Catholic Church needs to stop denying wrongdoing

The Catholic Church needs to stop denying wrongdoing and start acting appropriately regarding the sex scandals that are rocking this religious institution.

Lets not kid ourselves, proof is showing that the Pope knew about many of the allegations and protected his ‘order’ instead of protecting the lives of children. He sheltered priests, moved them around and refused to acknowledge the issues allowing many of them to continue abusing. He may years later have begun to clean shop (although that is up for debate) but that does not make him any less guilty of protecting criminals.

Now I ask, how in society do governments and legal courts allow the Catholic Church or any religious institution to be above the law. The world has courts that try those they feel have done crimes against humanity. Are our children less than human?

The world is outraged and the press will not stop reporting until some justice is served. Having some bishop come out in defense of the Pope is not enough.

As rationale people we need to ask ourselves the following:

1. Why are priests who are accused not immediately reported to the police where the local law enforcement agency apprehend and charge those accused. Like any other person in the country, the person would then have their day in court to prove their innocence or their guilt. What company or institution can break the law and not be taken into custody and charged?

2. What head of any institution is not legally held accountable for the actions of its employees. The Church is an legal entity and should be responsible for the actions of its employees especially when they are acting in their duties as officers of a company. Are these priests when acting as priests abusing these children not acting as representatives of the Church as a company?

3. The Vatican being its own state is now being challenged. Supporters of the Church and the Pope state that he cannot be held legally responsible, arrested, etc. Does the state’ and its implied protection (considering its abuse) now need to be challenged?

4. What government will have the guts to challenge the Church and consider the Pope a criminal and not let him into their country? Rumours are that England could do this as many are calling for the next visit by the Pope to be cancelled. Would we allow any other head of state who was considered a criminal to freely travel to our country? What is the difference of the Pope vs. some dictator who is considered an abuser of humanity.

5. Massive class action lawsuits need to be registered against the Church. Over $650 million was won a few years back. At that time the Church insisted that issues were only ‘country related’. Hate to break it to them….but this is worldwide. I say hit them where it really hurts…in the pocketbook.

Now for all you faithful or those who are not…I want you to close your eyes and picture yourself as a child…or see your daughter, son, grandchild, niece, nephew, or whatever child it takes to really get into the skin of a person who is about to witness abuse. Now….consider that you are with this child in a dark place or a physically restrictive place (like that where you may take confession). REALLY think about the hands of an adult on this child. Feel the fright and uncomfortableness of this child as he/she whimpers and squirms. Picture yourself hearing the child asking for it to stop and feel that child’s confusion. Now clearly hear the sound of a man either forcefully commanding or quietly convincing this child that what is about to happen cannot be stopped or is OK. Are you in this moment….do you really feel it….now start to use your imagination of what is next…Does this man begin the assault and then back off or does he go to the full degree – raping this child. Now I ask you…because this man wears a suit of religion are you OK with how the child in your mind feels or what is done to him or her.

Now you tell me that the above thoughts that should still be burned into your mind are OK because it is in the name of religion. No God that I studied would condone such actions or inaction (which is on the part of those now defending).

Are you are OK that this could have happened to you or that it will happen to your child, relative, friend.

We at Chit Chat Magazine believe that life, liberty, freedom and safety are rights that every individual should have and if they are taken away especially to those vulnerable who cannot defend themselves…that action must be taken.

Please keep in mind that the outrage that people have is not about religion or even the Church in theory but rather the organization as it existed then and today. It is about an institution that happens to be religious that puts its own political and financial security above those it is trying to serve. It is not a statement about anyone having religious beliefs and values. The very teachings of the Bible demand that children be protected. The outrage is also about governments that sit back and allow this type of behaviour.

We want everyone to keep active on demanding that this type of abuse not be tolerated…that those guilty be held accountable (and that includes the Pope)….that governments finally stand up and treat the Church and the priests who commit these crimes with the same standards as every other citizen. It is not a statement either against priests who serve their community well. Don’t these men deserve to know that those criminals are taken away so that their reputations are restored.

Covering up crime and wrongdoing has no winners.

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