http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2010/06/29/MNRF1E68UI.DTL

It's unconscionable that this man leads the largest church in the world. If I were Catholic I'd be even more appalled. Frankly, I've yet to meet an American Catholic who supported Ratzinger's ascension to Pope or supports the direction in which he is currently taking the church.

6/30/2010 1:33:27 PM

Not everyone can be Pope John Paul II.

6/30/2010 1:36:11 PM

Nope, but even a normal, decent human being could see that this is not the way to handle the situation.

6/30/2010 1:37:14 PM

Quote :

"The Vatican said Monday that only the pope can level such accusations against a cardinal."

WTF? Cardinals can go on raping boys and only the Pope can call them out?

Sodomize those cardinals with a splintered broomstick... then perhaps they will know how they have destroyed the lives of thousands of children.

Quote :

" The Vatican is accused of conspiring with U.S. church officials to transfer a priest from city to city despite repeated accusations that the clergyman sexually abused young people."

Fucking barbarians. Fuck all those involved, even the ones doing the paperwork for the transfers (if they knew about the absues), with the broomstick.

If there is any crime that deserves the death penalty, it is child rape.

And hell with the pope.

Quote :

"The continued idiocy debauchery/depravity/wickedness of the Vatican "

[Edited on June 30, 2010 at 1:47 PM. Reason : ]

6/30/2010 1:43:20 PM

You've met American Catholics who admit that the Pope's ascension isn't divinely driven? Would they admit that a godless scumbag could be elected as God's representative on Earth? Any Catholics on the board here want to chime in? I'm genuinely interested in how Catholics are dealing with this paradox.

6/30/2010 2:25:43 PM

My wife grew up Catholic, but has nothing to do with that church now. She got fed up with all of the corruption and molesting. I'm glad because Catholic mass is about the most boring crap ever.

6/30/2010 3:17:53 PM

^Catholic mass might be boring, but as church services go its one of the shortest in my experience.

6/30/2010 3:33:31 PM

Quote :

"raping boys"

Quote :

"destroyed the lives of thousands of children"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5SRwuo3fOk
http://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=127956314

6/30/2010 3:37:08 PM

i've only ever been to a catholic mass on a sunday and that shit was longggggggg

oh and a catholic wedding. also long

6/30/2010 3:38:53 PM

I like going to mass with my parents because it's exactly an hour and the Priest is always on time.

That being said.. I was thinking of converting to Catholicism until recently because of this Pope. :\

6/30/2010 3:42:03 PM

I also was raised Catholic but have completely disassociated myself from the faith, not only because of this, but also because I dont see the point of organized religion anymore.

6/30/2010 3:43:25 PM

Inasmuch as I am any particular faith (I go to church maybe 4x/year) I would be Catholic as that's what faith I was raised in and when I do go, that's where I go.

HOWEVER I take issue with the supposed divinity of the bureaucracy of the church (because that's really all it is), with the supposed infallbility of the pope in general, and with the fact that this particular pope is currently involved in driving the Church off a very large cliff with some very sharp rocks at the bottom. The problem is that I think he believes, deep down, that what he's doing is right in some sort of "the Church as an overall organization does good works AND I have a divine mandate to protect it SO fuck anyone who gets in the way of that" kind of way. While any logical person can see that, in trampling the rights and voices of those who have been violated by the organization he is trying to protect, he's doing much more harm than good. But really, were we expecting anyone else from a hardline, right-wing "defender of the faith"?

6/30/2010 4:18:40 PM

i'm not going to chime in because there will be no legit conversation

it will be all the athiests and non-catholics hating, look at all the stupid comments already

Quote :

"Sodomize those cardinals with a splintered broomstick"

Quote :

"Fucking barbarians"

Quote :

"Would they admit that a godless scumbag"

Quote :

"Catholic mass is about the most boring crap ever"

Quote :

"catholic wedding. also long"

Quote :

"I dont see the point of organized religion anymore"

no one likes the fact that there have been abused children. Unfortunately it is such a flash topic now that every negative story gets blasted over the news and people rant and rave about the corruption in the church. The church is working to remove the clergymen who abused children and is working to help those affected heal.

6/30/2010 4:25:27 PM

There's nothing stupid about any of those^ comments.

Quote :

"The church is working to remove the clergymen who abused children"

Sure, but how about those involved in the continued cover-up and conspiracy to cover-up?
That is also illegal, you know. The pope himself may even be guilty.

Also, being removed is a slap on the hand. They sexually abused children, and all that should happen is them losing their position in the church? Have we all gone mad? They belong in jail!

Quote :

"and is working to help those affected heal"

You can never heal from child sex abuse.
Plus, the church is helping? That's like al-Qaeda working to help 9/11 victims to heal.

[Edited on June 30, 2010 at 4:51 PM. Reason : ]

6/30/2010 4:45:04 PM

being a catholic school girl myself. I found that the shorter the plaid skirts the more the boys drooled.

oh yeah the new pope... don't like him, or little boys getting raped. ewww

6/30/2010 5:32:04 PM

^^I agree with the first part of what you said. Removing sexual predators from the clergy is NOT the point. Removing them from society IS the point.

but:

Quote :

"You can never heal from child sex abuse. Plus, the church is helping? That's like al-Qaeda working to help 9/11 victims to heal."

Is not true in either part. People can and do heal the wounds of abuse, sexual and otherwise in order to lead healthy lives. I agree that the church is decidedly NOT helping, but there are many members and individuals who do help. Restoring someone's faith in God is very powerful and is tremendously helpful in healing their wounds.

6/30/2010 6:43:41 PM

DonMega. You thought that response would get more empathy than being honest?

Quote :

"Unfortunately it is such a flash topic now"

It's been going on for decades. It's only recently been discovered just how far up the cover-up goes.

And

Quote :

"Pope slams cardinal who exposed abuse cover-up"

Is the exact opposite of "working to remove the clergymen". Only one side here is refusing to have a "legit conversation". And it ain't the atheists or non-catholics.

6/30/2010 8:38:03 PM

I’ll probably never get another chance to say this, but i agree with indy on this one.

6/30/2010 8:47:14 PM

6/30/2010 9:23:54 PM

this thread may feel more at home in the soap box...

and i agree with indy too

[Edited on June 30, 2010 at 11:42 PM. Reason : ]

6/30/2010 11:41:36 PM

I feel that this is highly relevant and adequately expresses my views on the issue:
(WARNING: Do not watch if you are at work of offended by the word "fuck")

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_LxohtX2WI

7/1/2010 12:30:43 AM

Quote :

"I'm glad because Catholic mass is about the most boring crap ever."

Heh true I never appreciated mass as a kid but if I'm ever up in NY or MA visiting family during the holidays I will attend midnight mass and enjoy it. I could never see myself fully rejoining the church though.

7/1/2010 12:36:36 AM

Quote :

"I also was raised Catholic but have completely disassociated myself from the faith, not only because of this, but also because I dont see the point of organized religion anymore."

7/1/2010 12:44:03 AM

Quote :

"no one likes the fact that there have been abused children."

"No one likes the fact"? That expression is used in this sense:

No one likes the fact that Clinton slept with other women. OR
No one likes the fact that obesity is increasing.

How about

Every Church official strongly condemns the fact there have been abused children.

Can you really say that? It is clear from your language your nonchalant attitude towards child rape and pedophilia. Are you sure you want to be associated with those 2 wicked things, DonMega?

Here is another example of your attitude:

Quote :

"The church is working to remove the clergymen who abused children"

How about "The Church is working to HELP PROSECUTE the clergymen who abused children by providing evidence to the authorities"? Can that be said?

So I guess if one day your child gets raped by someone, you will just be happy if rapist is removed from his job, right?


[Edited on July 1, 2010 at 5:55 AM. Reason : DonMega "does not like" the fact that children get raped by religious figures]

7/1/2010 5:53:25 AM

What I don't get is how regardless of the church/vatican being complicit, why aren't the priests being locked up by the police given all of the victims coming forward, witnesses, etc.?

7/1/2010 8:00:04 AM

I think for a lot of these cases it comes down to statute of limitations.

7/1/2010 8:29:57 AM

CELIBACY FAIL

7/2/2010 8:19:38 PM

of course the real idiocy is acting like there is a god

7/3/2010 5:40:52 AM