Did you think the Pope 'led cover-up of child abuse by priests?

Question

"The Pope played a leading role in a systematic cover-up of child sex abuse by Roman Catholic priests, according to a shocking documentary to be screened by the BBC tonight.

In 2001, while he was a cardinal, he issued a secret Vatican edict to Catholic bishops all over the world, instructing them to put the Church's interests ahead of child safety.

The document recommended that rather than reporting sexual abuse to the relevant legal authorities, bishops should encourage the victim, witnesses and perpetrator not to talk about it. And, to keep victims quiet, it threatened that if they repeat the allegations they would be excommunicated. " (Ewan Fletcher)
Panorama: Sex Crimes And The Vatican is on BBC1 tonight at 10.15pm.

My previous question was unfairly removed so I have rephrased my question.

Previous question seems to have been undeleted suddenly...no explanation.

Reply to looksadpa...:
What do you mean by he isn't around to defend himself?... we are talking about the then Cardinal Ratzinger or Pope Benedict as he now styles himself.

Reply to Earl D:
we are not discussing homosexuality which is between two consenting adults and is not abusive, the abuse of a minor of either sex by an adult is called pederasty.

Answer 1

I think it's entirely possible.............. To me, the Vatican has always been more concerned with its own preservation and glorification than with actually doing good. Look at all the money that was spent to build the place. I just finished watching a few documentaries on all the building they've done, their art, their scriptures and all of the money they've spent.

Answer 2

I think the Pope and the Religion has to stand behind what they do 100% that means that Homosexuality should be openly allowed in the rank and file of the Catholic Church or all Homosexuals expelled, including the Priests.

What has come down means the Church openly acknowledges that Homosexuals are a part of the Catholic Church and if they go to confession and do not sin they get into heaven just like Heterosexuals.

Otherwise there is a double standard and the Pope becomes fallible.

There is nothing to indicate any Cardinal or Bishop told any Pope of any problems prior to it reaching the press.

At that point in time, the Pope had to either excommunicate church members, Priests, Bishops, Archbishops and Cardinals or establish guidelines.

The Pope seem to choose the latter.

It is seemly self-evident that you can be homosexual and a good Catholic and be eligable to go to heaven, so long as you do not practise or sin.

It also seems self-evident that a Priest who hears a confession from a homosexual cannot anymore act on that confession with authorities or the Church anymore than on an equal basis with a Priest who does the same thing.

Uniformity is a credo with the Catholic church and the moment they practise a double standard they will face a problem in the eyes of the world and can end up losing members who dislike hipocracy.

Answer 3

sure, it rather is the activity of the pope to set down the regulation in this regard. No, I even have not seen any conceal-up. (won't vouch for the strikes of specific bishops, nonetheless.) This rather isn't a solid question until eventually you supply us some foundation for communicate. There are already too many generalities in contact - working example, which pope are you speaking approximately? To which edict are you referring? it rather is a severe subject count - those adult men who dared touch a baby are unwell at superb and monsters at worse - and it merits severe debate. i can basically communicate approximately what i understand on the community (diocesan) point, so any *data* from the Vatican could be thrilling.

Answer 4

I believe that first they were dealing with alot of false reports, and next there were not very many to start with, what people hear about is abuse over 30 years most of which are way past any statue of limitation from criminal statue

And sadly the Catholic Churches problems gets national news coverage but other churches Baptist, Lutheran, or boy scouts or martial arts teachers don't get the news coverage''

What happened was bad, but as iwth any group, attempting to settle liablity claims without full news coverage would be the normal situation.

Answer 5

first off - this is not in every church and children are safe in their churches.
secondly - that very well may be true. ever notice the lawyers on TV what used to be known as ambulance chasers?
unfortunately sick people jumped on the bandwagon when the
.000002% of catholic priests were known as pedophiles. many sick individuals started making false accuzations. as with any large organization they will try to make reperations on their own. due to the fact people like to try to squash anything that is good - the press and fanatics had a field day - and continue to do so.
due to sick twisted individuals - some priests have been wrongly accused however thankfully vilified. ever notice that you hear on the news -- accusations again fr so and so - but when they are found innocent or wrongly accused - you hear nothing.
my heart goes out to the children that were molested and pray for their hearts.

Answer 6

The pope is not personnally involved in the matter. Every large organization, governments, armies, churches... tries to be a law unto itself, and to contain issues that could cause major trouble either with other large bodies that would regard it as being within their jurisdiction, or simply lage scale loss of image, and possibly of authority with the base, and recruitment difficulties.

The church has been dealing with such issue for centuries, and the current sex abuse matter is just a new head of a centuries old hydra. Nothing personal, just biz as usual, and the pope is not involved, because the less he is, the cleaner he helps the church look.

BTW, which pope do you refer two, the late JP or the current Benedict?

Answer 7

It wouldn't surprise me. It sounds very political and uncaring. These poor children can be scarred for life. All to often we as a society treat the victim as if they are guilty. Threats of ex-communication only feed this. It only makes them feel as they are the guilty ones, when in fact they were the victim.

I think if this is true that the pope should be ex-communicated!

Answer 8

I would think the cover ups come from lower down than the Pope, and whoever is responsible should be given the worst kind of punishment.


(got my Popes confused - was thinking of frail old JPII.)

Answer 9

Catholic priest have been abusing children since long before the current was installed in place.

Answer 10

I doubt too many people will find this documentary, "shocking."

The Pope... Muhammad... all false prophets profiting from religion.

Isn't it interesting that both couple religion with sexual fetishes?
Child Molesting and Virgins in he!!