Pope blames secular society for clergy sexual abuse

puremagicpuremagic Posts: 1,907
edited December 2010 in A Moving Train
Pope blames secular society for clergy sexually abusing children

December 20, 2010

Pope blames secular society for clergy sexually abusing children. Monday Pope Benedict XVI made the claim that secular society is to blame for Catholic clergy sexually abusing children. The Pope made the claim in his traditional, end-of-the-year speech to Vatican cardinals and bishops.

The annual end of the year address to the College of Cardinals and representatives of the Roman Curia is a time for the Pope to review significant events of the year and give status updates on the Catholic Church.

About the ongoing scandal surrounding the sexual abuse of children by Catholic clergy, Pope Benedict said the fault lay not only with the Church but also with the "context of our times." The pope went on to equate child pornography with drug use, and blamed the sexual promiscuous decade of the 1970's for priests sexually abusing children.

-Even an uneducated dumbass would not equate sexual promiscuous with pedophiles.

-Even the most insensitive bastard knows that it’s the individual not society that commits the deviant actions of a pedophile.

Maybe this should be required teaching for the Church [Matthew, Chapther 18]

At that time the disciples approached Jesus and said,
Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said,
Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children,
you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.

"Whoever causes one of these little ones 5 who believe in me to sin,
it would be better for him to have a great millstone hung around his neck
and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.

Woe to the world because of things that cause sin! Such things must come,
but woe to the one through whom they come!
SIN EATERS--We take the moral excrement we find in this equation and we bury it down deep inside of us so that the rest of our case can stay pure. That is the job. We are morally indefensible and absolutely necessary.
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • catefrancescatefrances Posts: 29,003
    pope benedict XVI is a fool.

    i suggest its the religious society the catholic clergy find themselves in that is so much more a factor. chastity is unnnatural.
    hear my name
    take a good look
    this could be the day
    hold my hand
    lie beside me
    i just need to say
  • LizardLizard So Cal Posts: 12,091
    puremagic wrote:
    " The pope went on to equate child pornography with drug use, and blamed the sexual promiscuous decade of the 1970's for priests sexually abusing children.

    I'm pretty sure there was abuse before the 70's.
    So I'll just lie down and wait for the dream
    Where I'm not ugly and you're lookin' at me
  • What an idiot.
    Believe me, when I was growin up, I thought the worst thing you could turn out to be was normal, So I say freaks in the most complementary way. Here's a song by a fellow freak - E.V
  • pope benedict XVI is a fool.

    i suggest its the religious society the catholic clergy find themselves in that is so much more a factor. chastity is unnnatural.

    I think being chased has more to do with self-control.

    Obviously the priests who committed these horrible acts had none.
    Bristow, VA (5/13/10)
  • catefrancescatefrances Posts: 29,003
    pope benedict XVI is a fool.

    i suggest its the religious society the catholic clergy find themselves in that is so much more a factor. chastity is unnnatural.

    I think being chased has more to do with self-control.

    Obviously the priests who committed these horrible acts had none.

    chaste. ;)

    i had to read your post twice.. i thought who the hell is chasing them. :lol:

    and i agree being chaste is about self control... doesnt make it any less unnatural.
    hear my name
    take a good look
    this could be the day
    hold my hand
    lie beside me
    i just need to say
  • pope benedict XVI is a fool.

    i suggest its the religious society the catholic clergy find themselves in that is so much more a factor. chastity is unnnatural.

    I think being chased has more to do with self-control.

    Obviously the priests who committed these horrible acts had none.

    chaste. ;)

    i had to read your post twice.. i thought who the hell is chasing them. :lol:

    and i agree being chaste is about self control... doesnt make it any less unnatural.

    Good catch. I need to read my posts more often before I send them! :lol:

    I don't know anyone who enjoys being chased. ;)
    Bristow, VA (5/13/10)
  • catefrancescatefrances Posts: 29,003
    I think being chased has more to do with self-control.

    Obviously the priests who committed these horrible acts had none.

    chaste. ;)

    i had to read your post twice.. i thought who the hell is chasing them. :lol:

    and i agree being chaste is about self control... doesnt make it any less unnatural.

    Good catch. I need to read my posts more often before I send them! :lol:

    I don't know anyone who enjoys being chased. ;)


    nor do i. ;)8-):lol:
    hear my name
    take a good look
    this could be the day
    hold my hand
    lie beside me
    i just need to say
  • Drowned OutDrowned Out Posts: 6,056
    pope benedict XVI is a fool.

    i suggest its the religious society the catholic clergy find themselves in that is so much more a factor. chastity is unnnatural.
    Exactly. And lets not overlook the effects of sexual repression on the secular society he blames. It is pervasive in society, on many levels that absolutely DO affect ALL of us. The 'moral responsibility' of christians in Western society; their desire to impose their views on non-believers, significantly shapes our attitudes towards sex in general. If he is going to blame society for sexual deviance, he needs to look in the mirror and see how religious sexual repression has affected that society.





    Here is the topical, transcripted excerpt from the speech, for anyone interested:

    We are well aware of the particular gravity of this sin committed by priests and of our corresponding responsibility. But neither can we remain silent regarding the context of these times in which these events have come to light. There is a market in child pornography that seems in some way to be considered more and more normal by society. The psychological destruction of children, in which human persons are reduced to articles of merchandise, is a terrifying sign of the times. From Bishops of developing countries I hear again and again how sexual tourism threatens an entire generation and damages its freedom and its human dignity. The Book of Revelation includes among the great sins of Babylon – the symbol of the world’s great irreligious cities – the fact that it trades with bodies and souls and treats them as commodities (cf. Rev 18:13). In this context, the problem of drugs also rears its head, and with increasing force extends its octopus tentacles around the entire world – an eloquent expression of the tyranny of mammon which perverts mankind. No pleasure is ever enough, and the excess of deceiving intoxication becomes a violence that tears whole regions apart – and all this in the name of a fatal misunderstanding of freedom which actually undermines man’s freedom and ultimately destroys it.

    In order to resist these forces, we must turn our attention to their ideological foundations. In the 1970s, paedophilia was theorized as something fully in conformity with man and even with children. This, however, was part of a fundamental perversion of the concept of ethos. It was maintained – even within the realm of Catholic theology – that there is no such thing as evil in itself or good in itself. There is only a "better than" and a "worse than". Nothing is good or bad in itself. Everything depends on the circumstances and on the end in view. Anything can be good or also bad, depending upon purposes and circumstances. Morality is replaced by a calculus of consequences, and in the process it ceases to exist. The effects of such theories are evident today. Against them, Pope John Paul II, in his 1993 Encyclical Letter Veritatis Splendor, indicated with prophetic force in the great rational tradition of Christian ethos the essential and permanent foundations of moral action. Today, attention must be focussed anew on this text as a path in the formation of conscience. It is our responsibility to make these criteria audible and intelligible once more for people today as paths of true humanity, in the context of our paramount concern for mankind.
  • haffajappahaffajappa British Columbia Posts: 5,955
    pope benedict XVI is a fool.

    i suggest its the religious society the catholic clergy find themselves in that is so much more a factor. chastity is unnnatural.
    he has a cool hat
    live pearl jam is best pearl jam
  • catefrancescatefrances Posts: 29,003
    haffajappa wrote:
    pope benedict XVI is a fool.

    i suggest its the religious society the catholic clergy find themselves in that is so much more a factor. chastity is unnnatural.
    he has a cool hat

    and it matches his dress.
    hear my name
    take a good look
    this could be the day
    hold my hand
    lie beside me
    i just need to say
  • JOEJOEJOEJOEJOEJOE Posts: 10,619
    Finally, a topic of which everyone is on the same side!
  • haffajappahaffajappa British Columbia Posts: 5,955
    JOEJOEJOE wrote:
    Finally, a topic of which everyone is on the same side!
    You would think, but remember the one on bullying?
    Someone actually disagreed with the idea that bullying needs to stop! :roll: :?

    But we always have WBC threads to agree on! ;)
    live pearl jam is best pearl jam
  • haffajappahaffajappa British Columbia Posts: 5,955
    haffajappa wrote:
    pope benedict XVI is a fool.

    i suggest its the religious society the catholic clergy find themselves in that is so much more a factor. chastity is unnnatural.
    he has a cool hat

    and it matches his dress.
    And he never wears black with blue, bless him!
    live pearl jam is best pearl jam
  • gimmesometruth27gimmesometruth27 St. Fuckin Louis Posts: 23,303
    i love how the pope chimes in occasionally on certain topics...as if his word carries much weight at all anymore... :roll: :roll: :roll:

    their inactivity during world war II and during the sexual assault trials speaks volumes to me...
    "You can tell the greatness of a man by what makes him angry."  - Lincoln

    "Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
  • JeanwahJeanwah Posts: 6,363
    It's a miracle that anyone really listens to what the pope says anymore. Of course he's going to blame something for the corrupt priests... but never the priests themselves.
  • gimmesometruth27gimmesometruth27 St. Fuckin Louis Posts: 23,303
    and if he admitted fault for anything, it would be a festivus miracle!!!!

    :lol:;)
    "You can tell the greatness of a man by what makes him angry."  - Lincoln

    "Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
  • gimmesometruth27gimmesometruth27 St. Fuckin Louis Posts: 23,303
    "You can tell the greatness of a man by what makes him angry."  - Lincoln

    "Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
  • ...as if his word carries much weight at all anymore... :roll: :roll: :roll:

    I would suggest that millions of people might disagree with you on that one. that position holds possibly one of the most influential voices on Earth, no matter who holds it.
    Gimli 1993
    Fargo 2003
    Winnipeg 2005
    Winnipeg 2011
    St. Paul 2014
  • JOEJOEJOEJOEJOEJOE Posts: 10,619
    haffajappa wrote:
    JOEJOEJOE wrote:
    Finally, a topic of which everyone is on the same side!
    You would think, but remember the one on bullying?
    Someone actually disagreed with the idea that bullying needs to stop! :roll: :?

    But we always have WBC threads to agree on! ;)

    Of course!
  • gimmesometruth27gimmesometruth27 St. Fuckin Louis Posts: 23,303
    Paul David wrote:
    ...as if his word carries much weight at all anymore... :roll: :roll: :roll:

    I would suggest that millions of people might disagree with you on that one. that position holds possibly one of the most influential voices on Earth, no matter who holds it.
    i see your point.

    no offense paul, but i was referring to those of us in this world who stand up and who are NOT indoctrinated.

    i was raisied catholic and at one point in my life considered serving in the priesthood. however i gave it up once i reached the age of reason. i could not rationalize some of the teachings and they conflicted fundamentally with my moral compass and my own values... i dunno, something about the absolute unfairness of a man with a big hat telling women what they can and can not do with their bodies, telling me that sex for any other reason than for procreation, let alone as an act of immense love with someone i completely care about was still a sin, and that it was still a sin to use condoms in areas ravaged by aids like africa did not sit well with my conscience. also the apathy with which the church dealt with the sexual misconduct made it irrational for me to stay in such a hypocritical environment. so i left the church, and as a result, the pontiff's words mean nothing to me....
    "You can tell the greatness of a man by what makes him angry."  - Lincoln

    "Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
  • no offense taken gimme. I was raised in the church as well, and also left when I was a teen. For the exact same reasons you mentioned.
    Paul David wrote:
    ...as if his word carries much weight at all anymore... :roll: :roll: :roll:

    I would suggest that millions of people might disagree with you on that one. that position holds possibly one of the most influential voices on Earth, no matter who holds it.
    i see your point.

    no offense paul, but i was referring to those of us in this world who stand up and who are NOT indoctrinated.

    i was raisied catholic and at one point in my life considered serving in the priesthood. however i gave it up once i reached the age of reason. i could not rationalize some of the teachings and they conflicted with my moral compass and my own values... i dunno, something about the absolute unfairness of a man with a big hat telling women what they can and can not do with their bodies, telling me that sex for any other reason than for procreation, let alone as an act of immense love was still a sin, and that it was still a sin to use condoms in areas ravaged by aids like africa did not sit well with my conscience. also the apathy with which the church dealt with the sexual misconduct made it irrational for me to stay in such a hypocritical environment. so i left the church, and as a result, the pontiff's words mean nothing to me....
    Gimli 1993
    Fargo 2003
    Winnipeg 2005
    Winnipeg 2011
    St. Paul 2014
  • kenny olavkenny olav Posts: 3,319
    If anyone hasn't seen this video yet... it's the most well-spoken criticism of the Catholic Church I've heard...

    Stephen Fry Speaks Out Against the Catholic Church Part 1
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEhtOhwL8xk

    Part 2
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BH0safHyhPo
  • whygohomewhygohome Posts: 2,305
    I agree with the pope. If we could only eliminate secular society, then pedophilia would be more readily accepted.

    That's what he meant, right?
  • haffajappahaffajappa British Columbia Posts: 5,955
    kenny olav wrote:
    If anyone hasn't seen this video yet... it's the most well-spoken criticism of the Catholic Church I've heard...

    Stephen Fry Speaks Out Against the Catholic Church Part 1
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEhtOhwL8xk

    Part 2
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BH0safHyhPo
    very interesting!
    thanks for the link
    live pearl jam is best pearl jam
  • i love how the pope chimes in occasionally on certain topics...as if his word carries much weight at all anymore... :roll: :roll: :roll:



    like Obama.
  • the catholic church needs to listen to Jim James...

    rellllliggggioooooooooon! should appeal to the hearts of the young!

    (Gideon)

    Everyone under 50 thinks that Catholicism is utter shite. I grew up Catholic and literally ALL of my Catholic friends are now Atheist, Agnostic, or "spiritual but not religious." Pretty soon there are going to be churches closing down after the baby boomers are done giving away their 401k's to the church.
    Everything not forbidden is compulsory and eveything not compulsory is forbidden. You are free... free to do what the government says you can do.
  • haffajappahaffajappa British Columbia Posts: 5,955
    the catholic church needs to listen to Jim James...

    rellllliggggioooooooooon! should appeal to the hearts of the young!

    (Gideon)

    Everyone under 50 thinks that Catholicism is utter shite. I grew up Catholic and literally ALL of my Catholic friends are now Atheist, Agnostic, or "spiritual but not religious." Pretty soon there are going to be churches closing down after the baby boomers are done giving away their 401k's to the church.
    IDK... there's this new like, trendy church goers fad now.
    So misleading, people who look like cool, indie, longboarding guys into awesome music and progressive ideas .....and they turn out to be christian rock loving let's talk about jesus guys... :(
    blasphemy! ;)
    live pearl jam is best pearl jam
  • JeanwahJeanwah Posts: 6,363
    haffajappa wrote:
    the catholic church needs to listen to Jim James...

    rellllliggggioooooooooon! should appeal to the hearts of the young!

    (Gideon)

    Everyone under 50 thinks that Catholicism is utter shite. I grew up Catholic and literally ALL of my Catholic friends are now Atheist, Agnostic, or "spiritual but not religious." Pretty soon there are going to be churches closing down after the baby boomers are done giving away their 401k's to the church.
    IDK... there's this new like, trendy church goers fad now.
    So misleading, people who look like cool, indie, longboarding guys into awesome music and progressive ideas .....and they turn out to be christian rock loving let's talk about jesus guys... :(
    blasphemy! ;)

    I think it's hard to generalize as I can see both of your points. I was raised strict Catholic but am now Agnostic. Yet, I've run into younger people who've been in accidents or near-death experiences who are Born Again Christians. I see both going on. I had a pretty bad accident, which solidified my belief in God, but also solidified my belief that I don't need to go to a church to pray and be thankful. Different strokes for different folks...
  • whygohomewhygohome Posts: 2,305
    the catholic church needs to listen to Jim James...

    rellllliggggioooooooooon! should appeal to the hearts of the young!

    (Gideon)

    Everyone under 50 thinks that Catholicism is utter shite. I grew up Catholic and literally ALL of my Catholic friends are now Atheist, Agnostic, or "spiritual but not religious." Pretty soon there are going to be churches closing down after the baby boomers are done giving away their 401k's to the church.

    If only I could remember this:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tK4uM0q2Cjc

    Gideon, what have you told us at all?
    Make a sound, come down off the wall.
    Religion- should appeal to the hearts of the young
    Who are you? What have you become?

    You animal. Come on
    What does this remind you of?

    Truly, truly we have become
    Hated and feared for something that we don't want
    Listen, listen. Most of us believe that this is wrong

    You animal. Come on
    What does this remind you of?
    What does this remind you of?
    Animal. Come on.
    What does this remind you of?
    Animal. Come on.
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