BobH, if I knew that my priest was hurting small boys and yet I continued to go to his parish for 20 years while he talked about hurting small boys, then yes, I'd say I was tolerating pedophelia and approving of it by staying.
You can't act as if harming children is one of the tenants and one of the main talking points of homilies. There would be very few Catholics left. If all priests talked to members of their congregations about hurting children, I'd agree with you and I wouldn't be a Catholic. The difference is in knowing what your religious mentor is, and still choosing to look up to that person for guidance when you know that person is a racist (or in your scenario, a child abuser). Would I stay in a church with a priest I knew was a child abuser? Absolutely not, and I would demand he be investigated and arrested.
Democrats accuse locals of being racist toward Obama
BobH, if I knew that my priest was hurting small boys and yet I continued to go to his parish for 20 years while he talked about hurting small boys, then yes, I'd say I was tolerating pedophelia and approving of it by staying.
You can't act as if harming children is one of the tenants and one of the main talking points of homilies. There would be very few Catholics left. If all priests talked to members of their congregations about hurting children, I'd agree with you and I wouldn't be a Catholic. The difference is in knowing what your religious mentor is, and still choosing to look up to that person for guidance when you know that person is a racist (or in your scenario, a child abuser). Would I stay in a church with a priest I knew was a child abuser? Absolutely not, and I would demand he be investigated and arrested.
September 16, 2008 at 11:08 p.m. permalink suggest removal