Opinionated2,

"Do you have a pure Christian heart or do you serve the Church and money over Jesus' teachings?"

Neither but I aim to use God's grace for the first. The Church passes on Jesus' teachings.

"If Pell came up with a better deal for the victim than as you put it, “The standard Australian program.....Towards Healing?”, then what does that say about the Christian virtues of the program?"

Absolutely nothing. The fact that there is a program to help victims demonstrates Christian virtues. The fact that Pell has done better reflects well on him that he took the time. That doesn't reflect poorly on whoever developed the main program. Pell might just be smarter or more creative.

"Remember we are talking about the alleged criminal sexual abuse of children!"

If we were talking about cheating in a marble competition I would hardly be advocating so much care and concern.

"Now if the courts settle these cases for far greater amounts, then does that mean that the courts show more Christian virtues than both Pell and the program?"

Of course not and I doubt that they do. It would be a waste of time as victims lawyers would advise them to go to court if it wasn't within the normal range of court results. That doesn't mean that people might not get more as in the Foster case.

"As a Christian, would you really recommend a victim settles for less than they are due when their lives have been ruined by criminal sexual abuse and further damaged by the alleged lack of action by the organisations that were supposed to protect and nurture children?"

Noone is. Just because a particular court judgement is unusually high doesn't mean that every other court judgement is less than the due. There is no such thing as a black and white due. What is sexual abuse worth? Can you work it out on your calculator? Get real.

CONT

"Is the Church serving money over GOD? Jesus said "No one can serve two masters"

No but they have to put a figure on things. If they threw all their money at the first victim there would be none left for the others or the hospitals or St Vinnies or CARITAS or Rosies or Aged Care facilities etc. etc (the church has 180, 000 people employed so salaries alone would be phenomenal).

"Would you defend your churches and the Popes actions over the victims rights to justice?"

There is no conflict.

"You say to be wary of the media in these matters...With all the alleged cover-ups by the churches and the sheer number of these alleged crimes shouldn't we be twice as wary of Christians and religious organisations?"

No. Exagerating the danger of something doesn't make it more dangerous. We should deal with realities. I am fully aware of the underrepresentation of this type of crime in the Catholic priesthood compared to the general community.

"Why hasn't the Church delivered all the records on these matters to the Police in all countries?"

Which church?

"If the Pope has covered up or not responded to just one case should he resign? Does this also apply to Pell?"

If you have raped someone should you be jailed?

"Did Pell allegedly say ..."

According to a man who is on a crusade to attack Pell and who had both daughters raped by a priest and the daughters who subsequently suffered enormously. I can pray that the man moves toward Jesus and healing but I wouldn't rely upon the recollected phrasing of a decades old quote from someone the recollector hates and no context. That would be pretty unfair wouldn't it?

This is like all the other stuff you come up with when the Catholic Church is discussed. You get some uncertain and unlikely or demonstrateably wrong facts and try to defame with it. How would you feel if people did that about you?

I think it is reasonable to offer free ongoing counselling, compensation, an apology, an investigation etc when someone has been the victim of child abuse. You want me to consider something focussed on compensation but you aren't sure of your facts. Sorry but I'm tired of your hypotheticals.

"Finally you seem content that the Catholic Church hasn't had any cases after 2008...Are you for real?"

There has been hardly any new cases since the 80s. Your link doesn't work. Content is the wrong word. I am glad that the Pope is continuing to do so much work to sweep the filth but also glad there is so much progress.

"How many other victims are out there too traumatised to come forward?"

In case noone believes they were molested by a Catholic priest?

"How many other victims were given the advice Cardinal Pell allegedly gave in this article, by other priests, Bishops and Cardinals and are scared to come forward?

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/07/08/2297082.htm"

If they didn't come forward in between the mistaken letter and subsequent letter in close proximity it would hardly count for much. Here's a follow up article on that story.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24040493-7583,00.html

MJPB,

I tired of this topic ages ago...People will make up there own mind, hopefully based on the evidence.

I do not spend one second even thinking about Pell until you ask a question....lol

Can't you see I just ask questions based on articles that I find in the media?

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article7128562.ece

Does The Vatican employ the Bishops? If not I guess you can relax.....lol Did that come as a shock to the Bishops?

Are the Cardinals?...lol

As I said I am tired of this discussion, so, to end here is some other analysis.

http://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/transcripts/s2310057.htm

Does this allege Pell doesn't want the job anyway?

http://clericalwhispers.blogspot.com/2010/06/cardinal-ouellet-not-cardinal-pell-to.html

OOps humour...lol

http://www.upstart.net.au/2010/03/14/cardinal-pell-makes-it-into-the-onion/

Have you found peace with the situation, have others, have the victims?

http://www.global-sisterhood-network.org/content/view/2158/76/

Did you also read this article in your research?

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/opinion/no-regrets-about-act-of-faith-despite-churchs-woeful-state/story-e6frg7ko-1225769660350

As I said people will make up their own minds... I bid you farewell...lol!

Please don't answer the questions...I'm bored...lol

Opi2

All mjpb will say to anything you write is everything will be wonderful when everyone turns to the grace of Jesus. The fact that hasn't worked for Christians past and present for 2000 plus years, is apparently not an issue.

What did Einstein say about repeating the same experiment and expecting different results?

mjpb

I am not being rude to you personally - you are probably a pleasant person, but a pleasant person who defends the indefensible such as Pell and the vast hypocrisy that is religious dogma.

OMG Severin now I have to reply to you...lol

Jesus gave explicit instructions on matters like this, and yet, the average Christian, all allegedly full of grace, doesn't seem to understand them.

Matthew 7:14-24 http://bibleresources.bible.com/passagesearchresults.php?passage1=Matthew+7%3A14-24&version1=9

Whilst I love all those verses my particular favorite line here is Matthew 7:18

"A good tree CANNOT bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit."

How might this apply to this topic?...lol

If a good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit then what does that tell us about the Churches who have allegedly covered up crimes? Isn't it rather specific?

See the problem with Christians, (generally speaking), is they don't know their Bibles.

Although they possibly read it, or the bits their Pastors/Priests lead them to, they don't actually apply it to themselves, OR the organisations to which they belong.

So in the end Jesus' words don't appear to really be taken seriously. They will say "I'm a Christian" but that is a reference I can't check.

From my experience most Christians don't represent Jesus very well.

BUT by watching what they do, listening to what they say, and seeing what they type...then applying Matthew 7:20

"Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them."

Well you get my drift.

That Jesus! his words and the Bible seem to beat up most Christians every time...lmao

But then they argue, but then course they often break

Exodus 20:9 "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour." Did MJPB do this when he/she alleged of me "try to defame with it"?

I ask questions...Asking a question isn't defaming, and I link to articles that are doing all the talking.

And MJPB, Have you judged me or tried to remove a speck from my eye?

Would Jesus ask you to look in the mirror first?....lol

No need to answer you will only dig yourself in a deeper hole MJPB...lol