Wayne Besen - Author, Activist, Columnist, Public Speaker

Saturday, June 11, 2005

(Pope Should Stop Blaming Gays For Church's Moral Failures)

A CNN report said that the Roman Catholic Diocese of Covington agreed to pay $120 million because priests kept molesting little boys. According to the report, this is the nation's largest settlement in the scandal that has brought the church to its knees, in a manner of speaking. This disgusting revalation is just the tip of the perverted iceberg.

Last year, the Orange County, California Diocese agreed to a settlement that would pay $100 million to 87 victims.
In 2003 the Boston Archdiocese, where the scandal broke, settled with 552 victims for $85 million.
Dioceses in Tucson, Portland, Oregon, and Spokane -- have filed bankruptcy claims because of abuse allegations.

It is appalling that the new Pope hasn't come here on his hands and knees to beg forgiveness. Instead, the Church has elected to attack gay people to deflect attention from its egregious sins.

As far as I'm concerned, the Catholic Church has no moral authority to tell anyone how to live, after covering up such disgusting crimes. What the church needs to clean up its sordid act are openly gay priests and women. Only when such mentally and spiritually healthy and clean people arrive, will the epidemic of abuse finally stop.

For all the church's gay bashing, I find it interesting that not one gay bar has been sued for its patrons molesting children. Obviously, the Pope can't say the same thing about his churches in America.

12 Comments:

What happened in the Church is a disgrace. They should close up shop and start over. Does anyone care what they say anymore?

Carol Pierce
Miami
posted by Anonymous, at 6/10/2005 1:40 AM

Religion is sleazy and dangerous. Not just the Catholics - they all are a waste of time and money. The world would be better without religion. I think God hates religion and laughs at the pious.

Elvis G. -- Vancouver
posted by Anonymous, at 6/10/2005 1:43 AM

There is a saying that money is the route of all evil. Let us substitute money for religion, far more apt. Religion has done far more harm than good in the world, just look at history and the state of affairs today, particularly in the U.S. where religion dictates political thinking and influences hateful legislation against a whole group of taxypayers. Evil is a mild word in this context.

The pope should get his own house in order before he starts scapegoating gays for the world's ills. He should also address the many heterosexual priests having affairs too. Its quite clear that the church is its own worst enemy, not us.
posted by Anonymous, at 6/10/2005 7:37 AM

Pope Benedict is a shameful sleaze who deflects accountability away from where it belongs, with the Roman Catholic Church. Instead, he issues inflammatory remarks that will incite further hatred and violence against LGBT persons. This church is one of the most dangerous and corrupt institutions in the entire world. As well, his call for celibacy will further enhance abuse and corruption as stunting a human being's sexual life is barbaric, inhumane and downright stupid. One can only hope that people will leave this sorry excuse for a church in droves. Tim W.
posted by Anonymous, at 6/10/2005 8:53 AM

You homsexuals are Catholic bashing. The Church is a great moral bulwark against Communism and humanism. Just because a few boys get touhed inappropriatly, doesn't mean that the Pope is a bad man. I went to Catholic school my whole life and neer got fondled. Th Pope is right, this issue is driven by the liberal American media.

Bill. D
Queens
posted by Anonymous, at 6/10/2005 9:28 AM

bill why do trolls such as yourself come to sites such as this if you don't agree with what it says, is it just to feed your hatred so you don't have to think about your miserable born-again christian existence.
posted by Adam Kautz, at 6/10/2005 12:09 PM

Bill you dumb FUCK!!! Inappropriately TOUCHED a FEW boys!?!?!? Try thousands and do you consider oral and anal RAPE to be inapropriate TOUCHING!!!!!
When I was in college an older troll of a priest came on to me with the typical bullshit line they use 'Jesus wants you to be happy'. I was into Wicca at the time and said, "I dont give a damn what Jesus wants". I pushed him off of me and went home.
I'm a Buddhist now and can only say that the church is finally beginning to reap some of the heinous karma that they've sown over the centuries; now it's time for the evangelical nutballs to get some of theirs!!!
posted by Anonymous, at 6/10/2005 1:04 PM

By the by...it's not just about boys.
But girls and women too. Some of whom became pregnant. Third World countries suffer even more from this outrage.
I live in Los Angeles where Cardinal Mahoney has been obstructionist in turning over the records to DA Steve Cooley,of priests who were moved after allegations.
The most convenient scapegoats will of course, be gay priests...whether they were ever accused or not.
And the hetero priests who committed a crime will skate.
As evident as it is that sexual abuse has no sexual orientation, banning ONLY gays from the priesthood will solve nothing whatsoever.
posted by Regan, at 6/10/2005 2:21 PM

As a gay Catholic, I too wasn't molested by a priest. But many others were - both males and females.

The Catholic Church's leadership - bishops and up - have a disgusting attitude toward sex in general and homosexuality in particular. The same applies to other churches too.

I'm sure that God will judge all these church "leaders" harshly.
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