OK, I decided to start a new thread on this topic, since it seems to be generating a lot of emotions. (Understandably)

Priest, politicians, or anyone else that hurts anyone against there will should be punished. A child is not able to understand at that age why, or what they have done to deserve this.

The sadest part is that there are alot of good men, and women in the church that are not being heard. The leadership should punish, and bring forth these men to be

punished.:realpisse

I am sorry that any child had to be hurt. Children are so trusting at an early age. Anyone that takes advantage of that trust is wrong. The church condems homosexuality, well molestation is wrong, and should not be condoned either.

I do feel that parents have some responsibility to ensure their children are not abused. I think that anytime you let your children alone with anyone there is a chance for various dangers (sexual abuse, but also other things like simple lack of supervision, etc.).

While it is sad we have to be suspicious of everyone, it is a fact of life. You even have to suspect your own father or grandfather, your spouse, the teachers, priests, etc.

I believe in being safe, and part of that is preventative.

I saw a bit of an Oprah episode recently where she was having candid conversations with kids that had been abused. It was really interesting how the kids did not think their parents could help them. This was despite the fact that the parents had discussed abuse prevention with those children. The problem was that the abuser convinced the kids that their parents would not believe them. Therefore I think an absolute key is to engage your kids in being suspicious, to understand that the parents will seriously investigate anything that the kids are concerned with.

Its too bad that the world is the way it is, but the world is essentially predatory. Businesses are predatory, people are predatory, other kids are predatory and horny men are predatory.

What amazes me the most about this sad state of affairs (?) is that although there are vows of poverty taken here the main concern seems to be about money.

Although it can happen, it is very unusual for children to lie about this subject unless they are trying to control a situation. If this is the case then they will still not usually be consistant in the detail of their stories, making up embellishments as they go along. A GOOD psychologist can pick up on this immediately unless they are not objective.

The most important thing to consider here is that for a child to LIE about sexual matters, they have to have first been introduced in some manner to the concept. If there are multiple unrelated accusations that come from different chronological points, then the accused is unquestionably guilty in my book.

I think that the Catholic Church would have taken a more proactive stance on this issue if there were not HUGE amounts of money involved in lawsuit settlements.

It is sad that the leaders of this Church are, in my opinion, putting MONEY over PRINCIPLES.

If it were not for those principles, they would have no money in the first place. When you consider that the money comes from contributions to the Chuch in the name of God, then the money does not belong to the Church or even those who run it, it belongs to God.

God's people decide what to do with God's money, not the accused, but the public. It is a matter for a jury, unless the parties involved agree to doing it otherwise.

Splitdick,

I agree with you. WE must protect our children. Anyone who is, has been or has ever contemplated being the parent of a child must consider that there are those out there who exploit children for their own selfish purposes. Be it money, or sex or whatever, it is wrong and it is a BEASTLY act.

Consider Jon-Benet Ramsey. The poor little girl was bludgeoned and strangled in her own home. I cannot place blame here, but children should be playing with toys and being children, not in beauty contests or such.

I do not wish to be judgmental, here, but it is a fine balance between being a child celebrity, movie star or what-not and being exploited. Exploitation reaches abuse at a point. It affects people their entire lives if they are abused as children. If as adults we do not prevent this from happening, then we are part of the problem.

Splitdick, what we must keep in mind, above all, is to NEVER blame the VICTIM in ANY of this under ANY circumstances.

We tread this thin line when we criticize lawsuits and accuse the Plaintiffs of being "...in it for the money."

We also tread it when we say, "...well, the child is precocious and initiated sexual activity."

I will repeat. Children DO NOT dabble in sex without first being exposed to it. Be it by example, or by experience. It simply does not enter into their conscious mind without first being put there. To HELL with Freud! Although children may be sexual beings, that part of them is dormant until puberty.

Children depend on adults to provide them with guidance, direction and example. When WE are adults, it is a sacred trust that we MUST NOT take lightly. IF WE do not PROTECT them, then who will?

A-1

The criminals in this mess are the leaders who disregarded the needs of children by posting sexually immature priests to parishes. The Holy Father appointed these criminals--everyone of them. Now he refuses to take responsibility for his disdain for the lives of children. The entire lot of top Catholic leaders in the United States has to go.

Sexless, you're absolutely right! I'm not Catholic (and they also do a tremendously good things), but even if I was; the corruption goes all the wat to the top worldwide. There's also a lot of "sickness" there. It's been that way for a thousand years. But what do you expect if you recruit un-castrated males as priests, and then try to tell them that they can never have sex or even masturbate? That's the root of the problem, I think. It seems like sickness from the top down for centuries. And then they expect those guys to kiss the little ruby slippers of you know who in Rome. This is not anti-Catholic, so don't take it that way. There a lot of other religions in the world (big and small) that have unusual things going on. It's just that the Catholics are one of the biggest. By the way, my ancestors were Irish-Catholic! Just a comment! --- Sugar ---

I believe that the Pope should, if he wishes to continue to confine priests to lifelong chastity, insist that all of them become eunuchs. Now that's an interesting idea for a story.......................!

PUEROS

The thing that saddens me the most is. That we should have safe places for kids to go, but we don't. The church seems to be more interested in money then doing what is right. I think it is ashame that any church would try to deny the things that has been done here. It makes me sick

The sad thing is I am sure God would be upset, and is upset by this to. The church says homosexuality is a sin, and then they allow the cleric to molest/rape young boys. I am not against the church, but I am against the hypocrasy of the leadership.

When will politicians, and the church, and corperate America realize that they are the standard for others to judge us by. I believe in God, and I just dont believe he would be happy about this either.

God did not will those things. He gave man free will and man made the choice. "God calls us to Gather in Love, Grow in Love and Go in Love."

I think this may be the end of the Catholic Church in the US. I mean going to church was already boring for most kids -- now it is (known to be) dangerous as well.

The parishoners will now all have to be suspicious of their priests so how can they receive spiritual guidance?

Lastly, the leadership of the Church has to be entirely sacked. Almost everyone is implicated in this scandal. Keeping quiet was just about as heinous as the crimes themselves, and telling victims to be quiet and covering up IS as heinous as the crimes.

With no new generation of church-goers, with no trust of those who are supposed to guide us, and with a total disruption in leadership, what is left of the Church then?