Since when does money offset sin?
 

Seems like the Catholic priesthood has been a heaven for drunken pedophiles. So, 660 million is gonna fix all that?

No, but some lawyers got rich.

Never underestimate the danger of stupid, highly-motivated people in large groups.

Help me with this part: Why does the LA archdiocese have $660M ?

What? You never heard of Papal Indulgences?

See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indulgence
in particular the section entitled "Controversy"

Here's where you can get them: http://www.getforgiven.com/index.php
http://66.221.113.105/~eppie/sin.cgi

Now go forth and sin no more. Well, at least not very much.

Just another example of the hypocrite organized religous wackos I can't stand. How anybody can go to a church and worship with leaders like this just floors me. And they think all is good and will be forgiven by cutting a check.

I have done jobs for many church's and you would be shocked at the money they make. They buy and flip land better than any broker. Some are shrewd, demanding, and conniving.

L. Ron Hubbard was the smartest man EVER. He said if you want to be a millionaire, start a religion.

P.S. I'm currently selling white robes and kool aid in the St. Terrys gift shop.

Re: Since when does money offset sin?
 

Isn't money (or other material contribution) a pillar of any religion? Name one that doesn't have such a practice.

They are moaning about how they may have to reduce some of their activities. Ahhh, which activity, the one where they pass the plate around every meeting to collect MORE money? Remember folks, they are TAX FREE while they do this.

Have not been into organized religion in a long time, part of it for reasons shown on this thread. Am very religious but you do not have to be in a church to pray or be faithful.

Concur!

I am sure some pastors of mega-churches would disagree with you. ;)

What I don't understand is how Roger Mahoney can get away with this organized child molestation ring with no accountability. I think the FBI should arrest him and most of the Bishops who are aware of these activities. This is aiding and abetting and harboring felons. The BATF went after and murdered David Koresh for much less. How is this organization exempt from there actions and permitted to operate. The Archdiocese must have paid off Rocky Delgadillo the District Attorney and some politicians and high ranking police chiefs. My wife was telling me this is not exclusive to the LA Archdiocese, It is rampant across the country and world. Geez.

Since when does money offset sin?

Ask the plaintiffs and their lawyers--they seem pretty happy to negotiate a dollar price for violating their children! I wonder if the kids feel the same...

Ever hear of Colorado City, AZ? They'd be a far smaller, easier and more deserving target and the feds won't touch them with a 10' pole. They certainly ain't gonna go after a monolith like the Catholic Church.

Uh huh....getting a little wacko withthe conspiracy theories here but....

I DO agree that this whole pedophile scandal with priests has ben proven FAR too widespread to be dismissed by the Church as some sort of anomaly. It has (and SHOULD) caused everyone to question the moral authority of every priest and by way of how the church hierarchy "handled" it over the decades (centuries?) question the church's moral authority as well. Let's not forget that though we heard most about Catholic priests, non of the clergy has been exactly morally clean when it comes to various and assorted sex scandals.

Roger Mahoney was deeply involved in covering up the criminal actions of these men and no amount of money can cover that up whether anyone decides to go after him for prosecution or not. if he REMOTELY remembers what he believed when he became a priest he ought to be a lot more concerned about his everlasting soul than his azz here on Earth!

Re: Re: Since when does money offset sin?
 

Buddhism?

(I'm asking, not stating - I'm not sure, but if anyone doesn't ask for money, it'd be them)

True that. They do typically ask for donations of time in many cultures though (those monk guys in the orange robes). The more I learn of Buddhism, the more I like it. It seems the most selfless religion of all the large ones. May have something to do with it being relatively de-centralized too. Much more emphasis on spirituality than any of its western or middle-eastern counterparts, which seem obsessed with silly ritual and secular control.

Dan,

I agree with you. Well written!

It really makes me question the values of organized religion. I would think that Roger Mahoney would be far more concerned about the wrath of god than his position in the hierarchy of the archdiocese, if he is truly a man of god.

My theory on this scandal is this:

I think many pedophiles are attracted to the Catholic priesthood because you take a vow of celibacy. I think that many, who fear or carry guilt because of their attractions, feel that becoming a priest will MAKE them forsake their urges. I also think that many of them realize all too late that they spend a lot of time around children, and the temptation is far too great.

(For a similar theory, do a Google search on the relationship between pedophiles and Star Trek.)

So, there are a lot of pedophiles in the priesthood, and I don't think it is necessarily the Catholic Church's fault. What is the Church's fault is how they handled the situation once this became apparent.

Thank you Robert. I am a lifelong Catholic and I still feel this way. I actually feel very bad for the many, many fine men (and women) over the decades who devoted their lives to the Church with noble intent and sacrifice only to have their lives turned into a bad party joke by a relative few.

Right now, most people have the impression that there is a bit of pedophile in every priest. And why wouldn't they? I don't know how the Church could have let it come to this?

I speak with certainty that I could go without sex forever and I am NOT EVER going to be thinking about molesting children...perhaps one of the better looking nuns (kidding), but never a child.

As for the new, conservative Pope and his (to me well intended, but wrong headed) intent to return the Church to some of its earlier teachings? In this instance I think his conservative views ought to make him say the Church will not tolerate a SINGLE pedophile in its midst, not for a day. That they will receive moral counseling AND will be referred to local authorities for investigation and prosecution if deemed warranted. I think he also ought to say that if charges are proven the Church will excommunicate the offender as it cannot tolerate any further destruction of the Church's moral authority. I know some will have a quarrel with this as the Church ought to be about forgiveness, but the Church will cease to exist if this isn't dealt with harshly....as has NOT been done to date.