2 years, 2 months ago
How has the Catholic Church sandal affected your view of the church?
With the recent Catholic Church sex abuse scandal (particularly in Ireland) have your views on the church and organised religion in general changed? Should people pray/be religious in private and forgot about organised religion altogether? Should priests be allowed to be in relationships? It's kind of a controversial issue but I'd ike to know what you think.
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M$1 Answer
Specifically with the sex abuse scandal, it's become part of the culture of Catholicism. Not the act, but covering it up without really trying to change it. The Catholic Church is a source of old school magic and mysticism and I respect that, but the way it has addressed sexual misconduct within its ranks is, well, reflective of societal thinking 2000 years ago.
If the church does not want priests to be in sexual relationships, so be it. That's the way it is. Public celibacy does not lead to pedophilia or sexual abuse. This is different however, from harboring criminals and covering up crimes.
Recently I've been thinking about the Pope. Catholicism believes that the Pope is selected in large part due to divine influence. Our current Pope is a former Nazi with a documented history of covering up sexual abuse. Why would God want this man to be the living symbol of his one true church? Is God testing our faith by selecting a figure that is, to many people, ethically objectionable? Or is God trying to move his flock away from a corrupt organization? Or is the implication that his behavior is to be emulated? Or that the most flawed among us should be held up as leaders?
I don't have a good answer to that.
If the church does not want priests to be in sexual relationships, so be it. That's the way it is. Public celibacy does not lead to pedophilia or sexual abuse. This is different however, from harboring criminals and covering up crimes.
Recently I've been thinking about the Pope. Catholicism believes that the Pope is selected in large part due to divine influence. Our current Pope is a former Nazi with a documented history of covering up sexual abuse. Why would God want this man to be the living symbol of his one true church? Is God testing our faith by selecting a figure that is, to many people, ethically objectionable? Or is God trying to move his flock away from a corrupt organization? Or is the implication that his behavior is to be emulated? Or that the most flawed among us should be held up as leaders?
I don't have a good answer to that.
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M$
Thanks for the answer. I agree with most of it except the part about the Pope. He was in Hitler Youth which is different from being a Nazi. I don't think the full details of his involvement in abuse cover-up has come out yet (maybe it never will) and with the current information it is a stretch to accuse him of cover-up. I agree with most of your points though.