2007-07-16 17:35:50 · 5 answers · asked by ? 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
great answers but i have to choose one...
2007-07-18 02:33:12 · update #1
Had the Catholic church of the Los Angeles ArchDiocese done the RIGHT thing and turned in those child abuser priests, they would NOT have 1. had as many victims and 2. would NOT have been brought to court for covering up the misdeeds of their clergy. Their actions have drawn them right into the middle of their clergy's crimes and therefore they became accomplices. They MUST face the consequences of their action (Or inaction, in this case). I AM sorry, though that the ENTIRE membership of that archdiocese has to shoulder the burden for the VAST majority had NO idea what was going on and their duplicity in the coverup was completely unkown to them. Yet THEY must share the blame because they did NOT demand a greater accountability from THEIR priests and Bishops.
Raji the Green Witch
2007-07-17 02:22:10 · answer #1 · answered by Raji the Green Witch 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think that the victims deserve to be commensated and the sexual abuse of children is a horrible sin and a crime that should be punished. I just hope the lawyers are not getting all the money.
But I also know that the abuse cases cover the last 54 years and represent a very small percentage of the number of priests that were in the Archdiocese or Los Angeles over that time.
The FBI's profile describes the typical child molester as a "middle aged married man." A child is more likely to be abused by a married family member than a priest or any member of the clergy.
The settlements from the Catholic Church are large because the church is centralized and can be sued as such. If a Baptist minister molests a child, and they do, you can only sue the local congreagation which probably has very little money.
2007-07-17 00:58:49 · answer #2 · answered by jakejr6 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
as the catholic church is so wealthy, this will make little difference to them financially.
its just lip service to make the public think they actually care.
plus that confession box of theirs; once you've confessed, you're absolved. handy eh?
speaking as a person who was brought up as a catholic but who rejected it at age 10, i am glad i followed my instincts.
i never felt comfortable within that religion, without fully knowing why. but as i grew up, many reasons became apparent and confirmed my decision as a correct one.
its a shame so many horrific crimes are hidden behind so many large institutions, the catholic church included.
and where are their followers voices now? if a programme or play or book offends their religious beliefs, their protests are everywhere in the media.
yet when one of their priests commits abuse, there is never any coverage or opinion offered from the same followers. i'd like to know why.
blessings of peace and strength to all the children who have suffered.
blessed be
)o(
2007-07-17 01:32:48 · answer #3 · answered by hedgewitch 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
My thoughts are on how horrible that is, and how unfortunate. My thoughts also go to how horrible it is that people use this to bash Catholicism. Newsflash, not all priests are pedophiles!
http://www.ewtn.com/vnews/getstory.asp?number=79936
Edit: Sorry if my post came off a little harsh. I didn't centralize my thoughts, which are basically agreeing with Jake *the poster below me*
Edit: Remember too that Cardinal Mahony (L.A.) is a little crazy.
2007-07-17 00:50:12 · answer #4 · answered by lawlzlawlzduck 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
They get their money for free......................
Hope they change into what God would like them to be.
2007-07-17 00:46:33 · answer #5 · answered by Ard-Drui 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋