In this 'debate', I agree with Dr. UG Barad. If only Christians would have lived like Christ (and I am not saying that most don't), i.e. honest, hardworking, courteous, simple etc, there would have been countless more conversions (true conversions) to Christianity.
And while it may be true that the vast majority of Catholic clergy is good etc + that the abuse is prevalent in all sections of many societies, the Catholic Church lost it's previously held (by many) moral ground by not acting swiftly to stamp out the curse of the child-abuse scandal, and worse still ....by attempting to cover it up. The Church also lost a good number of members and a whole pile of money which could have been used for charitable purposes. Fr. Ivo's arguments are good .....but they are equivalent to painting the kitchen to make it look pretty, while the house is on fire. http://www.colaco.net/3/church-lurch.htm jc * * * UK STOCKS EXHAUSTED! After a community-supported launch at Croydon, Selma Carvalho's *Into the Diaspora Wilderness* is available at Broadways Book Centre, Panjim [Ph +91-9822488564] Price (in Goa only) Rs 295. Ask a friend to pick up a copy. Details of the book http://selmacarvalho.squarespace.com/ * * *