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Esther Millar, 54, talks about her abuser, while holding pictures of Vicki and Mary, who she says were victims of sexual abuse by a priest in the Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Millar was part of a news conference urging others with information about alleged abuse to come forward, held at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles on Feb. 1.
Amid continuing anger over the poor handling of sexual abuse cases by Catholic Church officials over several decades — and still deeply in the red from settlements with victims — the Archdiocese of Los Angeles is considering the launch of a massive fundraising campaign, according to the website of a Catholic fundraising organization.
The non-profit Guidance in Giving lists the Los Angeles-area Catholic Church among its "diocesan accounts" and says it is exploring a campaign to raise $200 million for the diocese to meet "a variety of needs," including "priests' retirement, seminarian education, Catholic schools, Catholic Charities and parish needs."
The archdiocese did not respond to NBC queries in time for publication, but a church spokesman acknowledged the possible campaign to the Los Angeles Times, which first reported it.
In 2007, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles agreed to a $660 million settlement with 562 victims of abuse by priests and other church personnel. According to the Times, financial reports show that the church remains $80 million in debt.
The effort to shore up church finances is the initiative of Los Angeles Archbishop Jose Gomez, who was installed in 2011, and now seems keen to move the church away from its tarnished past.
On Jan. 31, Gomez presided over the release of thousands of pages of priest personnel files that had been the subject of a legal tussle for six years. The 12,000 pages, made accessible through the archdiocese web site, reveal many communications among officials who appear to be concealing allegations of the priests' sexual abuses from police.
The court ordered the documents be released in 2007 as part of the settlement, but the church lawyers fought to redact many of the names in the documents until earlier this month, when a judge ruled against them.
In a letter written by Gomez to congregants and read in many services on Sunday, the archbishop described the files as "brutal and painful reading," and went on to rebuke his predecessors for failing to protect the children from adult predators. He announced removal of his predecessor, Cardinal Roger M. Mahony, from administrative and public duties and said a high-ranking bishop, Thomas J. Curry, had been dismissed from his role as regional bishop of Santa Barbara.
"I cannot undo the failings of the past that we find in these pages," Gomez said in his letter.
"To every Catholic in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, I want you to know: We will continue, as we have for many years now, to immediately report every credible allegation of abuse to law enforcement authorities and to remove those credibly accused from ministry."
In the introduction to the files, the archdiocese website says that the release "concludes a sad and shameful chapter" in the history of the archdiocese.
But critics of the church may not let the matter rest.
Just a few days after the documents were made public, The New York Times reported on watchdog allegations that many names in the files that should have been made public were redacted, and that parts of the personnel files were missing.
According to the Times, lawyers for the abuse victims say they may file a motion next week to compel the church to release what they believe are missing or are erroneously redacted documents.
The Los Angeles Archdiocese is the largest in the United States, comprising Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, with an estimated 4.6 million members.
Related:
Los Angeles Catholic officials shielded pedophile priests, report
L.A. police pore over 12,000 pages of priest abuse records for leads
Pedophile victims urge renewed probe Los Angeles Catholic leaders
Leave a Comment:
For years the Catholic church covered this up and protected these monsters! They have no one to blame for this but themselves glad it's blowing up in there face's. May be you should look at cutting retirement pension's, schools, programs, and sell church property. I hope no one lifts a finger to bail them out let them collapse from within.
So true, they'll cover up and protect these monsters while not allowing same sex marriage or even birth control....so sad.
Retirement funds for priests? I would like to donate one 9mm bullet for each priest, that is all they deserve. Rapist pigs.
They want the "flock" to send them money because they are going broke. Maybe the "flock" should look at why they are broke. They have raped so many people, they cannot afford to pay damages and continue their church. Looks to be some commercial real estate available in LA soon, cheap. Anyone who donates to save that church may as well be an accessory to rape.
kind of like penn state. Cory1980 ---remind me to pee on your grave.
jolly joker
Let me guess, God told you to type that...
Cardinal Roger M. Mahony not only protected and hid pedophiles posing as priests, but is and has been a hard core proponent of illegal immigration. WTF is it with these A-HOLES? The ANTI CHRIST in a robe - FU
Mahony!
It has been shown to be unhealthy both mentally and physically to attempt to live a celibate life. The Church imposes this lifestyle on its priests and nuns over a perception that Jesus lived that sort of lifestyle and because of that misconception that his mother, Mary, was a virgin when she gave birth to him. It's that term, "virgin birth" that gives them that idea. In the area where Jesus was born, it meant a woman's first child, not that she was a virgin. But it's like any term brought from another part of the world that can be misunderstood, like subways in England being called the underground, we might think they're talking about some uprising or something. Priests used to be allowed to marry, maybe if they could have a normal married and sexual life we might not see so many of them abusing children as a way to release their pent up sexual tensions.
As far as paying this bill, I understand there are billions of dollars worth of treasures brought back from the Crusades hidden underneath the Vatican and spread around throughout the world at various churches.
Why does the Catholic Church need to raise money? It is the largest landowner in the world. It has so much money that the Vatican has its own bank. Why don't they use some of their money for good instead of hoarding it?
Quoting the story:
No, let the evil monsters who perpetuated these criminal acts, and the other monsters who protected them and who facilitated the continuation of these abominations (by moving them around from parish to parish to parish rather than reporting their crimes to law enforcement authorities)
"retire"rot in state and federal prisons for the rest of their 'unnatural' lives!!By all means, go ahead and have your fundraiser, and raise $200 million. But every penny of that money and more should be paid to the innocent victims of these wolves in sheep's frocks & vestments, who preyed on innocent children in the name of God!
It's long past time for the Roman Catholic Church to open the Vatican Bank vaults, and to start selling off some of the BILLION$$$$$$ in art works and treasures it holds, to begin making real recompense for the decades of horrific abuse wrought by "priests" of the Church.
who ever gives 1 penny to these pedophiles is stupid ! Why should the people pay these perversion of religion for bad behaviour !
The catholic church is looking for a bailout from its parishoners.
Dont do the crime, if you cant spare the dime !
Never fear; the faithful will foot the bill for the Church's DEMONSTRATED misdeeds.
How unconscionable that the Catholic church would first harbor known pedophiles (yes they DID!), and then ask the faithful to please pay the damages.
Does anybody still believe that religious organizations are the bastions of morality that they pretend to be?
"removal of his predecessor, Cardinal Roger M. Mahony, from administrative and public duties and said a high-ranking bishop, Thomas J. Curry, had been dismissed from his role as regional bishop of Santa Barbara."
Oh really, so we pull the closet door open and they try to slam it back shut, we pull harder and drag out the old boy holding his wrinkled little P*ck*r in one hand and a little kid in the other. ONLY THEN do they decide to come forward and say they are going to do something about it.
It's all about money over live, and they dare call themselves christians, the bastards should be given over to me.
This is beyond the pale DISGUSTING! Starting 200 million fundraiser for the church that helped cover up sexual abuse for YEARS, and for their priests? ARE YOU KIDDING MEH?!?!?
Is that ALL the catholic church cares about? Covering their ass and having enough money to retire? They should be so lucky they aren't all in jail right now en masse.
Why is it that a jewish rabbi gets sentenced to 103 freaking YEARS for raping a little girl (recent news a few weeks ago) yet these catholic priests get to not only walk free but start a fundraiser to cover their retirement?
Anyone that contributes to this fundraiser is contributing to the sexual abuse of children and its rampant cover ups.
This just blows my mind...How can anyone stand on the side of the Church's yes all of them. They are as corrupt as it gets. Hold every ones feet to the fire under the name of God then get as much money as they can to fund the upper half.
I watched the SDA drain my grandparents....All in the name of God...It was sickening. The church promised to take care of them when they got old and where unable to take care of themselves......They (SDA) lied...all they wanted was the money and property. Thankfully I was able to expose them before they took everything, and got the proper help for both of my grandparents.
I have very little trust in large organized religions....Let the church start selling off some of it's holdings to pay for what has been done....Or maybe they can appeal to god for a loan. I hear the Pope might have a stash they can ask for.
One - not all priests , bishops or church officials are monsters anymore than every teacher, coach, protestant youth minister etc is a predator. ALL groups are made up of people some good, some great and some just pure evil. The Catholic church is huge- has deep pockets and has a centralized governing body- something that most independent or protestant churches do not. No one to sue for big money - so you dont see the headlines nationalized.... unfortunately that kind of publicity does not come from the evil done against innocent children but from big money lawsuits. That said the Catholic church does a lot of good and supports alot of children in need through school and charitable programs- should more childrrn suffer ? I hope past abuses - some decades ago do not keep people from seeing the good being done by the many priests, nuns , teachers and congregants that are the body of the church. People that do good everyday, reach out and try to help and who ARE doing GOd's work.
Maybe it's tome to shut down and go in to another business, because that's all church and religion is, a business selling a bs product and robbing the sheeple.
IMO, any church that has been found guilty of any crime, and as in this case child molesting; they all should be shut down and the people involved should be doing time behind bars.
Why the hell do stupid people keep taking their kids to these places and then hand them over to strangers that speak, preach and teach nothing more than bs.
Save your money for your future, save your kids from these purvs, and if you want to believe in the invisible man in the sky, do it at home. It's cheaper and safer than wasting time on all these religious organizations and purvs that feed off the stupid sheeple.
@thekhanKubla: In fact the rules for celibacy came from Paul who was historically a homosexual. His guilt over his homosexuality is the basis for the celibacy and pedophila (not to imply that all gays are pedophiles) of priests. The whole of Jesus' teachings are corrupted by the churches, Catholic and the rest.
Virginia66
Funny the same thing can be said for LGBT community...but yet we are looked at as evil, & deviants of society, and placed in the same category as these sick child molesters. Forgive me for bringing the Gay thing into this but it has to be said.
We oppose anyone that would bring harm to any child in any manor. I personally would fight to the death if necessary to protect a child from harm. I also know that my Gay brothers and sisters would do the same when it comes to the welfare of a child.
With that being said we need to identify those that would harm our children and lock them up where they can not do any harm.
No amount of money will ever undue what has been done. It is also unforgivable.
the church dwindles. all that power is fading away.
The only thing that may save the CC is to bring it's antiquated, male hierarchy out of the dark ages and into the 21st century.. I cannot see this happening! So terrified of women and women's equality, the old men that run this crumbling institution will NEVER give up it's old male-dominated rituals, traditions and secrets! It's like some old, ancient, smelly men's club that refuses to recognize no one wants to join anymore because they are so far behind the times..
One thing though, if they are really so hard up for money why don't they just open up those enormous vaults beneath the Vatican and sell off some of the stolen and looted artifacts they've accumulated throughout the centuries? Oh, of course, they ARE looted and STOLEN artifacts, I guess that might be the reason they don't put them up for auction on eBay! I suspect there are a lot of countries out there that would LOVE to get back their stolen property!
While I agree that the top levels of the church made deplorable choices, let's try to be clear... it was not ALL of the Preists, it was a select few individuals.
So outside those individuals who made the conscience choice to cover it up, and especially those that did the ugly deeds should be made to pay, without a doubt. Those that have lived innocent of either one, why should they be made to suffer?
Your neighbor get's caught doing something bad, should you be punished just because you live close? Your co-worker get's caught stealing... should you be fired as well, just because you might steal, too?
Then realize the real people that are losing out, the churches provide food, shelter, clothing and other assistance to needy people... doubt any of you are going to open your homes to the poor to compensate.
Just to be clear, in comparison, there was one bad priest or church staff per every 1,000 staff members for the churches in the USA during that time.
@ Steve, odd, considering they have found a huge connection between the sexual abuse of males and their sexual orientation, especially finding a direct connection between exposure to homosexual behavior prior to puberty.
So, if you accusation is correct, then the LGBT community would be battling other homosexuals. You do understand these were boys, molested by men.. right?
My question, why hasn't the LGBT spoken out against the "group" of pediphiles? Why do they not promote safe guards to shield children from children? Oh wait, that would be sexually biased...
Double edged sword...
Steve
Well said. It does not matter what you actually do in life, just as long as you do not impede the progress of anyone else. For those of us that at slower, I will explain. Murder, rape, kidnapping, molestation both physically and mentally, extortion, etc., are forms of actions that IMPEDE someone chances of moving forward. Sexual orientation, religion, culture, race, and financial standings are not issues that effect anyone else's live's directly. Not until they are forced apon another. If we can eliminate the latter, we can all move forward in succession. I wish the best of every other human in this world, and will do my part to see to that. If hatred is eliminated, the world heals. (Some of the people here say some crazy stuff, as do I, but we should not hate each other because of it.). Talk is cheap, actions mean everything...
ljstauth
Open your eyes and smell the bs. It was the purvs that molested these kids, and all others that helped cover it up. They all should be shut down and anyone that participated in covering up these crimes, including the fukking pope, they all should be behind bars, or stoned to death according to their own religion and religious beliefs.
I have zero sympathy for these mudder-fudders that uses church, god, religion, and their bible to get their hands on little kids in order to molest them.
Shut them down, lock them up and throw away the freaking keys.
Cory, but you overlooked the most simple of things... how many boys are being molested by women? I do not recall a single nun being listed as a perpatrator...
The Priest, obviously having homosexual or bi-sexual desires have been proven to force theirselves on boys.
Also, not many "girls" in the list of victims either... all boys..
And just for the record, I don't hate anyone, but I sure as heck do Hate the choices they make, even worst, they justify those choices with rationalization and then compound the problem further with diatrib and fiction.
Laffy.. agree 100%.. everyone that has been proven to be a part of it.. But don't fool yourself. Non-church staff do it all the time, under the guise of more deceitful tactics.
In fact, it has been well published fact that the majority of sexual predators assault individuals they know, in other words, using what ever means to make it happen.
As for the church and the rest... you might want to actually check the court records before you assume they used their positions.
Besdies, how is that any differnt than a teacher that uses their position of authority, grade, PTA to get away with it?
I am 1000% against their activity, but seriously... the point is, NOT EVERYONE WAS INVOLVED!! Not every Priest, no Nuns accused... it's all a matter of court record, so check for yourself, then check for the number of clerics in just the State of California. People who had nothing to do with it... be made to suffer for others bad choices...
I'm not giving a cent to anyone who would cover up what these monsters have done, and in some cases are still doing. They are so worried about their reputation that they soil it more by protecting these low life scum. Never mind the moral and humanitarian implications. Then there is the fact that they will all burn in hell for not only not preventing these tragedies when they could, but going so far as to help cover them up. They can't even seem to follow the religion they claim to preach.
Oh c'mon people! Even pedophile priests deserve a comfy retirement after all their hard, pious work; plus the church needs to cover the cost of recruiting new pedophiles to replace the retired ones. Maybe they should start a college football team and get Sandusky to coach it from prison. There's big money in pedophile approved football programs as Penn State demonstrated!
Ljstauth
I feel no differently about a public school teacher, guidance counsellor, etc. but as a whole, the Catholic Church is a repeat offender. (Funny how spell check capitalized "Catholic Church," but did not capitalize the word "but" at the beginning of my sentence.). It is not about which gender is molested, but rather the molestation itself. I have homosexual people in my family, in my group of friends, in my workplace. THEY DO NOT RAPE CHILDREN. Catholic priests do, look it up.
lj -
Your "neighbor" analogy does not apply, even remotely.
This would be closer to, say, Enron, where the illegal and immoral actions of the leadership robbed all of the company employees of their savings, retirement, and jobs.
No one bailed them out.
Instead of panhandling members for the costs of abuse, it seems to me it would show a lot more contrition to dip into the monumental coffers of the Vatican to pay for this. Perhaps sell a few of the paintings and artifacts, or liquidate some real estate holdings.
The point people are trying to make is that, as an institution, the Catholic Church has not felt any financial penalty for their behavior, and most people feel this should be part of the punishment. If courts fine the Church millions to endemnify the victims, it does not feel right that this should be demanded from parishioners who, in good faith supported the hierarchy.
It is kind of like sending donations to Jim Baker for his legal fees after he was caught swindling donors.
Have them ask the Vatican for it. They're rolling in it.
I just can't let that comment by Eddie the Lip go without comment. Their may be some that speculate what Paul's spiritual struggles were about, but there is no evidence whatsoever to suggest he was homosexual. In fact, he directly spoke out against homosexuality many times and very bluntly and specifically in Romans 1:26-28. Paul was married. His wife died. The Church in those days believed the 2nd coming of Christ was imminent. Paul thought it was that it would be better not remarrying, but to devote all his time to preaching the Gospel before the return of Christ. That makes him gay? The decision for Priests to be celibate was not scriptural in nature, it was a financial decision that happened within the Church a 1000 years ago. Too expensive for the Church to support a priest AND his family. As far as acting out in a homosexual relationship is concerned, it is a sin just the same as fornication and adultery. Fortunately, Christ atoned for all sinners. We can be partakers of His gift and receive forgiveness or we can spend the rest of our live justifying our sins. I choose to seek forgiveness and continue to try to live as he would have me.
Maybe they can raffle off an altar boy.
Time for this organized criminal pedophilia conspiracy to lose their tax exempt status and go out of business.
Well if the Catholic church is looking for a bailout to cover outrageously bad, even unlawful behavior, they can forget it! I already gave (involuntarily) to Wall Street and banks for doing the same thing!
The Catholic Church outlawed marriage because, at the time, mostly second or third sons of rich men, were joining the Priesthood. They inherited from their family, and they left their inheritance to their FAMILIES, not the church. Wanna guess what the churches motivations were to outlaw marriage for Priest...?
If you say, PROFIT, ding ding ding...you'd be right. It had nothing, what so ever, to do with homosexuality.
The sheep will continue to provide their hard-earned cash to the Catholics because, well, they're sheep. Why do you think priests refer to them as 'the flock?' Maybe they can have a bake sale to scrape up a few bucks while the Vatican bubble wraps it's $700,000 nativity scene.
Personally, I hope they go bankrupt.
But it's not your ph*k*n money Jim G. so stop thinking on behalf of anyone but yourself!!
Sorry jerry - but Jim is more than allowed to hope they go bankrupt. I lived in Boston while Cardinal Barnard Law should have been incarcerated for life, not only because of the transgressions under his See, but because he was responsible for them. Instead, he gets a cushy promotion to hide in the Vatican for the remainder of his sleazy, scummy life. And guess who paid for his re-location and those of all the priests who played musical pedophilia.
It was my great concern. I have not given 1 cent since that time and I assumed most of the flock would have realized who the Shepherd was! Remember in grammar school when we were told these men were "chosen by God for their vocation"? WHO ARE YOU KIDDING BUT YOURSELF?
With all the politically correct love your local queer preaching on NBCNEWS and other liberal networking . . . I am surprised they are not raising funds for the fagets instead of further exposing the harm they have caused. Or should I say allegedly caused . . . because I think the parents had a lot to do with allowing this behavior to continue knowing it was going on and refusing the believe it!
Probably runnin' low on baby oil
@Jim, so what is the difference between giving money to the church versus the government? Oh yeah.. the church can actually prove where they spend the money.
Seems to me, the only bah'ing is coming from the extreme left side of the room...
Jim, I don't think they will 'go quietly into that good night'..
It IS power they are losing, steadily.. As I stated above the CC is so outdated, so far removed from the real issues of today's world that, while old members still remain, they are not getting the children of those who are already Catholic to remain.. Young girls, in particular, have seen the writing on the Churches 'walls' and they see nothing there for them.. The CC has long turned it's back on woman and now woman are turning their back on it and I say, it's about damn time!
Jerry and ljstauth: Since they enjoy tax-free status in this country - it pretty much DOES give us the right to have an opinion regarding $$
Jerry -if you were capable of thinking for yourself:
A. You wouldn't be a Catholic. (I used to be, then I actually started using my brain.)
B. You'd realize that saying, "Personally, I hope they go bankrupt" is not an attempt to think for anyone else.
But hey, if you want to contribute to the Keep 'Catholic Pedophiles Out Of Jail Fund,' have at it.
These pervy Catholic priests....second only to public school teachers in child molestation, that's for sure!
No Chesty. I think the Priests got the teachers beat. It is funny that the only way " The Church" does anything is when the victims get to take them to court and financially drain the Catholic Church of it's money. This still goes on today. The Church is in real trouble. It can't get new priests and cannot afford to keep the monsters that prey on young children. Any person that hides these molesters need to be locked up with the abusers. It is called obstruction of justice.You will have folks that will give their money to this cause. What a waste.
@Shiloh.. obviously you don't pay much attention. Church just transfered them around, the school let them go and buried what happened.
As for lawsuits, schools are immune, they play dumb, fire the teachers than recommend them for other positions with a different school, and then completely hide any correlation...
As for numbers, sorry.. but teachers related is getting reported, new one's all the time. The ordeal with the Catholic Church was 1980's. And there have no been any new reports...
Though I know many of the Liberals around here would love the church to fail, maybe people should really pay attention to what they do, and whom they help...
For instance, the churches around the country typically arrive 3 times faster than government assistance, in disasters. They typically provide the key support of families facing crisis and they work primarily to help the needy poor, the very same people you would likely never invite in your home, yet they feed and clothe them daily...
sorry lj - catholic church won't fail - too much money coming from their deluded attendees.
IJS I do pay attention. Suing the Church is new. There is no way that there are no more reports or victims of the abuse that these monsters. If you believe that I have a bridge to sell you. I am not a Lib. I feel for the believers that go for the message not the politics. I have no use for the Catholic Church in how they have and will handle abusers. They have moved them for years. It was not until the Boston Archdiocese was sued that other victims came forward.
(AAP) The Vatican’s new chief prosecutor against clerical child abuse says his office is receiving around 600 new cases a year.
Are you protecting them? " Me thinks the ( IJSTAUTH) doth protest to much"
Sad part is some members of the L.A. 'Flock' will donate money to the Archdiocese to help pay off 'Father O'Malley's Pat & Chat'.
As a earlier poster said I hope they go bankrupt!
Would you rather the victims be unpaid?
id rather the church sell some of the gold it has to pay the victims
Zupercram, that money would not go toward the victim, it would actually make it harder for the victim to get justice as it would serve to defends that pedophile protecting association.
travaler - They have been paid. That's why the Church is broke. No need to sell the "gold" you speak of.
This article is about the internal accounting of the Church after the victims have been paid. It's hardly national news. It really just exposes that the editors of MSNBC have an ax to grind with the Catholic Church.
Jo-3665773 - Please come to realize that the victims have been paid millions by the Church, often with little requirement for verification of the claims.
I've been to Rome twice..Why don't they sell some their jewels and paintings..
I've been to Wahsington DC 4 times. Why don't they sell their paper money which they've overdrafted?
because the US gummint is a gummint, the catholic church is a collection of deluded believers?
Actually it's about believers of truth. If we're deluded, then why do those same idiots who oppose also support deluded garbage like same-sex marriage and baby-killing?
Way to change the subject there tom.
A fundraiser for a Catholic affiliated organization?
Why would anyone give money to anything connected to the Catholic Church, especially for this?
People need to be putting this note in the collection plate.
"Take my donation out of the Pope's savings account"
You shouldn't use "Grappling" and "Sex" in the same sentence. LOL
The church seems to be rotten.But not the people.Likewise our govt,but not the people.This will pass.The church will evolve,or surely die.You can thank western society,based on christianity, for your freedom to bitch and want to throw the baby out with the bathwater
Christianity is western society. All these haters would be in the muslum brotherhood porking little boys and beating their wives in the name of allah the hater otherwise. They don't get that part. It don't make this situation right, but neither does hatred. They gotta clean up the joint, just like penn state does
@ jolly - WHAT?! What are you saying? If pedophiles weren't hiding the in Catholic church they would be hiding in some other religion? So the Catholic church shouldn't be held responsible? I think people are angry because 1) children were injured and 2) the Catholic church was protecting their abusers.
remove religions tax exemption
traveler, it won't happen. Without its status, our country would fall by tomorrow night.
jollyjoker, the hatred is coming from yourself. Christianity built our nation. You now condemning the very entity that made it.
Adele, would your mother be responsible if you committed a crime? Stop painting the Catholic church with the same brush.
utter BULLS HIT - the status of churches is because for some strange unexplainable reason, people seem to think that mental DELUSION is admirable. As to christianity building this nation - sure - tell that to the original inhabitants...
and exactly who are the original inhabitants?
Have you heard tom, of the Native Americans? Or did you think no one lived here before Columbus and his merry crew of syphilis infected pirates arrived?
Oh really? What is your race? If you're white, then you don't belong here either. First you attack the priests now you're attacking white people for bringing diseases here. Always double-faced, aren't you.
Actually tom the mother would be guilty of a crime if she actively covered up your crime. Just like the catholic church did with the priests. Way to go with the comparison.
But hey, keep your head in the sand.
tomthewiser
traveler, it won't happen. Without its status, our country would fall by tomorrow night.
Wow tom not much faith in our country
The Catholic Church - The Best Run Ponzi Scheme in The World! Tax Them and the rest of the Churches!
ponzi schemes are when the original investors are paid out of funds derived from fleecing new members. What product is the catholic church pushing? (oh, and I'm in favor of taxing the church - every single one of the bustards)
To Bill and Petpig, they cannot access Vatican funds because each diocese is an entity unto itself, something I strongly disagree with. If it were not so, the Vatican would be liable for suit, which in fact it should be. That individual dioceses are on their own speaks to the fact that the Vatican is scared spitless that they could end up holding the bag for all the abuse THEIR priests have wreaked against countless children. Of course individual dioceses answer to Rome for everything! Why then does Rome not take responsibility?
"Why then does Rome not take responsibility?"
Ooo Ooo! I know this one!
Because they are soulless whores?
Maybe pet pig, you should go live with the arabs. They can cut your christian little ball s off and feed them to allah the dog for dinner.
JJ,
You seem angry...
Maybe if you stop slapping yourself in the head with your ass your out look will improve.
;)
jolly joker
So you have made it clear that whatever the popular religion is, that is what you are going to go with. You are the very definition of a sheep. Let me tell you something, no one is ever going to tell me what I must believe in. You may live in fear of "arabs" coming to the western world and chopping off your testicles(if you actually have any) but many of us do not. There is life without religion, and it is a great one. I don't judge people based on their religion, just their rap sheets(or in the catholic church's case, RAPE sheets.)
That's what Judas said and everyone else who died a manic depressive.
So jolly, the old argument that it's ok because someone else is worse.
With that kind of reasoning, or lack of reasoning, you can justify anything. And I do mean anything.
That is very enlightening, Boom. So, they have parsed up the Catholic Church just like any other for-profit corporation, with branches in strategic locations so they can limit liability.
Of course, if they were to choose to act ethically (what a concept!), Rome would pay.
Most of my Catholic friends are far more upset about the financial burden being placed on the church than they are about the pedophiles or the cover up.
And, of course, many of them delude themselves into believing it is homosexuals that are abusers, in spite of all the studies and evidence to the contrary.
Pedophilia is like rape, it is about power, not sex.
They can sell Our Lady of the Angels Cathedral and property in Malibu...what a joke..a fundraiser
Wow ok so now they want donations from people, some that may have even been abused and still worship in these churches so they can continue to make sure even the abusers and priests who covered it up get to relax and retire. I can't believe the gall of this cult and I mean cult, when they have control over peoples minds to their own devious desires then they are a cult. I don't believe for a minute they are now telling of abuse if it occurs there is no way they have all the monsters accounted for, not with an organization this big. They have mysteriously misplaced some files? Yeah right they are a dying church and anyone that reads their bible know why. There are seven churches described in Revelation and the Catholic Church seems to fit one to a T and it's not one of the good ones.
gramgigi - Atheists and Satanists revel in delight when Christians attack each other. Are you so happy to be their darling tonight?
@zuper ~ perhaps the Catholic church is not behaving in a Christian manner when it protects the abusers of little children. I'm not a Christian, a Catholic, an athieist or a satinist; just an observer of the facts.
zupercram,
A little ploy to stop criticism of the RCC?
what difference does it make zup - religion is a SHAM - THE OPIUM OF THE MASSES. mental masturbation for idiots
To all, the Catholic Church does deserve criticism. No doubt. Though, the original comment was intended to re-focus gramgigi's attention and other Christians' attention toward the unification of Christianity.
If other Christians/religions/non-religious organizations (of significant size) believe their house is clean of such matters, you're only setting yourself up for the terrible lesson that the Catholic Church has learned--at the expense of innocent children.
You have to love it when the richest organization in the world is begging for donations from the poor to pay off the victims of their pedophile employees. This is one religion which needs to have its tax exempt status removed as punishment for its sins.
OMG! You are kidding me. Sell some property. Sell off some assets. The Catholic Church has been amassing so much property since the Roman Empire and they want to fund raise to pay of sex abuse victims of their pedophile priests??? Give me a break.
Catholics should send a little note to his Excellency Archbishop Gomez, telling him how much money they will give to a worthy charity instead of the Catholic fund to get the Los Angeles Archdiocese out of debt.
The hierarchy got themselves into the debt, they should get themselves out of it.
The extent of these crimes is staggering. It's a worldwide phenomenon. I believe the Vatican was behind this whole coverup. It's too extensive. There is no way all these parishes and dioceses across the globe came up with this idea of moving pedophiles around independently of each other.
The old male leadership of the entire RC church needs to resign, from the Pope on down.
Jesus isn't affiliated with any denominations or religions. He didn't come to bring peace, but a sword.
We need to start holding the vatican responsible for these incidents.
The Church is a TAX FREE business and they have in LA decided to support and defend Illegal invaders while helping these same invaders learn how to get all kinds of government programs...all which raise's all our taxes and breaks the US laws and my faith in this relgion of there's....so I'm not giving these guys a dime and hope they really do go broke after Centuries of amassing wealth and land!
So no tears for the church just anger for allowing the church to destroy all those innocent lives !
Catholicism should be banned!
In the 13th Century , the Pope made the choice to not allow priests to marry because they found them committing adultry.
Wow this really came to bite them in the ASSETS !
The Word Of GOD Speaks and says specifically for the Church not to deny marriage of the priests or to call any clergy Father yet, they violate Gods Word to Seek their own wisdom. Now it's Same Sex Marriage Creeping in ........... The Back Doors of the priests lives.
You'll never get it right unless you make Christ The Head and not a Pope !
When Jesus was speaking to Peter when Jesus said, "Upon This Rock I will build My church ", Jesus was not speaking of Peter but, of Himself - The Christ !
First off, one needs to understand where salvation comes from and that is Only Christ and No Other - Not Mary or any other Dead Patron of the Faith- ONLY THROUGH THE BLOOD OF CHRIST !
Call upon The Name of Jesus and Ye shall be Saved !
@ lucky ~ you do understand that a lot of very nice people do not agree with you ~ that not everyone believes that the bible is the word of God or that Jesus is the son of God. And you do understand that unlike you, they are not telling everyone else in the world that they are not entilted to their beliefs.
Ok, so you've learned to disgorge the pious prattle; however, it's still barking-mad. Religious faith is a vice, not a virtue.
Lucky
Just called, all I heard was " I'm sorry, the person you are trying to reach is unavailable, or has traveled outside of the coverage area. Please hang up and try again." Saved from what exactly. Certainly not rape...
luckyboy --- Do you follow an organized religion? If you do, betcha a Homo sapien is the head of such church, with or without a certain amount of guidance from the congregation.
The pope is not the head. He only represents the head.
yeahus bruthuh - contribute so that the sham of religion may be forever etched upon the memory of a bunch of fuc king IDIOTS... giumme a amen....
I think you're the screwed up idiot. You're a hateful delude yourself.
What do you guys think of this?
a campaign to raise $200 million for the diocese to meet "a variety of needs," including "priests' retirement, seminarian education, Catholic schools, Catholic Charities and parish needs."
Hey, drop the costs of molesting priests and their BOSSES and you may meet your needs....
Throw Mahoney and cronies out on streets....
Better yet, throw them in prison.
A fundraiser? Good Lord. "Please help us with an extra financial contribution to help pay for the defense of our child-raping priests." Uhh, sure, right away...