Let me first state that I think the implication of the settlement is tragic. That professional clergy violating a position of such immense trust could be found guilty of such inhumane criminal behavior is beyond belief.
That said, I'm uncertain what to think of the $660M settlement to the 500+ victims of the criminal activity. I believe firmly that those who were responsible should be held accountable... via prison sentences. However, I fail to see how a monetary settlement helps the victims of violent crimes.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070716/ap_on_re_us/church_abuse;_ylt=AkC7flcKiHE.DKw8Ln664D5vzwcF
2007-07-16 07:52:10 · 6 answers · asked by one_n1ce_guy 4 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Do you believe the Church should be held accountable? Is it because they knew this was taking place at a higher level of administration? Did they try to cover up the crimes? If so, then I do believe that the organization should also be held accountable, and that a monetary settlement is perhaps the best way to punish the organization. However, does it benefit society and/or the victims of the crime? Would it not be better for the $660M go towards some charitable organization either seeking to eliminate violent/sexual crimes, or perhaps an organization trying to help victims of sexual crimes in general, instead of simply handing out $1M settlements to each of the victims of this case?
I know, this isn't your run-of-the-mill frivilous lawsuit, but to me, it still seems frivilous to simply give money to individuals where that money will not restore the damage done.
But, I'm curious to know what you think would be the best justice to the priests, their victims, & the Church
2007-07-16 07:56:22 · update #1
The Church is being held accountable to the tune of $660M. As a Catholic, the abuse itself is not as bad as all the cover ups and lies associated with that abuse. If the Church had just come clean and got rid of these priests the moment these allegations were made, they would be in a lot better shape right now. Instead, the Church tried to hide and cover up what was really happening, which caused more people to get hurt.
In any group as large as the Catholic Church in the United States you are going to have a few bad people. The major mistake the Church made was hiding these bad people instead of getting rid of them. Look at any other employer, there is a no tolerance policy for sexual harassment or abuse. The Church needs to follow suit and immediately terminate and prosecute priests and other clergy who violate this policy.
2007-07-16 08:15:38 · answer #1 · answered by msi_cord 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, intercourse abuse occurs in all varieties of religions and denominations, and so they all quilt up their soiled secrets and techniques. The Catholic Church makes a higher goal then a Protestant church for the media. The purpose why is considering that the Catholic Church is considered through the arena as being the Christian frame. If you move at any place on the earth and ask them approximately Pope Benedict XVI they are going to all recognize him, however in the event you requested any one approximately Pat Robertson in a few far off location on the earth they could say, "Who's that?" In the media's brain an assault upon the Catholic Church is an assault upon all of Christianity.
2016-09-05 13:28:00 · answer #2 · answered by lashbrook 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As a Catholic, I find it too bad that someone didn't actually take it all the way to trial and expose this horror for what it is. It's sad that the funds are coming out of the Church, which is funded by parishioners who didn't do such awful things instead of somebody's pocket--like those who did it and covered it up.
2007-07-16 08:03:51 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Here is the most unbelievable part of the article....The deal settles all 508 cases that remained against the archdiocese, which also paid $60 million in December to settle 45 cases that weren't covered by sexual abuse insurance.
We live in a society where religious organizations carry sexual abuse insurance.
Now that is disgusting.
2007-07-16 08:01:41 · answer #4 · answered by JBS7878 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
it is way over due, they have been trying to fight this case for years now, and the only reason they agreed to pay anything is because cardinal Roger Mahoney was going to have to testify and they have know about all of this for a long time, and have hidden it, how would you like to know your son or daughter was raped by their priest and the church knew about it and just moved the priest to a new parish to start over!
2007-07-16 08:10:58 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It really should have been $6 million dollars more.
2007-07-16 15:18:45 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋