Pedophilia by priests in the church is almost as deplorable and disgusting as the cover up by the church/Vatican itself. At least the pedophile has an illness that cannot be cured, but the Vatican made conscious decisions to put itself first and not cure this rampant disease within it's walls. Years of blaming everyone else (including the victims) and sympathizing and protecting these predators is not conducting yourself in the way that God/Jesus led. Allowing the church to act above reproach and turning a blind eye as a parish, is in and of itself cult-like and as bad as having a hand in these grossly heinous acts against the innocent yourself. How anyone can attend and give money to an establishment that spends it's time condemning everyone else for a bunch of bullshit that they, themselves, do not follow, is beyond me. How any religious person in this country can oppose, say, healthcare for the needy... one of the most important teachings of Jesus... while they sit idly by watching their basket money go to pedophile lawsuit payouts (some $2billion so far (while the church greedily files bankruptcy to protect their money from further payouts)) is disgusting, let alone hypocritical... and this Pope is at the heart of it, especially having held the office of investigative research into these acts. all the while doing nothing. Good bye and good riddance. Although I am an Atheist and don't believe in any religious nonsense, I do believe in having spiritual guidance, although I, myself, do not partake. Years of persecution of gays by the church, Belief being behind every war, the hypocrisy and conduct like this has made it impossible for me to feel anything but contempt. I truly hope that the decline in church attendance over the years is due to people being smart enough to recognize that their spiritual connection does not have to be voiced through such an ugly puppet. In a way, people fleeing the church makes me believe in a higher power much more than when there was strength in church-goer numbers because it shows me that the actual message of God is being heard and understood and not just regurgitated by people who have no idea what any of it means.
"Mea Maxima Culpa" is the new documentary on HBO, highlighting how the Vatican covered this up for years. "Mea Culpa" translates as "My Fault"... while "Maxima" translates as "Grand". This could be taken as God/Jesus saying that he messed up big-time leaving his Word to a bunch of idiots to preach... or, if the Vatican had any conscience, an admittance of wrong-doing and acceptance of responsibility. We know it's probably not the latter. This documentary is a must-see for anyone who genuinely seeks truth in their faith leaders, especially at this point with the exit of the current Pope... hands stained with sin.
Powerful and passionate writing that rings with truth. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI hold the Church far more accountable for this pedophile mess, because, as you rightly said, the pedophile has an illness that they sometimes cannot control.
ReplyDeleteThe same cannot be said for a group of men in drag who hide these criminals, and pay off these sexual abusers, while pretending to protect children.
The whole lot is loathsome.
I actually have more contempt for the leaders and the parishioners then I do for the offenders. They covered it up and enabled more children to be abused.
ReplyDeleteI did not know that in my family's parish we had one of the worst offenders being hidden here. People here warned their boys not to be along with the priest. I was so outraged when I found out and that my family knew! I told them they were worse and just as guilty for harming those boys as the priest was - it was not a good time for us.
You should know that many parishes have forced collections to not be used for defending the priests or paying off the lawsuits. They now hold (sometimes) separate collections for that.
Watching Mea Maxima Culpa just made me more angry, disgusted and appalled by the Catholic Church. To think that those deaf kids laid in their beds fearful if they would be next is so unthinkable. I was raised Roman Catholic and stopped going to church as soon as I was old enough where my parents couldn't make me go any more. I think I was about 17 at that point.
ReplyDeleteThe only time I set foot in a church these days is for a funeral and I hate even doing that.
I'm an atheist too but I don't judge people who subscribe to a religion if that's what they want to do. All I ask is that they don't judge me for being a "free thinker."