Is the Pope Catholic?
While Islam being a religion of peace is an idea largely dismissed by most infidels as well as some Muslims and former Muslims the Catholic Church is not immune to such controversy. But it is fair to say these two issues have contrasts as well as similarities.
Terrorism is certainly violence and so is sexual abuse. So-called honor killings and mistreatment of ‘non-believers’ and women in general are violent or can be. You could develop a long list of contradictions in these and other forms of institutional religion. Yes, let’s not forget abortion and those who claim to be religious that support the practice. Indeed, the list can go on.
Could that explain the dwindling membership in the Catholic Church and their recent marketing push to boost their numbers? Odd that they would continue to mishandle the big scandal and at the same time make an emotional appeal for lost sheep to return to the flock.
These concepts may explain in part this blogger’s decision to pursue spiritual matters absent the benefit of group activities (or is it detriment?)
Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com
from Sabina Castelfranco
Germany’s top bishop briefed Pope Benedict XVI on the spiraling cases of clerical sex abuse in the pontiff’s native Germany on Friday and said the pope encouraged him to pursue the truth and assist the victims.
The head of Germany’s bishops, Archbishop Robert Zollitsch apologized to victims of child abuse by priests today following a meeting with Pope Benedict at the Vatican. He said the pope encouraged him and the church in Germany to tackle the problem.
Archbishop Zollitsch said the church in his country is taking steps to counsel victims and investigate abuse allegations. He added that the pope was greatly dismayed as he was being briefed on the sex abuse scandal in his native Germany.
At least 170 former students from Catholic schools in Germany have come forward recently with claims of physical and sexual abuse, including claims from an all-boys choir once led by the pope’s brother.
Archbishop Zollitsch apologized to German victims and pledged to cooperate with prosecutors.
Zollitsch says the Church in Germany wants to unveil the truth and wants an honest clearing up of this and he says even if cases are discovered that date back to tens of years ago, the victims have the right to know.
At least 19 of Germany’s 27 dioceses have been affected by the scandal which follows similar cases in Ireland, The Netherlands and Austria. Vatican expert Marco Politi said the recent cases have brought the sexual abuse scandals much closer to the Vatican and to Pope Benedict himself.
“The atmosphere in the Vatican is of great nervousness, anxiety because these last facts, which happened in Germany and in Europe, are devastating,” he said.
The latest sex abuse scandals have also renewed debate on priestly celibacy but Pope Benedict said Friday it is a “holy value”. He told an international theological conference at a Vatican university that celibacy is an expression of the gift of oneself to God and to others.
March 19th, 2010 at 4:59 pm
While I have a church I support monetarily because it is conservative, I still have problems with the National Council of Churches, of which my church is a member. So I direct my money to certain activities.
For a Christian, the most important thing is to know the Bible, and reject every single thing that comes from a pulpit that is not Biblical. These people are just humans, and they have their financial quests to consider and they stray…often.
I agree that sexual abuse is terrorism, of the worst, worst sort.