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The truth can set us free
By Sinead O'Connor
musician
Should the pope resign?
This is an extremely emotional situation, understandably, for both 'sides' and its very hard for us to step back and think clearly when we're all so upset. So we've all run the gamut of emotions.
President Obama once said, "We'll hold out our hands if you will un-clench your fists". So let's aim to un-clench our fists toward each other from this point forth and try to work together in good faith.
There is actually one very simple way to heal this situation overnight, in a manner which respects the children who's lives were ruined; The Holy Spirit, who's reputation was ruined; the trust of the Catholic people, which is ruined; and the good name of the Catholic Church and the office of Pope, which are also ruined.
Let's suspend the belief of every baby in the street, and say the Boston report, the Phlladelphia report, the Ferns report and the Murphy report may have all been mistaken when they concluded, independently of each other, that a systemic cover up was in operation.
No one from either side of the debate denies that for many decades, hundreds of clergy did not report abuse to the police, and that inaction caused many more children to be abused.
This means that another crime IS being committed, which is the harboring of known criminals.
This is the nub of the Pope's present problem.
If he really desires a "win-win" way out of this mess, I would advise him that, with the blessings of all Catholic people, he immediately order any living clergy who were accessories by silence to the crime of sexual abuse of children, or to the covering up of such crimes, to turn themselves in to the police stations of the world and face prosecution.
Because there can't in the 21st Century be one law for the churches and another for us.
A quote from the prophet Isaiah (1.18): "Come let's reason together. Though your sins are like scarlet they can be made white as snow"
The house of The Holy Spirit is not a haven for criminals.
Sinead O'Connor is a singer, musician and mother of four. She was ordained as a priest by a Catholic splinter group called the Latin Tridentine Church, taking the clerical name Mother Bernadette Maria.
By Sinead O'Connor |
March 31, 2010; 5:36 PM ET
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Posted by: Billy1932 | April 3, 2010 11:45 AM
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Obviously ordination in any religion is not assurance of good behavior !!!!!
www.eutimes.net/category/criticism/pedophilia/
"Yet another prominent Orthodox rabbi has been charged with sexual abuse. This time it is Rabbi Mordechai Elon, one of the foremost rabbinic leaders of the Israeli Orthodox movement and former rosh yeshiva at the flagship Yeshivat HaRav, where last year a Palestinian mounted an assault which left several students dead. The result was that students of the yeshiva and other far right Jews went on a rampage and tried to burn down the home of the family of the perpetrator of the attack. Elon’s brother is Benny, a former MK for a far-right pro-settler party.
At one time the rabbi was so renowned he’d hoped to be named chief rabbi. Alas, that hope is all but dashed as he was charged several years ago with abusing boys at his yeshiva:
Takana, a rabbinic forum established in 2003 to clamp down on sexual misconduct by Orthodox educators, went public February 15 with allegations that Mordechai “Moti” Elon had taken advantage of his influence over male students and performed “acts at odds with sacred and moral values.”
The panel later said that two people, whose complaints alleged acts from about 25 years ago, had been under 18 at the time.
More recent alleged acts involved students of Elon who were 18 or older. Since its initial disclosure, the panel reports having received one more complaint of an alleged underage encounter…
What is unusual about this case is that a splinter group of the Orthodox community is taking the position that the entire prosecution is an attempt to destroy rabbinic authority and the Orthodox movement. It calls for refusal to cooperate with state authorities (or to deal with the charge through a beyt din)."
“Facing calls to curb child sex abuse within its churches, in June the Southern Baptist Convention — the largest U.S. religious body after the Catholic Church — urged local hiring committees to conduct federal background checks but rejected a proposal to create a central database of staff and clergy who have been either convicted of or indicted on charges of molesting minors. The SBC decided against such a database in part because its principle of local autonomy means it cannot compel individual churches to report any information. And while the headlines regarding churches and pedophilia remain largely focused on Catholic parishes, the lack of hierarchical structure and systematized record-keeping in most Protestant churches makes it harder not only for church leaders to impose standards, but for interested parties to track allegations of abuse. "
Posted by: YEAL9 | April 1, 2010 12:29 AM
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Did this pope ever cover up the TRUTH of any sexual abuse crime of a CHILD? If so this pope MUST resign. We are speaking of crimes against CHILDREN.What whould CHRIST do? I bet He whould not only be turning tables over but some in fancy robes whould be on the tarmack. It is time for a NEW POPE and then call VATICAN III to turn this RCC around.
Posted by: usapdx | March 31, 2010 11:59 PM
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There is no heaven of glory bright, and no hell where sinners roast. Here and now is our day of torment! Here and now is our day of joy! Here and now is our opportunity! Choose ye this day, this hour, for no
redeemer liveth!
The only way to cure the cancer of catholicism, and stop the pedophilia, is to begin each ceremony of ordination to the deaconate with castration. Let any priest who wants to be celibate make a gift of his balls to jesus.
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…that tackles Church abuse, separation of Church and State, Atheism, Buddhism, Existentialism….
Posted by: Schaum | March 31, 2010 9:09 PM
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Trouble in Pope’s Kingdom
The Pope’s position is freefalling from grace
It is heading downhill at a fast pace
Accused of covering up and placing pedophile Priests in coveted positions
To mask their sexual indiscretions, has come as a shock to the nation
Extremely shocking! Past Popes been portrait as wolves in sheep clothing
Knowledgeable of the facts, did nothing to prevent those disgusting acts
Transferring Priests from one Archdiocese to another Archdiocese
To continue their sexual prey on tiny, innocent, helpless, little ones
Faith the masses have lost in the Papal
They would love to inspect his journal.
Also posted on my website poeticp.com
Posted by: challgaunt | March 31, 2010 8:21 PM
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That is his decision. It is a disgraceful situation, the Catholic Church has replaced compassion with hypocrisy. God may not be dead, but the Catholic Church is fatally sick.