Apology, record payout by church for abuse victims

[SoylentGreen]

TV3 > News > International News > Story > Apology, record payout by church for abuse victims

The leader of the largest Roman Catholic archdiocese in the United States has apologised at a service today as the church confirmed it will pay a record damages to people abused by priests. Cardinal Roger Mahony apologised on Sunday to the hundreds of people who will get a share of a $US660 million settlement over allegations of clergy sex abuse. It is the largest ever group settlement for sexual abuse and each of the victims will get between US$100,000 and US$4 million. Cardinal Mahony apologised for what he called a "terrible sin and crime."

They paid the money on the agreement that none of the victims speak publicly or press charges.
Meanwhile the paedophiles who pose as priests are moved on to other churches where they will continue to abuse more children. With the blessing of the church who would rather pay out money than admit that there is a problem.

[tinybear]

Well, let it not be thought that this 'generous' settlement was offered out of genuine penitence.

"The agreement, if approved by a judge, will settle all 15 upcoming paedophilia trials against the Los Angeles archdiocese and avoids the threat of Cardinal Mahony being forced to testify about how the Church dealt with abuses spanning the 1940s to 1990s. Los Angeles diocese records released in the past revealed that for decades priests accused of child sex abuse were simply moved to new assignments or provided with therapy, Church leaders believing that they could be rehabilitated."

BBC NEWS | Americas | LA cardinal offers abuse apology

[SoylentGreen]

In February 2004, a report commissioned by the Church said more than 4,000 Roman Catholic priests in the US had faced sexual abuse allegations in the last 50 years

There have been allegations that there is a world wide underground network of paedophiles. And here we have a world wide organisation of men who are entrusted with children.
What a perfect setup.

[Pooeypants]

You really ought to include a title to the thread next time.

[tinybear]

People put too much trust in men of the church. That's a big mistake.

[Technosoul]

Instead of paying off $660 Million the judge should make them pay an extra 6 million.

$666. million.

Oh well, they get all that money for free anyway when people donate.

[Marilyn Monroe]

Quote by: SoylentGreen TV3 > News > International News > Story > Apology, record payout by church for abuse victims They paid the money on the agreement that none of the victims speak publicly or press charges. Meanwhile the paedophiles who pose as priests are moved on to other churches where they will continue to abuse more children. With the blessing of the church who would rather pay out money than admit that there is a problem.

I'd want to know the ages of the kids involved. From what I've read many were older teenagers. In countries that have lower ages of consent this wouldn't be considered abuse. Also, from what I've read there are really very few pedophilic priests. Priests who have relations with older kids could possibly respond to psychiatric treatment.

Protestants also have problems with abuse....

It's the first one....Special Bulletin......

http://www.shasta.com/sphaws/pastors.html

[Rooster]

Marilyn said: I'd want to know the ages of the kids involved. From what I've read many were older teenagers. In countries that have lower ages of consent this wouldn't be considered abuse. Also, from what I've read there are really very few pedophilic priests. Priests who have relations with older kids could possibly respond to psychiatric treatment

The victims age is irrelevant. These priests used thier power and status as a way to abuse the members of their church. They hid and were protected under the cover of the church.

Protestants also have problems with abuse....

Yes they do. Only the Catholic Church did not report the abuse and did not allow police access to their records. Each individual Catholic Church does not have the ability to choose a priest, the Diocese does that for them. While the protestant religion has members that interview and choose their leaders.

[Marilyn Monroe]

Quote by: Rooster The victims age is irrelevant. These priests used thier power and status as a way to abuse the members of their church. They hid and were protected under the cover of the church.

I think age is relevant. A 16 or 17 year old could very easily smack the crap out of a priest who tries to fondle, or come on to him. Plus, that age isn't as impressionable, they know right from wrong, so it gets harder to make excuses.

I think abuse of power is a bad thing. I agree with you on that.

I'm not a Catholic apologist, but I did go to Catholic Schools, and I never heard anything about abuse. I think we would have heard something, somewhere. We knew who the priest's girlfriends were, so I think rumors would have floated around about abuses when they were occuring. Also, some parents may have balked, but I know a lot of parents that would have beat the crap out of a priest if he pulled something on their kid. This is why with the older kids there may have been some consent to it. It's still not right, but it's a bit murkier.

Catholic's do have those priests on pedestals, which is totally stupid. I don't know if they still do, but I hope not.

[Osborn F Enready]

Nothing makes me want to sign up to be a religious folk, like watching the pedophiles avoid court via huge settlements, set aside for charity, which they claim to be in the business of. :rolleyes:

[Rooster]

from the outside looking in Priests are just ordinary men who put their pants on the same way you and I do every day. They are no different than any common person. But, ask a practicing Catholic and their Priest is akin to God.

The admiration and worship is entirely misplaced!

[Marilyn Monroe]

Quote by: Osborn F Enready Nothing makes me want to sign up to be a religious folk, like watching the pedophiles avoid court via huge settlements, set aside for charity, which they claim to be in the business of. :rolleyes:

Very small percentage are pedophiles.

[Marilyn Monroe]

Quote by: Rooster from the outside looking in Priests are just ordinary men who put their pants on the same way you and I do every day. They are no different than any common person. But, ask a practicing Catholic and their Priest is akin to God. The admiration and worship is entirely misplaced!

Just traditional, I think. We've come a long way, but it's hard to shake some of the old ways.

You're right though, I agree.

[Osborn F Enready]

Marilyn said: Very small percentage are pedophiles.

I agree, which is why I question the church bailing them out using donated funds, properties, and INSURANCE COMPANY FUNDS.

If I were a Catholic that had donated in the past, I surely wouldn't donate again. What a scham.

[Marilyn Monroe]

Quote by: Osborn F Enready I agree, which is why I question the church bailing them out using donated funds, properties, and INSURANCE COMPANY FUNDS. If I were a Catholic that had donated in the past, I surely wouldn't donate again. What a scham.

That's true. I agree.:)

[Osborn F Enready]

How can anyone stand by and not write the church about this idea of INSURANCE for such acts?

This is an abuse of insurance, and is going to be paid for by all people who use the insurance companies providing the money, as if Americans needed higher insurance costs..... from a non-regulated corporation (the church) to beat all!

[sevendogs]

So many years of abuse. And God looked at this during all this time without any intervention. Do any of the faithful catholics think of this seriously? How they explain this? A lot of pedophiles flicked to Catholicism to become priests to find a safe haven for their ugly urges.

[tinybear]

God thought Lot was a good guy despite him having offered his daughters to be gang raped. Go figure. :)

(And Lots wife turned into a pillar of salt for the heinous crime of ignoring God's instruction not to look back. Aaah well...no loss to Lot, who then proceeded to commit incest with his daughters).

Moral standards differ for different people at different times, I guess.

By the way, was it King Solomon who murdered his subordinate & stole his wife? Isn't that against God's Commandments? Was Solomon punished? Please remind me. My biblical knowledge is a bit rusty.

[sevendogs]

tinybear, your knowledge of Bible is amazing. To me, it is hard to understand much in it without interpretations by Christina scholars. Nothing is literal, all kind of hidden meanings... Only today's facts are clear.

[tinybear]

Well, something tells me those Christian scholars are no wiser than us. :)