The first few times we heard about the abuse-themed coloring book, "Being Friends, Being Safe, Being Catholic," which purports to each children how to avoid pedophile priests, we were sure it was a joke. But no, it's quite real, and it's being distributed by the Catholic Church's New York Archdiocese to hundreds of schoolsNewsweek offers this description: Many of the book's cartoon-sketch drawings, which were created by a church volunteer, are light in tone and narrated by an angel looming overhead. But on one page, the angel warns of an online predator-with chest hair exposed-who attempts to chat with a child; on another (shown above), the angel implies that children should make sure they're never alone in a room with a priest.
Call us crazy, but shouldn't all the resources available be going to make sure the priests are kept from abusing kids (personally, we're for letting clergy get married)? We're all for open discussion of hot topics, but the implication of this coloring book seems to be that it's up to the kids to keep from getting abused, which seems an awful lot like blaming the victim.
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 5)
1. OK - Let's just get one thing straight. Unless you have read any of the appropriate literature on Catholic teachings, you should not be stating what you feel is Catholic teaching.
Many of you are interchanging Catholic teaching and personal faith - and they are not necessarily the same to everyone - Religion is can be viewed as a tool or a guide to help us with our journey - faith is personal - unique to each individual-
I am amazed that some of you think because you have been into a Catholic church once or twice (if at all) that all Catholic churches are exactly the same! Sure there are similarities - but no two parishes are identical in everything- just like not two Methodist, or Baptist, or Lutheren, or Jewish Synagoge are exactly the same. When you have taken the time to understand and educate yourself on the Catholic church, then feel free to express your thoughts in a more Christian way. And ask yourself? What would Jesus Do? -bash another Christian group or see the love of Christ in each of us.
Faith is a personal experience between you and GOD - no two are alike. No two people of one faith believe exactly the same way - Of course you will find similarities, but our faith is molded by our journey.
If one priest makes an outragous statement - how can you generalize that the whole church believes that? Not sure about something you've heard, or seen, or was told? - pick up a Catechist book or go to another priest, a deacon, or a nun for answers - or talk to friend!!!!
There are people who are just as abusive to innocents in all faiths not just the Catholic church - I have witnessed this!!!!
To say that all men on the path to priesthood are gay is not even worth commenting on. And you call yourself a Christian.
As Christians we beleive in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Christians believe in the mystery of Easter and the beauty of Chrismas. How we practice that faith of Christianity is what we call Lutheran, Methodist, Baptist, and yes, Catholic.
Don't like your Catholic church - go to another one!!! Seriously people, it's not the church that makes up your Catholic faith - it's YOU - the church (like all churches) tries to offer guidance to help you with that journey. It's up to you to live your life like Chirst would want you to.
Peace to all of you...
I will keep you in my prayers
Jen at 12:23AM on Feb 20th 2008
2. What's the difference between a catholic priest and acne?
Acne waits until you're 13 before it comes on your face.
mac at 1:22AM on Feb 24th 2008
3. A new priest at his first mass was so nervous he could hardly speak.
After mass he asked the monsignor how he had done.
The monsignor replied, "When I am worried about getting nervous on the pulpit, I put a glass of vodka next to the water glass. if I start to get nervous, I take a sip."
So next Sunday he took the monsignor's advice. At the beginning of the sermon, he got nervous and took a drink. He proceeded to talk up a storm.
Upon his return to his office after mass, he found the following note on the door:
1. Sip the Vodka, don't gulp.
2. There are 10 commandments, not 12.
3. There are 12 disciples, not 10.
4. Jesus was consecrated, not constipated.
5. Jacob wagered his donkey, he did not bet his ass.
6. We do not refer to Jesus Christ as the late J. C.
7. The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are not referred to as Daddy, Junior and the Spook.
8. David slew Goliath, he did not kick the shit out of him.
9. When David was hit by a rock and was knocked off his donkey,don't say he was stoned off his ass.
10. We do not refer to the cross as the "Big T."
11. When Jesus broke the bread at the Last Supper he said, "Take this and eat it for it is my body." He did not say "Eat me"
12. The Virgin Mary is not called "Mary with the Cherry,"
13. The recommended grace before a meal is not: Rub-A-Dub-Dub thanks for the grub, yeah God.
14. Next Sunday there will be a taffy pulling contest at St. Peter's, not a Peter pulling contest at St. Taffy's!
mac at 10:12PM on Mar 12th 2008
4. IT SEEMES TO ME THE CHURCH HAS DONE LITTLE TO EXPOSE AND PROSICUTE THESE PRIESTS THE CHURCH PROTECTS THESE LOW LIFE PRIESTS ONLY WHEN IT AFFECTS THERE POCKET BOOKS DO THEY CARE ABOUT THE KIDS.
A FORMER CATHOLIC AND A CHILD THAT WAS ABUSED
Darlene at 3:27PM on Dec 19th 2007
5. Most if not all of the priests accused and who pled guilty or were convicted of abuse were openly gay or were oriented to the homosexual lifestyle. In fact I read that one such accused person Bishop Shanley was openly observed at a Man Boy Love association rally to name one! Marriage is not an answer to abuse or pedophilia. The problem is so wide spread and more prolific in the secular realm i.e. public schools where it is estimated 3 million children a year are subject to some sort of abuse by teachers or employees of the system and yet nothing is done - many, if not most are married. Another example are the large numbers of women in public schools who have been accused and/or convicted of sex with their students - most of the stories I read indicated the perps were married.
I would agree that the book is a bad idea. The overwhelming majority of priests are holy or striving to be holy wonderful servants of Jesus and I am very proud of them. I am proud to be Roman Catholic and I love my Church. Have a blessed Christmas.
EJM at 9:47AM on Dec 18th 2007
6. Ada I think you are so right on this. I had many questions about the teachings of the Catholic Church when when I was younger.
1-I could never understand why Priests were not allowed to be married. I thought that since they council many a families, being a father as a priest and as a family man would give him a broader base of experience and knowledge.I am certainly not an avid reader of the Gospel, but have read it.I do not remember where God or JC said that Priests could not get married. The Catholic Church has made that rule, not God or JC
2-Why can't woman be priests?
3-Why does the Catholic Church say that if you are not a Catholic, you cannot go to heaven. So Jews, buddists, muslims et even though they may be very good people, can never go to heaven. God, is all love, and to teach different is wrong.
4-Does God really not allow babies to go to heaven who have not been Baptized? I do not think so. I cannot believe what I saw being done in the Philippines. Even in very poor areas, the Church would not baptize a baby unless the family/parents paid money, thus if a baby died before being baptized, the baby would never go to heaven.People would become adults before they had the money to get baptized. Also the Filipinos were never taught by the Church they as an individual could baptize a baby. Thus a family could go on believeing that a baby who died w/o being baptized would never get to heaven.
ROBERT OKANE at 10:04AM on Dec 18th 2007
7. That's because the Catholic Church - and pretty much all churches are total Bullsh**. I have to laugh every time some goofy Christian tries to throw some nonsensical "creationism" or other BS out there. It is embarassing that humans are still so amazingly gullible and stupid since we now know the history of the church, its purpose, etc.
Yeah, God just stands idly by and lets priests sodomize children - and you ask why - and they say "its part of God's plan" - LOL... God has a "plan" for plooking young boys in the butt. Okay.
As for priests being married - that isn't the issue.
As for hot female schoolteachers seducing students, if there was a God, I would have to ask why I didn't get one of these?
Doug at 10:17AM on Dec 18th 2007
8. In response to #'s 3 and 4: these are not actually true. The Church teaches that anyone who strives to live a good life can go to heaven, irregardless of their actual faith. Catholicism simply makes the task easier. In the same way unbaptised babies do in fact go to heaven. I believe this was recently confirmed by Pope Benedict
Jeff Clark at 10:18AM on Dec 18th 2007
9. Robert, do you see Ada as an authority on the teachings of the Catholic Church? Take your questions to a priest--or at least a Catholic.
Denise at 10:29AM on Dec 18th 2007
10. Just another way for the catholic church to avoid taking responsibility for their illegal, imoral, and sinful, actions and inactions!! Why aren't they spending more time discovering and removing the pedofiles from their domains? Teaching fellow preists and biships and higher ups how to recognize a pedophile? Aren't all adults and especially Preists supposed to protect the innocent lambs of god?? Why are they educating children on pedophiles?? When the adults clearly don't recognize them?? Yes, children should know good touch, bad touch and have the esteem to know when to tell. But what is this picture telling those children that can't read??
Can a NONPEDOPHILE PREIST please stand up and protect our children?????? Parents will you PLEASE OPEN YOUR EYES to how you are being brain washed by these pedophiles!!! There is nothing wrong with the relgion. its the pedophiles that are wrong!!!! GET THEM OUT!!!!! PUT THEM AWAY!!! PROTECT YOUR CHILDREN!!
MB at 10:32AM on Dec 18th 2007
11. Membership in the Catholic Church is something to be ashamed of.
It's a breeding ground for sexual deviancy.
In other to become a priest, you have to say "I want to love God more than other human beings."
That's taking Imaginary Friends to a dangerous and sick level.
You've got to start looking at priests and realize that they are voluntarily forcing their own sexuality into deviant paths.
Many of them turn to alcohol abuse to numb their natural feelings about love and family.
I am really disappointed that so many Catholics think their religion is a good thin.
William Hays at 10:31AM on Dec 18th 2007
12. what color is the pope's pocket pope?
brad at 11:04AM on Dec 18th 2007
13. #4...so your saying the pope has been to heaven and seen a bunch of unbaptized babies there? how else would he be able to confirm that?
Rah at 11:10AM on Dec 18th 2007
14. Well, Ada, you may not agree with the strategy, but the intent is good. This almost appears to be an outreach program to young children by the Catholic Church's New York Archdiocese.
Being taught awareness of possible dangers is a good thing. Look at the internet, going back a few years most people weren't aware of things like identity theft and the things the "Lori Drews" out there can do on it.
Willet at 11:28AM on Dec 18th 2007
15. Should have been a pop-up book. It seems like the Catholic(k)s have done it again; warning children not to be alone in a room with their 'men of the cloth' instead of focusing on the predators and their deviate conduct and purging the church of them. The church hierarchy has swept this under the rug for so long, in that sense, giving it tacit approval- that they have long since failed their mission. It is just an old-boy network of homos and pedophiles that qualifies for major tax exemptions- while amassing tons of wealth and property. The church had billions in damages to pay, and managed to quietly 'find it somewhere' while children in their jurisdictions go hungry. From the 'Poope ' on down, they are a bunch of bloated, money-hungry hypocrites and all should be 'purged' from the planet. Then, thet should melt down the big, gold hat and fill a pothole in Heaven.
Doc at 12:31PM on Dec 18th 2007