I fully agree that Catholics should shout it from the highest rooftops, and advocate with and their churches, regarding sexual abuse. I would not however advise that Catholics withhold all funding from the church. The church uses funding for parish activities, 99% of which has absolutely nothing to do with the abhorrent sexual abuses. Why not try to become part of the solution by becoming active with in your church, while also supporting, financially and with your time, the churches beneficial activities? Do we really want the conduct of people who went against the core teachings of the church, abuse to children, or covered it up, to be the cause of the collapse of the entire church? Instead, get involved, become part of your parishes actions to influence the larger organization, and practice your religion in a way that you feel is appropriate. I hope your church advocate fixing the issues of sexual abuse, and move on with its core mission.

If you do decide not to fund your church, but still too attended, please let you were parish know why you are doing so. It doesn't send a message unless the church knows people aren't funding their activities due to the abuse, as opposed to not funding the church for other reasons or due to simple neglect. In short, I don't see how withholding money from weekly collections inspires the church to address abuse when it has no idea why you and others may not be contributing funds. If you are going to speak with your pocketbook, make sure your message is heard!

No - but they are an official, respected body saying they know it and don't like it. That helps and nothing would help like faithful catholics demonstrating that they feel the same way, by voting with their pocketbooks.

Way to be ahead of the 8 ball, UN! Are they telling us anything we don;t know?

Anonymous wrote:I'm a practicing Catholic and am all for those responsible getting their due. I stopped giving cash during the collection (I will donate goods during various drives). I'll think about donating to the collection when this is properly resolved.

Good for you! Now if you could get of your fellow keepers of the faith to respond the same way -- and shout it loud and clear to the church authorities.

These kinds of changes work most effectively from the ground up. If the abused children hadn't spoken up, the church would still be covering up (even more than it still is). It's time for the people in the pews to rebel.

Catholic churches are closing all over the country (and the world) as disgusted, dispirited catholics quietly leave their churches to become "nones" or another denomination, often Epsicopalian. Imagine the impact if loyal Catholics stood up and refused to support the church until the Vatican cleaned it up. Things would have to change very quickly.

While they were at it they should have called the church out for stuff like this

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2049647/BBC-documentary-exposes-50-year-scandal-baby-trafficking-Catholic-church-Spain.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/8660249/Australias-Roman-Catholic-Church-apologises-for-forced-adoptions.html

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with the part about dealing with the abusers. But in the last paragraph, the UN has no place telling the church where to stand on homosexual acts, abortion, and contraception. Otherwise I would think the UN might want to look into certain things forbidden/allowed by Islamic countries.

Yeah, they wouldn't even go there.

+1000 Exactly.

What a morally bankrupt institution the UN has become. And no, I'm not Catholic.

if you think the UN is morally bankrupt, I can't imagine what you think the Catholic church is.

Yeah-- the nerve of the upstart UN to criticize mother church!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with the part about dealing with the abusers. But in the last paragraph, the UN has no place telling the church where to stand on homosexual acts, abortion, and contraception. Otherwise I would think the UN might want to look into certain things forbidden/allowed by Islamic countries.

Yeah, they wouldn't even go there.

+1000 Exactly.

What a morally bankrupt institution the UN has become. And no, I'm not Catholic.

if you think the UN is morally bankrupt, I can't imagine what you think the Catholic church is.

Anonymous wrote:I agree with the part about dealing with the abusers. But in the last paragraph, the UN has no place telling the church where to stand on homosexual acts, abortion, and contraception. Otherwise I would think the UN might want to look into certain things forbidden/allowed by Islamic countries.

Yeah, they wouldn't even go there.

+1000 Exactly.

What a morally bankrupt institution the UN has become. And no, I'm not Catholic.

Maybe the UN is wrong to think that Roman Catholics are more reasonable than fundamentalist Muslims.

I agree with the part about dealing with the abusers. But in the last paragraph, the UN has no place telling the church where to stand on homosexual acts, abortion, and contraception. Otherwise I would think the UN might want to look into certain things forbidden/allowed by Islamic countries.

Yeah, they wouldn't even go there.

I'm a practicing Catholic and am all for those responsible getting their due. I stopped giving cash during the collection (I will donate goods during various drives). I'll think about donating to the collection when this is properly resolved.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was really surprised to hear about this in the news today.

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/u-n-report-vatican-policies-allowed-priests-rape-children-n22531

Catholics, any reaction?

as a fomer Catholic -- They sure had it coming and I'm glad Benedict is out and Francis is in. Let's see how he handles this.

I heard it on NPR and was appalled to learn that bishops have been asked to step down for speaking in favor of women's ordination, but have NOT been asked to step down for not acting on child molestation charges.

YOu know what could make things change quickly in the Church? If all the catholics still attending stopped their pledges until the church stopped this foolishness. Yes, it would hurt local parishes that haven't actively done anything wrong. But all Catholics are passively supporting this mess as long as they continue to give to the church.

ITA

About time!!!!!!!

Anonymous wrote:I was really surprised to hear about this in the news today.

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/u-n-report-vatican-policies-allowed-priests-rape-children-n22531

Catholics, any reaction?

as a fomer Catholic -- They sure had it coming and I'm glad Benedict is out and Francis is in. Let's see how he handles this.

I heard it on NPR and was appalled to learn that bishops have been asked to step down for speaking in favor of women's ordination, but have NOT been asked to step down for not acting on child molestation charges.

YOu know what could make things change quickly in the Church? If all the catholics still attending stopped their pledges until the church stopped this foolishness. Yes, it would hurt local parishes that haven't actively done anything wrong. But all Catholics are passively supporting this mess as long as they continue to give to the church.

I was really surprised to hear about this in the news today.

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/u-n-report-vatican-policies-allowed-priests-rape-children-n22531

Catholics, any reaction?