The claim that the world would be more peaceful without religion has been popularised of late by militant evangelical atheists:
– Richard Dawkins, http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/...s/2007/10/for_good_people_to_go_evil_thi.html
Ritual Abuse - The Beauty in Religion
Semela Harris - The Adelaide Advertiser
Source: www.clan.org.au/news_details.php?newsID=88
Duckman, what action is being taken?Interesting article Col. Thanks. Finally some action is being taken!!
Duckman
its hard to see beauty in religion. i see it in humanity. beautiful acts of kindness inspired by men and women, with a religion taking the credit....
.
Duckman, what action is being taken?
My understanding of Col's article was the sense of frustration and injustice that the Catholic Church once again says,
" oh goodness, we've very sorry, but we're not going to make known the names of the perpetrators, and we're certainly not going to take action against them in terms of bringing charges."
Doesn't sound like justice or basic attempt at genuine remorsefulness to me.
The purpose of this special report is to put the recent scandal in the Catholic Church in perspective. It does not seek to exculpate anyone who had anything to do with priestly sexual misconduct, but it does seek to challenge those who continue to treat this issue in isolation. Indeed, to discuss the incidence of sexual abuse committed by Roman Catholic priests without reference to the level of offense found among the clergy of other religions, or to that of other professionals, is grossly unfair.
http://www.catholicleague.org/research/abuse_in_social_context.htmThe issue of child sexual molestation is deserving of serious scholarship. Too often, assumptions have been made that this problem is worse in the Catholic clergy than in other sectors of society. This report does not support this conclusion. Indeed, it shows that family members are the most likely to sexually molest a child. It also shows that the incidence of the sexual abuse of a minor is slightly higher among the Protestant clergy than among the Catholic clergy, and that it is significantly higher among public school teachers than among ministers and priests.
http://www.religioustolerance.org/clergy_sex20.htmGeneral observations:
It is important to keep one's eye on the forest and not on the trees. Even if, as this report estimates, four percent of priests have sexually abused youths or children, that still leaves about 96% of priests (24 priests out of every 25) who are non-abusive.
A very large percentage of the victims of sexual abuse by priests are 16 or 17 years of age. In some jurisdictions, young persons of this age range can consent to sexual activity. Sexual activity with youth in that age range would be a gross violation of the Church's expectation of priestly chastity. It would be considered by many to be an abuse of trust by a person in authority. However, it might not be considered a criminal act in some areas.
If the report's estimate that 22% of the abuse involves victims under the age of ten, then a case can be made that abuse of young, pre-pubertal, children by priests may be lower than among the general population of males in the U.S.
Oh my goodness, Duckman, so now we have to look for subtleties for which to be grateful from the Catholic Church!
Probably I did misunderstand the article. All I can think of is the point I made, i.e. that they know who these sexual predators are, but don't care enough about the victims to name and punish them.
And the Church still tells people what is morally right and wrong!
It's all I can do not to utter profanities.
Doesn't surprise me the church goes to lengths to defend themselves and put things in perspective. Priests and Ministers behaviour ought to be compared to just the average folk before making judgement. Right? Yeah right!I'm not a Catholic and while the cover-up and protection of perpetrators is heinous, to put things in perspective:
Doesn't surprise me the church goes to lengths to defend themselves and put things in perspective. Priests and Ministers behaviour ought to be compared to just the average folk before making judgement. Right? Yeah right!
They've just relinquished the moral high ground.
Huh?The study was independently undertaken
What do all these groups and organisations have in common? Human beings!! Sexual predators have worn the cloak of religion while performing dastardly deeds since time began, it doesn't mean that religion is evil, it just highlights the ability of human beings to take advantage and exploit circumstances.
Doesn't surprise me the church goes to lengths to defend themselves and put things in perspective. Priests and Ministers behaviour ought to be compared to just the average folk before making judgement. Right? Yeah right!
They've just relinquished the moral high ground.
Hi Duckman, it was unfair of me to direct my frustration towards you, who I know to be fair and reasonable. I've calmed down now.Stop banging your head Julia. I'm sorry - I know exactly why Col posted the article. I'm just being a smart @&&.
OK, my apologies for responding. I just read the post and responded, didn't even consider the meaning of the thread title. Presumably Col posted it with a sense of irony but I suppose it should have gone in one of the other threads.I just think its funny that posters tell "Religious Nuts" to go and take a hike when they try and spread "Religious Propaganda" in threads, yet it's OK for those spreading negative religious messages to post on a thread title "The Beauty in Religion".
Yes, I understand the point you're making. But there's something particularly unpleasant and amoral about an organisation which preaches morality having its members behave in such a way.I'm not defending the Church, they have dealt with these issues atrociously, however there are any number of associations, schools, states and countries that have treated, AND CONTINUE TO TREAT, other people in a despicable manner - it is not a monopoly for the Catholic Church.
What do all these groups and organisations have in common? Human beings!! Sexual predators have worn the cloak of religion while performing dastardly deeds since time began, it doesn't mean that religion is evil, it just highlights the ability of human beings to take advantage and exploit circumstances.
Really? I'd like to see some stats on this.The study was independently undertaken and the incidence of abuse by Catholic clergy is probably lower than that of other professions.
I don't think any such thing is obvious. As I've explained above I didn't even consider the title of the thread when responding to Col's post. Just read through all the "New Posts" and clicked the Reply button.What is obvious here is that some people cannot see beyond their prejudices and have a transparent agenda to derail this thread, despite the fact that there is already a thread for those kind of posts.
Maybe they didn't write it, and I have it mixed up.
http://www.catholicleague.org/research/abuse_in_social_context.htmSpecifically, this report was prepared to guide the discussion that will inevitably follow two major studies that will be issued on February 27. One of them, a national study on the extent of sexual abuse of minors by priests since 1950, will be released by John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City.
http://www.lib.jjay.cuny.edu/links/index.cfm?subid=162Catholic Bishops Reports on Child Sex Abuse
In late February, 2004, the United States Conference of Bishops released two reports on the sexual abuse of minors by Catholic priests and deacons. This site contains links to both reports as well as press releases and videos of the press conference. A Report on the Crisis in the Catholic Church in the United States was prepared by the National Review Board for the Protection of Children and Young People. The Nature and Scope of the Problem of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Catholic Priests and Deacons in the United States is a research study conducted by John Jay College, which also hosts the study report.
Really? I'd like to see some stats on this.
I don't think any such thing is obvious. As I've explained above I didn't even consider the title of the thread when responding to Col's post. Just read through all the "New Posts" and clicked the Reply button. I have already apologised for my thoughtlessness and gross stupidity.
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