US lawsuit claiming that the Pope covered up abuse is withdrawn

[Dale_M]

A high-profile lawsuit in the United States accusing Pope Benedict XVI of covering up sexual abuse has been withdrawn.

Lawyers for the plaintiff in John Doe 16 v. Holy See filed a notice of voluntary dismissal last Friday, bringing the case effectively to an end.

The lawsuit was filed in April 2010 in the US District Court in Milwaukee by an unnamed Illinois man who claimed he had been molested by Fr Lawrence Murphy during the latter’s time on the staff of Milwaukee’s St John’s School for the Deaf.

catholicherald.co.uk/news/2012/02/13/us-lawsuit-claiming-that-the-pope-covered-up-abuse-is-withdrawn/

Well, I guess that is progress.

 

[Atsf1982]

It’s less about the pope than the Vatican itself. The Vatican has helped to spread sexual corruption (especially homosexuality) everywhere in the Catholic Church. There’s nothing unique about abuse in the United States, Ireland or anywhere else. The common element in all these cases is the role of the Vatican. Sad to say, but the level of abuse and misconduct in the Church is beyond belief.

 

[The_Scott]

The common element in all these cases is the role of the Vatican.

Or, perhaps, the liberalization of sexual contact, the openness for immoral sexual behavior (whether homosexual, BDSM, or any other fetish), and, in general, the social revolution where the saying “if it feels good, it is good,” is advanced in all areas of life.

I say its the culture of the world, not the institution, that has defiled our Church.

 

[Dale_M]

Or, perhaps, the liberalization of sexual contact, the openness for immoral sexual behavior (whether homosexual, BDSM, or any other fetish), and, in general, the social revolution where the saying “if it feels good, it is good,” is advanced in all areas of life.

I say its the culture of the world, not the institution, that has defiled our Church.

Hmm… I am not sure there is any evidence to support that. My sense is that prior to the sexual revolution of the 1960s and the sexual liberalization of the 1970s, just as much sexual abuse was occurring. However, talking about it was forbidden. The topic was taboo, especially the matter of speaking ill of a priest.

If there is an upside to the sexual revolution, it was that the issue of child sex abuse could finally be discussed and addressed. Prior to 1970, the topic was simply swept under the carpet.

 

[Atsf1982]

Or, perhaps, the liberalization of sexual contact, the openness for immoral sexual behavior (whether homosexual, BDSM, or any other fetish), and, in general, the social revolution where the saying “if it feels good, it is good,” is advanced in all areas of life.

I say its the culture of the world, not the institution, that has defiled our Church.

The 1960s, Vatican II and the rapid further decline in discipline in the Church made the situation worse than before, but plenty of this was going on by the 1950s.

 

[OriginalJS]

Taking the article at face value, it is the law that the Vatican, as a foreign government and state, is immune from such tort actions. Nothing here goes to any merits.

 

[pnewton]

It’s less about the pope than the Vatican itself. The Vatican has helped to spread sexual corruption (especially homosexuality) everywhere in the Catholic Church. There’s nothing unique about abuse in the United States, Ireland or anywhere else. The common element in all these cases is the role of the Vatican. Sad to say, but the level of abuse and misconduct in the Church is beyond belief.

I do not know what your point is, but anticatholicism is nothing new here. We have folks like this come in all the time. Unfortunately, there is no way to address vague, expansive allegations, except to shake one’s head. I will point out that your little allegation does not recognize the rather obvious fact that homosexuality has blossomed throughout the Western world in all areas of socitey. Blaming “THE VATICAN” boogey man makes as much sense as blaming the European Union, or the United Nations.

I prefer the Christian approach of seeing not as man sees, but rather to look to the true author of this spread on the spiritual realm.

 

[pnewton]

If there is an upside to the sexual revolution, it was that the issue of child sex abuse could finally be discussed and addressed. Prior to 1970, the topic was simply swept under the carpet.

That is an interesting perspective, and rather insightful. I guess that is the one good thing to come from the sexual revolution. I would note further that this was a societal trend, and not specific to Catholicism.