So far in his celebrated visit to America, His Holiness has expressed shame and regret for the massive sex abuse scandal and the way it was handled. But he also said it was sort of America's own fault.According to Breitbart: ...He urged efforts "to address the sin of abuse within the wider context of sexual mores" as well as a reassessment of "the values underpinning society."
"What does it mean to speak of child protection when pornography and violence can be viewed in so many homes through media widely available today?" the pontiff said on the first full day of his US visit.
"Children deserve to grow up with a healthy understanding of sexuality and its proper place in human relationships. They should be spared the degrading manifestations and the crude manipulation of sexuality so prevalent today."
They should also be spared a religious hierarchy that protects the priests that abuse them.The Pope has yet to explain what the Church is doing to expel pedophile priests, and he continues to stand by bishops who covered up the abuse for years.
The truth is, the abuse that went on in the Catholic Church is not "society's" fault. It's the Church's fault. That's why the Church has had to pay out $2 billion in claims. And that makes it ultimately the Pope's fault. The church scandal is not something he can pass off on internet pornography.
For us, the Pope's visit has raised some major questions:
1. How rude is it to attack our morality on his first full day here? President Bush picked him up from the airport.
2. Does anyone know why Benedict's teenage affiliation with the Hitler Youth is excused by his being, in the BBC 's parlance, "not an enthusiastic member"?
3. Any clue why the Pope's autobiography is written through the eyes of his cat Chico?
4. Finally, how seriously should we take what the papers are calling the Pope's "chiding" of American society and its role in the church scandal? Do we as a nation really share some of the blame for the Church's crisis?
Reader Comments ( Page 14 of 14)
196. As for the Popes Nazi past I notice we keep hearing about his Hitler Youth past but dont hear about his service in the German Army.
This Gentleman comes to our country and the first thing he does is tell us what an immoral country we are and in his visits to the ball parks and the U.N. he continues this theme. Perhaqps his advisors snould try and teach him a little more diplomacy but then again he is from Regensburg so that probably explains it.
Chuck Bowen at 10:05AM on Apr 21st 2008
197. The real crisis came about when the homosexuals took control of many seminarys and allowed an onslaught of their fellow Homosexuals to enter these schools. Many good Priests warned their superiors of what was going on but these highly placed supervisors ignored, and in some cases, facilitated this infiltration. This went on up to the highest levels of the Church.
Chuck Bowen at 10:15AM on Apr 21st 2008
198. Most certainly the pope could declare it an unpardenable sin, but that wouldn't make it so according to God, and well, He is all that matters.
The problem is not an American problem, as we know these things have been going on since before Christ was ever born, the problem is a sinful heart problem that only Christ can change.
The problem within the RCC is the same, they want to try and hide their sin, but the thing is, it's not JUST in the RCC, it's in other churches as well..and if we say we do not want pedophiles there, do we also not want adulterers there? Or what about liars or thieves? Pretty soon the church pews would be empty...maybe that's the point, people want the church to close it's doors so that they are not told what they are doing is a SIN!!!
But even if the church doors close, doesn't mean Christians will stop telling others about their sin..
No, it's not America, it's man's own heart that is evil in all it's imaginations..maybe the Pope should actually READ HIS Bible..starting with Genesis 8:20-21 after the flood.
Bug at 10:06PM on Apr 21st 2008
199. Batch of crap.
Society didn't hide the pedos.....the church and the popes, (all of them) did that.
Rosalie at 8:11PM on May 17th 2008
200. It is not only priests. Anyone can be a pedophile. A cop your mailman your neighbor your Uncle your nephew your husband. Let me put it this way-do not trust anyone with your precious child. I blame the parents as much as I blame the church. These kids waited decades before they spoke up. Why? Because they felt black shame following them around. These parents did not equip their children with the knowledge that would guard them against sick perverts. Parents must teach their children to kick and scream and bite if they find themselves in this situation. Do not leave your children overnight with another adult. 1 out of every two children will be molested or an attempt will be made.. and in the majority of cases it will be a trusted friend or family member who perpetrates the crime. And it is not just men, women especially school teachers have made the headlines in every county. Check out the Sexual Predator lists in your area on the Internet. You are really going to be shocked when you see the pictures and addresses of people you thought you knew well. The abuse stops with educating the children. I am all for incarceration of first offenders and castration for second offenders. My girl cousin was raped by my brother-she told everyone the same day. He has been banished. My young niece was molested by my sisters husband, after we beat him we sent him to prison for 2 years, he was raped on his 11th day there, had to pay a little extra for that. Yup, I have no mercy.
Steven Parker at 11:52PM on Apr 23rd 2008
201. This is in reply to Sean.
I do not apologize for failing to remember exact details. They are not important. The point I was making is that popes, themselves, can be as imperfect as the rest of us! Also, another point: the fact that "child abuse" is a recent concept. I do not lie, Sean. I also realize that the Catholic church is also flawed. Catholics may believe it was "founded by God," but it is clearly operated by MEN (and women have very little roles in it which is the Church's loss!)
Jane
Jane Barsumian at 7:44AM on May 27th 2008
202. Another one to Sean.
I think I must apologize as Sean, you may be right about it being the Emperor Tiberius and not a pope who was playing in the bathtub with children. And, you are right about getting facts straight when writing about such sensitive topics.
I do believe I have read about women who pretended to men and somehow were elected pope which is ASTOUNDING! I stand by my remarks, however, that Popes are not perfect as they are human and err like the rest of us (just as I did when memory served me wrong). The ideals of the Church are true; they have been marred by our all too human failities. Jane
Jane Barsumian at 7:45AM on May 27th 2008
203. 52. The Catholic Church doesn't make priests pedophiles. Pedophiles go into to this line of work because they will have access to children.
Jane at 9:00AM on Apr 18th 2008
xxx
many of you noted that. The fact is the profession is an attractive nuisance because of celibacy and the ability to have unsupervised contact with children. There's also a ready safety valve for guilt - a few mea culpas and you're back in the saddle.
It would probably help if they mandated priests of either gender be married, or maybe just go to women for priests. I don't think the incidence of female pedophilia is anywhere near as high.
Or, if you're going to be celibate anyway, why not mandatory castration for priests?
It would probably improve their complexions and singing voices and problem definitely solved!
Clif Kuplen at 9:08PM on Jul 5th 2008