Larry King Discusses Priest Abuse Scandal

[Julie Marie]

Last night on Larry King Live, he had several panelists there to talk about the priest abuse scandal that has rocked the RCC.  In attendance were Bill Donahue - Catholic League of America president, Sinead O'Connor, two catholic priests and a man who was a victim of priest abuse.

A dear friend of mine, who is also one of us, was the victim of priest abuse.  For three years it went on.  Her ("his" back then) parents thought she was just making things up when she tried to tell them and her cries were ignored.  They even had the pedophile priest over for dinner and this poor child had to sit there having dinner with her criminal abuser. 

When you know someone personally and hear the horrors of their experience, it's hard not to get emotional when the subject comes up.  And when anyone tries to defend the RCC or the former Cardinal Ratzinger (now the pope), attempts to dilute the severity or tries to redefine the crime of pedophilia - well, it just makes your blood boil.

The man who was a pedophile priest victim handled himself very well.  He was articulate, calm and reasonable.  Sinead, who herself was a victim of child abuse at the hands of an Irish catholic institution, also remained calm and reasonable.  The two priests did their best not to be overly critical of the RCC but at the same time were cautious of what they said. 

How did the president of the most powerful catholic organization in the US handle himself?  Well, that's what made my blood boil. 

At one point, this man said other religions should follow the lead of the RCC and make them a model for how they should run their own organizations. 

WHAT!!!!

Did he mean cover up any wrongdoings, allow children to suffer horrible, unspeakable crimes at the hands of church employees, move around criminal offenders so they can have a fresh victims and then, when you get caught, go into CYA mode, blame others and support the man who's department reviewed each every case of abuse???

But it got worse.

And at the end, Donahue made the statement that most of the cases of abuse were not pedophilia but homosexuality.  The priests weren't committing a crime, they were engaging in homosexual acts.

Why?  Because most of the boys were post-pubescent!

When the man who was a victim asked Donahue to define post-pubescent by age Donahue said "12-13 years old". 

I almost went through the roof as I thought about my dear friend and what she had to endure.

Donahue was challenged by the victim and by Sinead and even by King but he didn't back down.  He vehemently defended his statement saying this was simply an act of homosexuality and even went so far as to infer the children were willing participants.

Yes, the president of the powerful Catholic League of America, the man the catholics voted in as president, claims there was no crime when the RCC priests molested 12-13 year old boys because they were post-pubescent!!! 

I can see the next headline: "Pope says those little perverts corrupted his innocent priests".  Story at 10.

[Sandy]

The hypocritical nature of the RCC and the pope by saying that being gay is a mortal sin and abhorrent to God and then defending pedophilia AND forced homosexuality by priests is especially galling.  Then to say that it wasn't pedophilia, but simply homosexuality!  Even if that was the case, shouldn't the church defrock those priests as well?  I am appalled.

I am a very spiritual person, but I have little faith in dogmatic religions by nature especially when they cannot be consistent in their beliefs and teachings.

These priests should be defrocked, prosecuted and jailed just as any "normal" citizen.  These perverts do not deserve any protection of any kind.

And if I were to believe in an actual anti-christ in the flesh as described by the bible it would be the pontif himself for his continued encouragement of such actions by his complete disregard for the plight of these defenseless children!

The previous pope (who in my mind was one of the most thoughtful and kind people) was outraged when these issues came to his attention and took as much action as possible to correct the situation and make sure that the faithful could fell safe in the church.

I would think that the vast majority of people who have dedicated their lives to faith and service are all unnecessarily harmed by these terrible people.

My prayers go to those harmed and pray also for the light and love of that which passes all understanding guide all faithful to a better life.

-Sandy   

[Kaelin]

I myself am Agnostic, but my parents and sister are Catholics, and Bill Donahue doesn't call the shots for them.  He is a fringe element within Catholicism, and it would be unfair to judge Catholics or even the church by his attitude.  I doubt many of the pedophile priests (as horrific as their conduct has been) would have the audacity to blame their misconduct on gayness/homosexuality/whatever.

It's remarkable this person gets interviewed as a legitimate representative of Catholicism in some way.

[Stella Blue]

The Pope who is the top of the catholic church has done nothing to hold anyone accountable... in fact the higher ups of the catholic church are more interested in covering up for their fellow priests and don't really give a ->-bleeped-<- about the victims of molestation. This has been going on for ages though, they get away with it all the time it seems. The catholic church is a joke IMO, but I don't think highly of religion in general. Don't mean to offend any catholics here, I have family members that are catholic, people can believe what they want. But as George Carlin said "Keep thy religion to thyself," just as these priests should keep thy hands to thyself.

[tekla]

Actually, ignoring religion would have put all these people in real jobs centuries ago.

[Cindy]

Interesting perception. Pre-pubescent is pedophilia, post pubescent is homosexuality. Rape is Rape. If a person submits to rape it does not make the rape less than the crime that it is. As others know I submitted to rape in order to live. It was still a criminal act that should be prosecuted to the full force of the law. The argument itself is evil. That a person in authority can take a person who is responsible to them in ANY act and say I had their permission is stupid. So any 'boss' can now call in his/her secretary and tell them they want sex or they will lose their job is not guilty of rape?

I would say only in America, but sadly it is not true, the Irish priesthood is also now, as far as I follow, in the newsfor justifying pedophilia.
I went to a Christian Brothers school so of course I know nothing about it particularly as I was a very girly boy so I was totally ignored and helped with my GID (sarcasm meant). Usually in an office where I was sent for being naughty and requiring discipline.

Cindy

[Autumn]

It's funny that all the internet humor about Pope Hitler being, well, Pope Hitler, more or less was wholly justified after all.

[Miniar]

... I can't really comment on this, ever, because I just want to let out a stream of profanity, so this comment here is all you'll get and I think it explains how my silence speaks volumes...

[samanta]

just as evil as the act itself is the other priests who know a lot but turn the other way. They should read the bible about karma, and learn that they are also a cause of misdoings by not speaking out.