Can I hold the entire Roman Catholic Church responsible in that same way we hold all Muslims responsible?

Question

I just opened an e-mail about a professor by the name of Indrek Wicham from michigan State University.

Muslim students were protesting cartoons that had been drawn characterizing their Prophet Muhammad as a terrorist. I, even as an American, can see how this could be offensive.

The Professor responded to this by saying he was offended by the beheading of American Soldiers, bombing of public buildings, burning of Christian Churches and other acts I also find offensive.

BUT.... I think it is ignorant to hold an entire culture responsible for a percentage of extremist.

Can I hold the entire Roman Catholic Church responsible for the sexual molestation of hundreds of altar BOYS. BOYS...in a religion that believes it is a sin to have sexual relations with someone the same sex, and a CHILD on top of that.

I'm just trying to compare and contrast the way we defend cultures we understand and prosecute those we don't.

Edit For St. Francis:
I am not bashing ANY religion and I am also not holding the entire Catholic Church responsible for the actions of only a few.
My point is it is ignorant to hold an entire people resposible for the actions of a few. If it is unfair to do to Catholics, it is also unfair to do to Muslims or any other religion.

So before you bash me, pay attention to the question I was really asking, and don't be so defensive, be open minded.

Answer 1

CAN YOU YES!

SHOULD YOU, in my opinon NO. That is your choice too of course and I would never take that away from you or anyone. I hope that having the freedom to think and choose people would see that what you just said MAKES SENSE!

I hate to say it but Jews can be the same way if you crack a joke about their culture or Blacks. It is silly. I agree we should only hold judgement on those responsible and not an entire culture due to speculation.

The Professor in my opinion misses the fact had that been a sketch of Jesus doing that rather than Mohammed that professor would have probably been just as upset! I SEE the Hypocracy in it and you are not being judgemental either, you are just pointing out Hypocracy and that is it! Good job!

I wish others were as open to seeing these things!! It was wrong to make the sketch YES!! It was also just as wrong to make that statement by the Professor! Both were incorrect and that is what should be seen and accepted as fact.

Keep up the keen eye on things, the more people that can think like this are less likely to be fooled by a false prophet or such!

Answer 2

Oh wow....You have a serious point!!! Thats intense dear, SUPER intense. You cannot hold a whole religion/culture responsable for the extreme few. Thats total penalization (SP?) You are 100% on the money. Yes it is ignorant. But...naw once again, you cant hold a party as a whole for the molestation of boys by a few extremests ;) haha. But that is gross (and hypocratic). People shouldn't catagorize others so easily, not all are like those few who stand out in a horrid way. You are so dead on, STAR :D You are a genius!
-Ryko

Answer 3

The problem is the ambiguity in the term "responsibility." For Catholics, moral responsibility is framed within a broader understanding of human agency and natural causation. In a sense the entire RCC is responsible, but in only a very remote and material sense. Actual perps of the sex scandal are personally, immediately, formally, and efficiently responsible. So there are degrees of responsibility. And if you can't acknowledge that, well, then what's stopping us from saying that the entire human race is responsible for the molestations?

Answer 4

I see what you are asking, and the answer is no on both accounts.

It is illogical, irrational and prejudicial to hold a culture, religion or belief system accountable for the actions of those who may or may not adhere to it. While I can blame neo-nazi movements for contributing to anti-semitism, this is like blaming Catholicism for celebrating the Mass. Where it is intrinsic to the identity of a people, only then can you hold the people accountable.

The Catholic Church, as you have said, condemns pederasty and homosexuality as grave sins. I shudder to think of the punishment that lays in wait for those who committed it and those who covered it up. "Better a millstone tied around the neck..."

We should not hold Islam accountable for the violent reactions to the unfortunate depictions of Muhammed; we should hold those who committed violence accountable, and we should recognize that such a sense of satire is not universally shared or appreciated.

Answer 5

No, it is wrong to hold an entire culture responsible for a percentage - so you can't do it to the Catholics any more than you can do it to the Muslims. But it does seem like this stuff goes on because the entire culture does not police itself.

Answer 6

All religions have committed atrocities in the name of their faith. All through history bitter wars have been fought, humans been tortured and killed, innocent people imprisoned, children been molested, women been stripped of their basic human rights etc. etc. Yes, it is mainly the extremists responsible for most of this, but I'm holding ALL religions responsible for most evils of this world. That's why I'm an atheist. I want no part of any of it. Just my humble opinion.

Answer 7

I have to agree with you; to hold an entire group responsible for the actions of a minority of it's followers, especially when this group condemns those actions, is pretty wrong!

Answer 8

Many people do hold the entire Roman Catholic Church responsible for the actions of a few priests.

In my opinion they are as ignorant as those who blame all Muslims for the actions of a few radicals who claim to be acting in the name of Islam.

I think you are smarter than either group.

Answer 9

thank you VERY much for seeing that!!
i read comments on here everyday about how all us muslims teach our kids to blow themselves up, degrade women, and want everyone to be dead.
these people DO exist, but they are only a few hundred out of the 1.84 billion muslims in the world.

Answer 10

I can see the point that you are making, however you are being just as ignorant as that proffessor by making those comments. No not all muslims should be held as responsible it is horrible that someone was so tasteless, and even more tragic that an educated and respected member of the community would try and justify it. But the comments you made are just as bad. Why not try and make your point by pointing out the ignorace without making statements that can offend others as well.