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PDF versionHuman rights report lists Vatican for failure to protect children
May. 13, 2011
Secretary General of Amnesty International Austria Heinz Patzelt addresses a news conference presenting the annual Amnesty International human rights report in Vienna, Austria, May 12. (CNS photo/Heinz-Peter Bader, Reuters)
VATICAN CITY -- Amnesty International named the Vatican in its annual report on human rights' concerns for not sufficiently complying with international mandates on protecting children from abuse.
It marked the first time the Vatican was named in the group's Annual Report on the state of human rights around the world. The 2011 Annual Report covered human rights in 157 countries, looking particularly at rights abuses and restrictions and at failures to implement international rights' agreements.
The report, released May 13, said, "The Holy See did not sufficiently comply with its international obligations relating to the protection of children," specifically regarding sex abuse.
The Vatican is party to the United Nations' Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Article 19 of the convention says that states parties "shall take all appropriate legislative, administrative, social and educational measures to protect the child from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or exploitation, including sexual abuse."
The article also says measures should be implemented to aid in prevention, reporting and investigation of abuse as well as care for victims and, "as appropriate," the involvement of the court system.
The Amnesty International report said, "Increasing evidence of widespread child sexual abuse committed by members of the clergy over the past decades, and of the enduring failure of the Catholic Church to address these crimes properly, continued to emerge in various countries."
"Such failure included not removing alleged perpetrators from their posts pending proper investigations, not cooperating with judicial authorities to bring them to justice and not ensuring proper reparation to victims," the report said.
The report recognized Pope Benedict XVI's efforts to combat the abuse of children by clergy and his call for better prevention programs, an improved selection process for priestly candidates and "just penalties," including removing abusers from ministry.
The report also mentioned the pope's pastoral letter to Irish Catholics in 2010 in which he called for an apostolic visitation to look at how abuse allegations and cases were handled.
The Amnesty report quoted the pope apologizing that "a misplaced concern for the reputation of the church and the avoidance of scandal" had ended in the "failure to apply existing canonical penalties and to safeguard the dignity of every person."
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The pope had called on bishops around the world to fully implement church norms concerning child abuse and to continue to cooperate with civil authorities, it said.
"Canon law does not include an obligation for church authorities to report cases to civil authorities for criminal investigation. Secrecy is mandatory throughout the proceedings," the Amnesty report said.
Vatican norms maintain the imposition of "pontifical secret" on the church's judicial handling of clerical sex abuse and other grave crimes, which means they are dealt with in strict confidentiality.
Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, has said that the provision on the secrecy of trials was designed "to protect the dignity of everyone involved."
The Vatican's policy is to encourage bishops to report such crimes wherever required by civil law, the spokesman has said.
How stupid. Amnesty
How stupid. Amnesty international is playing politics for the sake of undermining the Church's moral and spiritual authority. Past failures in no way make the Vatican a failure today where, today out of all population groups, a child is least likely to be abused by a Catholic priest. Benedict has been great about this all, even while he was part of the CDF as Cardinal Ratzinger. Good Love him and keep him safe.
How stupid of you to have
How stupid of you to have your head in the sand. You sound like the clerics that aided the abusers. Your denial is an offense against all the children who have been abused while the Vatican looked the other way.
The Catholic Church is not a
The Catholic Church is not a corporation, and the Pope is not the CEO. The responsibility lies with the local bishops. The Pope, as the supreme legislator, should do all that he can, but it is not his direct responsibility to oversee each and every priest in the world. Again, that lies with the local bishop, not 'the Vatican.'
It is not the Vatican's
It is not the Vatican's responsibility to weed out child abuse and rapists and Bishops who empower this situation for they have far too many responsibilities like weeding out a non misogynistic Bishop that suggested that he would not have a problem to accept women priests if the Vatican would change their rules. So the Vatican believes that it is OK to hide Child Abuse and Child RAPE but not OK for women to be Ordained. Ordination of women is a far far greater travesty. Take it or leave it.
Many if not most of us do not take the Vatican's leadership to be at all adequate. Most of the People of God have spoken about the BC pill,slavery, war, the earth rotating around the sun and the equality of women. The Vatican is in Schism with most of its members. The medieval minded reactionaries running the Vatican are the ones responsible for the soul murder of the rapped children. The Bishops are responsible for the attempted ruining (murder) of the carriers of the Catholic Church’s great Theologians. Check to see how the Vatican responded to the Roman Catholic German leadership in the 1930’s.
This Schism will cause a much smaller Roman (not Universal) Church. This is a sinful attempt to maintain, control, power and lifestyle by these mostly old Men.
The 60's are over, Karen52.
The 60's are over, Karen52. You need to update your arguments, and perhaps stop being so bitter.
No, Fr. Sal: It is not
No, Fr. Sal:
It is not Karen52 who needs to update-it is the Vatican and condescending priests like you. As the mother of a strong Catholic family, my husband and I have three young adult daughters who practice the faith, I am tired of your approach. I do not want our church leadership to cover up sins against children, especially in manners that allow the sins to continue. I want every abuser reported to civil authorities. I also want a church that accepts the call of all its members to ordination. The call comes from the Holy Spirit. It is not your right or the right of any other to deny that call for the half of our members who are women.
God Bless You and know that I am grateful for Karen52 and others willing to speak up for justice and righteousness within our beloved Church.
Kathleen
Thank you, Karen. For your
Thank you, Karen. For your courage in speaking truth to power.
Kathleen
"The Catholic Church is not a
"The Catholic Church is not a corporation, and the Pope is not the CEO" Clear-headed(?) writes. If he can remove a bishop, i.e. fire an employee, without clearly just cause and without redress, he can clean house of abusers and the facilitators of abuse.
the catholic church is many
the catholic church is many corporations. One of their successes is having each diocese be separate
that way the victims of the endless hidden molestation of children cannot sue other dicoeses when their own is already bankrupted.
Give me a break. BTW SNAP, the survivors network of those Abused by priests says that almost 5000 priests have been convicted, or creditably accused, thougn in so many cases the church simply moved these rotten animals to new locations to where they continued their crimes. BTW SANP estimates that about 10000 priests (out of about 50-60000) are guilty tjats ;ike 10 to nearly 20%
About $2 billion in damages has been paid / extracted from the church in the USA with 60 billion catholics
In Ireland the same $2 B has been paid to victims in a nation with 6 million catholics.
This suggests that in some way we in America have only scratched the surface of the problem, or the church has been almost completely successful in delaying and obfuscating the problem.
And of course, since bishops
And of course, since bishops have no fear at all of offending the pope since they would never be punished in any way if they did so, they will, naturally, always do the right thing in cases where the "least" of God's little ones, who have no voice of their own, have been violated - is that what you are saying, Clear-headed?
That doesn't sound very clear-headed to me - more like head-in-the-sand, I'd say.
Let's try to get real here.
Apparently, the Pope is more
Apparently, the Pope is more offended by the suggestion that the church should consider ordaining women or married men than he is by the transfer of abusive priests from parish to parish, or the withholding of vital information about complaints against priests.
The difference is that one sort of behavior is public and the other is hidden. Appearances matter more than actual harm done by the offenses.
I think it's wonderful how
I think it's wonderful how responsibility lies with local bishops and how Rome is powerless to do anything about it--that is unless one of those bishops has an opinion contrary to Benedict's. I find it interesting that the Vatican couldn't do anything about bishops who harbored and protected pedophile priests for years but yet could force Bishop William Morris into retirement for expressing the idea that he could accept married and women priests if Rome ever changed its mind on those issues! It's awfully nice to have it both ways, now isn't it?JEHDM
"I find it interesting that
"I find it interesting that the Vatican couldn't do anything about bishops who harbored and protected pedophile priests for years....."
Couldn't do anything? Cardinal Law(less) was brought to Rome to serve in the Curia and given a plush major basillica for a home parish.
"The Catholic Church is not a
"The Catholic Church is not a corporation, and the Pope is not the CEO."
Well, you could have fooled me. Try going to them for help after being sexually abused as a child and breaking down later as a teacher in her system then you will see exactly how much of a corporation it IS and how its so called holy me and eminences are mere business men in shepherd's clothing.
The church is a structure which has abused Christ's words by setting up a ritualistic system that again required a magical priesthood to 'confect' bread into the body of Christ: So if you wanted to get to heaven you had to totally submit and belong to this cult. And that's all it is a cult, albeit one that has been around for two millennia now and relatively accepted by the world but one wonders now for how long the world will put up with its deceit. The fact that it is a cult becomes so evident when one starts 'questioning'.
All you little remnant, I hope you will be happy in what will soon become an even more misogynistic, limp-wristed, incestuous and psychologically cannibalistic remnant church.
Why am I SO angry? Because this so called body of Christ has abandoned me and thousands like me in my/our time of need either that or they are incapable of being what they profess to all the world they are supposed to be. Instead they have fallen over themselves to accommodate the very types Jesus spoke out against. Good one RCC loyalists.
"Oh yet" thank you for giving
"Oh yet" thank you for giving us your personal experience with this institution. I agree completely. The sexual abuse of children is a horrendous experience; when those who were placed in a position to oversee the priests, then participate by covering up these dreadful acts, that is equally despicable; and finally when the leader of this so-called church does nothing practical to remove these priests, bishops, and cardinals, then we can no longer call such an institution "Christian".
Our trust and loyalty is to Jesus, NOT to this church that dares to call itself 'Christian'. You have every right to be angry; to be otherwise would be dysfunctional. In my view, if a priest 'goes along' with the directives coming from Rome and says nothing in protest, he has given up any claim to Christianity. If we put our trust and relationship of love in Jesus, we will flourish without the toxic influence of this institution. For my part, desiring to grow and advance in my love of Jesus, I found it necessary to remove myself from the unChristian negative influence of this cult which calls itself a church. I was blessed with the grace to eventually see this and to act. Follow your heart, seek Jesus and be at peace in LOVE; you can do this without a cult [Catholic church].
That may all be true, but
That may all be true, but where Benedict has had direct oversight he too has failed to act. This was true when he was an active archbishop and while head of the CDF. His personal record amongst abusing bishops and other high profile abusers is nothing to brag about. For some reason his conscience would not allow him to buck JPII and Sodano when it came to Maciel and Groer amonst others. A large part of this whole issue of lack of accountability is on the shoulders of those who knew but swallowed their tongues in deference to the authority of others. In this Ratzinger was certainly no exception.
Ratzinger knew that if he did
Ratzinger knew that if he did what you suggest, he wouldn't be where he is today! Sam Rayburn said it best, "Go along to get along!"
Someone has not read the
Someone has not read the recent forced retirement of a bishop in Australia. With that action the bishop of Rome demonstrates a kind of feudal or administrative authority henceforth denied around child abuse by clergy or bishops. Further, the recent acknowledgement of bishops and dioceses in the USA who have not participated in the Charter agreement regarding truth telling and reporting information about the elements of the Charter is reprehensible. This lack of transparency called for and promised by the USCCB has been demonstrated in the archdiocese of Philadelphia. Those who suggest the bishop of Rome has no responsibility missed the actions of Pope Benedict XVI as noted above in Australia. No matter what the bishop in Australia did, the bishop of Rome's action unfortunately calls into question previous inaction around pedophilia regarding episcopal incompetency and miss-management
James Lock is right. The
James Lock is right. The Amnesty International (AI), the once revered organization for its impartiality and standing up for justice, lately is rapidly losing its bearing. Now that it has become powerful, it simply cannot resist the temptation to side/walk with the powerful. Once the hero of the underdog, now increasingly becomes the friend of those dictating the life of others.
For the Amnesty International to rebuke the Vatican for sexual abuse of children committed by some of the clergy 15-20 years ago (and before), in other countries, and not to acknowledge the facts that: a) such crimes all but completely disappeared since, b) the claim for employer – employee relationship between the Vatican and individual dioceses has never been proven in court, is disingenuous and a lying by omission.
To single out the Vatican on the issue of child sexual abuse and say NOTHING about the same issue when reporting on other countries (for example, both in the US and in Britain 20%-30% of children will suffer sexual abuse prior to 18) shows the Amnesty International’s partiality and political motivations.
It is sad to see that a once revered organization is fast becoming just another powerful world-player.
And what exactly is your
And what exactly is your evidence, sir or madam, that such crimes have all but completely disappeared in our time? In our dreams, in our dreams.
Ih, it is simple. If there
Ih, it is simple. If there would be new cases, the whole world would know about them (considering the objectivity of the press).
Just how many news cases have you heard about? How does that compare with the cases, lets say in the scholl system?
The average victim does not
The average victim does not come forward until they are in their 30's or 40's. By 2041 we might have an idea of how much abuse is going on today, and not before then.
J Locke is very misguided.
J Locke is very misguided. It takes amnesty international to point out how the clerics should have treated their children, a situation which is still being ignored by the vatican. Amnesty international are acting more Christian than our so-called Christian institution itself. Go Amnesty, you have my full backing.
Amen. And isn't there
Amen.
And isn't there something better to talk about than a problem from decades ago?
Oh yeah it is the Catholic church which the world hates o much and that is why this is kept alive.
Decades ago? The Catholic
Decades ago? The Catholic Church in Malta is still internally "investigating" pedophile priests and refuses to hand over the cases to the police.
It's not a problem from
It's not a problem from decades ago, it is a 'clear and present' danger.
As well, there are many thing to talk about, but it behovves and and evryone of use to call a spade a spade, especially when it come to the most vulnerable in our society. The challenge is to imagine you had a son o duaght who comes home to you, and you are forevermore the witness of an entire life lsot, and having to observe the life long struggle that follwws, espeacuially when no onre wants to acknowledge the wrongdoing until 25 OR 50 YEARS after the fact.
If you want to stick your head in the sand and not talk about it, they get off line, and stay out of it, or perhaps try and meet with somone who has lived this abuse and lie. Afterall, that would be the 'catholic' thing to do.
A friendly word of warning.
A friendly word of warning. You are "defending" a sinking ship and the outcome of your choice has eternal consequences for you and everyone.
Need I remind everyone that "eternal" means, among other things, WITHOUT END?
Amnesty International is not
Amnesty International is not capable of undermining true and moral authority. The Church has undermined itself from within. No one has done a better job of undermining the Church than the people who have committed the crimes against God's children.
“Amnesty international is
“Amnesty international is playing politics for the sake of undermining the Church’s moral and spiritual authority.”
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organization whose stated mission is “to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated. There are six areas which Amnesty International deals with: women’s, children’s, minorities’ and indigenous rights; ending torture; abolition of the death penalty; rights of refugees, rights of prisoners of conscience; and protection of human dignity.
“Past failures in no way make the Vatican a failure today.”
Does this mean that past victims are not victims today?
“Today out of all population groups, a child is least likely to be abused by a priest.”
Is this supposed to be reassuring or a reason for boasting?
Benedict has been great about this all.”
Does this mean that because of his personal greatness, the “damaged goods” are now undamaged?
Please forgive me for quoting you: “How stupid.”
Paz y Bien, Rolando, SFO.
You're correct Paz y Bien,
You're correct Paz y Bien, Rolando, SFO in your response; "does this mean that because of his personal greatness, the 'damaged goods' are now undamaged?
If Ben16 has been so great about this, why is he still harboring and honoring Cardinal Law with power, position, and lifestyle? He would demonstrate his greatness buy disciplining Cardinal Law, but that will never happen!
I wish Ben 16 would give the people one concrete example of his so called greatness. His words alone have done nothing, and don't hold your breath waiting for true moral reforms.
Abuse by priests has been
Abuse by priests has been dramatically reduced. It is the continued cover up by too many Bishops that is sinful. Too many Bishops feel they are above the law and above those they serve. Bishops have to be held accountable for our Church to have any chance at future credibility. The protection of children rules written by the Bishops after the Boston explosion appeared to be working. But when a diocese turns in evidence that they are protecting children we have to take them at their word. It is difficult to take them at their word when they have lied and covered up so frequently and recently (PHILADELPHIA).
Most of the bishops
Most of the bishops (regardless if they mishandled something about sexual abuse by a priest or not) from the 60's and 70's are dead. Most of the active and former priests from that time are dead or in nursing homes.
Almost all(but not all) of the media stuff in Philadelphia is recycled stories of priests that did not do anything that is horrific but inappropriate. (like kissing a pre-Communion girl on the forehead when in the Communion line).
The process of eradication of abusive priests is going quite well; and has been ongoing for about 20 years actually, before much of the media storm which only accelerated it a bit.
Tell that to kids living in
Tell that to kids living in Philadelphia
Mr. Locke. Please read the
Mr. Locke. Please read the Philadelphia Grand Jury report in it's entirety. We are now talking about present day failures in the USCCB's reporting system. It is failing across this entire country.
Muddle … muddle, please don’t
Muddle … muddle, please don’t muddle! The issue in Philadelphia is about old cases, not recent ones. Whether their reporting system is acceptable is another issue. The point here is that in the Catholic church the number of recently committed (in the past 15 years) sexual abuse is dramatically down, while the child abuse cases in society are rising. Depending which sty you read, in the US between 20% - 30% of children will be sexually abused prior to their 18th birthday. This is the real issue, if you really care about children!
Whether the rate of abuse is
Whether the rate of abuse is up, down, or the same, the biggest issue that concerns AI and Catholics not blinded by "miter syndrome" is the continued coverup by our bishops on a world wide basis with no punishment coming from Rome without any of the severity handed out to Bp Morris in Australia for "crimes" far less severe than enabling child rape.
Yes, it is obvious what your
Yes, it is obvious what your issues are, and they have very little to do with the welfare and safety of children and truth. You simply use the tragic situation of the abused children to further your political agenda in your strife against a hierarchy that you hate with or without the issue of sexual abuse.
Just wait. The whole truth
Just wait. The whole truth about the global church is not yet out. What do you think Bishop Raymond Lahey was doing with both child porn on his laptop and passport stamps for Thailand? Those children who are used as sex slaves by Catholic clergy are not going to be reporting sexual abuse any time soon.
Maybe you can be so kind as
Maybe you can be so kind as to explain to me what my political agenda is? Let's get something straight here. Philly showed us the abuse continues on into the new millennium and the diocese condoned it! We had a case here in the Baker Diocese under Bp Vasa in 2002 when a Colombian rental priest molested a 14 yr old girl. Vasa removed him and after he plea bargained 5 felony counts down to 1, he pled guilty and was deported and whisked back to Colombia with nary a word to any of the parishes Fr. Estrada had served in both the Baker and Yakima Dioceses. No one knows what became of Estrada back in Colombia. There is no evidence Vasa tried to bring him up on Canon Law charges. For all we know, he's rented out to another country as I type this. It's all right here, with 100's of examples from the new millenium.
http://www.bishopaccountability.org/
I could easily list 30 or more currently serving bishops/cardinals who have a recorded history of protecting abusing priests who have not been punished in anyway such as what happened to Bp Morris in Australia. Starting with Cardinals Law, Mahoney, and Rigali and working my way along a long list.
I think Amnesty International
I think Amnesty International is going for "Zero Tolerance."
I have read it. And it makes
I have read it. And it makes my comment stronger for it. All of those cases are at least 15 years old while many of them are about 25-30 years old!
James Locke, you are good in
James Locke, you are good in insulting reputable people and organizations. You must be a career clergy, Opus Dei member or other cultist. The report by Amnesty International, is rather kind in their assessment of the Vatican's non compliance. The fact is, until recently and until forced by the truth revealed in the media, the Vatican's criminal deeds in the enabling and cover up has been not just sinful but criminal by the standard even of the most primitive and underdeveloped nation. Soul murdering Children has been their sideline, all the while preaching abstinence, and chastity to the laity, and mandating celibacy for the clergy, and which most clergy are not most of the time.
Remember "mental reservations" justifying LIES????? If telling the truth would hurt the reputation of "Holy Mother Church" then, for them lying, deceiving and distorting was not sinful. Under holy mother church they understood not the common people, but the silk and satin clad potentates in their palaces and their material holdings, which needed to be protected at the cost of the truth.
Good luck to you, when you have to settle your account.
Martha, I don't see how James
Martha, I don't see how James Locke has insulted people and organizations here. It is you my dear, who are insulting--the kettle calling the pot black. I ask the question, has Amnesty International criticized Muslim religious leaders and Islam for not condemning the slaughter of men, women and children at the hands of Islamic clerics and adherents? Martha, I detect bitterness and anger in your post, I hope you resolve these issues before you have to settle your account.
James, why are you supporting
James, why are you supporting the church in this? And how in the world do you know that a child is least likely to be abused by a Catholic priest? Even if that connection (child/priest) is low on the list, does that condone it? My God. The church is imploding from within.
I see the church as this gigantic teeter totter, and on one side is the hierarchy and the letter of the law people all of which looks like the house on the hill in the movie Psycho. On the other side of the board is a place where the sun is shining. I see lots of people moving into the sunlight, not jumping off, just moving to a place of hope.
Why do I support the Church?
Why do I support the Church? Because I believe that Jesus meant what he said. I read the Bible you see. People that go after the Church usually do so not because they care about children, but really because they hate the Church. This does not excuse abusing priests, but it is shameful that society pretends that abuse in society only happens in the Church. Fathers, Mothers, and teachers are the biggest abusers, yet you do not see it on the news.
I place my Hope is Jesus' Church. The One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.
Moral and spiritual
Moral and spiritual authority?? Who are you kidding beside yourself? Moral and spiritual authority has been compromised by the lack of morality and spirituality of the Bishops and the Pope....JP 2 and Benedict.
The perpetrators of the wrong doing are culpable but the Bishops who maneuvered them and hid them and protected them and exposed the new parishes to which they transferred these practicing perverts are the real felons.
James Locke sees fit to criticize and malign Amnesty International while issuing a "Hall Pass" to the root cause
of Amnesty's and THINKING practicing catholic's cause of condemnation.
There is no moral and spiritual authority surviving this catastrophic incompetent response to abuse of our children.
Pray that our savior Jesus Christ chooses not to visit this earth to sort out "His Church" and its misadministration.
There will not be a mitered head in sight.
Yes, Amnesty International is
Yes, Amnesty International is playing politics. To single out the Vatican on the issue of child sexual abuse is simply disingenuous for the following three reasons:
1. 95% of the abuse cases took place 20 years ago or more. As you point it out, since then, there would be difficult to find any institution that is more ‘child-safe’ than the Catholic Church.
2. The “emerging evidence” that is referred to in the text is nothing but allegations by attorneys hoping for a big payday, and none of them have been proven in court. To jump from this to the conclusion that the Vatican is guilty of any of these accusations is simply unfair, and by drawing these conclusions the Amnesty International disclosed its partisan political agenda.
3. There is an ONGOING child sexual abuse epidemic as we speak, regardless of country or religion. Here are some FACTS concerning child sexual abuse in a small sample of three countries, and you can check for your self whether any of these country’s 2011 Amnesty International report contains anything about Child sexual abuse:
In the US 25% of girls and 16% of boys are sexually abused prior to reaching age 18 (Finkelhor, at al., 1990). According to Vogelnatz, Wilsnack, and Harris (1999), child sexual abuse among girls in the US ranges between 21% - 32%.
According to the March 22, 2010 media release: “Sexual Misconduct Continues to Plague US Schools,” 10% of children will experience sexual misconduct by a school employee during their academic career.
In the United Kingdom, according an estimate by the Adult Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse Network, 25% of males and 33% females experienced sexual abuse prior to the age of 18.
In India, according to the 2007, 13-state National Study on Child Sexual Abuse, by the Ministry of Women and Child, UNICEF and Save The Children, 21% of children experience severe sexual abuse. (Statistics regarding child sexual abuse are on average comparable in other countries.)
So, why aren’t these countries criticised? These are not 20-50 years old cases, these are happening now! Should we not be worried? Amnesty International has become just another international political party.
And no, I am not protecting the clergy and the pope. I am simply pointing out politically motivated bias.
James, Where to begin . . .
James,
Where to begin . . .
You say the abuse-of-minors problems are in the "past." OK, let's begin with "today" May 13 2011: a report out of Philadelphia tells us that the chair (for the past eight years) of the Archdiocese Sexual-Abuse Board, has accused the current Archbishop, Cardinal Justin Regali, of having "failed miserably at being open and transparent." That is for starters. Please read her article, posted at http://commonwealmagazine.org/fog-scandal-1.
The problems are of course, not in the past. The problems are ongoing because the Big prob is a pretention to impunity, what the chair of the Philly Archdiocese calls "clericalism" - a disregard for the laity and a harsh intolerance toward critics, generally.
The Vatican is sliding away into a chasm of disrepute. The AI report is symptomatic of this self-induced moral stain.
AI is not "stupid" for releasing its Report, nor motivated by a desire to "undermine the Church's moral and spiritual authority." Tragically, the Vatican needs no outside help in undermining its moral standing in the world.
Others who attack AI in the wake of an AI report tend to be brutal autocrats or their mouth pieces. Not such good company for the Vatican to be keeping.
The members of the population
The members of the population at large do not claim to be the Vicars of Christ.
So those people who do not
So those people who do not claim to be the Vicar of Christ have no need to worry about anything that they do, or others they know do, or others that they know that they know do, or others that they know that they know that they know do, and others that they know that they know that they know that they know do.
Only if you claim to be the Vicar of Christ are you responsible for the everyday actions of hundreds of thousands of people that you do not know and have never seen before and will never see.
Submitted by Anonymous on
Submitted by Anonymous on May. 13, 2011.
You stated:
"The members of the population at large do not claim to be the Vicars of Christ."
--------------------------------------
The Pope is the Vicar of Peter. Christ needs no vicar.
And the Popes have shuffled papers concerning child abuse by priests and bishops under the pile of "To Do" items for decades. We still do not know the full extent of all abuse issues.
Amnesty International is just
Amnesty International is just doing its job. Any "undermining of the Church's moral and spiritual authority" has been done by the Church itself. If you think children are now safe, then stay tuned to the news. It goes on and on.
If thinking this way makes
If thinking this way makes you feel better, go ahead. For years, Cardinal Ratzinger only wanted to protect the priests -- and the Church, not the children. It was a Vatican policy -- and John Paul II was involved in the coverup. It is a shame, I know, and very hard to face. But only by facing our own reality can we hope to change for the better and protect our children.
We cannot claim "moral
We cannot claim "moral authority" unless we act morally. Amnesty International did nothing but report the truth.
The true character of the Church will be revealed by our response.
Just as in the Act of Contrition, we must do penance and amend our ways.
Seriously, how can you say
Seriously, how can you say that this is in any way stupid? Pope John Paul, Joseph Ratzinger and Cardinal Bernard Law were the three architects of, ergo responsible for the American Catholic Church sex scandal. They are truly the Heads of Child Rape and Torture in many other countries. For you to say they have any moral or spiritual authority in the world at large is simply delusional. He deserves justice as do the 200 deaf children in Minnesota. Shame on you. Really, shame on you.
On what grounds do you
On what grounds do you assert, and can you claim, that the catholic (small c )church (small c) has any moral or spiritual authoriy?
What evidence, logic, or theology, can you offer, to posit that the vatican (small v) that past failures do not make it a falure today?
In any event, Amnesty doesn't say it is a failure today. In fact, it says and supports the present CEO of the vatican (small v) for recent actions and statements made on this serious matter.
This past cabal of rapists, molesters, liars and obfiscators, will be judged handily by those who have compassion and love in their hearts, including the various Gods of the universe. Those who were, are are still responsible for such brutal and cruel behaviour, have no compassion and are without conscience or love for any other than themselves and their 'church'.
Further more, the catholic (small c) churches(small c) relentless homophia, and denial of women to particapte in the preaching of love, compassion and forgivenes, is nothing short of ridiculous, and borders on the insane. Any logical and prescient being would be hard pressed not to come to this concusion. A child, who has yet to experience dogma and brain washing, would come to this conclusion.
As would Jesus.
Futhermore, to suggest that somehow a child in the present day, is very unlikely to be abused by a catholic (small c)priest than any one else, is absurd, and , again, without any factual basis or truth. Perhaps you meant to make a distinction between priest and bishop (small b). The only observation that might be offered, is that the bishops (small b) who have in the past and present, ruined and destroyed the lives of innocent children, get more attention and media coverage than the 'average' priest.
It's more 'salacious' one supposes. And seems to be of more interest to the media and church (small c) than the broken children of the world that no one seesm to particularly speak for.
Except for Amnesty International. Thank God, for Amnesty International.
The CEO (capital letters), Board of Govenors,(capital letters) and Directors (capital letters )have much power to deflect truth that should be expressed in the media. And to deny for so long and cover up such heinous acts.
Lastly, you will note a choice has been made to not capitalize your corporations name, as in would not be reasonable to give such status to a product that one cannot endorse, and must challenge and expose at ever turn.
By the way, I have been a catholic for 54 years. Have traded in my shares for love, compassion, vigilance,truth and justice.
Many of us have. And from other closed-minded, abusive, patriarchal, and false religions and prophets. And there is no hiding from this anymore.
On what grounds do you
On what grounds do you assert, and can you claim, that the catholic (small c )church (small c) has any moral or spiritual authoriy?
What evidence, logic, or theology, can you offer, to posit that the vatican (small v) that past failures do not make it a falure today?
In any event, Amnesty doesn't say it is a failure today. In fact, it says and supports the present CEO of the vatican (small v) for recent actions and statements made on this serious matter.
This past cabal of rapists, molesters, liars and obfiscators, will be judged handily by those who have compassion and love in their hearts, including the various Gods of the universe. Those who were, are are still responsible for such brutal and cruel behaviour, have no compassion and are without conscience or love for any other than themselves and their 'church'.
Further more, the catholic (small c) churches(small c) relentless homophia, and denial of women to particapte in the preaching of love, compassion and forgivenes, is nothing short of ridiculous, and borders on the insane. Any logical and prescient being would be hard pressed not to come to this concusion. A child, who has yet to experience dogma and brain washing, would come to this conclusion.
As would Jesus.
Futhermore, to suggest that somehow a child in the present day, is very unlikely to be abused by a catholic (small c)priest than any one else, is absurd, and , again, without any factual basis or truth. Perhaps you meant to make a distinction between priest and bishop (small b). The only observation that might be offered, is that the bishops (small b) who have in the past and present, ruined and destroyed the lives of innocent children, get more attention and media coverage than the 'average' priest.
It's more 'salacious' one supposes. And seems to be of more interest to the media and church (small c) than the broken children of the world that no one seesm to particularly speak for.
Except for Amnesty International. Thank God, for Amnesty International.
The CEO (capital letters), Board of Govenors,(capital letters) and Directors (capital letters )have much power to deflect truth that should be expressed in the media. And to deny for so long and cover up such heinous acts.
Lastly, you will note a choice has been made to not capitalize your corporations name, as in would not be reasonable to give such status to a product that one cannot endorse, and must challenge and expose at ever turn.
By the way, I have been a catholic for 54 years. Have traded in my shares for love, compassion, vigilance,truth and justice.
Many of us have. And from other closed-minded, abusive, patriarchal, and false religions and prophets. And there is no hiding from this anymore.
"Past failures in no way make
"Past failures in no way make the Vatican a failure today."
This is true. The vatican is able to be a failure today even without prior momentum.
The Vatican forfeited its
The Vatican forfeited its moral authority long ago.
"......undermining the
"......undermining the Church's moral and spiritual authority." Give me a break! The hierarchy has lost ALL "moral and spiritual authority", by their fault, by their fault, by their most grievous fault.
Does anyone know if Amnesty
Does anyone know if Amnesty International has been critical of Muslim leaders for not speaking out against the killing of Christians in Muslim territories--children and adults alike?
Well when he was Ratzinger
Well when he was Ratzinger and head of the CDF he did handle 3,000 cases of child abuse by clergy colleagues and in ALL of these cases he called in the civil authorities .. ok ok he called in the civil authorities in most of these cases .... in half the cases? ... in some of the cases? ... in ONE of the cases??? Actually he didn't bother the civil authorities in ANY of the cases.
The continuing failure of the
The continuing failure of the Vatican and their bishops to protect children is criminal,immoral,and incredible for an institution "claiming" to be religious. The promoting of the pedophile protecting John Paul II as "blessed" shows just how arrogant and perverse the Vatican is. I left the church when JPII was pronounced "blessed". I guess the double talking, two faced Vatican will now claim that they are not a state. Oh yes, I forget Pope Benny's claim that he has no control over bishops who protect pedophile priests. Don't let the good bishops mention maybe woman should be considered as priests and they will surely lose their heads fast. At least Amnesty International sees through the papal "bull" even thought good Catholic lay folk are painfully negligent when it comes to Catholic children and their protection.
NOOSE ON CURIA'S NECK ???
NOOSE ON CURIA'S NECK ??? _____The noose is tightening around the curia's neck. Forget, Fr. Lombardi, about calling the police to stop priest rapists only when the local law requires. Children must be protected from clerical predators everywhere and immediately--regardless of variations in local laws. All bishops and pastors throughout the world must declare from the rooftops loudly and often: "Catholics, if you suspect abuse, call the police immediately!" The police are the independent professionals, and not untrustworthy bishops, their overpaid lawyers or their hand picked rubber stamps, as the Philly fiasco surely shows. The hierarchy's shortcomings here, as well as options for Catholics to fix our sick Church, are described further in my comment entitled "Is the Pope Leaving Soon?" to John Allen's May 13 NCR article entitled "A triptych on Benedict's papacy..." and in my comment entitled "More Mystical Baloney?" to Tom Fox's May 13 NCR article entitled "Bishops committee reaches out..." . I hope you read my two comments soon. One must wonder now whether when Ratzinger was shaking Mugabe's hand at the Instant Blessed's farcical beatification they discussed who would get the worse coverage in Noble Peace Prize winning Amnesty International's annual hall of shame report. It is a very sad day for the Catholics of the world, indeed. PAX+
Please see my comment on my
Please see my comment on my previous comment on my first comment about my last comment, none of which anyone in his right mind would read, but all of which make me feel better. How about some mental criteria for bloggers at this site?
VERY FUNNY COMMENT,THANKS
VERY FUNNY COMMENT,THANKS _____Thank, Angelica Martini, for your witty comment. You gave me a good laugh. Please note my "comments on your comments to his comments on her article" are not intended for you or others who think life is simple and reducible to short cliches. This simplistic, fideistic approach to complex reality is a principal reason the hierarchy can still treat so many Catholics as if they were complete morons. There are some NCR readers who are capable of juggling more than one concept at a time, and they are the ones I hope will read "my comment on your comments to his comments on her article". I wish there were an easier way, but given the NCR comment set-up, there isn't and I don't think cliches are very effective for fixing our broken Church. In the meantime, and noticing your beautiful name, may I suggest you try being more "Angelic" and when you come across my comment cross-references, you either follow their lead, or take a deep breath, have a "Martini" and just FORGETABOUTIT! You may learn less, but you sure will feel better. Meanwhile, there are other readers who appear to appreciate reading my comments.PAX+
No. Nobody is appreciating
No. Nobody is appreciating the daily rants from someone who has very little to do other than just post long diatribes about how much he hates Jesus' Church.
Jerry, you do not know much
Jerry, you do not know much about the police. They are not always independent "professionals"; and they are certainly not "independent", far from it.
You believe in government too much and you probably love the state; one of the sins, "Baal", the Old Testament Prophets thundered against.
As far as "noose is tighening around the curia's neck", this statement is nuts. I think what is about to happen (in this decade) is a world wide calumity or epic extent. The world in general and the American experience in particular is in a 4th turning. Happens ever 80 years or so. Starting now in the 2010's, last previous one started in the 1930's (depression and WWII); one before that started in the 1850's (seccession, American Civil War-reconstruction); and the one before that in the 1770's (Anmerican Revolution and Revolutionary war).
Shameful, just shameful, now
Shameful, just shameful, now we're listed w/ Libya, Syria, No Korea et al for human rights abuse. I hope the Vatican curia is just so proud of themselves now.
Don't forget that the US is
Don't forget that the US is also mentioned in it for capital punishment and other distasteful behaviors.
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