Europe rocked by child sex abuse revelations

[irir123]

In a shocking series of revelations, evidence is piling up highlighting the coverup of 100s of sodomy, rape of small children by priests of the catholic church around the world

Here are some links:

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1973213,00.html

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1900120,00.html

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1970320,00.html

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1973914,00.html

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1975489,00.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/14/how-the-church-shuffled-p_n_538010.html

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/law/article7096516.ece

http://www.workersliberty.org/story/2010/04/15/catholic-church-cover-prosecute-pope

http://in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-47728120100415

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100416-264512/Probe-shows-30-abusive-priests-shuffled-around-globe-also-to-RP

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2010/0416/1224268448283.html

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ilg-XpU7rvtWx3qbEwd152oTmBiwD9EV26380

http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_14865942

http://www.time.com/time/quotes/0,26174,1973025,00.html

[ajithfederer]

Read somewhere that Richard dawkings wants an arrest of the Pope when he travels to Britain this year.

[irir123]

there you go!

http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/world/2010/04/14/dawkins.pope.benedict.arrest.cnn

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBody5RPo2o&feature=player_embedded#

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2010/apr/13/pope-prosecution-dawkins

http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/panelists/richard_dawkins/2010/03/ratzinger_is_the_perfect_pope.html

what is coming out appears to be just the tip of the iceberg! the abuses have been going on for decades with systematic coverup by the heirarchy to protect the larger interests of the church!

[irir123]

some interesting comments from readers sections of these articles!:

"You are saying the Church have/had bishops who needed guidelines to work out that the thing to do when they found a priest interfering with a child was not just to transfer the priest to another post or parish? And such Bishops had/have the insolence to offer moral guidance to the laity?"

"No, the key action a bishop or anyone else who has knowledge of criminal activity has to take is report to the police. Knowledge but failure to report is collusion. The current Pope appears to have had knowledge of many of these incidents but did not report them to the police. He has colluded and conspired to protect active paedophile priests and, furthermore, as current Pope, the buck stops with him. Suspension and defrocking are not sufficient responses and, in isolation, do nothing to protect the church employees from criminal charges. He should be arrested and, even if he isn't charged, should cooperate with the police by handing over any records that might indicate criminal activity."

"But then Dawkins is not saying you should believe him. He is saying that there should be a trial. As the supporters of airport scanners and DNA databases always say on these pages - if the Pope has nothing to hide, he has nothing to fear. I am amazed that the Catholic church has bishops who are probably (to borrow a phrase from Andrew Brown) more theologically subtle than Richard Dawkins but need guidelines to be told that buggering babies is evil."

"Weird that when Ratzinger was the 'Pope's Bulldog', he was so quick to discipline or excommunicate any Bishop or Priest around the world who showed resistance to the official Vatican line on issues like contraception, but when it came to kiddie-fiddlers, he remained silent until his turn in the procedural ladder came along? Just shows where the priorities lie."

[PARAMASHIVAN]

This has become 'regular' thing amongst the Roman Catholic Priests, esp. in UK, such perverts should be blown to bits or burnt alive.

things :angry2: :curse: :banghead: :twisted:

There is no need for court, case and wasting public funds, and such punishment would stop further catholic priests (beasts) to carry such animal behaviour, sorry animals are better than these

[joe]

மதம் என்பது அது ஏற்படுத்தப்பட்ட நோக்கத்திலிருந்து விலகி மதம் என்ற நிறுவனத்தை காப்பதே நோக்கம் என்றாகும் போது இத்தகைய பரிதாப நிலை தான் ஏற்படும்.

[PARAMASHIVAN]

மதம் என்பது அது ஏற்படுத்தப்பட்ட நோக்கத்திலிருந்து விலகி மதம் என்ற நிறுவனத்தை காப்பதே நோக்கம் என்றாகும் போது இத்தகைய பரிதாப நிலை தான் ஏற்படும்.

Joe anNe

neenga enna solla vareenga, puriyala :twisted:

etho intha samiyar porvaiyila seiyum intha narahathaik antha kadavul porukamaataru,

India la our samiyars take parts in women scandals :banghead: :twisted: :evil:

Western world la child sex abuse by catholic priests , I get all mad. when children, are treated like this, i become so angry, i don't know what i would do :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

[irir123]

well - given that the vatican sits on top of a HUGE pile of money, most of which looted from the third world, through centuries of colonialisation, this issue will most likely bite the dust!

remember MONEY is everything - http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100405/lf_afp/vaticanreligionchildabuseus

if they can afford to spend $3 billion (!!) as compensation, and still NOT go broke, you can imagine how much wealth they must be having !

the vatican will issue statements, ppl like Dawkins and co will make noise, there will be denials, more coverups, more press coverage, and eventually, the fact that religion can blind the collective conscience of people will be more than enough for this issue to become part of history

and the abuse will no doubt continue - however, their evangelical activities in educated parts of the world, will take a heavy beating, as ppl's perspective of the entire institution is changing rapidly, especially last few months

'faith' can often be a mind virus - for which there is no vaccine! in America, for instance, many of my right-wing conservatives, were first in denial abt this whole issue - but with reports getting out rapidly and few of the original letters (written by the present pope and other bishops - clearly showing a major coverup) got leaked to the press - it became a political issue! coz, the right wing here wants the vote bank intact, for which religion is a major tool - but after this crisis, the right wing here in an attempt to save its own ground, is trying to distance itself from the catholic church! its all now "you know they are not us, we are protestant reformist groups" - so its all abt jumping the bandwagon as it suits ones purpose!

[PARAMASHIVAN]

well - given that the vatican sits on top of a HUGE pile of money, most of which looted from the third world, through centuries of colonialisation, this issue will most likely bite the dust!


Isn't that what they have been doing for the last 300- 400 years, esp in indian sub continent? :twisted:

[joe]

well - given that the vatican sits on top of a HUGE pile of money, most of which looted from the third world, through centuries of colonialisation, this issue will most likely bite the dust!


Isn't that what they have been doing for the last 300- 400 years, esp in indian sub continent? :twisted:

Paramasivan,
As usual ,sampantham illama ethayavathu pesuRathu :lol:

what is the connection between East Indian Company and Vatican ? :huh:

East indian company english are catholics ? :roll:

[joe]

மதம் என்பது அது ஏற்படுத்தப்பட்ட நோக்கத்திலிருந்து விலகி மதம் என்ற நிறுவனத்தை காப்பதே நோக்கம் என்றாகும் போது இத்தகைய பரிதாப நிலை தான் ஏற்படும்.

Joe anNe

neenga enna solla vareenga, puriyala :twisted:

English-la solli puriyallinna thamizh-la sollalam ..Thamizh-la solli puriyallinna enna pannurathu :)

[PARAMASHIVAN]

[tscii:0a811ee88e]


well - given that the vatican sits on top of a HUGE pile of money, most of which looted from the third world, through centuries of colonialisation, this issue will most likely bite the dust!


Isn't that what they have been doing for the last 300- 400 years, esp in indian sub continent? :twisted:

Paramasivan,
As usual ,sampantham illama ethayavathu pesuRathu :lol:

what is the connection between East Indian Company and Vatican ? :huh:

East indian company english are catholics ? :roll:

are you saying that East indian company english aren't catholics?? Vatican’s are a different thing, what I meant was the spread of Christianity in the Indian subcontinent. Catholicism spread in Indian during 1800, I am sure many of Foreigners who were there, and including English had practiced Catholicism

And FYI, I only speak sampantham illatha vishaiyums in cricket threads, just to wind up the guys for a bit of fun :P .. I guess you have not read any of my posts in the sensible threads like, Indian history & culture, Misc threads, Current affairs and Indian food section.. oh well
[/tscii:0a811ee88e]

[joe]

[tscii:b8cd0623e5]

are you saying that East indian company english aren't catholics?? Vatican’s are a different thing, what I meant was the spread of Christianity in the Indian subcontinent. Catholicism spread in Indian during 1800, I am sure many of Foreigners who were there, and including English had practiced Catholicism

Raghu,
Seriously , study some facts before you come and argue :x [/tscii:b8cd0623e5]

[PARAMASHIVAN]

[tscii:8b1016e99f]

are you saying that East indian company english aren't catholics?? Vatican’s are a different thing, what I meant was the spread of Christianity in the Indian subcontinent. Catholicism spread in Indian during 1800, I am sure many of Foreigners who were there, and including English had practiced Catholicism

Raghu,
Seriously , study some facts before you come and argue :x [/tscii:8b1016e99f]

sari sir google panitu varEn

[irir123]

paramashivan - i was referring to the spanish inquisition et al - the east india company came here for business to start with - we were lucky in that sense we did not have the spaniards or the portuguese colonising us

having said all of this - I personally dont like the extremely acerbic manner in which Dawkins and co are handling this issue

btw, regarding the right-wing in america - their perception and set of morals are so confusing as to be absolutely wacko! they simply do not like the idea of 'humility' which I believe is central to the heart of any theological perspective of any religion - for them its always "us or them" ! their assumptions of patriotism often dangerously overlaps with religious affiliation - not very different from our hindutva brigade's rants I might add

some of my democrat friends, are of the opinion that the central idea of christian theology has been so blatantly hijacked by the american right wing, that it is not christianity at all! all these are, btw, based on my understanding of the issue and need not be correct - i cud be wrong

[irir123]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/7597889/Safer-not-to-defrock-paedophile-priests-says-Catholic-Church-official.html

[irir123]

"The Vatican's reluctance to remove him from the clergy has put a former priest in the middle of the church scandal."

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-vatican-letter18-2010apr18,0,6968798.story

[irir123]

its getting worse by the day

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/apr/18/pope-cover-up-aide-took-blame-munich

http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/04/15/top-vatican-official-praised-bishop-who-covered-for-child-molest/

http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/04/14/pope-benedict-and-the-endless-sex-abuse-scandal/

[irir123]

[tscii:9b62cf9993]http://www.newsweek.com/id/236096

"We don't see vast difference in the incidence rate (of child sex abuse) between one denomination and another. It's pretty even across the denominations."

Sounds like a good reason to investigate them all!

even more horrifying is that, Insurance companies claim they dont charge a higher premium for incidences of sexual abuse of children by priests, coz statistics show that their abuse percentage is no different from others !!!!

and here is a comment from an atheist from Richard Dawkins' website: "Nearly two thousand years ago, some people say, a good man told one of his followers to establish a institution. That institution would show mankind the way to salvation. Through many, many centuries the successive leaders of that institution have influenced the world, in many ways. Some have been considered good men, others less so. Some have been political leaders, even heads of state. The institution these leaders have ruled over has tried to convince the world of its moral views through the work of cardinals, thousands of bishop, and countless priests. This infrastructure provides guidance to now over a billion followers. These followers are told of the soul, and how it can be stained by sin. They are told of the life everlasting, either in the grace of God, or the punishment of Hell. They are given instruction in the use of the sacraments to help them follow the right path during their time on Earth.

But now, nearly two thousand years later, some of the followers and supporters of this institution are defending its record on child abuse by saying that the ill-treatment, rape and torture of children is no worse than anywhere else. It is no better. It is no worse. And so, unwittingly, with such a simple statement they destroy their own foundation.

There can be no more damning statement about an organisation that believes it should have moral influence over the world than to say that it is of no consequence at all; it is irrelevant.

Because if the statement “it is no worse” is true, it can lead to only two conclusions. Either the goodness within the institution has been so finely balanced by the wickedness so as to cancel each other out, or, more likely, the institution has had no influence at all. None.

The conclusion would be farcical if the situation was not so tragic: those who are trying to defend the institution in this way are implying that in matters of morality, especially those which go to the heart of each family, the care of children, centuries of teaching, of preaching, of encyclicals, of confessions, of penances, of worship, of lives led in painful celibacy, of longing for heaven, of fear of hell, all have been wasted. Throw it all away, because children are still raped as much as anywhere else. But why should things stop there? Are such defenders insisting that the institution only fails with the sin of child abuse? Why should it be any more effective in preventing any other sin? if it can't influence those who would sin against children, how can it be trusted in any other area of life? I believe that religious institutions harbor positively harmful environments which foster abuse"[/tscii:9b62cf9993]