I still would like to know why the pediphile priests did not have to go to jail and why they were just continually relocated when they knew what they did.

Look, I am certainly not saying the pedophile priest relocation was a good thing, but you can't tell me EVERY other religion has not had some pedophile in it, or some other bad person in a leadership role. Every religion has had bad apples. They are human creations run by humans and humans are sinners. There are still good people in the Catholic church as well as other denominations. Did they make a huge, horrible mistake over and over? YES! But that doesn't take away from the fact the Catholic church has also helped a lot of people over thousands of years as have other churches as well.

I guess by attacking the people of the Catholic church, which I feel has happened here when things are claimed about it not being a good religion, problems in every facet of it, etc., you are doing the same thing that Pope Benedict has done. I just find it ironic that nobody sees that.

Sorry, but I have experienced discrimination for being Catholic and it isn't a fun feeling. Most of it is because of misunderstanding and bigotry. The words of Pope Benedict do not help that at all. I have also seen Catholics discriminate against other religions for the same reasons and it drives me crazy!

You are misunderstanding me, really. I seriously don't know why they weren't prosecuted. If this were to happen in any other church, the person would go to jail. Why is the catholic church different in that regard. I'm not attacking, I just don't understand it.

A lot of them have gone to prison - NOW! Unfortunately, the church heirarchy hid things in the 60s and 70s like a lot of other religions. People in general didn't talk about things like that then. That doesn't make it right, but that was the way it was.

But, you have to remember for every one pedophile priest there were several good, caring, compasionate, NON pedophile priests! Thankfully, in my 37 years as a Catholic, I have never known a pedophile priest.

I think Mormon's are the WORST about this issue. Not only do they believe they are the one true faith, they even go as far as to baptize the deceased souls, whether Mormon or not.

"Many people have died without receiving a valid baptism, and they cannot undergo this precious ritual as mere spirits. "Because all on the earth do not have the opportunity to accept the gospel during mortality, the Lord has authorized baptisms performed by proxy for the dead. Therefore, those who accept the gospel in the spirit world may qualify for entrance into God's kingdom" (See Guide to the Scriptures). One thing that should be made perfectly clear about Mormon baptisms for the dead is that each deceased soul has the personal choice to accept or reject it. There is nothing in Mormonism that states that the person who is being baptized by proxy must accept this ordinance; he or she is simply given the opportunity to choose."

Article on Mormon Baptism for the Dead

They read the names of the deceased in the county and "baptize" them. I know it's only symbolic but it drives me crazy that they do this. If someone wanted the opportunity to join their church, they would have done it while alive. I don't know why the fact that they may read my name to baptize me into the Mormon church after I'm dead bothers me but it totally does. I'm sure there are lots of agnostics that just LOVE the idea. So they let you believe what you want on earth but baptize you anyway so you can go to heaven.

I know a ton about the Mormon's beliefs because one of my good friend's in a Mormon and we talk about it all the time. I respect all religions but there are several things I take issue with concerning the Mormon church. That being said, I believe they do a lot of good and have a lot of good people and will be rewarded in heaven.

I didn't pull a quote on the fact that they are the one true religion but I was recently at a Mormon baptism where they showed a film about God appearing to Jospeh Smith (I think is his name) and telling him that he needed to start the one true faith of Jesus. I asked my neighbor about it later and she confirmed that it is what they believe.

First of all, Jesus was Jewish. He STARTED the Catholic church. I'm sorry but I find your statement incredibly ignorant. How on earth can you judge an entire faith, one you clearly know little about?

I'm not sure why you think priests didn't go to jail (they did) or why on earth you think it would be the job of the Catholic church to put them there (that would be handled by the District Attorney's office in the particular area. The church isn't able to jail someone.) What the Catholic church is obviously guilty of is covering up information regarding abuse and I believe those people should be charged with a crime, when possible. Again though, that is handled by the DA.

Regarding the issue at hand, I totally disagree with the Pope and think that people should follow what is in their heart and they will be rewarded. My God loves everyone.

The other thing I wanted to say is that the whole molestation thing was totally a problem with society. I don't think it's any excuse and I think charges should still be brought against those responsible but this is what was going on in the 50's and 60's. You hear the stories sometimes about the parent's bringing forward the accusations to the church and getting these priests moved. But the parent's wanted the problem to go away just as fast as the church did. NO ONE wanted to talk about. People always say how great it was in the 50's and 60's and how they wish we could go back and I always think it might be great for some people but not if you were a victim of abuse or rape, homosexual, African American, an unwed teen, a woman who wanted to succeed in the workforce, even sometimes a woman that wanted to go to college. There was a lot that was good but there were a lot of problems that no one wanted to talk about or fix.

There were, of course, problems with the church covering up problems more recently and again, throw the book at them.

Umm, I did not know that Jesus started the Catholic church! If anything I believe that Jesus was doing what God wants us to do-spread the word about him and be good people.

IMHO- I believe that all religions hold truths.

I agree with Jennifer and it does take more than just going to church

Remember.....Just going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in your garage makes you a car.

On the issue of attending church or mass our deacon once said during a homily on attending church "Is it really to much to ask to spend 1 hour a week dedicated for the Lord?" Basically that we have certain days and times reserved for school, work, meetings, extra curriculars, etc... Isn't it great to take time out of our busy lives to attend mass, listen to the word of the Lord, pray, give thanks, and receive communion. So my dh and I discussed it and decided he was right. That was a few years ago but we both still remember it.

On the issue of their only being 1 church I disagree.

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I do agree that the Church has had it's troubles lately to say it mildly. However, men are not perfect and there will never be a perfect church. Just by sheer number alone by ratio yes there will be more molesters because of the percentage of priests/Catholics. But it is a problem in Every single religion, there are just more Catholics so the percentage is higher. Sadly this isn't just the Catholic church, this affects every single organization, be it Christian, Muslim, Jewish, etc. It happens everywhere and so do the coverups.

Of course, they Do need to follow the laws like everyone else, that is why it is a scandal! I Do believe there was one church at the beginning, and it was the combined Orthodox and Catholic before the scism (sp?) then they went their separate ways, so on the thought that the Orthodox/Catholic church was the one Jesus founded, I agree with that. Maybe that's what he meant? Who knows, I'm not a fan of this Pope either by any stretch. (Personally I think that when the Catholics broke off with the Orthodox THEY were the true Church Jesus founded so in effect Catholics aren't Christian under the Pope's definition either!) How silly of him to say that other churches aren't churches, but I really think he meant they weren't the one Jesus founded.

Treehugger, you know I like you and this is not in any against you! Just trying to give a different perspective. And who am I to talk? I haven't graced the arches of a Church since Easter!