runner,

For a self-proclaimed Christian why do you
see hatred everywhere?

Your constant attacks on people reflect a
troubled soul.

Seeking counselling might clear your irrational
thoughts. Your mind affects your health and that
is not good and we are all concerned for you.

Take care and stay safe.

SR,

I think that you are confusing "natural justice" with mob rule. In English law, natural justice is technical terminology for the rule against bias and the right to a fair hearing.

The problem with jury trials is ensuring that 12 people free of prejudice are selected. Given the vast coverage of the Catholic church's involvement in child abuse, the chances of selecting 12 people with no preconceived ideas was close to zero.

Given that you accept my principle of the single involved witness, then you should have no doubt as to the correct outcome of the trial as opposed to the one you would have preferred.

While I also hope for radical changes in the Catholic church, I also hope for similar changes in the Victorian justice system, where prosecutions seem to have a political bias.

.

Dear Foxy,

.

You wrote :

« Perhaps it would have been better if the Church
would have followed a different direction rich
in human and spiritual tradition:

"I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd is one who
lays down his life for his sheep." (John 10,11). »
.

That takes me back to my childhood, Foxy. I never understood why anyone could possibly like that idea. I instinctively rejected it. It aroused a diffuse feeling of discomfort and revolt in me.

I felt that the gregarious metaphor of treating people like sheep was highly despicable. I did not see myself as a lamb in a flock of sheep, led by some priest as though I was incapable of personal thought and reason, finding my own way in life. Just the suggestion seemed like an insult to me.

And who was this priest, bishop or archbishop with his pastoral staff elevating himself to some superior rank, above all others ? What justified his pretention of superiority ? What made him think he was not a sheep himself ? I wondered if he might be a goat or maybe a “big bad wolf”.

Why did he want me to renounce my humanity and act like a lamb, to retrograde myself to the level of an animal, instead of progressing to some higher form ?

As a child I thought as a child and it’s a thought that continues to haunt me whenever it’s evoked.

The child must still be there, somewhere, I guess.

.

Woe is me!

One little parody of the universal church and the peasants with the pitchforks want to burn me at the stake.

Hypocrites! In the eyes of Josephus and others of his irk it seems to be alright for the Catholic clergy to abuse children but anathema for anyone to confront this practice.

"Mr Opinion goes to Hell, Heaven is for Pell" seems to be today's catchcry of the devout Catholics who believe in a clergy that cannot do wrong

Meanwhile in Indigeneous communities child abuse is rampart. You would never know as your abc is more intent on justifying its witch hunt that proved totally false. What a despicable bunch.

More libel from the idiot. The Catholic clergy DOES NOT abuse children. Only tiny minority of priests have been found guilty of the crime. None recently.