No Wonder The Pope Gets Criticised.

[eyethenkyew]

Two Irish bishops tendered their resignations last Christmas following the commission into abuse by priests in the Dublin area where both bishops are based.

Pope Benedict has, however, rejected their resignations and instead the pair are to be "assigned revised responsibilities", whatever that means?

So, just what kind of message can this decision send to those victims of the abuse by paedophile priests? It must surely bring the Pontiff's judgement into question and may even be seen by some as condoning the aforementioned perverts.

The Catholic Church has had plenty of bad press because of the many allegations in that respect, and this decision by its head can only send out the wrong message to its global congregation, especially those in Ireland - can't it?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/...world-europe-10941653

[jno]

I doubt the pontiff's judgment could be called into question much more than it has been already.

[Gromit]

Let's be clear, the two priests who resigned had not indulged in any paedophilia. They resigned because of their poor judgement in dealing with paedophile priests.

The problem is, if these two have to resign because of poor judgement, then people a lot higher, and even up to the Pope (and previous Popes) are guilty of the same offence.

Ratzenberger has attracted a lot of criticism of his handling of paedophile cases when he was a Bishop in Germany. He does not want to set a precident of bishops having to resign, because that would undermine his own position.

[naomi24]

Yes, certainly an embarrassment for him.

[andy-hughes]

The handling - or lack of it - by the Catholic hierarchy of child abuse incidents simply highlights the poison that lies at the heart of this instituion.

It is a secretive, medieval machiavellian boys club where power is ruthlessly saught and tenaciously held, while the evils of such collossally arrogant and repugnant behaviour are simply ignored at best, and facilitated by re-assignment, at worst.

How can men who live an unatrual life of celibacy and adoration hope to comprehend the damage done by these abuses - when they willfully ignore the world's horror and revulsion, carrying on in their ivory towers, only appointing to the hierarchy those who have proved thhat they will continue the systems that are currently in place.

The entire Catholic hierarchy is riven with greed, corruption, depravity and secrecy, and its eventual elimination in a few generations as people move away from its dwindling power, can only be seen as a good thing.

[Sqad]

Andy,,,well written.

[ludwig]

//It is a secretive, medieval machiavellian boys club where power is ruthlessly saught and tenaciously held, while the evils of such collossally arrogant and repugnant behaviour are simply ignored at best, and facilitated by re-assignment, at worst.
...
The entire Catholic hierarchy is riven with greed, corruption, depravity and secrecy, and its eventual elimination in a few generations as people move away from its dwindling power, can only be seen as a good thing. //

..yes, but they do nice coffee mornings at our local church hall.

[jno]

must be the liberal wing of the church, ludwig, but watch out for rohypnol in the espresso.

[andy-hughes]

LOL jno!