I see this as a developing situation. Catholic bishops worldwide (with a few exceptions) right up to the top are just not getting it, they seem to be inhabiting a world so far removed from contemporary reality that it's just not conceptually possible for them.
There are growing signs of nervousness, however. The information firming up from the time when Ratzinger was bishop in Munich and in charge of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in Rome shows clearly that he was - at least - extremely negligent in dealing with church sex offenders, thereby leaving children at risk. Reporting cases to the civil authorities wasn't even on his radar screen, at least up to the turn of the millenium. Other bishops worldwide, most notably Cardinal Law in Boston, have been forced to resign because of similar failings. The fact that church statements are increasingly referring to hostile media campaigns by elements hostile to the church underlines both the nervousness and the extent to which they've lost the plot. http://www.nrc.nl/international/opinion/article2512168.ece/The_net_is_closing_around_pope_Benedict_XVI http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,685712,00.html Apart from the victims, who have gone through hell, I also feel sorry for those honest priests, brothers, sisters and believers who are still trying to carry on with their genuine caring, idealistic work - even if I don't share their beliefs. On St. Patrick's Day I had lunch in Dublin in a Dominican monastery where I had lived for seven years back when I was a member of the Order in the 70s and 80s. Most of the old friends I met felt disgusted, abandoned and betrayed by the church leadership. Even now, the Catholic authorities have a chance. All they would need to do is really allow themselves to perceive the horror and consequences of what has been going on. What's wrong with resigning? What about genuine, serious gestures of penitence? An open look at structures; accountability, celerical celibacy, local involvement in choosing bishops and church government in general? A Third Vatican Council? But all that presumes an attitude of humble, real listening - and that seems for the church authorities in general to be a posture suitable only for the laity. They, on the other hand, still claim the titles "princes of the church," allow themselves to be addressed with "My Lord," and have people kiss their rings. http://romancatholicblog.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/04/17/nancy_pelosi_with_pope_benedict_xvi.jpg Francis On 27 Mrz., 14:43, Chris Jenkins <[email protected]> wrote: > With Massive Attack, no less! Brilliant, Gabs, thank you for sharing. > > To answer Slip's question about rationality, I disagree strongly that this > is a "Few bad apples". There is a disproportionately high (in relation to > the population) number of pedophiles, in position of power, with direct > access to and authority over, children. Additionally, the "management", all > the way to the executive level (Pope), have engaged in misdirection and > cover up. Worse, not one single one of these bastards has been arrested. > They are protected by the Holy See. > > If even 1% of Store Managers across the country at Wal-Mart had been > molesting children, the executive board of Wal-Mart would have done a major > purge, permanently banning them from working for the organization, and > pushed for their incarceration. It's the normal line of PR for an > organization that doesn't support those actions, and wants to be dissociated > from them. The Vatican has been such a target not only for their lack of > disciplinary or legal action, but their subsequent cover up, and their utter > lack of dissociation from these events, in some cases, even blaming the > victims themselves. Why does the world's richest corporation get such a free > pass on this? > > > > On Sat, Mar 27, 2010 at 7:55 AM, gabbydott <[email protected]> wrote: > > If only she had gotten more attention. I haven't forgotten the song > > though, which I also stored under "bigland": > >http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFuTEtBGEtk > > > On 27 Mrz., 04:33, Slip Disc <[email protected]> wrote: > > > Rational? Have you lost your senses? I think it sounds ridiculous. > > > Why throw away a bushel of apples on account of a few bad ones. > > > Should we dismantle the entire political system because some > > > politicians are butt holes? Should we stop humanitarian aide because > > > some officials skim money off the top? > > > > I think she's an attention freak > > > >http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinead_O%27Connor > > > > On Mar 26, 4:13 pm, ornamentalmind <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > Interestingly enough, today I heard Shanae O’Connor say on the radio > > > > that there should be a criminal investigation of the Pope and the > > > > entire Vatican [most recent pedophilia scandal] that the entire lot > > > > should step down. Sounds rational, what do you think? > > > -- > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > > ""Minds Eye"" group. > > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > > [email protected]<minds-eye%2bunsubscr...@googlegroups > > .com> > > . > > For more options, visit this group at > >http://groups.google.com/group/minds-eye?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups ""Minds Eye"" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/minds-eye?hl=en.
