Part 2
I have been a follower of OLO for many years and find more than a few articles of interest, but certainly time and time again, I am saddened by the virulence, the ignorance and irrationality shown by a group of writers and commentators, whenever a topic such as Christianity or particularly Catholicism is the subject or by product. I know all their bylines and can predict their responses with certainty. I am sorry they are so bitter, it makes me wonder about their individual lives and social networks, and here I am not referring to those individuals who have genuine grievances.

As I said I am a Catholic, I try to live by the precepts that Christ taught, however I am well aware of my human failings and how hard it is to live to the standards I believe Christ set. But I am also know that when the mob were wanting to stone a woman accused of prostitution, to those who wanted to stone her, Christ said “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone” and after they had all slunk away, he said to the woman “Your sins are forgiven, go and sin no more.” There is lessons for everybody including amongst OLO bloggers in those two expressions.

The Church is made up of human beings and since its inception it has had those who have been saints, and the greater majority of those who have been sinners who struggle against their own weaknesses or succumb to them.

By the way I am not going to hide behind a pseudonym, my name is John Launder and I live in Stawell.

The Australian study of health and relationships in 2001 surveyed a nationally representative sample of 19,307 Australians aged 16 - 59 years. these included 10,173 men, of whom 97.4% identified as heterosexual. 1.6% as homosexual or gay, and 0.9% as bisexual, while 0.1% undecided or other. A lifetime history of sexual attraction that included other men was reported by 6.8%, and sexual experience with other men by 6.0%. Of the men who identified as hetrosexual, 2.7% reported having had sex with at least one other man. By extrapolation to the general Australian population, this suggests that there are about 158,000 men aged 16 - 59 years who identify as hetrosexual but have some history of same sex contact. this is in addition to the 148,000 men who identify as gay or bisexual.

source: MJA 2006

In response to bagsyl and Passy. As a victim of this who has done a lot of co-ordinated investigation into this the seemingly innocuous thing which has had the unfortunate effect of adding to the appearance of a coverup here in Australia as well as a number of other countries has been the simple act of good catholics thinking they have been doing the right thing by acting to "protect the good name of the church - unfortunately this one motivation has unfortunately led to many being abused and again when they attempt to find healing - it is a shame and a pity and I hope there is some way around that.

I'm intrigued, bagsyl. John. Whatever.

>>I am saddened by the virulence, the ignorance and irrationality shown by a group of writers and commentators, whenever a topic such as Christianity or particularly Catholicism is the subject or by product.<<

This is, of course, a generalization. And as we know, all generalizations are false. Including that one.

But one has to assume that you posted these remarks on this thread because you feel that some observations made here demonstrate "virulence... ignorance and irrationality".

Would you care to point one or two of them out to us, and provide some insight into why you believe they are out of place?

There appear to be two schools: the one that I sit in, that treats with suspicion the glib defence mechanisms of hierarchical organizations, that are out significantly of touch with reality.

And then there is the one that is clearly populated by the abused, telling their story in a direct and quite painful manner.

Which of these do you object to?

Or are they equal in your sight?

So what you are saying Kipp is that 2.6% of the population is homosexual or are potentialy pedophiles, And that's not counting the female pedophiles.

You do realize that this has nothing to do with this particular debate.

jayb. You appear to be uninformed on the diversity of mankind, by your posting that homosexuals are paedophiles.

Assuming that you are hetrosexual, it is no less than saying you are inclined towards paedphillia, and my point in my posting was to enlighten you, that sexual abuse wether same sex or opposite sex is not specific to any gender or sexuality.

I trust this will assist you at looking at the broader circumstances of sexual abuse, and that you review your personal blinkered outlook to a serious issue.