Priest Stole Church Money for Male Escorts and more..

I know you didn't ask, but if I were the pope, instead of paying off victims, I would be asking they come forward and demanding justice for all that was done to them. Trials for the priests and so forth.
I think that sets a better example and would lead the Catholic Church to a better future. You can only condone crimes for so long before the image will be this is what you stand for!
And to me, payoffs and shifting priests around is condoning the act.

I agree and I don't think that this should ever brushed under the carpet. Why haven't the police ever been involved in the past? (or have they? i'm kinda new to this subject overall)

I think for previous generations molestation wasn't talked about much and the kids were probably scared There is a statute of limitation, not sure how long it is for though.
I don't know, that's my best guess.

I hate everything about religion and especially those peodophile priests, Let's face it.. Im talking to the older generation here, The church was forced upon you as kids when the church had considerable amounts of power. There never has or ever been a god, These people abused children and got protected by the vatican for over 40 years! f*** all religion and f*** this fictitous god

Why is it always the Catholic priest that does this type of stuff? I know other religious leaders have done it, but the "pure" Catholic priest seem to be not be able to control themselves.

Sox, I hear where you're coming from, but I have a question.

Wouldn't it be logical, given the outline for requirements of a church leader...if that leader failed to uphold those standards, shouldn't they be asked (or required) to step down? How can someone who doesn't follow the rules be the leader?

IMO, it's the whole forced celibacy thing. Other minister and priests from religions can marry and have a family. I don't know why Catholic priests are not allowed to do so.
Or nuns for that matter!

I'm not a religious person. My catholicism lapsed the day they told me that my love was a sin and I'd have to renounce it or be forever damned.

Consider me forever damned.

But I was brought up in the Roman Catholic church and remember our local priest as a good and decent man. He worked hard, he cared about his community and although, yes, he held faith in the beliefs of his calling, he didn't pour fire and brimstone from the pulpit. He "tended his flock" with a smile, with hard work and with genuine faith.

He was a good and simple man of faith who served the community for many years, and when he died there was genuine sadness at his passing for many, many people. He would have been embarrassed at the number of folk who turned out in the street for his funeral, to say their goodbyes.

The Catholic church has suffered many scandals in recent years and some priests have done dreadful things.

I think the church owes it to the many good, honest, decent priests to do more to prosecute and imprison those that have besmirched it's name.

The church has to clean itself up, and it can only do that adequately by being more frank and open about what goes on within it, and not tolerating those who use their robes as a cloak for horrific activities.

The church hasn't gone far enough towards that, in my opinion. I believe it should, or be forever held in contempt by the public it is supposed to serve.

And that would be a terrible shame for the good, decent priests who suffer condemnation by association and see the faith they serve with honour, dignity and compassion brought down into the gutter.

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I have to say this though. The Catholic church leaders have been the most scandal ridden and corrupt leaders of the Christian religion. All the way from when the Catholic church was first started they were MAKING people convert to them, controlling whole countries and presiding of laws, and speaking out against things that they do themselves. They no longer control countries and force people into their religion but they still are the largest hypocrites. I do not mind Catholics at all. One of my best friends is one, but even she recognizes that her branch of religion can carry the biggest hypocrites. Not all Catholics leaders are like that priest, but I'm just saying their leaders have a long history of doing stuff God would not approve of according to their depiction of the Bible, so no one should be surprised. No offense to anyone.

well he's stealing already so in for a penny in for a pound i guess.