The New York Archdiocese of the Roman Catholic church has an unusual new weapon against child abuse.
Comment: Are you kidding me?? The Catholic Church has to WARN CHILDREN NEVER TO BE ALONE WITH A PRIEST??? How can any Catholic see something like that and not be clued in that their church is MESSED UP?? Oh, yeah, and where's the page explaining to the children that the God they worship. the one who is supposed to love all the little children of the world. is going to sit by and do nothing while they are raped by a priest? What a messed-up religion.
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Comment: It's just this kind of mentality that has kept Islam in the stone ages. What next beatings for children who don't obey the rules and are unlucky enough to be caught alone in a room with an adult who is not related to them? The church needs to wake up and and start tackling the problem with it's priests instead of putting the responsibility onto the children
Comment: "they're doing everything they can to prevent such tragedies from happening again"
The coloring book is not a response to a "tragedy". It is a response to crimes. And not just run of the mill crimes, but heinous sexual crimes against children, crimes that were willfully ignored and covered up by the silk-stockinged Princes of the church.
Tragedy my ass.
Rather than cash settlements and creepy coloring books, the proper response to this outrage is to jail every bishop and cardinal that stood by, hiding behind the gravitas of the Prince of Peace, while allowing sexual criminals free reign over the most vulnerable of their flock.
Enough.
Comment: I cannot believe you would tell a child not to be in a room alone with an adult. This onus should be on the adult,not the child! If the adult is not trustworthy, he/she should not be with children in the first place. Our children need to grow up with respect and trust in adults. This statement in this coloring book is abusive to children!
Comment: Aren't "parents, teachers, counselors" (not just priests) the people who commit abuse? How sad to think kids can't trust anyone.
Comment: I guess the US Catholic Church is damned if they do and damned if they don't. If training or informing children is pointless what should be done then? I guess training children can lead to a lot of false positives but since some say pedophilia is so prevalent - I never came across it myself yet I am non-US Catholic,
what is the alternative? As for Child abuse in the RC Church I think the matter has been oversensationalised by the US media. In my country South Africa we recently has a child abuse scandal in the Oprah Winfrey
school for girls here. No-one is blaming Oprah for this but somehow the US Catholic Chuch has been
victimised by this IMHO. Have studies been done among child abuse in Protestant/Muslim/Jewish religious communities too or is it just easy to blame the RCC because of the media and highly paid lawyers and crazy US lawsuits? Anyway I raised many points here as an outsider who lives in a country with very high child abuse figures - South Africa.
Comment: What should be done? Maybe training the adults would be a better idea. They could have coloring books and classes to show the priests and other adults which areas are private, show adults and children's bodies with those areas covered. They could also explain the meaning of "private parts" and why we call them that. Maybe even post some nice signs in their break areas with simple graphics? "Don't touch, show, or discuss these areas with children!"
Comment: What should be done? Maybe training the adults would be a better idea. They could have coloring books and classes to show the priests and other adults which areas are private, show adults and children's bodies with those areas covered. They could also explain the meaning of "private parts" and why we call them that. Maybe even post some nice signs in their break areas with simple graphics? "Don't touch, show, or discuss these areas with children!"
Comment: The current body of research in the field of child sex abuse comports with church history and is very clear: children are no match for pedophiles. There are virtually no experts in this field who advise that training children to protect themselves is an effective method of combatting child sex abuse. This is the responsibility of adults. Pedophiles gravitate to positions that bring them into contact with children, be that as a priest, a teacher, a coach, bus driver, or friend of single parent in need of respite. While the Archdiocese may feel it is fulfilling its mandate to prevent child sex abuse at the hands of priests, this seems an ill-advised, wrong-headed approach and leads one to speculate on the veracity of the experts used for consultation before taking this tool to press, let alone distributing it to children. Placing the burden on children for protecting themselves from predators merely increases the likelihood they will not report abuse if it happens, happens in nine out of ten child sex abuse cases. I'm afraid the Church still doesn't get it.
Comment: Although I don't agree with homosexuality or gay marrige, I think that society should put a stop to our anti-gay feelings. If were to accept all people perhaps men wouldn't become priests to hide their homosexuality and in turn abuse young boys. I would never disciminate based on a person's sexual orientation, and neither should ANYBODY else. Let them have the civil unions they want or whatever, just stop the rejection.
Comment: This article is about pedophilia, not sexual orientation. Changing views on homosexual relationships have little or no bearing in this matter. Young women are exploited as well as young men.
Comment: It should be increasingly self evident that female adults engae in sex with minors far more often than most people believe. Nuns, school teachers and doctors have all recently been exposed as pedophiles, but due to societal standards the victims are often cheered rather than treated, and the perpetrators are punished with much less severe consequences than a male child rapist is. While most might think a woman with a boy is somehow ok, studies indicate these boys then turn the tables in adulthood and become predators themselves.
Comment: The molesters of boys are usually found (those that are caught) in the ranks of men who deal with boys such as coaches, priests, scout masters, counselors, etc. It would be better for those in authority to monitor them than to instill in children the idea that all adults are predatory. In a sense this is making it look like "everybody" does it. Obviously, children need to be warned about strangers.
Comment: Maybe the obvious eludes us. Scrap the age old law of Priests not being married. Which is not biblical but it is traditional. Maybe we need to allow our traditions to be seen through biblical eyes. Priests are good men put in difficult requirements. Its not natural to not be married. Few are gifted to be celibate, for the rest, allow them to marry for heavens sake... no for our sake.
Comment: Homosexual marriage is still illegal, and marriage wont solve anything. Most pedophiles in the church are men who rape boys. Unless you want men to marry boys, their desires shall still be unmet and they will still be predators
Comment: If a book such as that must be distributed...then there is something wrong with the entire 9 yards. As serious as the call for Vatican II....
There are some people that do not celebrate the Mass in this country, and that comic book is a good reason to think about why and the future of The Church in the USA...seriously, isn't that why they have Protestants?
Comment: Protestant preachers rape just as many children as Roman Catholics Priests due, but much like Al Qaeda they have decentralized their structure to avoid liability.
Comment: In my book, if something such as that MUST be printed and distributed...then there's something wrong with the entire 9 yards...think about it.
Comment: this is sickening
Comment: When God created humans, He created them with free will. Any human can choose to do good or evil, and God won't get in his way. Satan can tempt all he wants, but it is humans who make the decisions. When priests and other clergymen choose to do evil, they are judged much more harshly by the human world than are other people who choose to do evil. It's hard to know how God will judge them, since He doesn't tell us on a case-by-case basis what's on His Mind.
Comment: I think it is a good idea, but that won't change the damage that has been done or make people that have separated themselves from the catholic religion, like myself, change their minds. Priests that abuse children, being probably the biggest problem for the catholic religion, is not the only problem.
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The idea that ANYONE would permit a dialogue between a child, and representatives of this organization is child abuse of unbelievable proportions. It is the equivalent of taking a child to a NAMBLA convention! Recognize it is not the deviants I most violently object to, it is the money changers who prostituted toddlers to avoid scandal. Mental illness in the form of pedophilia is complex and best left to doctors, but perjury, conspiracy and complicity in the rape of children by a multi-billion dollar glorified ponzi scheme is unacceptable. These men who where aware and did nothing need to be held accountable. Anyone who has a clue about victimization should realize that the majority of victims never say a word, because these degenerates give them the impression they need to choose between sodomization and eternal damnation. It seems quite reasonable based on available statistics to say that hundreds of thousand and possibly millions of children from the last century have used as sex toys by the pious parasites in this glorified chicken shack. And to top it off, for decades they used donated money from the most ignorant and weak within our society to bribe the victims, bury the scandal and protect these monsters with a taste for young flesh.
Comment: How delightfully realistic - but painfully closed-minded. We have to start somewhere, don't we? If this will open a line of communication and dialogue with children, then isn't it wonderful? Clergy are not the only, not the majority of such abusers. Religion is not the root of every problem in the world. All governtments are also corrupt organizations, but I don't see you attacking them. I do agree with you, that organizations who choose to place themselves above the law must be dealt with, and sadly, children are still suffering.
Thankfully, I, abused by a family friend who had nothing to do with any church, have been able to grow as a person. A priest, and a good man, helped me get away from my abusive husband and rescued me and my children from a life of terror. They're not all bad. Think of the 96% serving and the horror they and their parishes are going through - It's not an all of nothing.
Support those suffering - and Punish those who break the laws. How hard should that be??
Comment: I was abused by my atheist husband, and a priest saved me from it. It's not the group who commits these acts (usually) - it's individuals. Clergy are not the only abusers. Children are being raped as I type this, but not due soley to religious beliefs. I believe in much tougher penalties for crimes, and I vote for them. Until people start taking this seriously, there will be no relief for the suffering.
Comment: How delightfully naive. While I believe your heart is in the right place, trading one omnipitence for another shall do no good. God is a lie perpetuated by people with an agenda. In this case the sodimization of children and the financial exploitation of fools. If this is not obvious by now then their is no reaching any of you. We need to identify the individuals involved and prosecute and imprison them, especially those in the Vatican. Then we need to tax this corrupt organization out of existence. All religions are corrupt to some extent because the concept of divinity leads to corruption (Think absoulute power), but when an organization created of men chooses to place itself above the law it must be crushed for the sake of the children who are STILL being raped as you read this
Here are some FACTS
US clerics accused of abuse from 1950-2002: 4,392.
About 4% of the 109,694 serving during those 52 years.
Individuals making accusations: 10,667.
Victims' ages: 5.8% under 7; 16% ages 8-10; 50.9% ages 11-14; 27.3% ages 15-17.
Victims' gender: 81% male, 19% female
Duration of abuse: Among victims, 38.4% said all incidents occurred within one year; 21.8% said one to two years; 28%, two to four years; 11.8% longer.
Victims per priest: 55.7% with one victim; 26.9% with two or three; 13.9% with four to nine; 3.5% with 10 or more Abuse locations: 40.9% at priest's residence; 16.3% in church; 42.8% elsewhere.
Known cost to dioceses and religious orders: $572,507,094 (does not include the $85 million Boston settlement and other expenses after research was concluded). (Hartford Courant, 2/27/04) It should be noted that 30% of all accusations were not investigated as they were deemed unsubstantiated or because the accused priest is dead.
Comment: "The only problem in the world today is that we have lost the ability to look upon our fellow human beings and see the face of God." - Karol Jakowski, The Silence We Keep: A Nun's View of the Catholic Priest Scandal
Comment: "The only problem in the world today is that we have lost the ability to look upon our fellow human beings, and see the face of God.." - The Silence We Keep: A Nun's View of the Catholic Priest Scandal by Karol Jackowski
Comment: One local priest complained recently that the "pro-gay" law that was passed in this border state of Coahuila, MX., had brought the "wrath of God" onto the communtiy in the form of 2 F-4 tornadoes 0n 4-24-07 killing 100+. As I read the article in the local paper, I could'nt help but believe that his "Pious Spin" was really rooted in the fact that now the field of competition had been broadened by passage of the same law.
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The only way to prevent child abuse in the Church is to close it. Anyone taking a vow of celibacy is a liar in heart if not in deeds, and any attempt to deny the monstrous acts is linked is simply childish. One of the great ironies in modern life is the battle between churches and gay groups. because if the church actually ever modernizes and makes it acceptable for young people to live homosexual lives openly, the priesthood shall cease to exist. From now till then, any homosexuals raised devoutly and encouraged to join the priesthood as an alternative to an openly gay life shall continue to molest children.
Comment: What does being gay have to do with molesting a child? Sorry to tell you this but homosexual's are not into little childern. People (no matter what they do or where they come from) who prey on childern are called pedophiles. Homosexuals are people who prefer their on sex. I was molested by a pedophile and he was not of the church. Plus, I'm female, how does this make him a homosexual?
Comment: See the statistics above. Your case is an aberation from the norm. Pedophiles come in two flavors, homo and hetro, and MOST Christian church pedophiles are men who bugger boys. Plenty rape girls as well, but nowhere near 50 percent
Comment: Cole Black: Windfall for some? You are not very specific, so I must assume you mean that therapists who treat abused children,often for many years, enjoy a " windfall". After all, if the priests did not molest the youngsters , there are that many less children to treat. So, yes, therapists do enjoy a windfall. Is this what you had in mind?
Comment: I think this is nothing but a bunch of bull! It is NEVER the childs fault if a sicko adult man has those kinds of urges. DO NOT BLAME OR MAKE THE CHILD THINK THEY ARE NEVER SAFE. Since this has come open to the public about this scandal, I lost total respect for the catholic religion and the priests. GOD is NOT religion! GOD is love and kindness and would never hurt a innocent child.
Comment: This is probably the lamest and stupidest idea to come from a church trying to cover it's collective butt, that I have seen. Let's just shift the responsibility .... OK, now we got 'em (Now it's THEIR fault if they let us do it!). boog81 you're an idiot. This is not a school book. Dope.
Comment: no need for name calling. children should be aware of their surroundings. they're not shifting responsiblity they are trying to prevent it from happening again. nobody's going to tell these kids hey its your fault you put yourself in that position. they telling them to make sure someone knows who they are with just like parents make sure who theyre kids go out with. or are parents to blame when they're kids get hurt while hanging out with friens?
Comment: Parents first should always be the first educator of children. Also, this scandal has also been a windfall for some.
Comment: For that coloring book to make sense, it would have to warn against not generic adults, but against Catholic priests.
Further, it is abominable that an organization that has been found to protect pedophiles warns the victims, in effect, to watch out for itself, but makes no substantive changes to its policies. "Yes, we're going to rape you and cover it up: here's how to help prevent that."
Comment: Priests arent the only ones molesting. Teachers, parents, relatives, family friends, counselors can all be molesters, just read the news. Teaching children to be alert of all adults wont cause them too much harm it makes them be aware of their surroundings so that they dont end up being victims. We all know molesation doesnt just happen in the church, it happens everywhere. Just look at all the school teachers that are in the news for molesting students. Or does that nbot count?
Comment: Yes, but few children are brainwashed into believing lay people have a divine relationship with God. Shameful really but the priesthood is the PERFECT hunting ground for pedophiles
Comment: Priests arent the only ones molesting. Teachers, parents, relatives, family friends, counselors can all be molesters, just read the news. Teaching children to be alert of all adults wont cause them too much harm it makes them be aware of their surroundings so that they dont end up being victims. We all know molesation doesnt just happen in the church, it happens everywhere. Just look at all the school teachers that are in the news.aaaccused
Comment: First of all, it is illogical and simplistic to equate homosexuality and pedophilia. There is no correlation between the two conditions and any sane person recognizes that fact.
Secondly, why is it the child's responsibility to place themselves in an environment where they will not be victimized? Doesn't this mitigate thier role as "victim?" Haven't we been through this during high-profile rape allegations when the rape victim is judged by the media for wearing something inappropriate?
Comment: Simply said: Those deviant men who harmed children and harmed the Church, who are pawns of Satan himself, are both HOMOSEXUALS AND PEDOPHILES. Let's not be politically correct people, call it what it is.
Comment: Not all are homosexual... Remember, there are female victims out there, to! And there are females within the church who victimize either young men or young women, as well.
Comment: Ok, we seem to have a problem here. Pedophiles rape and molest yound childern. Homoseaxuals are not I repeat not into little kids. There is a difference. It is not be potitically correct, it is just being correct.
As for Satan beig the root cause of all the evils in the world. Sorry to tell you this, but Satan has nothing to do with it. It is just an easy excuse and an escape goat for the problems in the world.
Comment: Your over-generalization and lack of empirical evidence is over-simplistic and absurd. What a ridiculous statement to make!
I think from now on, I will blame food shortages, mass-starvation, over-population, misuse of the environment, and genocide on all heterosexuals. From now on, in my world, all problems can be blamed on breeder -- the TRUE TOOLS OF SATAN!
Can't you see how silly of an idea this is? One cannot equate homosexuality with pedophilia.
Comment: I agree with tjgabes. AND...it's not even close to being about "political correctness". Rape is rape, it is NOT sex (and the larger percentage of pedophiles choose their crimes with both boys AND girls, so gender often has NOTHING to do with it...it's about POWER (oh the mighty preisthood) and to equate homosexuality (which in and of itself does not equate molestation or rape) with that ilk is simplifying abuse on molestation and rape victims.
Comment: Very correct, farleys!
Comment: Simply said: The deviant men who harmed children and the Catholic Church, who are pawns of the Satan himself, are both HOMOSEXUALS AND PEDOPHILES. Let's not be politically correct people, call it what it is.
Comment: I do not believe pedophilia is directly linked to homosexuality (But an unbiased study would be interesting) I do suspect repressed sexuality, or being taught that ones inherent sexual drives can be controlled by religious dogma can often lead to pedophilia and other violent forms of sexual predation. Denial is more than just a river in Egypt, and when the river of human lust over flows its banks after years of failed attempts at controlling it, the results can be devastating. Children are lead to believe that these men of the cloth are divine by parents who are so blind that even when their children are raped and tortured the parents still see with the eyes of the indoctrinated. Wake up people, your churches are destroying your children.
Comment: Childern are also lead to believe that thier parents are suppose to love you and care for you, but look at how many cases of abuse (in all it's forms) and neglect there are. I don't see the church being involved in that.
Comment: Then look closer, or open your eyes.
Comment: Of course it's the child's responsibility to make sure they are never alone with an adult. I think its the adult's responsibility not ton put themselves in that kind of compromising situation......
Comment: It's the parent's responsibility to make sure their child is never alone with an adult. To put the responsibility on the adult leaves the abusers free rein. I agree adults who don't want to commit these crimes or be accused of them should ensure they are never alone with a child.
Comment: This is rediculous.... don't be alone with a priest.....what about the nuns? aren't they all a bunch of lesbians?
Comment: I will say this yet again... Females in the church have victimized both young males and young females. Please, please, stop assuming that it's all homosexual pedophilia. Pedophilia is pedophilia, homosexuality is homosexuality.
Instead of worrying about sexual orientation, worry about teaching your kids that it's not okay for anybody to touch them in a sexual manner! I've taught my child early on about self respect and the right to say no, as well as the importance of talking to me about anything that happens in her life! Open communication with your child is a must in this messed up world!
Comment: Obviously and habit forming to boot! But our current pop culture considers lesbians as hot, and male homosexuals as creepy. Anyone who claims to be immune from sexual lust is either mad, or a liar. In most of these cases time has shown us their are frequently both!
Comment: This coloring book is the Church's feeble attempt at showing the public, mostly their finacila contributors, that they are "fixing" their problem with their priests, etc. They don't have a clue as to how to address this issue. Children need to know, first of all, to report any inappropriate touching (after "inappropriate touching" is explained), as well as to whom to report. Children need to be heard and believed. They need to know how to relate what has happened to them. They need to know that they, as well as ther families, will be protected, if they ever report abuse. Sometimes they, or their families, might be physically threatened, they could possibly be being told that they won't be believed (after all, THEY are priests, etc.), or, possiibly that they will be taken from their parents if they tell. There are various and sundry threats made to children, who will think that these threats are very real, so many remain silent, suffering into adulthood...like me. Like me, many never tell of the abuse. Fortunately, some do tell, and some sue, as the Catholic Church is finding. These helpless, and defenseless children grow up, and then many come forward. God Bless them each and every one for having the courage to go after these criminals...the men responsible (both the perpetrators, those whom covered up the abuse, and passed these pedophiles on to other unsuspecting victims in othere parishes) as well as the Church. For those who choose not to come forward, no ill will should be held against you. This is an unspeakable crime against those who cannot protect themselves. May God hold all of the perpetrators accountable for your actions. Judgment Day's a'comin'.
Comment: This is an utter generalization. You can't be alone with ANY adult? What about your mother who's cooking dinner for you or your dad who's in your room explaining how to throw a baseball? While the intention is good, it sends out the message that ALL adults are potentially dangerous. That is the wrong message. Man is basically good -- not bad.
Comment: This message sounds like EVERY adult can be dangerous -- if you're with your mom and she's cooking dinner for you in the kitchen, does someone else need to be there? If your father's giving you advice on baseball in your bedroom, is that unsafe too? This message is too generalized and sounds like EVERY adult is dangerous.
Comment: These Catholic priests, bishops, cardinals, etc., were in a position of authority. As a former victim of molestation, I can tell you that a child, depending on their age, cannot necessarily verbally express what is happening to them, and/or they are embarrassed. Some might have been threatened in some way, so they won't speak up. This is what needs to change. Children, should know that they can talk to a responsible, trusted adult, whether it is a parent, grandparetn, teacher, etc. Many of these men (predators) are in
positions of authority in othere denominations, or they might be teacher, policement, firemen, etc. Background checks aren't always reliable. I heard a former sex crimes prosectutor say that the prepetrators of these crimes against children, have already molested , on average 80 children, BEFORE they are ever
caught. The fact that priests are required to be celibate has absolutely nothing to do with their molesting of children. They want to have sex with a child. Anyone who wants to have sex with a child is sick, sick, sick. I know a two, whom are registered sexual predators/molestors...both are married. These men want to have sex with a child...an adult just won't do for them. Someone said we should have compassion for these predators and pray for them. My compassion is for the innocent/defenseless children of these monsters, not for the child molestors/predators whom choose to prey on these young victims. I'll be praying for the victims of these crimes. The Catholic Church is so transparent is their feeble attempts to say to the world, "see, we're trying to fix this ongoing issue with the church". What a load of crap! The only reason they are doing anything at all, is because their contributions have dwindled and they are having to sell of some of their properties to pay out the settlements in the many lawsuits being filed against them. My comments should not be construed to be only against the Catholic Church, not just the priest whom are the sexual molestors/predators. Right here in my hometown, a former Baptist minister was headed to trial for these same offenses. Sadly, he died before he made it to trial. Bu, he had already admtted to these claims of abuse against him. Rest assured that he will be judged before almighty God for his crimes, even if he didn't have to face a judge here on earth. These molestors are opportunists. My comments against these criminals should also be directed at those who covered up these crimes, right on up to the Popedom in the Catholic Church. Pray for the victims, not for the abusers and their enablers.
Comment: Being catholic (being a human being, for that matter), I'm beyond appalled by the lack of regard for children's safety, not to mention the shuffling around of pedophile priests. This has been happening for a long time apparently. Instead of making examples of the first few offenders, the bishops and cardinals involved in hiding this made the Catholic church a haven for a particularly awful kind of criminal element. This could've been handled in a much better way all along... It's horrible! I'm sure there are pedophiles from all religious backgrounds, but it is so blatantly obvious that those in authority knew this was happening and they hid it. That's what makes it so awful. I feel bad for everyone affected and it disturbs me when I see people (even the pope) minimize it as being overblown by the media. Can't say enough about how terrible all of this is.
Comment: The Catholic Church has, for many years, attempted to "cover-up" this horrific crime against children, prepetrated by their priests...those who were the perpetrators, as well as other priests, bishops, and, right on up the hierarchy withing the church. A few were "awarded" by being given cushy jobs at The Vatican, after being relieved of their duties at their churches. The Catholic Church's history of pedophilia by these sexual preadtors, also known as priests, is well documented. Those whom covered up these crimes are as guilty as those who molested so many innocent, defenseless children. The only reason that the Catholic Church is attempting to show that they are trying to "fix" this problem, is because of the fact that their money coffers are dwindling...faster than they can pay out the ginormous clain settlements resulting from their victims now suing them. Remember that the Catholic Church, not only didn't report much of this past abuse that they were well aware of, but they covered it up. They transferred many of these criminal pedophiles to other churches, where the abuse continued...just with a different set of children. God's judgment will someday come to each and every one of these men responsible, for both the abuses, as well as those whom covered this up. The Catholic Church failed these children miserably, and changed their young lives FOREVER. Even the worst of criminals don't like those who abuse childre. As I recall, one such priest was handily taken care of while imprisoned on abuse charges. ...saved the victims from further emotional trauma of a trial, as well as the costs of said trial...just desserts, I say.
Comment: Wait a minute. Priests have been molesting kids all over the country for years while the Church has been burying its head in the sand, merely reassigning offenders where they could do the same thing over and over again, and now its message to children is "Don't ever let yourself be alone with an adult?" So, the major responsibility falls on the kid? How about, "Don't ever let yourself be alone with a priest." That might be more to the point.
Comment: Right! You got It! Couldnt agree more.
Comment: How many non-Catholic ministers and clergymen have done the same without all the press? Society rules are not bias - just the public.
Comment: How many priest were required to register as sex offenders in the last five years?
Comment: How many priest have been required to register as sex offenders in the last five years.
Comment: It's a pretty sad state of affairs when the Roman Catholic church has to warn parents not to leave their children alone with a priest. What does that say about the church's confidence in their own priests? What message are they sending kids - "don't trust a priest"?
Comment: It's a pretty sad state of affairs when the Roman Catholic church has to warn parents not to leave their children alone with a priest. What does that say about the church's confidence in their own priests? What message are they sending kids - "don't trust a priest"?
Comment: this is telling them not to be alone with any adult some children will take this literally and never be alone with parents grandparents or other close relatives. This book has somewhat of a good message but needs refined. I also agree with panda that it will make the children feel that they did something wrong when it's the adult's fault. I think each parent is responsible for teaching their children "stranger danger"
Comment: Then by all means, kids should stay out of the confessional. Or else put closed circuit cameras so the parents can watch what the priests are up to.
Comment: Delete "adults", insert "priests". Simple enough.
Comment: nnnnnn
Comment:
This coloring book makes children responsible for their abuse! Teaching this to children will damage their psychological development! I recommend anyone who cares about this watch the South Park episode SEXUAL HARASSMENT PANDA (Season 3, episode 309). Maybe this coloring book is a legal maneuver, or maybe it makes adults feel better about themselves, but what do you think the kids are really going to make of this?
Comment: Christina, people who sexually assault young people choose their victims wisely. You evidently don't lack self esteam thus would never have been approached.Tthese children are bullied into keeping their mouths shut. My problem with the comic book is that it doesn't say beware of the priest and clergy but generalizes to beware of all adults. Talk about creating a paranoid congregation.
Comment: This is a shame, but necessary. Kids have to look out for themselves. As we have seen, they can't count on the clergy. I'm sure that there have been thousands of confessions by predatory priests, yet no one ever thought "maybe we should do something about this". The chirch has a culture of secrecy. Clergy are expected to tow the company line and not make waves. This culture will never change because democratic processes are not in place to force change. As a result, the only effective defence is persistent public outcry and aggressive legal action.
Comment: It's a shame that this is required, but it is. Until proven otherwise we should assume that kids have to be on the defensive with clergy. We need to assume the church will not effectively police itself. After all, with all the confessions that I am sure were heard from predator priests, no one ever thought "maybe we should do something about this". By its nature, the church's culture is "shut up and tow the company line" . Disagreement and free expression are frowned upon. Persistent public heat and skepticism are the only effective ways to combat the threat.
Comment: A CHILD SHOULD NOT HAVE TO FEAR BEING IN A ROOM WITH AN ADULT.
TEACH YOUR PRIESTS THAT IT ISNT RIGHT FOR THEM TO HAVE THEM THOUGHTS.
WHEN ARE WE GOING TO HAVE SOME SCREENING FOR PRIESTS?
Comment: Screenings and psychological evaluations are a good idea for any profession that involves socialization!
Comment: Absurd simply absurd. The catholic church has a rich history of murder and mayhem throughout the centuries. Sexual child abuse is a mere trifle. At first i thought that this was a satirical cartoon/ joke from the Freak Brothers comic. But it is more than that. It is frighteningly ignorant and stupid.
Comment: This is more then absurd. It is frightening. I thought it was a satirical cartoon/joke at first. What it really turns out to be is just plain stupid and ignorant. But then what can you expect from people that depict Jesus as a blond haired blue eyed fair skiinned man. The Catholic church has a rich history of murder and mayhem through out the centuries. Molesting children is just a mere trifle.
Comment: Read the livs of the saints?Give me a break! What is a saint? A person anointed as such, many,many,years after the fact(to make the job easier)so as to replenish the ole coffers, of the already rich church. New saints generate huge income, prayer cards, books, relics, momentos, etc. A saint is one who performs a miracle as per the church definition. The acts of the apostles have several of them raising bodies from the dead, and other wonderous events, willy-nilly.real crowd pleasers. Have any of you ever witnessed a true miracle performed by a religious person, other than the sunday TV hucksters?If priests are human, why do we make them live sub-human lives?And why the concentration of these abusers(humans) in the catholic church?
Comment: Priests are also humans subject to the same weaknesses and concupiscences that the rest of humanity have to contend with. A reading of the lives of the saints instruct us that the struggle they underwent last up to their last breath.A strong spiritual life, mortification and other religious practices HELP them contain their weaknesses. We, too, with our prayers can help them succeed in their daily struggle as they help ours. Making our young people realize this truth could help them maintain a respectful and healthy relationship with those who devote their lives for our edification. They know that they need our prayers and understanding. Let us be generous to them.
Comment: Glad the prayer helped the saints, bug how come the prayers of the children who where being raped where ignored by your god?
Comment: Men in habit are also subject to the same human weaknesses and temptations the rest of humanity must contend with. The spiritual and regimented life they have been trained to live do not in anyway shield them from their own weaknesses which they must continuously try to contain and struggle against. A reading of the lives of the saints instructs us that the struggle continues during their entire lives. Prayer and mortification help them control their human frailties. We, too, can help them succeed in their vocation with our own prayers and in not giving them occassions to sin. Making our young people aware that our priests are also humans would help them maintain a proper and respectful relationship with them.
Comment: Abolish the confessional! That is where they learn who is vulnerable and easy pickens!Christina: a dated a girl molested by onw of those charming priests who would NEVER commit such an atrocity. Because the town felt as you did toward him, she did not report it! It is just such an attitude as yours that protects them> They all are potential abusers. They sit in confession for hours, alone in the dark,: they are not permitted healthy sexual release::they dress in ridiculous feminine lacy and gaudy embroidered gowns, and they drink wine during their ceremony,early in the morning while still fasting .How do we expect such abnormal behavior to produce normal,balanced human beings?
Comment: Christina Chang: I grew up across a small street from the rectory and convent and spent a lot of time in the rectory doing odd jobs for the priests.I met many priests over the years, certainly more than you, and be assured ,they all could be abusers.I don't trust your experience or judgement. I also dated a girl who was fiercely,forceably, abused by a "fine young priest" in the rectory where she helped out getting the church ready for services. He was one of your beloved charmers who could NEVER be an abuser. And so predictably, she remained silent for many years.( I wonder if she ever told anyone other than me?)Why did he pick her(besides her attractiveness?) He learned about her sex life in the confessional!! That process is medievial and vile, and harmful to the priest as well. It should be abolished.My sainted Italian grandmother went to church every day, but she NEVER in her entire life sat in confession. I wonder if she is in " heaven? Knowing the priest's and seeing them almost every day,I " protected" myself by lying about my sex life when I sat in (forced) confession).
Comment: First children are taught not to get into cars with strangers, and now it's not to be left alone with a priest. How about removing the priest instead of warning children about the dangers of being left alone with a priest whom they've been taught to trust.
If the catholic church followed biblical direction for leaders of a church, this wouldn't be as big of an issue. But then again, there are a lot of "traditions" that the catholic church does that is not biblically based.
Comment: First children are taught not to get into cars with strangers, and now it's not to be left alone with a priest. How about removing the priest instead of warning children about the dangers of being left alone with a priest whom they've been taught to trust.
If the catholic church followed biblical direction for leaders of a church, this wouldn't be as big of an issue. But then again, there are a lot of "traditions" that the catholic church does that is not biblically based.
Comment: It's utterly ridiculous. While children should be taught about protecting themselves, the church needs to be sure that they are keeping on top of protecting their children. It should not be the childrens' responsibility to make sure that abusive priests aren't lurking around. There is such a strong symbol of using an angel to relay the message. Think about the power that the priests have had over the children that they abused. I am tired of the church thinking that they are the know all/see all of morality. Lisa
Comment: Interesting. While I don't disagree that kids should not be alone in a room with an adult, how are they explaning this to kids when they make their First Reconciliation?? I can't imagine the priests will go for leaving the door open....
Comment: Yes, there have been problems. Hopefully, the institution is dealing with the abuse problem. The "Right to Life" people are not the instituion of the Church; don't equate the two. As far as the above story, I can't understand why administrators have the option of distributing the coloring book. It should be mandatory.
Comment: I couldn't agree more that the Right to Lifers do not represent the true Church, but they and Church leaders are currently inseparable in Missouri. When Archbishop Raymond Burke takes steps to separate his positions from Missouri Right to Life, I'll believe that they cannot be equated. I would challenge you to find any differences in their positions.
Comment: I think SOME of the allegations have been legit over the years; however, I think the majority have been people who jump onto the bandwagon to collect fast, easy money. I have known many priests over the years, and NONE of them would be capable of such atrocities!
Comment: How can you or I say what hides in another's heart or soul? Those who seem charming are often physically abusive, and those who seem pure are often hiding their darkness!
I am sorry, Christina, but there is no way you can know beyond the shadow of a doubt that "NONE of them would be capable of such atrocities!" Only the maker knows what is in anyone's heart and soul.
Comment: To Christina Yang
Do you have any idea how hurtful comments like yours (re bandwagon) are to people who have been so badly injured by those in which they should have implicit trust? The American justice system still works on the premise that one is innocent until proven guilty. Victims have to have a legal basis to file claims and to be a part of a settlement. Please go to the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests (look under online support-Discussion Board) or Bishop Accountability for more information about the sickening extent of the RCC cover-up of twisted priests that continues today-read about the recent cases in Chicago, for example. The truth of the matter is you really DON'T know what the priests you have known are capable of. Studies have shown that most pedophiles and sexual abusers are very charming and charismatic. Check the sites I have suggested, you might just see names you recognize. Also, please try to be more compassionate toward those who are wounded by the church and please don't make assumptions about collecting "fast, easy money." I doubt that going through legal proceedings is very fast or ... easy.
Comment: Never before in a forum such as this have I ever lowered myself to name calling and I intend to keep that tradition, so I have decided to not call you a blithering idiot. All I ask is you wake up to the reality of rapists hiding behind your altars. If you refuse to do so, then you are complicit in the future rapes that will happen, and the rapes that are happening as we write.
Comment: It's about time. The Catholic Church has major problems in the morality arena. Apart from the problems with pedophilia in the clergy, the Church's meddling in politics for so-called "Pro-Life" candidates who are severely morally challenged, and here in Missouri the "Right to Life" PAC's pro-war, pro-tobacco, anti-healthcare and anti-education positions call into question the direction of their moral compass.
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