I have been reading some of the message boards online about the child molestation by priests of the Roamn Catholic Church. It bothers me that so many people of faith are defending their Church with the following arguments:
1. Insurance companies that insure protestant churches pay out about 260 claims for child sexual abuse each year. It is not a Catholic problem ... the protestants are worse.
2. More child abuse occurs in families than in churches. It is not the Church that is at fault here - if that were the case, families would be at fault too ... and we can't go there.
3. (the favorite) We do NOT have problem of priests sexually abusing kids ... we have a problem of homosexuals raping boys. It is a homosexual problem, not a child abuse problem.
These defenses annoy me and concern me.
"The protestants and dad's and uncle's do it too" defense is so childish. "But Mom, everyone was doing it!" Mom - "If everyone were to jump off a cliff, would you do that too?" The fact that many people in authority abuse their position to assault children is no excuse for any other person to do so. Many people commit murder - does that make it okay to kill? Such a childish argument ... and Mom is always right!
"It's not child molestation, it is homosexual rape!" What a crock. Every USA Roman Catholic with eyes and a brain knows a gay priest. The first gay party I ever saw was in the priests rectory. My first gay love was a priest. But these men do NOT assualt kids. Only child molesters assault kids. And it is NOT about the sex, it is about power ... the priest has all the power and uses his power to assualt one who is without power - a child or teenager.
But those speaking in defense of the Church actually believe that if they can turn this global outrage into homophobic attacks on gay men, then all will be well. Wrong! Clean up your own garbage, Catholics. Child molesters should be revealed to the civil authorities. And prosecuted.
It is outrageous but true when Dan Savage (of Seattle's 'Savage Love' fame) can say truthfully that parents who love their kids ought to let them hang out n gay bars instead of churches ... the kids would actually be safer in a gay bar than in church. So sad, so true ... though I do not want a bunch of kids in any gay bar I may visit (smile). But gay men in a gay bar are interested in other gay MEN - not children.
The defenses of the Catholic Church are becoming as outrageous as the child molestations.
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I am also sickened and outraged by the RC culture's failure to be honest, sincere and protecting of the youngest of the flock, that is children and those who can't protect themselves.The patriarchal arrogance of the RC church was a Major justification of mine when I "crossed over the Tiber" and became an Episcopalian in 1995.
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