It seems to me that the point about criticizing the "catholic" church re its child abuse and sexuality problems, and its collective inability to be staight about pedophile priests is that the church claims to be the only source of truth in the world--even ABSOLUTE truth.

Plus it claims to be the only bastion against the alleged rot of "relativism", especially in relation to sexual morality. The right-wing catholic blogo-sphere is full of this pretentious righteous posturing

It is thus quite rightly hoisted on the petard of its own pretentious hypocritical double-mindedness.

Yes members of other organizations, both religious and secular have their sexual exploiters and abusers too.

But they generally do not pretend to be the only source of truth, even absolute truth, in the world.

"When facing your own conscience and being tempted to play politics with the lives of innocent children, remember that NO God, not the God believed in by Jews, Christians or Muslims, (and not even the God that atheists reject), could possibly countenance the violation of innocent children."

Very true Asher. I don't believe that if there was a higher being in charge of the earths morality, they would allow such evil to happen.
Therefore I find it easy not to believe in a God at all.
In my view, paedophile religious leaders should be even more strenuously punished than the other scum paedophiles.

Just because the church says that priests are special and even priests themselves say they are special it does not make it true. They should be criticised for their sexual abuse and not for their self-delusions. They should be treated like anyone else who commits the crime of sexual abuse. You cannot add years to their punishment because they have been deluded by their own hype. If being deluded was a crime we’d all be in strife. They are just human beings and are entitled to the same justice as any other human being.

People act outraged because priests do not do live up to the image that they and others project of them. They only have that image because some have put them on a pedestal for their own needs. A big part of the problem is the failure of some parents to respond appropriately when children report sexual abuse at the hands of clergy. The parents do not want to believe it to be true because it threatens their dependence on religion. Children do not put themselves in danger – their parents do. It is not only a question of child abuse for the parents it is also a question of why people need religion.

Having an exalted view of any human being is very unhealthy. No one is better than anyone else by virtue of their public role. Being more outraged at the behaviour of priests as compared to other citizens says more about the outraged person than the priest. Many people who have resentment towards the church for other reasons often jump on the bandwagon and love to point out the failure of priests to live up to an image that they no longer even subscribe to.

Conversely you could argue the duty of care that a father has towards his daughter may be much more serious than the duty of care of a priest towards that same daughter. Why are we not equally outraged by incest? It does not diminish the crime just because a father does not promote himself as a bastion of virtue

Dear phanto, The stats on sexual abuse of children by their fathers is 1%. Why are you suggesting that fathers are responsible for most it, when the evidence, is, that somebody else is responsible, 99% of the time? One, common, problem is the new, "bad boy", BF, that many deadbeat, single, mothers, take up with, after, leaving a perfectly good father, because they were a little bored, and too lazy or stupid to do some couples counselling.

All posters, so far, why have none of you, (feminists especially) mentioned the plight of girls, in catholic, all girl schools, which are run by nuns? Are you seriously, suggesting that, no, equally frustrated, celibate nun, has never, ever, been involved in lesbian sex with other nuns or girls at a catholic girls school, anywhere in the world?

Are you seriously suggesting that no nuns have ever been responsible for physical abuse or cruelty?

I personally have met and spoken with survivors of both genders who were beaten by nuns, or, the gardener, following orders, from the senior nun.

phanto, "methinks, the pot, is calling the kettle, black" and you, may be pursuing an agenda, of your own, to, blame all abuse of children, on men, and completely ignore the abuse of children, by women. Do you support, the rights, of every deadbeat, single, mother to neglect and abuse her children?

The eloquent Rabbi Ashar Lipner has been misinterpreted and critically maligned by readers of OLO. Seems critics are more intent on discrediting the Author, then evaluating the gist of his article.

The appointment of pro-Nazi Bishop Williamson may not have been physically appointed by Pope Benedict, but to be sure, everything emanating from the Vatican must be sanctioned by His Holiness's imprimatur. Thousands of priest ( all religions ) monks, nuns were purged, incarcerated, and sent to the gas chambers. Those evading prosecution practiced a pseudo religion, and at the time, were assidiously careful to preach anything but the Nazi propaganda. Some call them collaborators. Pope Pius XII.

The diasporas Catholic Church is suffering for the sins of a few paedophilic priest, just like any giant Corporation with hundreds and thousands of employees. Today, every parish in Oz,is operating below par - given the seminaries are bereft of zealous recruits. More lay members are ursurping the duties performed by priest. Eventually, their numbers will cease. Priest are being imported from Poland, Nigeria, and Vietnam to mitigate the scarcity.

Many priest,particularly in the USA, have been prosecuted, defrocked and goaled for their sexuality. In Ireland, South America, Mexico and the Phillippines, priest are venerated, and their sexual proclivities, abuse, etc are tolerated, even condoned. Some, lead a double life, supported by their parish, to the extent of rearing their offspring. In Ireland, the Government supports the clergy to rear orphans, unwanted children etc.

The Holocaust should be remembered, as a reminder of man's inhumanity to his siblings. The " master race " is a myth, and no one is more superior than his neighbour. The Jewish, " final solution " liquidation was only a side show. Academics, gypsies, foreigners, deviates, collaborators etc made up 60/70 per cent of the inmates at Auschwitz, Belsen etc.

Well done Rabbi.

Formersnag, yes I spent 12 years in a Catholic girls college and yes some of the nuns were cruel to us. They doled out physical punishment to us, but at no stage did I ever hear of a nun committing sexual abuse on children.
There probably are some twisted nuns somewhere who may have done this, but if so, then I am sure there would have been plenty about it in the press!

>"One, common, problem is the new, "bad boy", BF, that many deadbeat, single, mothers, take up with, after, leaving a perfectly good father, because they were a little bored, and too lazy or stupid to do some couples counselling."

Hey what about the single mothers left holding the baby when fathers have run off in fright at the responsibility? What about the fathers running off with another woman? Many of these men are quite happy to have sex with these women, but don't deal with the results very well. You can't lump all single mothers in the same basket Formersnag.

I do agree though that many paedophiles prey on single, vulnerable mothers to get access to their children, just as they become Priests or teachers to get close to children.

This does NOT mean that all men are potential child-abusers, just that most of those convicted of the crime have been men. This fact cannot be disputed