On page 20 of the April 7, 2013 Sunday Mail was an item headed 'Pope speaks out against sex abuse'. Unfortunately all that the pope said was to tell Monsignor Gerhard Ludwig Muller, head of the Vatican Department that disciplines predator priests, to act "with determination in cases of sexual abuse". That is not enough. Sexual abuse is a crime. If one knows of a crime one must tell the police. Anything short of that is obstruction of justice and a continuation of the coverup.

The beasts of pray may continue their predations free of public scrutiny. Francis is Francis, not frank and open.

Dear David,

In Matthew 5:29-30, Jesus said:

"If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell."

Suppose the Pope follows those very instructions and, through his agent, Monsignor Gerhard Ludwig Muller, instructs all fallen priests to act in accordance with the teachings of Jesus and castrate themselves (or even cut it off altogether).

Would that be harsh and adequate enough?

I suspect that for an anti-religious humanist, it would never be sufficient, not even if those priests would immolate themselves to death, because as much as a humanist possibly cares about abused children, they care even more about the success of the secular authorities and the demise of religion.

>>Suppose the Pope follows those very instructions and, through his agent, Monsignor Gerhard Ludwig Muller, instructs all fallen priests to act in accordance with the teachings of Jesus and castrate themselves (or even cut it off altogether).<<

Why would the Pope do that Yuyutsu? It doesn't make any sense: it isn't their testicles that has caused these priests to stumble - it is their brain. Castration is really only going eliminate or reduce a man's libido - it might reduce their impulses but it won't do anything to make them any healthier and it won't improve their decision making.

The Pope is unlikely to tell all his priests to cut out their own brain because... do I really need to spell it out for you? It would be nearly as ridiculous as all the tripe you post around here.

>>I suspect that for an anti-religious humanist, it would never be sufficient, not even if those priests would immolate themselves to death<<

I don't know about anti-religious humanists but for the anti-pedophile atheists it would be quite sufficient if the proper legal process involved self-immolation as the punishment for these crimes. We just happen to think that priests should obey the law just like everybody else. You can't have one set of laws for priests and another set for everyone else: that's not fair. You can't no laws because it doesn't work: I've yet to meet an anarchist who can explain how you stop the strong preying on the weak and prevent life from becoming 'nasty, brutish and short' in their fantasy utopias.

Cheers,

Tony

Pursue the perpetrators not their logo.

While I have no liking for the Catholic Church, maybe shared by David f?
The man/Pope would indeed be a great one if he had many any real improvements in this in the short time he has been Pope.
I think we should both give him time, and watch closely for improvements and reform.
The thought in some non Catholic Christians minds, that the Church is the anti Christ,needs some action to disprove that must come.
I am forced to wounder are some offending Priests believers in the God they serve.
If so do they think forgiveness can be received for the crimes they have done?

Dear david f,

>>Unfortunately all that the pope said was to tell Monsignor … to act "with determination in cases of sexual abuse”.<<

What else did you expect him to tell the Prefect of the CDF (whom he has not yet confirmed in his position) this early in his pontificate than to repeat the rather obvious exhortation given by his predecessor?

>>That is not enough. Sexual abuse is a crime. If one knows of a crime one must tell the police.<<

There are Catholics not only in Australia or US, but also e.g. in China, and many Muslim dominated, far from democratic, countries for whom the pope is an authority. Do you think also in these countries people suspected (one seldom “knows” for sure) of sexual abuse should be reported to that country's police?

I think it depends on the country, hence it is for the bishops (Bishops Conferences) in the particular countries to take the proper initiative. The Vatican can only instruct them “to draft voluntary ‘guidelines’ on preventing abuse, caring for victims, disciplining abusive priests, and reporting suspected abuse to local police”, as they did e.g. in May 2011 (http://www.christiancentury.org/article/2012-02/cardinal-says-bishops-must-cooperate-police-abuse).