Do the Catholic laity bear any responsibiity

Do the Catholic laity bear any responsibiity Aug 23, 2019 5:41:34 GMT

Quote

Post by geode on Aug 23, 2019 5:41:34 GMT

Aug 22, 2019 21:14:01 GMT goz said:

Aug 22, 2019 10:29:51 GMT geode said:

I am not keen on sweeping generalities. The way you have worded this no rank and file Catholics complained about the transgressions of errant priests. Undoubtedly some have done do in multiple places through the years.

I am more familiar with the situation in the Mormon church, where some men in leadership positions and contact with the youth committed similar transgressions as Catholic priests. I have read of similar problems in the Baptist Church and other faiths. In instances in the Mormon church some committing crimes were shielded by the leadership above them. This is not just a Catholic problem.

Some of the rank and file Mormons have complained about what has happened and had church lawyers attempt to discredit their stories. Some have been excommunicated, some have left the church over what is happening. Sometimes it is the victims and their supporters who get blamed by church authorities. I'll bet some of the same has happened in Catholic circles.

The complaints by LDS members, and members who have left over these matters have caused top leadership to react and improve procedures to lessen the chance of men being able to molest children. Unfortunately the leadership takes credit for the changes or even day that God revealed the changes.

It is difficult for very believing individuals to find fault in their religious leaders, who they have been taught to follow without questioning. Churches act defensively and try to protect their image. This is human nature, but covering up serious troubles ultimately does not do right by the organizations in question.

That is a very interesting and 'almost' believable viewpoint. To me it just re-enforces the power of hierarchies in churches, and the level of delusion in the laity.

Just one of the many reasons I am an agnostic atheist and have no wish to be associated with ANY quasi atheist movement if there were such a thing.

Sometimes it is the victims and their supporters who get blamed by church authorities. I'll bet some of the same has happened in Catholic circles.

I am sure you are right, yet it amazes me that there was not and is not, a greater uprising amongst the laity now that these matters are open knowledge.

Catholics STILL support their church and give any manner of special pleading for things that were and still are endemic in the Catholic ( and other) churches.

Witness the Vatican wishing to 'handle' ( pardon the pun) the case of Cardinal George Pell 'in house' with little credence to the fact that he is in jail in Australia a convicted criminal and paedophile.

To me it sucks donkey balls.

I think you still misunderstand what the Vatican position is on Pell. They have acknowledged his conviction in Australia. All they are doing is pondering what to do about his status as a Cardinal.