"Issy, what is of greater concern is the institutional cover ups the Catholic Church hierarchy engaged in over many years. Their sources of information was generally not from within the confines of the confessional, but supplied directly to them in their offices."

You were there, Paul?

Dear Critic,

«...So what, you're complaining / making the point that young alter boys who've been used as sex toys by perverted preists won't be able to trust in or use confessional?»

There would be no question of trust because there would be no confessional, for anyone, except for the dying and perhaps also for some middle-aged ladies. The service would simply not be available... or perhaps it would only be available by the 10% of the priests who are paedophiles and have nothing to lose (and much to gain in their perverted way) - the 90% other priests who are OK would be too afraid to run the service.

Those boys who are willing to tell their stories have already done so and been out of that circle long ago. Now what about those that aren't willing? They are already excluded from therapy - doctors, psychologists, counsellors, teachers, social-workers, because these are already legally obliged to divulge their secrets; and with the new laws they would not be able to talk about this with ANYONE. Not with the 90% good priests, not with clergy of other denominations, not in confidential workshops, not with their friends' parents, not with a compassionate shopkeeper or hairdresser, NOBODY. You get it? The degree of loneliness and despair which only suicide can relieve!

«Those boys need to be as far away from away from the damned Catholic Church as is humanly possible, if you want my opinion.»

Even if that's the case, the suggested law would do nothing in that direction. They would simply remain in the same church and in the same choir with the same priests - only without the ability to let off steam through confession.

Yuyutsu,
Mate, you've totally lost me and I don't know what you're on about.
What does a victim need to confess to anyway, your line of thinking makes absolutely no sense to me; and if someone doesn't want to deal with their own problems, talk about it and/or get help... and probably become a peedo themselves in future anyway; well what the hell do you want me to do about it?

But why criticise me for wanting to stop the cycle of abuse?
Or do you just argue for the sake of it?
Or do you support the peedo-sanctuary?

What ideas have you come up with to address the problem of serial sex pests and buggerers of boys in the preisthood?

The Hounds of Peedoville?
Or are you too busy defending them?
What exactly is your problem and what are you defending?
Why attack me like I'm the pervert running the show?
I really just don't get whatever it is you're on about sorry...

Dear Critic,

«What does a victim need to confess to anyway»

It is quite common for victims to feel guilty about the whole thing.
You may not consider the victim as guilty, but they consider themselves so.
Especially when they have nobody to talk with about it.
Reasons vary: they could have enjoyed it; they could have received a reward; they could have escaped punishment for some other naughty action of theirs; they could have failed to observe their parents' words of caution, etc.

Had they not been [wrongly] feeling ashamed, then they would have immediately told their parents/teachers and the story would have ended there.

«But why criticise me for wanting to stop the cycle of abuse?»

I am not criticising you for that, only for the specific method that you want to employ to stop it.

«Or do you just argue for the sake of it? Or do you support the peedo-sanctuary?»

No for both.

«What ideas have you come up with to address the problem of serial sex pests and buggerers of boys in the preisthood?»

Let's nuke the planet, kill everyone, then there won't be any buggerers left...

Actually, I have not so far commented on that question at all, but for me, the kind of "solution" that you offer is no better than the above.

«What exactly is your problem and what are you defending?»

Freedom of religion.
Freedom of conscience.
Freedom from impossible dilemmas.
Freedom to exercise common-sense.
Freedom from punishment for passive non-cooperation with the regime.
Freedom to continue to create safe, confidential and trusting environments, including for abused children.

«Why attack me like I'm the pervert running the show?»

You are not a pervert. The government's proposed law is pervert.
The collateral damage it would cause would outweigh by far 1000 times the damage done by all paedophiles, past present and future.

Doesn't matter if 90% of them are good preists, if the church establishment pulls rank and file and covers it up.
The might as well all be depraved serial sex-pests when the apple's completely rotten to the core...

I remember years ago when Pell first become the Australian head of the Catholic church, due to previous sex scandals if I remember correctly; I said "That guys probably in on it too, he probably even is one'...
Years later he's involved and up to his neck in scandal as well, and I'm like 'see, told you all so'.

Hang on, just wait a second Yuyutsu...
You said my solution is no better than 'nuking the planet and killing everyone on it'!!??

Ok, whatever... (backs away slowly from potentially unstable individual, realises he's arguing with a possible lunatic)
I suggest you go take you meds and think about how ones gets 'karma' from that type of act ?

You've crossed over into 'mental illness' territory...
- No offense.
It's irrational, religious based madness.
ISIS type 'ends justify the means' crazy stuff.

- I honestly don't get why people argue with me trying to prove their point, to the extent of making themselves look irrational and ridiculous.
Might as well just go and stand out on the M1 with a sign around your neck that says 'I'm an idiot'...

I just say whatever I think, its never personal.
Plus I'm getting older, and when I open my mouth crap just falls out.