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AP
Cardinals attend a meeting, at the Vatican, Monday, March 4, 2013.
As Roman Catholic cardinals convene in Rome to elect a new pope, American Catholics say that the sex abuse scandal is the most important issue facing the church today, according to a new poll.
Thirty-four percent of Catholics in the United States chose sex abuse or pedophilia in a poll by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life that was released on Wednesday. The poll was conducted Feb. 28 through March 3. Benedict XVI, now pope emeritus, left the Vatican for the papal retreat of Castel Gandolfo last Thursday.
Nine percent of respondents said they thought the church suffered from low credibility, and seven percent said they felt the church was not modern enough, according to the Pew poll.
What wasn’t on the minds of Catholics? The abdication of the pontiff, a development unprecedented in modern times. Only one-in-twenty Catholics said they considered the lack of a pope among the most pressing issues facing the faith.
Asked what the Catholic Church’s most important contribution to society is, 27 percent of adherents said charitable works including service to the poor, sick, and needy, the Pew survey found. Eleven percent said that moral guidance is the church’s greatest contribution.
The specter of sex abuse has followed numerous cardinals to the Holy See. Cardinal Roger Mahony of Los Angeles will be among those electing the next pope, despite revelations of abuse under his watch. Recently revealed documents show that Mahony helped to conceal the activities of abuser priests, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Another cardinal, New York City Archbishop Timothy Dolan, was deposed shortly before leaving for the conclave in an ongoing case involving the archdiocese of Milwaukee, which Dolan used to head. Hundreds of people have claimed that they were molested by priests in the archdiocese.
A recent New York Times / CBS News poll also found that the sex abuse scandal was foremost in the mind of American Catholics, with seven out of 10 respondents saying that American Catholic church has done a poor job of handling the crisis. In that poll, a majority said that the way the church has dealt with the issue has caused them to question the Vatican’s authority, according to the New York Times.
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the NYT reports. Pls ppl ignore these polls and ignore the media in general.I've been following EWTN and their coverage. It's honest,unbaised and has in depth coverage. American Catholics have a lot of issues-this one has been dealt with and continues to be.Our biggest problem is American Catholics the media focuses on and they're not exactly the most faithful.Read these reports with a grain of salt if you must read them at all. I highly recommend ignoring them and watching the coverage on EWTN.Better to get analysis from knowledge and not this clap trap.
Oh sure! Like Catholic television is not going to be biased! OMG! Seriously? You believe that? Again OMG! and SMH!
I hope you were being sarcastic. EWTN is a Catholic news network. Trusting a Catholic news network to give an accurate and honest assessment of the church would be like trusting a car salesman to give you a fair and honest price for a car...
Hard to believe this after the huge smoke screen they put up about abortions and nothing about sex abuse. I guess its priorities.
Kinda like trusting a guy hanging on a cross about Christianity?
Next on EWTN: "The Vatican's funniest home videos, of young boys in wet shirts running through a sprinkler!".
See Boxerpaws is a pedophile and that is why he doesn't want us to read this. Hey gutless wonder give us your name, bet you on the sex offender list. Sick pathetic piece of shi!
Seriously? A CATHOLIC channel that would be unbiased about CATHOLICS?
Oh, sorry. I guess I missed that you pressed the sarcasm button. Mea Culpa!
"Eleven percent said that moral guidance is the church’s greatest contribution."
they contribute to moral guidance? HAH ! somebody has to re-write that pole.
They didn't say which morals. For all we know, that 11% is like, yes, I can have sex with a child and still go to heaven...and hence, their guidance.
I think that the biggest problem facing catholics is being catholic.
But I say that about most religions. :)
The biggest problem facing atheists is what does one wear in hell.
@william
That is where you show you are an EPIC FAIL. You just proved yourself to be a closed minded uneducated BIGOT (irony isn't it?). What makes you think that he is an atheist, just because he said "most" religions.
Listen up Pope felcher: there are other religions than your own. An most religions (except the Burka beaters) are not 200 years behind the times.
If you want to be taken seriously:
1) Read post
2) re-read post
3) if you don't understand post, go ask a 4th grader to read it for you.
4) understand the post.
5) if you can't understand the post, go ask a 4th grader to explain it to you.
6) write a draft of your post.
7) maybe get a 4th grader to write post?
OOPS! never mind about the 4th grader, we know what happens to them when surrounded by Pope felchers...
@William Travis
A threat? classy.
So william, you actually believe that YOU are special and will get better treatment in heaven because you are Catholic? ppffftttt.....yeah, dream on.
Thank you to those Catholics reading these comments who are choosing to remain silent. Too often, right here on these boards, I've seen Catholics try to defend the indefensible in backhanded ways such as: child rape is found in many organizations or gay teenagers consented to the priest's advances.
I know there are well intentioned Catholics who read these horrible defenses and silenty wish better for their membership.
You know who you are and while I am not a person of faith, I do applaud you for remaining prayerfully silent. make no mistake, while I applaud your silence, I do not applaud any silence by your actions in your own Church. You must be the change you want to see, you must be the voice for those raped kids. If you won't, who will? We know the answer. Nobody.
Very well said. And thank you, in turn, for not taking the opportunity to espouse the militant anti-religious views that many non-believers set such stock in. I have my own beliefs (which I keep to myself), and I respect your decision to not be a person of faith. Since the existence of God can neither be proved nor disproved, those who say God does not exist (and I do not include you in this group, since you have not made the claim) are taking as much on faith as those who believe.
The existence of god may not be able to be disproved,[you can't prove a negative] but it ABSOLUTELY CAN be proved, quite easily, in fact. "God" can prove it exists anytime it wants to.
denver bill,
Militant anti-religious views? What would that be? Like keeping Creationism out of science class? Keeping faith-bias out of American Law? Be concerned that children are being taught by teachers that demons haunt the world? Object to the Catholic Church's agreement with the Ugandan Christian Council that gays can be killed? Is it militant to object strongly to the claim that AIDS is bad but Trojans are worse?
Being angry at child rape covered up by faith organizations is militant?
Call me militant then. I call such views civilized and moral. I would seriously look at the sources you depend on to help form your worldview. Are you a freethinker? Doesn't sound like it.
As far as the existence of gods, there is NO evidence for any of the claims attributed to gods or the supernatural. And many are flat out illogical and contradictory such as a god who is omnibenevolent but creates a place of eternal pain and suffering!
It doesn't take any faith to hold the position that there is no evidence! Get it?
Atheist,
All of the examples you provide in your first two paragraphs are legitimate. I agree with you, for instance, that Creationism should be kept out of science classes, teachers' personal beliefs should not be included in grade school curriculums, disease prevention should trump birth control, murder is wrong no matter who espouses it and anger directed at anyone who would exploit children is appropriate. Free thinkers, however, while right to condemn the very real abuses done in the name of religion, would also acknowledge the many good things that have come from religious inspiration. For example, if all the faith-based hospitals, hospices and food kitchens were to shut down tomorrow, the effect would be catastrophic. And, like it or not, our nation was founded by people of faith, almost without exception.
I agree, as stated in my first response.
Agreed. That is the position of the agnostic. In the absence of evidence one way or the other, however, it does take faith to believe there is no God. Get the difference?
From the NYT article:
This isn't at all surprising. Other polls have found that 71% of US Catholics support marriage equality, apparently because their religion's teachings on divorce force them to understand the difference between a legal contract and a religious rite.
Similar numbers on abortion, where the vast majority of Catholics are pro-choice.
No wonder the Catholic church is losing members in every industrialized country.
hmmm...they way the Church talks you'd think it was abortion and gay marriage that were their biggest problems....never mind feeding the poor and helping others....
That's the underlying tension within Catholicism, isn't it? The hierarchy tends to be comprised of bigoted Christofascists, and the laity and nuns tend to engage in social justice and helping the poor.
The Catholic Church business is one of the most lucrative in the world. I think the new Pope needs to make drastic changes -- like giving away millions to the poor and needy and those abused by its clergy, living more modestly (do away with the ostentatious quarters, with a personal chef). The cardinals need to follow Christ's example, too, of simple living.
After all, the Pope and the cardinals are some of Jesus Christ's representatives on earth. How did Jesus live when he was walking among us? Not in a palace with a personal chef.
I'm MOSTLY with you here. But instead of just "giveaway" I'd rather see them use the money in a better manner. I think there was some Biblical quote about "teaching a man to fish". I think they would be better to use the money to help people learn to help themselves and to give them the tools to do that.
Other than that, right on the money!
Mega Churches, IE: Joel Osteen, are the biggest ripoff in religion.
And religion is the biggest ripoff in history.
I mean there are peoples who believe in Scientology for f%#k sake ! How stupid do you have to be ?
Scientology is NOT a religion. Neither is the Democratic Party.
Ahh, Mr. Travis, the picture of rationale. Anybody who decides to pray to anything, or believe in anything that can not be touch, is a religion.
I am hoping and praying to one day see the crayon color "Invisible", I have now invoked to religion of "Crayonology"!!!
William: politics: the OTHER great mind phuhk after religion. Get some schooling and grow a brain, please.
Sexual abuse has always been foremost in the minds of the priests. They live for sex abuse.
I find it fascinating -- and dumbfounding -- that only 9% of the idiots interviewed think this cult suffers from low credibility. Where are the other 91% on this? And yet, I bet those 9% will STILL send their kids to Catholic schools to be preyed upon by these molesters. Great parenting.
How many years before Sexual Abuse became a number one priority in the poll. Wow, have some very slow people.
Here is Timothy Dolans take on the NYS statute of limitations that severely restricts the time you have to report sexual abuse: "The perpetrators don’t suffer. There’s no burden on them. What suffers are the services and the ministries of the apostolates that we’re doing now. Because where does the money come from? So the bishops of 30 years ago that allegedly may have reassigned abusers, they don’t suffer. They’re dead. So the people that suffer are those who are being served right now by the church. We feel that’s a terribly unjust burden."
Talk about a caring Catholic Church!! WOW..the hell with all the abuse victims, the church's money is more important! All the abusers are not dead and many are still protected by the church!! Pass the "Child Victim Act" now before the Assembly and allow victims of sexual abuse their day in court.
And when Dolan was archbishop in Wisconsin, not only did he pay $20,000 bonuses to priests who raped children but he also hid other church assets in "cemetery funds" where they couldn't be touched when the Milwaukee archdiocese declared bankruptcy.
Dolan also lobbied (along with Sen. Ron Johnson) to restrict the statute of limitations, to reduce the church's liability for raping children.
The victims of pedophile priests were at the very bottom of Dolan's list of priorities.
http://www.snapnetwork.org/wi_cardinal_dolan_likely_deposed_today_in_milwaukee_archdiocese_bankruptcy_sex_abuse_cases
The perpetrators...the people that suffer are those being served by the Church...They don't suffer, they're dead...What suffers are the ministries now.... That's a terribly unjust burden....NO mention of the kids EVER! Toss them aside, we're done with them....and now they are worthy of only...Hell. Ask Dolan where does a child abused by a priest go after Death? I'd love to know his answer. BTW, notice how he says the people that suffer are those being served by the Church. That is exactly the Catholic Guilt Spin. WE are trying to help people and you are stopping us from helping....shame on you....We want to help and all you can do is think of yourselves....how shameful. Only thinking of yourself, you should be ashamed. Now I will forgive you if you give me 10 Hail Marys and drop this lawsuit. Otherwise you will GO TO HELL!!!!!!!!!
Dear Catholics, The Pope only has "power" over you if you give it to him. He can't send you to Hell. Do what is right in your heart.
I would think the thing that concerns most Catholics, is that the blindly follow a CULT. As all the other religions say "Catholics, you sure like to leave Jesus hanging on the cross!". The vast majority of Catholic Churches look like morbid wax statue horror museums. Only Catholics bow down to a false deity named the Pope. After CCD, my kid thought god was something to fear - sounds like the drones at the Church failed to instill even one drop of "spirituality" into the message.
Disclaimer: yes, I was born Catholic.
I was raised Catholic also..sorry to say. Raised in guilt, fear and freedom to think for myself. I have since moved past most of the b.s. laid down by the hierarchy of the Catholic church, but still see the harm they bring to those they preach to. I realize the sexual abuses within the Church are those most in the spotlight, but they do so much more harm behind the scenes. It's time for these old men to be seen for what they are and stand for...they are bigots, racists and liars.
Ex Catholic here too. Thanks for your shared thoughts regis1. I used to think Catholics valued rigorous education, science, freedom of thought.
They do UNLESS it contradicts the Magisterium (the Teaching Authority) of the Church. Well, that is NOT allowing free thought.
The problem is, there is a lot of room for a person or family to live a life within the vast cultures of Catholicism. Most people have their basic needs met, find social perks in the faith (or fear damnation!) and so don't recognize that their very THOUGHT is being controlled (ultimately).
It's hideously brilliant.
www.catholicarrogance.org
The Catholic church's biggest scandal is their CHOICE to protect the priests at all costs, something that has been going on since the mid 1800's. Rather than remove the offenders from ministry and report them to the authorities, the church chose to protect themselves, victims be damned. Had they handled these cases differently and held the pedophile priests accountable they would have more credibility today. Teaching us to obey the 10 commandments all the while breaking many of them does not bode well in maintaining a faithful flock.
Actually the first indications of pedophile priests and a cover up by the church hierarchy date back to the 4th century, and to the Council of Elvira in 306 AD where half of the legislation that was passed was about sexual misconduct.....including specific rules regarding sexual misconduct by clerics.
http://www.crusadeagainstclergyabuse.com/htm/AShortHistory.htm
I left the church this year for good. I said goodbye, and it wasn't hard. This is a group of sexual devients that I refuse to be associated with. I was a fool for years, being religious and going to church. I am happier now.
Congrats. If you are no longer a person of faith, you may wish to consider adding your name to any number of reason/free thinking foundations in the US and elsewhere. The Catholics will still count you on their roster so you might as well have your name counted with a group more akin to your new, rational, outlook.
If you are still a person of faith, you can still join secular causes that promote the 1st Amendment to keep State and Church separate.
Good luck to you!
The Catholic Church is indelibly stained and will never recover.
Jonathan R,
One can only hope.
I see this poll as saying, " What constitutes being a Catholic in the US, is different than being a Catholic in Rome. " This can be restated as the fracturing of the traditional faith. So if the Cardinals are gathering merely to elect a new Bishop of Rome, the world wide influence of this papal election isn't going to mean much. Apparently it doesn't mean much to those who claim to be Catholic in the US, as their lifestyles and personal choices often are quite distinct behaviors from those which one could define as Catholic behaviors. The church may claim a billion adherents for propaganda purposes, but those who actively pursue a life laid down by church doctrine has to be significantly less, millions and millions less.
Do any of these priests who have raped children actually believe in the whole heaven/hell afterlife thing? Because if they do, they must think that they are going to hell themsleves.
It's difficult to know. For one thing you are trying to use reason with people who did not use reason to get into their situation in the first place.
I'm sure there are a range of reasons. I'm sure some of these nuns, priests, bishops and now pope emeritus, had broken brains in that they lost or never had the ability for empathy. I suspect others are sexually stunted, retaining the sexual maturity of a child. And then I'm sure there are some who are simply out to gain power not unlike the chimpanzees in the wild that they share almost all of their DNA with.
Broken brains is probably a lot of it. They should be studied and we can pay for the studies with the revenue we can obtain once the US starts taxing all Churches. That's about 70-100 billion a year. Enough for a lot more Mars Rover missions too.
Just imagine the good we could do with the money spent on religions and on weaponery to kill each other with. We would probably have Mars colonized by now and have made numerous exciting new discoveries to better our lives with.
The 'sex abuse thing' should be a wake up call for the stupid sheep to realize its all crap. The whole thing is made up. Its all about control, and manipulation of others. Thats it. No god, no faith, its all made up.
I agree with others above - the sex abuse is just the tip of the iceberg of the catholic evils. The denigration of children takes many forms. All of them are evil. There is no place in a modern society for this cult.