MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Pope admits Church’s sins and calls on youth to change the world
Pope Francis in yet another strong message said on Friday he understands the young people who lose faith in the church because of bad ministers, and confidence in political institutions because of corruption, but also urged them to change the world. Read full article
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Disclaimer & comment rulesThe church is responsible for one of the biggest sexual abuse scandals in history and then calls on the very people that represented the victims to make the changes in the world. You couldn't make it up.
Jul 27th, 2013 - 08:32 am - Link - Report abuse 0I'll believe him when he hands the Vatican, Dioces records of the names of the rapists for whom they continue to shield to law enforcement. Until then, its all more lies.
Jul 27th, 2013 - 01:14 pm - Link - Report abuse 0For all those against the Church or non believers ,I have bad news , the Church will continue . This brings to mind a great painting , I remember not the painter , showing the Church as a ship fighting a mighty storm but in the far horizon you can see light , depicting that the Church would survive the worst of storms . I fully agree and accept that so many errors have been committed , including the recent sexual cases , but that does not mean that the whole Church is at fault . It is rather like saying that a regiment is full of cowards because one officer ran away in battle. If that were so no British regiment could look anybody in the eye .I know from personal experience and from father and uncles who fought in the two wars .
Jul 27th, 2013 - 03:53 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Everybody is totally and completely free to believe in what they . All one asks for is respect for ones belief .
@3 When will the Roman Catholic Church be paying compensation? Is the RC Church afraid that its many billions aren't enough to compensate the many altar and choir boys that have been buggered? Now to your point. How about a full scientific investigation of how many priests are into buggery? How about £150,000, or more, for each person buggered? How about removal from the “priesthood” for any buggerer? How about listing every perverted criminal? Name, address, date of birth.
Jul 27th, 2013 - 05:09 pm - Link - Report abuse 0This man may or may not have good intentions,
Jul 27th, 2013 - 06:42 pm - Link - Report abuse 0But how long will it be, before he gets reined in.
To-some, good intentions are not enough,
To others, to renew the faith and bring in the masses is good for business..
From The Vatican itself: statistics at the end of 2010, published in the “year Book” for 2012:-
Jul 27th, 2013 - 07:11 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“The percentage of Catholics declined slightly in South America from 28.54 percent to 28.34 percent of the regional population, and dropped considerably in Europe from 24.05 percent to 23.83 percent. The percentage of Catholics increased in 2010 by just less than half a percentage point in Southeast Asia and Africa.
The Vatican said the number of bishops in the world increased from 5,065 to 5,104; the number of priests went from 410,593 to 412,236, increasing everywhere except Europe.”
Now, we can say categorically that there are 417,340 potential threats to young children and if only ONE percent acted upon their urges that means 4,173 individuals were active sexual predators. How many children are involved is just conjecture, but can anybody believe it is only one child each when each buggering bastard has had a number of children whose lives have been irreparably destroyed by him? So we are looking at TENS OF THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN here.
If the CEO of an international company of the same size as the RCC had this size of problem and knew about it, as all Popes HAVE, then not only would the company have ZERO customers, the CEO would be jailed, together with the 4,173 perpetrators.
How come then that many of these buggerers are STILL priests, how come are they not IN JAIL, being buggered themselves by the inmates of that persuasion, and WTF are there still getting on for TWO BILLION RCC “believers” (the customers if you like)?
It utterly astounds me that people who profess to believe in God, Jesus and the rest of the mob are prepared to tolerate this without burning the bastards at the stake.
It seems some humans have learned and passed on nothing in the last 2,000 years.......
Jul 27th, 2013 - 07:16 pm - Link - Report abuse 0they say, their are a few wise men, and millions of fools, who will belive anything they are told,
still,
its a bit the Argies being told the world belongs to them.
just a thought ..
As it is so often said , may the Good Lord forgive them , they know not what they say or do .
Jul 27th, 2013 - 07:48 pm - Link - Report abuse 0(What are there indulgences being offered for churchgoers to defend against this scandal?)
Jul 27th, 2013 - 10:57 pm - Link - Report abuse 0From the rapes themselves, through to the shell game of moving the rapists between parishes, to the worst: spiritual blackmailing the victims into silence, they all knew EXACTLY what they were doing. And until the church (all denominations who have done this, so don't play the Bill Donahue “Catholic Bashing” card on me) hands all records of known rapists to law enforcement, they are no different than Expedia getting caught as part of the underage “sex 'tourism'” racket and offering upgrades to get people off their backs as opposed to the church reminding people of their monopoly on divine intercession.
Rend unto Caesar the rapists. God can have their souls when they're dead and no longer a threat.
As I sit watching , on TV , the Pope speak to a marvelous young audience I suddenly feel very sorry for those who do not believe . It must be sad , or empty , going through life without believing in a God . A church , warts ,boils and all , but still spreading love ,hope and charity . I'm my case I have always found strength in God . Be it the loss of a loved one , serious problems and arrows . I apologize for opening up but I suddenly felt sorrow fir those who do not believe .
Jul 28th, 2013 - 12:11 am - Link - Report abuse 010: sorrow?! Are you mental? If anything the logical thinkers of the world pity you for thinking some space ghost watches everything you do, some would call that delusional paranoia.
Jul 28th, 2013 - 07:17 am - Link - Report abuse 0Baxter.
Jul 28th, 2013 - 08:40 am - Link - Report abuse 0My brother in law a protestant, married an Irish Catholic.
When their daughter was born, her mother refused to see the child until she was christened a Roman Catholic, the first time the bitch actually saw her was at the christening, five months later.
If that is the kind of love your god teaches, you can keep it.
Feel like telling him to shove it up his arse, but I think he may vicariously enjoy that.
Jul 28th, 2013 - 08:56 am - Link - Report abuse 0Monty Python anyone.
Jul 28th, 2013 - 09:14 am - Link - Report abuse 0http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUspLVStPbk
I was born and raised a catholic but on reaching the age of reason I saw it for what it is.
Jul 28th, 2013 - 10:31 am - Link - Report abuse 0The Bible (aka Christian religion) has caused more death and destruction than Mein Kampf and Das Kapital put together.
ALL religion is madness brought on by fear of death and non-existence but why be afraid - you didn't exist before you were born you won't exist after you die.
As somebody once said 'death is the price we have to pay for having lived'
@14
Jul 28th, 2013 - 11:25 am - Link - Report abuse 0In the interests of balance LOL
http://youtu.be/PDBjsFAyiwA
Baxter does not understand that atheists are FREE. Free of the Hail Mary's as penance for some slight against God, FFS!
Jul 28th, 2013 - 11:50 am - Link - Report abuse 0No more worries about upsetting God, no way he will rent his vengeance upon us!
What a load of twaddle.
Time to grow up you 'believers' and take charge of your lives AND your deaths.
@4 Conqueror:
Jul 28th, 2013 - 11:58 am - Link - Report abuse 0In the U.S. Catholic dioceses have so far paid out $U.S. 1.27 billion on claims of 1.83 billion. Nine of those dioceses ( including San Diego and Portland ) have declared bankruptcy. In Ireland, 256 million Euros have been committed by the Catholic Church and it's orders for restitution. In Australia we are conducting a Royal Commission into sexual abuse by institutions ( not just churches ) that is expected to draw 100,000 claims. And those claims will be made against the institutions themselves - unlike Ireland our govt. will not be making payouts.
The Catholic Church has been roundly and justly condemned over and over again for years over the actions of it's priests and it's unwillingness to take responsibility for their actions. To say that they have been out of touch with both public opinion and it's legal and civic obligations is an understatement to say the least.
After awhile though, all this criticism is starting to sound like gratuitous, unfocused noise. The parishioners faith has nothing to with the excesses of some of it's priests. I don't believe there's a God, but if other people do, and it gives them strength and comfort, does neither them nor anyone else around them any harm, what right do I have to tell them their beliefs are wrong? If it works for them I don't see why I need to tell them that the process by which they acquired their beliefs was flawed. I say good on 'em.
Militant atheist's are becoming just as didactic, dishonest and downright evangelic as those wretched televangelists. And they miss the point. You can't reduce metaphysics into being a science.
18 Many thanks , especially the last two paragraphs ! Now I will say no more . Just watch the Papal Mass in Rio and pray for those who do not believe or ,worse still , attack those who do .
Jul 28th, 2013 - 02:10 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@19. Wanting threats to children, especially from rape, put away in prison is not an attack on believers.
Jul 28th, 2013 - 02:54 pm - Link - Report abuse 018 Heisenbergcontext
Jul 28th, 2013 - 03:24 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“And they miss the point. You can't reduce metaphysics into being a science.”
Def: referring to an idea, doctrine, or posited reality outside of human sense perception. In modern philosophical terminology, metaphysics refers to the studies of what cannot be reached through objective studies of material reality. (PBS Org)
Who would want to (reduce metaphysics into being a science) because by definition it is NOT a science. So we are back to 'belief' or not, and I am NOW a not.
And when 'believers' like Baxter refer to me as a bigot, when I am not, they must take what comes next because I don't turn the other cheek.
The difference is of course I discuss the reality of the despicable RCC.
They just need to deal with it because they have not up to now.
As I walk through the vale of tears I fear not , because The Lord with me . I continue to watch three million young enjoying the Papal Mass . And for those who have insulted me I say I am strong The Lord is my Shepherd .
Jul 28th, 2013 - 03:38 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@21Chris R:
Jul 28th, 2013 - 04:42 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“when 'believers' like Baxter refer to me as a bigot” - what do you care? Big, tough old guy like you. You'll get over it .
“the difference is of course I discuss the reality of the despicable RCC.” Yes and no - you discuss PART of the RCC.
“they just need to deal with it because they have not until now”
Well that headline suggests they are listening to you.
23 Heisenbergcontext
Jul 28th, 2013 - 07:50 pm - Link - Report abuse 0If you wish we can discuss the voluntary robbing of the villagers by various churches around Kwa Ibo Oil Terminal, some 70 miles south east of Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
I spent a short time there some 13 years ago and soon appreciated the leeching qualities of all churches (RCC and some others) on the small village.
The villagers themselves were very poor indeed if they did not work at the terminal complex but this did not stop SEVEN churches being built in majestic fashion (they had corrugated steel roofs) in the surrounding village area.
Their kids were dressed in rags and went shoeless but the ‘vicars’ had either a very small motorcycle or an old car.
The only others to have a motorcycle were the pimps of the young women who ‘looked after’ some of the terminal workers and these were used to ferry them around. Everybody else had to walk or use very old bicycles (not many of those).
The villagers had two schools, one for the little ones and one for all the others; they were not very educated and not many managed to read and write. These were funded from the local government.
So no, I am not impressed with the greed of the world’s churches.
Well Chris, as an atheist I can only agree with Heisen, forcing your non-belief on others is just as wrong as forcing your beliefs.
Jul 28th, 2013 - 10:10 pm - Link - Report abuse 0If religion makes you a good man, good on religion, and if you are upset on world's churches, why do you attack peoples beliefs?
@3 That´s a beatiful comment Baxter, I remember Pope Benedict XVI describing the Church at this times exactly like that, as a ship fighting a mighty storm and inside the scared Apostles and Jesus sleeping, then waking up by the fear of his disciples to stop the storm then asking them, What were they afraid of ? :- )
Jul 28th, 2013 - 10:11 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@18 Heisenbergcontext: agreed completely.
25 Stevie . Gosh , I never thought I would agree with you but now I do . The last part is great “ why do you attack people's beliefs ” .I really do not know what Chris R problem is . Normally level headed posts but on religion ?
Jul 28th, 2013 - 10:25 pm - Link - Report abuse 026 , Elena . Where were you the last two days ? But welcome aboard .
Nah Baxter, there we disagree, Chris is his usual old naggy self.
Jul 28th, 2013 - 10:41 pm - Link - Report abuse 0And by the way, praying for non-believers is serious waste of time, and to some extension also a way to enforce your beliefs.
If you feel you need to pray for me because I don't believe, do so in silence, but I must warn you, you'd be wasting your time.
Thanks Baxter, had a busy shedule but I am back Greetings :-)
Jul 28th, 2013 - 10:59 pm - Link - Report abuse 025@ Stevie: Great comment also agree with you.
28 Now we must disagree again , we have to of course . It is not a waste of time to pray for non-believers ,it is very much a good habit amongst most religions .
Jul 28th, 2013 - 11:00 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Indeed, a coherent religious must not make difference between believers or not believers, in fact it´s also why Pope Francisco said Catholic, non-catholic or atheist can find themselves as a community when they work together for a good cause and because they agree that´s the right thing to do.
Jul 28th, 2013 - 11:13 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Baxter, my point is that when you tell a non-believer that you are going to pray for him is like him telling you that you are not going to heaven, regardless of how many coins you donate.
Jul 28th, 2013 - 11:23 pm - Link - Report abuse 0In both cases, personal beliefs are mixed with freedom of the same.
And nothing is gained from any of them, not in your world view, nor in mine.
31 Like it !
Jul 28th, 2013 - 11:31 pm - Link - Report abuse 032 As I am in a great mood ,the cold spell seems to be going , all I will say is that we agree to disagree !
See it like this Baxter.
Jul 28th, 2013 - 11:46 pm - Link - Report abuse 0If I tell you you aren't going to heaven, you disregard it and pray to your Lord to forgive my ignorance. That's your world view.
Well, when you tell me you are going to pray for me, you'll get the same result, except that I just forgive you myself, as I have no Lord that does that for me. That's my world view.
All in all, what you will get, is the counterpart disregarding the foolishness of the statement.
There are thousands of beliefs out there and hundreds of Gods.
I chose to disregard all of it as fairy tales, but when you chose to believe, how do you know you chose the right one?
I mean, now that we are disagreeing anyways...
34 Worry not I will not pray for you ! And believe me my faith is deep and sure . Difficult to put in words but other believers will understand !
Jul 28th, 2013 - 11:56 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@35 Indeed :-)
Jul 29th, 2013 - 12:07 am - Link - Report abuse 0@24Chris R:
Jul 29th, 2013 - 07:30 am - Link - Report abuse 0If you are genuienely motivated by compassion for Big Religion's exploited and abused in the past, and concern for the future then I can only say good for you. It might be more productive, though, to simply write a small cheque to whichever organisation collects money on behalf of the victims. It wouldn't take much more time and energy than writing your next post.
37 Heisenbergcontext
Jul 29th, 2013 - 11:13 am - Link - Report abuse 0For the last 22 years I have been giving money, and a significant part of my time, to my charity of which I was a Trustee for 19 years.
39 ChrisR:
Jul 29th, 2013 - 11:15 am - Link - Report abuse 0My respect to you.
38 My respect too . Which charity ?
Jul 29th, 2013 - 03:21 pm - Link - Report abuse 040 Baxter
Jul 29th, 2013 - 06:48 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I am sorry but I cannot name it because that would put me at risk of identification and tracing my whereabouts in Uruguay.
41 .Wow ! Did you work for MI6 like do many others ?
Jul 29th, 2013 - 09:04 pm - Link - Report abuse 042 Baxter
Jul 30th, 2013 - 12:12 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Please read my post @41 again and THINK between the lines.
Would you like Conqueror turning up at your door if you had upset him?
Got it now?
I don't konw why I even bother with you because you certainly do your best to score points off me, and then get it wrong.
43 Got it !
Jul 30th, 2013 - 03:19 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Hahaha Chris!!
Jul 30th, 2013 - 04:23 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Conq is 5 feet 2, chances are you'd miss him should he turn up outside your front door :)
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