After Clergy Abuse Scandals, Ireland Needs a New St. Patrick – by David Gibson – Politics Daily

At this point in the Catholic Church's long-running saga of the sexual abuse of children by priests there are few surprises and fewer heroes. The two-day "summit" in the Vatican that wrapped up on Tuesday brought the bishops of Ireland together to meet with Pope Benedict XVI to discuss the issue, much as leaders of the American hierarchy were summoned to Rome for an overnight palaver with Pope John Paul II in 2002.

Now, as then, a statement was released following the closed-door sessions expressing deep regret and "shame" for the failures of oversight by the hierarchy, the sins of "some Irish clergy" who abused children, and the efforts being made to help victims and prevent further abuse. The statement said Benedict told the bishops that the sexual abuse of children and young people is "not only a heinous crime, but also a grave sin," but he stopped short of calling on any bishops to resign nor did he speak of punishments for those who committed the abuse.

Rather, the pontiff said a root cause of the clerical abuse was "the more general crisis of faith affecting the Church" and said "the weakening of faith has been a significant contributing factor in the phenomenon of the sexual abuse of minors." He called for "a deeper theological reflection on the whole issue" and said current and future priests should receive better training. He also said he would address the topic in greater depth in a letter to Irish Catholics that he will release during Lent, which starts today (Feb. 17) with Ash Wednesday. Neither the statement Tuesday nor the promise of a future papal pronouncement gave many abuse victims and disenchanted Irish Catholics much hope that things would proceed very differently than they did after the American version of this summit back in 2002. Read complete article - by David Gibson – Politics Daily

Kids Are Being Hurt!!!

"Someday, maybe, there will exist a well-informed, well-considered, and yet fervent public conviction that the most deadly of all possible sins is the mutilation of a child's spirit." Erik Erikson

Background links:

Report: Homosexuality No Factor in Abusive Priests - By RACHEL ZOLL - ABC News – 2009

Confidential letter reveals Ratzinger ordered bishops to keep allegations secret - by Jamie Doward – guardian.co.uk - The Observer - 2005

Pope 'led cover-up of child abuse by priests' – London Evening Standard – standard.co.uk - 2006 - KIDS ARE BEING HURT !!!

This about the reckless endangerment of children in a calculated, purposeful strategy to protect the institutional Church - By Jason Walsh - The Christian Science Monitor – CSMonitor.com - December 2, 2009

Facts About Homosexuality and Child Molestation, Dr. Gregory Herek, University of California at Davis & Yale University & City University of New York

What the Bible Really Says about Homosexuality. "Interpreting the Bible" Daniel Helminiak, STL, PhD.

Kids Are Being Hurt!!!

Related links:

…“the Vatican has accepted no responsibility for its role in facilitating the sexual abuse of children,” By ROBERT MACKEY – New York Times News

Pope Urges Irish Bishops to Confront Sex Abuse - By ELISABETTA POVOLEDO and ALAN COWELL – New York Times / International Herald Tribune

Kids Are Being Hurt!!!

RC hierarchy child sexual abuse “cover-ups” ordered by Benedict XVI to avoid public outrage & criminal charges falsely accused gay priests, WATERGATE? –December 17, 2009 – Revised January 15, 2010

Ratzinger, Hurley, Maida & Accomplices – January 29, 2010

Benedict XVI & accomplices in Fear as -> “Obama signs hate-crimes bill” by Rex Wockner – Nov. 2009

Important note: I mean no disrespect to Pope Benedict XVI or the hierarchy, the one and only concern is the safety and well-being of children. Kids are being hurt!!!