How can anyone condone being Catholic?

Priest in Brazil accused of having 'erotic dungeon'
http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2010/05/22/priest-in-brazil-accused-of-having-...

Isaac J. Conner - Not playing nice. Them's fighting words.

Charmaine Boggs - Just as there are imperfect and sometimes downright criminal politicians, so too there are imperfect and sometimes downright criminal persons of all faiths, nationalities, ethnic groups, etc. Chalk it up to human nature to be less than perfect. Although I don't condone the behavior of a corrupt politician, that makes me no less of an American. By the same token, although I don't condone the behavior of these priests, that makes me no less of a Christian or a Catholic. For every priest and politician who makes the news for the evil they do, there are thousands of good people quietly doing the right thing every day.

Isaac J. Conner - You are right Charmaine, and I am aware of the good people that happen to subscribe to the Catholic faith. I was blessed by the grace of Catholic Charities during a time of unemployment and have experienced deep love with some as well. It is not my intention to foolishly stereotype a group of people, especially since I believe we are *all* one. I know you guys are Catholic as well, and I respect you too much to fully describe my feelings on this.

But I have to make a personal stand against criminals that literally parade themselves as vessels for truth while raping children, en masse. They pay no taxes, act and are treated above the law, are their own country and deny the existence of God inside each and every one of us.

When is there a breaking point where otherwise intelligent and well-meaning people finally step away from modalities of existence that are no longer relevant.

Derrick Shearer - this is true Isaac, of many nationalities,of many religions , but don't let a few bad apples spoil your title to your wall post..lol

Isaac J. Conner - Reports released by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops documented the abuse committed in the United States by 4,392 priests against thousands of children between 1950 and 2002. One of every ten priests ordained in 1970 was charged as a pedophile by 2002.

Here's some more perspective:
http://www.michaelparenti.org/VaticanShuffle.html

Zachariah Wasson - This is more than just a handful of imperfect or criminal priests. This is an epidemic of child buggery and subsequent cover-ups that go to the very top of the organization's leadership. At the very least, all Catholics are delusional, magical thinkers who promote a dangerous, dogmatic ideology. Reasonable people who, for whatever reason, still subscribe to the archaic, anti-reason dogma of Catholicism would do well to resign from their dubious faith.

Amy Banas Mechling - No excuses, those who serve others need to be accountable to those they serve. Growing up a Catholic in Catholic schools never met a Priest or Nun who I did not love and respect. No rumbling of gossip in any of my parishes of pedophiles. Yeah, I heard stories of Nuns using rulers to smack our hands and yeah Father Kramer called me out when I mispronunced "Job" when Reading from Scripture . There are many bad apples in our world but don't let the rotten ones spoil the good work of the many who are pure and serve. Read about Father Michael Mcgivney -an inspiration

Charmaine Boggs - Check out "Father Mychal Judge: An Authentic American Hero" by Michael Ford. His story ends with his heroism in NYC on 9/11.
Amy, I still LOVE the Father Kramer stories!!

Zachariah, although I do not know you, I do know your doubt because I have been there. As you grow older you will have experiences that will color your thinking and views repeatedly. Yes, I am a Catholic by birth, but it is only now, many years later, that I can truly say I am beginning to understand Christianity and Catholicism better. That does not mean that I blindly agree with everything. My dad, one of the most "Catholic" Catholics I have ever known, once called me a "cafeteria Catholic" because I don't blindly follow every tenet of the Catholic faith and I am not afraid to question what I find questionable. Keep an open mind to all that is in the universe, spiritual and worldly, never be afraid to question the questionable, but by the same token, do not fear to believe the unbelievable. There is much that we mere mortals cannot comprehend, but it is that very mystery that makes life interesting-- so just enjoy the ride!

Lisa Banas - My personal opinion is blame the individual not the community, although I honestly don't have any personal ties to Catholicism anymore. Its really sad that all this stuff is happening to young people today, especially by people they know and trust. I miss you cuz!! I hope you are doing well!!!

Derrick Shearer - Even if every white person in the world but one slapped me...i would still look at the indiviual not the group.Reasonable people try to communicate and work through things.Reasonable people do not cowardly state their point and run when you disagree.

LeeAnn Hively-Insalaco - I find one in ten to be a pretty steep number. If applied as a real world ratio, that would mean one in every ten people we pass daily is not only a Pedophile, but one that acts out on those urges and has been discovered. How many people do you pass daily? How many do you pass merely by driving past them on crowded streets without glancing at them longer than required to see if you can safely change lanes? Imagine how many people we encounter while standing in line at the grocers, saying hello on an elevator, working side by side with them, living in an apartment complex which houses a thousand knowing that means at least one hundred of your neighbors have not only coveted children (possibly your own) but have actually stolen the innocence of young lives and been discovered.

Now I begin to think of what it would be like if the one in ten who were discovered of the heinous act of pedophilia had been protected by their bosses, the police, the government, and even the parents of those children who were assaulted. They were assisted in moving to other neighborhoods, given new jobs, and allowed to assume new lives without any of the new neighbors and coworkers being informed that crimes had previously been committed and undoubtedly would again.

It boggles the brain that there might be people who claim these are isolated events then and not only allow these atrocities but protect the offenders to boot.

So while I see the inherent beauty of the Catholic faith... the ritual, the timelessness, the rich history, the archaic language of ceremony and the core beliefs which tie Catholics to their beliefs for two centuries now... I also see how reformation is required. I see how blind faith and excuse making does not cure anything but merely assists in allowing the problem to compound with each pardoned evil.

And most importantly, I see how we attack entire nations based on less but are supposed to avert our gaze from one of the most debasing acts a human can commit based on religious reasons... When we compare the real world to the Catholic priests who abuse their privilege and power, it would seem even those who most loudly proclaim nonsense about "a few bad apples" would wish to consider their position more closely.

Derrick Shearer - I still am going to have to stand by what i said before(and no i am not catholic).If an instituion does not support or suggest in any way that it is ok and they actually denounce practices such as what we are talking about ; then even if all but one did it - you have to look at them as individuals not as a group. That being said, if the instituion is protecting them ...then someone must go after the instition and prosecute to the fullest extent of our law or italy's laws or however high this goes.

LeeAnn Hively-Insalaco - "That being said, if the instituion is protecting them ...then someone must go after the instition and prosecute to the fullest extent of our law or italy's laws or however high this goes."

I could not agree more. The problem, however, is the fact they are not being prosecuted. They are being protected. They are (and have been for ages) being shuttled from each location they are assaulting children in to new locations which are kept in the dark about their previous evil works. They are not held accountable. They are given fresh victims. They are beyond the grasp of the law due to the intervention of the church.

Now how can this bode well with anyone??

LeeAnn Hively-Insalaco - Interestingly enough, this article was available for just one day before being removed from the site. If you click on the link now, you will find it no longer exists...

Isaac J. Conner - To address some things:

@Charmaine & Derrick ~ I exaggerated by using the term "en masse." One tenth is a systemic problem, but this hasn't been a crime of every single priest.

@Charmaine ~ "Keep an open mind to all that is in the universe, spiritual and worldly, never be afraid to question the questionable, but by the same token, do not fear to believe the unbelievable. There is much that we mere mortals cannot comprehend, but it is that very mystery that makes life interesting."
That is beautiful Aunt Charm.

@Lisa ~ I miss you too cuz!

@Derrick ~ I have to question your use of "Every white person in the world slapping you but one." That sounds like sick, weird, fetish stuff. I have family here, so let's keep it clean.