Dear runner,

This thread happens to deal with the topic
of the impact of sexual abuse by the
priesthood. I started this thread as I
explained in my opening post - because of
the programme that I saw on the ABC's 'Compass,'
programme.

By the way -this is not about 'Catholic Bashing.'
It's about a particular priest who committed sexual abuse,
and the way that the Catholic Church dealt with this
problem.

It showed the hypocrisy of the actions of certain
religious leaders who proclaim Christian morality
strongly as ideal to strive for, and who insist that
certain rules be followed - yet they themselves
renege on all counts.

I should also add that perhaps you're confusing paedophilia
with homosexuality.

Paedophiles are the ones who prey on
young children, and they certainly do exist in all walks of
life. My thread however is about the ones in the priesthood.

As Dr Collins points out in his book "Believers,"
there are, and I quote:

"generations of gay priests
who have ministered to both sexes successfully in the Catholic
Church...a large number of straight priests have left the
active ministery over the last 30 years to marry...there is a
much higher proportion of gays in the present-day priesthood
than in the general population...Also a lot of gay priests have
been ordained over the last three decades...It is clear that
the accusation that gay priests are more likely to be child
molesters if totally wrong, and lay Catholics have no problem
with gay clergy whether they are "out" or, more likely,
quietly integrating their sexual preference..."

Foxy

Please don't be disheartened. Knowledge is power and knowledge on this subject empowers all "good Christians" like you to initiate change.

John 8:31-32"....and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

You are beginning to know the truth.

I posted this on another thread

I feel sorry for Catholics. Catholics are believers in a faith that should, bring out the best in all of it's followers.

If the clergy handled ugly issues in a Jesus-like manner, the ordinary Catholic would be less burdened.

Do Catholics receive the flack whilst other religious groups, that have taken similar wrong decisions, get to blend in with the crowd and are spared much of the criticism?

Do ALL religions have skeletons, and, if so aren't they letting down their alleged God?

The whole post also goes on to deal with how the confessional may play an unintended role in what has been happening in Catholicism.

See

http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?article=8616&page=7

My post begins with "TY Otokonoko"

The simple fact of the matter is that we as a society should address these matters openly, with the criminals being uncovered and the criminals punished.

The Police have the expertise, the manpower and the resources to handle these matters very discreetly protecting the innocent and sparing the victims from more pain.

It is time, we, as a community, let the Police do what they do best, by demanding Governments force churches to give the Police full unrestricted access to all church records!

If it takes special legislation do it... we need these criminals jailed!

Dear Opinionated2,

I couldn't agree with you more.

It is time that Catholics themselves took a strong
stand on this issue - because sure as anything
the Church is not going to do it. The hierarchy
of the Church still seems to prefer the denial
and 'cover up method.' They still follow the
principles of expecting their followers to blindly
obey - and not question anything they do. We're all
supposed to 'toe the line and do as they tell us.'

This is becoming unacceptable. Certainly to the victims
and their families.

Of course, there are many decent priests, and many who
want changes made. But they are not the ones in power
with any kind of control.

You're absolutely right - the more we speak up -
change will come. It has to. The Church has survived for
so many decades - because it has adapted and changed.
It must continue to do so - especially on the issue of
sexual abuse in the priesthood. And as it won't do it on its
own - we have to see that legislation does take place and
they will be breaking the law - if they don't co-operate.

Thank You for your valuable input into this thread.

I greatly appreciate it.

Op2,

As posted above, I hold secular Law needs to come down not only on the priests but their protectors too. That said, please note that "Suffer" meant something like, "to beckon without hindance," when the KJV was written.

O.

Foxy,

I suppose the next issue to deal with is -

How do we as "voters" get Governments to change the laws (if needs be) that enable the Police to have full unrestrained access to a churches records?

I have been doing a bit of thinking about this.

Maybe a petition should be started?

It could read (or words to this effect)

We the undersigned, being Australian citizens, do hereby insist that laws be amended or enacted immediately (as needs be) to empower the Police in every State and Territory of Australia to take whatever steps are necessary to access Church records in an effort to expose any and all criminality that has been undertaken by all churches who preach and/or are represented in any way whatsoever in Australia.

But wait http://www.bravehearts.org.au/ already have a petition for people to sign!

If people really care about this issue then perhaps a quick wander over to that site and a few minutes of your time and we can help move this along.

I know it seems amazing that one would need a petition to get our Governments to react properly on sexual abuse but such is the ways of Government.

Why isn't a link to this petition on every Church website, every Government website, and every political parties website?

Why don't the smaller political parties immediately place a link?

Why don't we all email our families and friends to sign this petition?

Why don't we ask our churches, if we have one, to place a link on their websites?

OR Why don't the churches just ring the police and hand over all the evidence that they are sitting on?

We have a new Labor government - Why don't they announce sweeping changes in this regard and get all the states onboard today?

As a bare minimum people please sign the Braveheart petition!

Dear Opinionated2,

Once again, you've done us all proud.

Thank You for the 'Bravehearts,' website.
I certainly will be emailing family and friends
to get them to sign that petition. I would
encourage anyone who wants to do something
about sexual abuse to join us in signing.

If enough people join forces in this way -
perhaps it will prompt the politicians
into action.

Once again - Thanks to you for caring, and for
pointing us in the right direction.