The Catholic Church’s defiance and obstruction on child sex abuse

[trotsky]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/defiance-and-obstruction-on-child-sex-abuse/2016/04/19/22efc3de-0351-11e6-9d36-33d198ea26c5_story.html

IN THREE years at the helm of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis has been a source of inspiration for millions of faithful around the world. In one critical respect, however, he has fallen short of his own promise: to come fully to terms with decades of child sex abuse by clergymen and the institutional cover granted to them by bishops and cardinals.

Francis has pledged “the zealous vigilance of the Church to protect children and the promise of accountability for all.” Yet there has been scant accountability, particularly for bishops. Too often, the church’s stance has been defiance and obstruction.

In his trip to the United States in the fall, Francis told victims that “words cannot fully express my sorrow for the abuse you suffered.” Yet his initiative to establish a Vatican tribunal to judge bishops who enabled or ignored pedophile priests has come to naught. Not a single bishop has been called to account by the tribunal, which itself remains more notional than real.

Meanwhile, church officials have fought bills in state legislatures across the United States that would allow thousands of abuse victims to seek justice in court. The legislation would loosen deadlines limiting when survivors can bring lawsuits against abusers or their superiors who turned a blind eye. Many victims, emotionally damaged by the abuse they have suffered, do not speak until years after they were victimized; by then, in many states, it is too late for them to force priests and other abusers to account in court.

A short but scathing piece reminding us that the RCC is still fighting to protect its own, and kicking victims to the curb. Pope Frank is just putting on a friendly face and mouthing reassuring words, but taking no real action. As usual.

[Albertoo]

1. There's also the ZERO words against anti-gay laws while in Africa

Laws actively supported by the local cardinals, notably in Uganda.
But they say Francis is a 'progressive' Pope..

[trotsky]

2. What else would you expect from an institution that teaches (and pope that believes)...

homosexuality is "intrinsically disordered"?

[mr blur]

3. But he LOVES gay people!

He just wouldn't want his brother to marry one.
Unless she was a gay woman, of course. Seems Gawd's OK with that.

[Albertoo]

4. Reminds me I read on DU about the birth of an hermaphrodite kitten

I suppose he's going to be "intrinsically disordered"?
But maybe it's best not to use that example, lest the Roman Catholic Church builds on that a theory that gays are freaks of nature. Which is probably what most Bishops or imams believe.