Vatican ordered sexual abuse not to be reported to local authorites in order to comply with canon law?
I would really like to hear how the Church justifies its actions. Why is it so important to follow canon law when it does so little to effectively prevent and discourage future abuse? There have been relatively recent revisions to canon law, and this should have been addressed especially since the abuse has gone on for so long and has affected so many children. I can no longer defend the Catholic Church and more than ever question its controversial teachings. The Vatican represents the Church in such a major way, and it has failed tremendously to live up to the morality it preaches. @ Misty I would like to get all the facts too. I would especially like to know exactly how the Church punishes sexually abusive priests because it really seems like the punishment is relatively mild and not a deterrent when compared to what local authorities would enforce. The AP reports that there have been tens of thousands of incidents involving Irish children since the 1930’s that have not been reported externally. If this is true, at what point should canon law have been reevaluated to eliminate this abuse? At the Second Vatican Council? Many amendments have been made since that time and as recently as fourteen months ago. It doesn’t seem like a whim at all. My point is that the Church should not have the right to live by its own laws when those laws are ineffective at preventing rampant sexual abuse. I don’t abandon my general faith, but I have reservations about the importance of subscribing to the specifics of Vatican pronouncements. In my opinion, the various branches of Christianity stem from differences based on human interpretation that may be wrong and of little importance, if any. I struggle with controversial teachings over transubstantiation, the infallibility of the pope, and original sin. I question Vatican pronouncements regarding stem cell research, contraception, and the banning of women from priesthood. I even struggle with being told that Jesus has complete faith in God yet cried out “why have you forsaken me?â€
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1 :
If so, guess who creates Canon Law? In time, the Catholic Church will be responsible for its own demise. They have become similar to a snow ball rolling down a hill with one transgression after another.
2 :
It's all the lies and deceit that keeps it grinding on.Ratz himself allowed the worst paedophile to evade the law,a man who abused 200 deaf children.The case was buried originally and then prior to him becoming Pope he resurrected it only to put him beyond justice by declaring him too old to investigate. This firmly closed the door on what would have been surely one of the worst scandals the church would have had to endure.How convenient. All this bollix about openness and transparency doesn't wash.When asked for certain information by the Irish the Vatican didn't even acknowledge the letters.It's this contempt for victims and 'the flock' that is killing the Catholic church. Misty-Canon Law does not supercede the laws of the land.Even the Church is obliged to obey the law.The Church knows it does not have immunity and by breaking the laws of the land they are committing a crime.It's obligation to adhere to the legal system means it cannot be a country unto itself.
3 :
the whole concept of christianity is abusive. first original sin is telling children their parents are sinners. this is saying listen to the priest not your parents. that is grooming! teaching crucifixion to children is mental abuse. why do they need to know? the whole human sacrifice, zombie resurrection, cannibal communion horror story is not suitable for children. teaching it to children has an evil intent. the same evil, dogmatic intent that lead to the inquisition.
4 :
that church has been built upon controlling the people, the only problem for them is in the last 100 years people have gotten their voices they are no longer dependant on the priest to tell them what to do because they can decide for themselves what is right and wrong
5 :
First of all, we don't have the whole story. It is prudent to wait until all the facts are in, and the story is made clear. So many times, over all of this scandal, claims have been made that have proved to have been taken out of context and misreported. The truth has even been under-reported or ignored. Any one who is an advocate for the Church in all of this, is seen as brainwashed, or an idiot, or worse a protector of child molesters. However, when the truth comes to light in some of these allegations, there is no real interest in it. http://newsbusters.org/blogs/dave-pierre/2011/01/02/wheres-media-la-atty-declares-many-abuse-accusations-against-catholic-p <<Why is it so important to follow canon law when it does so little to effectively prevent and discourage future abuse? >> Because canon law is what the Church follows. Just like laws of the country you live in. Ineffective laws must first be known to be ineffective in order to be changed, but until they are changed they are still in laws that must be followed. 35 years ago, if a woman was raped, she was put on trial and grilled about her sex life, the way she dressed etc. Victims were victimized again in the court room. Then the laws were changed, victims rights laws were enacted, special units were trained to specifically deal with victims. Today we can't even imagine treating a victim like that, but it happened. My point is that the Church is a country unto herself. She is governed by laws, canon law, just as any country is governed by laws. Those laws are in place and can't be changed on whims. So, while the laws were now known to be inadequate, they were what they were at the time, and followed. <<I can no longer defend the Catholic Church>> Why is that? There are corrupt people every where. Just because there is corruption in the people of the Church (nothing new) doesn't mean we abandon the faith. Christ instituted the Church, and promised the gates of hell would not prevail against it. He didn't say that all those in charge would be without sin. The Church is a divine institution staffed by fallible sinful human beings. <<and more than ever question its controversial teachings. >> What controversial teachings? And why would this cause you to question the teachings? I'm sorry I don't get that. <<The Vatican represents the Church in such a major way, and it has failed tremendously to live up to the morality it preaches.>> Again, we don't have the whole story yet. But even if its true, it will be that some people in the Vatican failed us and God. There are many, many faithful priests and bishops who serve God and the Church with every breath they take. What of them? What of all the good the Church does feeding and helping the poor, educating people, providing medical care and homless shelters etc. Doing good doesn't undo bad, but if you are going to see the Church as a failure becasue of immoral things some have done, you must balance that by seeing her as a success for the multitude of good that has been done by many for centuries and to current day.
6 :
As a former catholic, and altar boy, I can think of nothing to say in defense of the church. I still consider myself a christian but I don't believe I need to go to some building built by man on a prescribed time and day to talk to my God. Now the church has put Pope John Paul on the fast track to sainthood, disregarding his ad hoc approval of priests sexually abusing children. He had 25 years to stop it and did nothing.
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