Discussion: Pope Francis Defrocks Former US Cardinal McCarrick Over Sex Abuse

TPM Article Topics
21

I meant to include all religions, all sects, so certainly I agree. The Mormons abuse women something fierce and have from the start - hahahaha

8 Likes
22

I don’t disagree with your point, but it just seems that you don’t hear the same sordid tales coming out of Judaism, Buddhism or Shinto.

1 Like
23

I agree about Judaism. It’s interesting to me.

I don’t think we know about Buddhism or Shinto. Just like we don’t know what goes on at all in the Taos Indian religion. We don’t know. They have never said to anyone.

If there have been problems in Buddhism or Shinto, they’ve kept it quiet. Just like the Dalai Lama has been able to keep the Dorje Shugden murders somewhat quiet outside of Tibetan Buddhism.

2 Likes
24

I agree. Sure, every power structure harbors abuses. But a particular twist in Catholicism is the doctrinal abhoration of sex (and of women’s role therein). So not surprising that problems break out in this area. They cannot offer a firm foundation.

5 Likes
25

Nope, not the reason. The reason to walk out of the church is rather more obvious: a woman who had an abortion is automatically excommunicated (Canon 1398: “A person who procures a completed abortion incurs a latae sententiae excommunication.”). A pedophile is not.

Bye, bye church.

8 Likes
26

Totally agree. Totally.

2 Likes
27

Catholics aren’t more libidinous or liable to abuse children than anyone else. The decisive difference here is the church’s highly centralized organization which makes coverups easier and almost inevitable. The individual inclination to abuse power is part of human nature and equally prevalent among Protestants, Jews, Muslims and what have you.

8 Likes
28

Oh, we Jews have abusers too. Some awful cases particularly within the ultra orthodox.

9 Likes
29

Artwork, statuary, a great library and some candlesticks.

2 Likes
30

This defrocking is interesting, but it will not solve the current problem or expose coverups one scintilla of an iota.

2 Likes
31

I figured that that was so. I haven’t read anything about that though, so I didn’t know for sure.

I doubt, as I said, that there is a religion on this planet where this hasn’t happened. It’s just that some religions attract pedophiles more than others I think, because the opportunities are better in some than others. I’m willing also to bet that some people who assume that power are affected by having that kind of power and it is what propels them in directions they didn’t know they’d go ever.

5 Likes
32

I think the real problem that the Catholic Church is (still) having is the cover-ups. This is what is so different from other religious leaders. By-and-large other spiritual leaders who abused their power were reported to authorities rather than being protected by their hierarchy. So they only offended once or a few times. Some Catholic priests attacked over 100 minors while getting moved around from parish to parish. And the bishops who looked the other way have been held to little or no accountability. This is very different from most other religions’ responses.

4 Likes
33

I agree that that is definitely part of it.

1 Like
34

The search for meaning is a good idea, but setting up institutions to dictate how one does that is a bad idea.

1 Like
35

It might not be the only answer, but allowing priests to marry would certainly broaden the number of good men and women who would consider a life in the priesthood. Instead, the priesthood attracts men who try to hide and/or cure their personal failings with the hope that celibacy is the answer

My friend’s father left the priesthood, because he wanted a wife and a family. He would have made an amazing priest, if he were allowed to do both.

8 Likes
36

Too bad he didn’t have any interest in the Episcopal Church. I know that some former Catholic priests who left the RC to marry went to the Episcopal Church cause they let them marry.

But in general I agree with @kerf - the search for meaning isn’t tied to an institution and setting them up so that they can tell us how to live is and always was a really bad idea.

I mean, faith has led humans to do some damned awful things like sacrifice their children.

2 Likes
37

Exactly same dynamic. When deference to spiritual authority and standing within the community overrides the instinct to protect children.

4 Likes
38

As the Southern Baptists have shown this week. It’s the same story, over and over.

6 Likes
39

Nope.

4 Likes
40

Yes they have.