Quote:
Originally Posted by eweissenbach
I have a hard time understanding how Catholics in many diocese can continue to support the church financially when they are paying millions of dollars to victims of abuse by clergy. In Kansas City Bishop Finn has been convicted - let me repeat - CONVICTED - of failure to report known instances of abuse, yet he remains the Bishop of the Kansas City/St. Joseph diocese. I have talked with some Catholic friends and asked how this can be, when Joe Paterno, a mere football coach, was run out of his job by press and public opinion, for allegedly not doing "enough", even after he reported the single case he was aware of to his superiors? The head of a large religious organization covered up abuse by priests under his direction and he remains in a job supposedly requiring near purity? It would seem logical to me that if the Catholic Church wants to clean up its act and its reputation, it needs to a. get rid of ALL the people in its official positions that have had anything to do with the abuse cases, and b. get rid of the ridiculous requirement of chastity in the priesthood, which would appear to anyone with common sense to be a factor in attracting potential pedophiles or turning certain men into pedophiles.
|
Because Ed, there is a huge difference between the "institutional" church and the community of God.
It is a huge shame and a terrible thing, the abuse of children and especially from those who wear the cloak of the clergy... but it isn't the center of our faith. It isn't the heart of our religion. It isn't the reason we go to church.
We go to church because we love God and find His presence there.
Should we stop?
Sometimes I attend daily Mass. It is a beautiful thing to enter the quiet church in the morning and find several hundred people there on their knees. I am guessing that they are saying please and thank you. It is the faith they have clung to for their entire life.
This morning was the funeral of a 93 year old man who had been married to his wife for 68 years. She was in the front pew as we all celebrated his life.
There is still good in the Catholic Church. Just as there is much good in all churches. I am sure you feel love toward your own church. You can't throw the baby out with the bath water.
These are just my own personal feelings.