenders. Instead, let’s leave the issue for 20 years. Time will eradicate their guilt.

There is a double tragedy with this double standard. The media loves to call the Roman Catholic church “Christian,” when its official doctrine of justification by works flies in the face of the Bible. If the difference between Catholic and Christian isn’t made clear, I can understand why so many reject what they believe is “Christianity.” The great loss will be theirs, because they are throwing out the baby of everlasting life with the very dirty bathwater of religious hypocrisy.

Sorry Solafide, I didn’t realize you were quoting someone else. Well, he obviously doesn’t know what he is talking about. Our Church doctrine is not a hidden secret. Anyone can open a Catechism. His blatant use of the media to perpetuate lies about the Catholic Church, taints the whole article in my opinion. Especially on something so basic, implies he has no concern with actual FACTS.

 

[Ana]

Mr. Comfort seems to have made up his mind that all 19 accused bishops are guilty as charged. I am not sure why he is convinced of this - if he has special inside knowledge of events he should have come forward earlier.

.

If he had inside info, he would KNOW “official doctrine.”
Mr. Comfort is a liar. Therefore, not worth paying attention to. (yawn)