Pedophilia Irish Style

[Griff]

It is largely that very human tendency to look for supporting facts and ignore the rest. A very few false/unproven accusations of clergy abuse come forward so the faithful give a lot of weight to them dismissing the true scope of the problem. Rush, Hannity, and Beck depend on this lack of openness of mind to keep reactionaries running by feeding them enough information to keep new thoughts out of their heads. We all do it to some extent but some of us try for balance, a lot of folks can't afford that unstable a reality. The shear scale of the Irish problem should help shatter some illusions but I don't see people with a 60 + year commitment breaking off a relationship of this magnitude.

[tw]

Originally Posted by Griff

The shear scale of the Irish problem should help shatter some illusions but I don't see people with a 60 + year commitment breaking off a relationship of this magnitude.

I had thought the Catholic church was one of the Christian denominations that was remaining stronger? However that trend may be dated.

I measure people by their actions; not by their feelings. The Pope's message to be read this Sunday to the congregation calls for this action - more prayer. That is it. Just more prayer. Nothing else.

So how large is denial in Rome? Really. Is there any source that can put their views into perspective? Or are we to judge then entire church only by their overt denials and (again) inaction?

Criminally protecting pedophiles has been exposed in Australia, US, and Ireland. How many more countries because someone in Rome says, "Holiness, I think we had a problem." Or did some insider say that. If you thought the Kremlin was hard to understand. It is just hard to fathom an institution this much in denial.

[Griff]

Originally Posted by tw

I had thought the Catholic church was one of the Christian denominations that was remaining stronger? However that trend may be dated.

They were/are growing in Africa where the old school nonsense looks progressive. Around here Vatican II, which may have been the Churches last chance to be relevant, is retreating rapidly and some in the Church even blame that liberalization for the peds. The local Church is being reduced to old folks and extremists. The rift in the Church over the health care debate might show the problem more clearly. The nuns (and hospitals) who also embraced Vat II because it was empowering for women, are in support of health care reform seeing it as helpful in their real world Christian service missions. The Catholic Bishops who actually have political power in the Church are in opposition to the reforms. The same split exists in birth control and to a lesser extent abortion. The reformers are the ones who actually perform Christ's work while the opposition exist apart from the world.

[tw]

Originally Posted by Griff

They were/are growing in Africa where the old school nonsense looks progressive. Around here Vatican II, which may have been the Churches last chance to be relevant, is retreating rapidly and some in the Church even blame that liberalization for the peds. The local Church is being reduced to old folks and extremists.

Last numbers I had for the church put average age for a priest at above 60 years old. Just wondering what those numbers are today.

And yes, I have also observed that 'liberalization' blamed for the church's problems. So the church ordered its congregation to change America laws to conform to church doctrine? I cannot think of anything more against American principles.

Again, the question. Are they really that divorced from reality? Do they know what is happening? Or is this their solution?

In corporations, bankruptcy eliminates the problem - fires top management. Shame that the Catholic Church has nothing equivalent.