Last year, O'Brien's comments labeling gay marriage "a grotesque subversion" landed him with a "Bigot of the Year" award from gay rights group Stonewall.

It wasn't self-hatred, it was "organizational hatred".

The Cardinal appologizes for BELOW Standards sexual conduct. We must wonder, for a Cardinal, what is the normal standards for sexual conduct?

Touche Pippo. Thinking the same thing myself

1.2- Only his alter boy knows for sure. GAUS

Reality44060

While gay sex is very weird to me, homosexuals are and have been a part of main stream society. There is no seperation within the MAIN STREAM. There may be be different parts to it but no one part, regardless of size, can command any other part from being as they see themselves. Get a hobby, find something else to get up tight about. As a demographic, Gays are no threat to you.

Pippo,

Never said they were a threat. I would never consider them a threat. I said they are ill and that this stupid term (homophobes) is a stupid way to peg people who are against there lifestyle. By the way, get a hobby?? Me no understand the reason for this comment. Did you just feel like being witty or something and had to throw that out??

Backlash is not the word I would suggest. Bigot perhaps? Who are you to judge another for what they believe they are. Their life is "normal" to them and that is all that really matters. Your opinion really doesn't matter. At least you didn't bring God into all this. And this is from a straight guy.

Pipo,

"We must wonder, for a Cardinal, what is the normal standards for sexual conduct?"

I think that's an easy one to answer. A Cardinal is expected to engage in no sexual conduct of any sort at all. Nor is any other priest. I believe that is what the word "celibacy" means. But too many of them have forgotten that little vow of celibacy they took before being ordained.

Stop. @!$%#ing. Children. Just stop.

If that is true, which it is, then the causes of homosexuality is due to mental disorders just like lust is, pedophilia is, and the like

So it's easier for you to justify your attraction to people of the same sex if you tell yourself you have a mental disorder?

Look, these guys should be allowed to marry.

And if they are gay, they need to know that it is OK.

That is not my experience, but human variation is a fact and a truth.

It just doesn't bode well: When someone has to push down their feelings, and deny who they are year after year.

and Pippo, I don't know where you live. But it sure ain't "Mainstream" around here

It is time for the Catholics to allow their priests to marry. After God created Adam, He said, "it is not good that the man be alone" (Gen. 2:18) We are all sexual creatures and to try to restrain this part of us for a lifetime is unrealistic.

valjeane,

"We are all sexual creatures and to try to restrain this part of us for a lifetime is unrealistic."

I agree, but Catholic priests are not supposed to be like the rest of us mere mortals. They are expected to live like the angels who have no sex organs (or maybe like a GI Joe doll). They are not supposed to engage in what Saint Augustine refers to as "the filth of the flesh", and what the Catholic Church calls "the evil desires of the body". But I do agree that it's unrealistic, and Saint John Climacus complains about the amount of fornication taking place in his monastery in his book, The Ladder of Divine Ascent. So you're right it seems.

I love these posts. It brings out ignorance, intolerance, fear, etc....To the homophobes and religious right, its not an illness...To the ones who think the priest should marry.....marry who? Little boys? Priest at one time could marry, however the great debate is did it end to show devotion to God or the church was losing assets due to probate....If you let them marry, the accumulate assets and dependents. Who pays that bill? I am sorry there is no natural order, our world continues to evolve whether we like it or not. Why do people spend so much time worrying about homosexuals who are living productive normal lives and are normal people, while criminals such as in this artical can end their career with no punishment.

Who cares, "Gay" is a dead end road. They can't by themselves procreate.

wow!! thank you JAMES.. I must enlighten some of thiese bigots and HOMOPHOBES in here.. in the 70's the AMA removed HOMOSEXUALITY from their lists of mental disorders.. now the psuedo christians, which many of you are have decid3ed they are bigger and better than any other organization in the world.. that would prove to be erronous on their part since 95% of childmolesters are priests or str8 questionable christians.. and it can be proven ..

I am gay and am so proud of it.. It has been a long hard struggle for me.. the racical christian right has att4empted to dehumanize me many times. andf when you mention LEVITICUS to them they get quiet

so all you christians , psuedo christians and bigots quoting the bible.. read leviticus and obey the laws of the bible from wh8ich you preach..

Haditwith Bspolitics,

"Who cares, "Gay" is a dead end road. They can't by themselves procreate."

No. Gay is not a dead end road, and it never will be. There is at least one new gay person born every day. Only it's you guys who give birth to them. So they don't have to procreate.

haditwith... how is it then that I have grand children.. wanna take a stab at that one scum mouth

Anytime that I hear someone, priest or politician, venting hatred towards gays, my first thought is that this person is hiding something... and it just might be perverted...

This cardinal is the perfect example why the catholic church has lost it's importance in the world... Every life is important whether gay straight etc. People are just to full of hatred...

Whatever happened to Live and let Live?

Terry-Ca,

"Whatever happened to Live and let Live?"

Live and let live has never been a part of Catholic theology. That's a secular philosophy. Why do you think the Catholic Church has been so historically intolerant toward heretics? Live and let live?

Reality44060

Where do you get this info??

From people who claim they are heterosexual but are obsessed with homosexuality. Why, if someone thinks that homosexuality is so abnormal, are they always infatuated with it? It's like someone who says he hates brussel sprouts but spends his entire time by them in the supermarket.

Why another non-news story? This is nothing new. If he was f#cking a goat, now that would be news.

"If he was f#cking a goat, now that would be news."

But maybe not news in the Middle East.

Former top British cardinal apologizes for 'below standards' sexual conduct

Typo, delete the e after the b

who gives a freaking rats ass, if he is gay or straight, has he abused his power and the trust of the parishioners? is he molesting minors? if so then kick his sorry ass out of the church stop making excuses for these people. i really do not care what scientific study you came up with to prove homosexual ism. he did wrong and he knows it. how come the gay crowd can not accept this?

"...BELOW Standards sexual conduct." He's a closet gay who's just not very good at it. Maybe should be taking lessons so he can raise his skill level?

Reality44060

Where do you get this info?? Homophobes and saying that people who speak out against them are homos also?? This is a fallacy my friend and in no way substantiated. Please stop twisting the truth as so many homosexuals are trying to do by saying their life is normal. I feel sorry for people with this illness because since mainstream society is trying to accept this as a way of life, genuine help for homosexuals is dwindling. You cannot deny your body...ever. It has a function and a purpose. If that is true, which it is, then the causes of homosexuality is due to mental disorders just like lust is, pedophilia is, and the like. I am sure I will get backlash for this or whatever, but frankly, I really do not care. This, amongst other things like abortions, euthanasia, pornography, violence, gay marriages, etc. are destroying this country.

No sir. It's people with beliefs like yours who are destroying countries. And since you decided to jump from your spaz of a question to a rant, let me answer your question. Maybe it's the fact that this homo-hating Cardinal resigning for inappropriate sexual conduct with other MALE priests that leads us to believe he's gay as well. Ya think, genius?

@Backhouse

Look, these guys should be allowed to marry.

And if they are gay, they need to know that it is OK.

That is not my experience, but human variation is a fact and a truth.

It just doesn't bode well: When someone has to push down their feelings, and deny who they are year after year.

This^ goes right into the heart of the issue. You place unrealistic expectations on people, forcing them to deny who/what they are as well as their natural, human impulses, and sooner or later they'll blow up and have to vent somehow, because its NOT natural.

Now as for the article itself... when is this guy going to be prosecuted for his crimes? I'm getting sick and tired of hearing about all these catholic priests raping people then retiring at their old age like nothing happened.

When are these criminals and the criminal organization that protects them going to be held accountable?

The best is yet to come from these organized pedophiles. A pope does not resign and then worldwide we have other cardinals, etc. removing themselves too. No, the shoe is getting ready to drop and it will not be red ones either. The Catholic Church is readying itself for atonement by law enforcement and the world.

You know, Jedis are supposed to be celibate also.

Just saying.

At any rate, I could certainly do without the Catholic bashing. Funny how so many of the people who bash Catholics do so on the grounds that they believe them to be intolerant.

Hello Pot! My name's Kettle.

Science is truth,

First, Phd means nothing to me. I work with many Phd's. Frankly, I am not impressed. One thing I find as a common thread through many of the Phd's I work with is a shear lack of common sense and a disdain towards anyone of a lower educational status than theirs.

Second, why the rant and threat from you my friend?? This I notice also as common thread amongst many folks who do not want to hear the truth. Oh, and I will keep my name thank you. Maybe folks need to wake up to reality.

Third, ok, so homosexuality is a biological issue, disposition, defect, its been proven to be in the genes (I have yet to see conclusive proof of any of this) so what?? It is not an excuse to act the way they do. Don't you think that some people who are psychotic or schizophrenic are born with dispositions towards those illnesses? Do you think society should allow those illnesses, imbalances, etc. allow them to hurt other people and go untreated? No! If they are to weak to keep their actions in check themselves, than they need help and should get it.

In the end, you are very misguided my friend and have fallen into one of the great lies in our world that normalcy is relative and not black and white. No matter what people want to think or say, there IS an absolute moral code - right and wrong, good and bad. There are no grays. One day it will hopefully be revealed to you before it is to late.

If he really were sorry, he would turn himself into authorities and confess what he had done. He's only sorry he got caught.

Reality... you are so right! There is a moral code, right anf wrong, good and bad. It's just not up to you to decide what it is. I would like to explain one thing to you since you seemed confused by the "get a hobby" remark. I believe they mean that perhaps if you had a self actualized and fullfilled life yourself you might be less inclined to think obsessively about what other people are doing with theirs. Last, I see that under you charming, if uninformed, list of mental illnesses you list having lust as one. You must be a laugh riot in the ol' sack, reality....

Well, I dunno, but if the allegations in the article are true, then this fellow sounds like the perfect candidate for a collection of folks to elect a new leader of the Catholic Church Cult.

@Xina the Awesome

At any rate, I could certainly do without the Catholic bashing. Funny how so many of the people who bash Catholics do so on the grounds that they believe them to be intolerant.

Hello Pot! My name's Kettle.

There is a difference between accepting what other's believe in or practice even if you don't share those believes or practices (i.e. "tolerance"), and being tolerant to the point of accepting even believes or practices that are harmful and/or intolerant of others. Just because people choose to be tolerant that does not mean they have to tolerate intolerant believes or practices and not condem them.

What's funny is that these clowns that are high ranking in the Catholic church have people defending them. The church has and always will be a farce.

Religion is a lie. Priests are full of crap. People who judge others by what they do in the privacy of their bedrooms need to either: Go get laid (so they don't have to worry about what others are getting off to), go see a shrink (so they can cry on someones shoulder because they aren't getting it) or figure out what is missing in their own lives to make them so judgemental about what others consider sexuality.

Besides, if they are THAT protective about sexual things, why don't they find a real platform and vilify the pedophiles (catholics).

Ironically, the only time I call on God is in the bedroom...But that's another story. (That's what SHE says anyway).

I hope they all get anally fornicated on by clowns in their next life. Or impaled by Vlad the Impaler. I hope all the people on here touting bs about gay people come out of the closet themselves real soon. Time to leave your glory holes and let your freak fly! haha!

Funny Quote of the Day : "People who are afraid of gay marriage are either: A) Dumb

or B) Secretly afraid that dicks taste delicious".

HAHAH! Idc what others are doing in their sexual free time. Why should you!! It doesn't make me any less of who I am because others are gay. Who cares!

@Reality

From all the crap you are spewing, it seems to me that "God" wasted a good A $$ H o L E when he put teeth in your mouth.

ROFL!!!

Maybe he should immigrate to the states and run for congress, then his sexual conduct wouldn't be "below standards"

I remember that article. It was funded by the "Push the Gay Agenda Foundation."

Yes but it was written by a rear echelon hack.

Yes but it was written by a rear echelon hack.

.....literally?

the report said THAT MORE THAN 80% were more than likely homosexuals.. I know a lot of married "christian" men that love gay sex and most of them are bottoms. :-) LOL

2late..... thanks for catching it! Have a good one.

Okay, I hate to bite like a hungry trout but for god's sake, when you bitch about the "gay agenda" AND use a name like "Buster Highman" I have to wonder if you have any respect for anyone? I'm pretty sure that the cherries you wanna pop fall in the category that Frank describes....

Darcy and Reality,

I guess it's a good thing we don't live in a theocracy, huh? I mean, people living against what *your* religion says is a, "sin."

And you people wonder why your numbers are dwindling...

It has been a problem ever since i was a child and I am 64 years old. Was a Catholic, gave that up long time ago when they were covering up the churches wrong doings. Still happens to this day, can't figure what is the problem in priest being married. If he is going to stand up and preach to me how I should act, treat people, have a family and how to raise them and how women should be treated and what to do, I just think they need to have some experience in raising a family and being around children. They should be able to have a marriage and change there old ways. They need to communicate more with women and less with men.

Amen, Mike

What is so sad is this surprises no one anymore. The Catholic religion is one of the reasons I do not believe in organized religions at all. Priests have abused children from the beginning and the Vatican has spent decades trying to hide this from everyone. This religion among most others is just another one of "man's" way to perform deviant acts in the name of Jesus Christ when it's actually just another one of man's perversions.

AMEN MIKE!!! Again, I say AMEN!! Many moons ago, when my husband and I were having problems, my husband asked a priest to come and talk to me. The priest who came to "talk" to me had to be all of 16 yrs. old. I don't think he had even experienced shaving yet. I told him that with all due respect, he didn't know what the HELL he was talking about.

It's sad, Becky, that you feel this way about organized religion, based on the reports of some men's deviant acts. Unfortunately, the good that comes from organized religion is not reported by the media because it is not sensational. I have been a christian all of my life and I have met the most wonderful people that can be found on this earth. Sure, I have also seen perversion committed by so-call christians. My own brother, a Baptist minister, was indited by the law for sexual abuse. If you had known him, you would not think he was a deviant hiding behind the cross of Christ. However, I have also witnessed many acts of kindness, compassion and pure love for others. Please, do not judge an organization based on some of their so-called members behaviors. That is not fair. If you would attend a local church and get to know their committed members, you would find a really different world than the media reports. I wish you would give us a chance to prove that we are not all bad.

Becky, you are SO RIGHT ON!! Since time forgotten, so many people in so many countries and cultures have had it SOCKED TO 'EM in the name of the Lord. That's why MISSIONARIES were and are sent into a country FIRST before the INDUSTRY that comes in SECOND. Yes, I was born into the CC.

Never could understand why Catholic priests are not allowed to marry, given that humans are endowed with a sexual nature to procreate. The church celibacy demand of priests, in reality, goes against nature and the churches own doctrine to procreate.

Carol, I've been on these religious boards a lot lately. Nobody, and I repeat, nobody is saying every person of faith is bad.

What I am saying, as are so many others, is that there IS an organized, global, system of deceit and cover-up in Catholic leadership that protects criminals. And what's grotesque is that every single person of faith who donates money to this crime ring is part of the problem.

You've heard of trickle-down economics? This is Trickle-Down-Evil.

Get it?

It started with "Constantine the Thug" calling himself the 13th Apostle, he was the pig that used religion to control the masses of asses and the RCC has been living a lie ever since.

Where do you get this stuff.....That is the most ignorant statement I have heard. This pope was a great man and just because you have some sort of agenda to denounce Catholics due to misinformation is just outragous. People do not need to listen to what you have to say. Get ALL your facts before you throw s---. You are like copying and pasting exactly what some guy said a couple days ago....Comments on this EXACT statement were not well liked either... Next time come up with your own wording and get the facts.

Carol

We can all understand that the actions of a few does not make the whole -- the problem is the cover up by the whole --the whole, being aware of the problem and tacit condoning thereof by not taking measures to excommunicate pedophile priests -- that is a travesty!

Can you explain it please?

@Carol-Sacramento:

That's the problem. Any church declares itself and their clergy as the most righteous people. Then they can do whatever they want. AN organization that requires unwavering faith creates too much opportunity for abuse.

SANEG prove to us beyond a shadow of a doubt that this pope was a great man,,, a man that hides priests who have molested children.. a man that hides behind his robes to support priests that have molested young boys for years.. my dear open your eyes and admit there is a huge flaw in the catholic church and that is hypocrisy, aand bigotry, and lies to god

The Catholic Church allows priests who break their rules to Retire where they are cared for for life. Helluva gig.

Sort of like being presdident of what used to be the USA isn't it? Congess members drawing their pay even after they are voted out or retire for the rest of their lives and if they croak their wives draw half that amount. Now that's a heeluva gig. Plus crooked as hell at that.

Saneg, there is written proof in the Pope's own hand, that he reassigned pedophile priests and instructed others to keep it strictly confidential. Articles have appeared very recently where it was discovered that such proof existed. While he was Pope John Paul's right-hand man, all of the proof of perversion landed on his desk and it probably never found its way to Pope John Paul until perhaps the end.

What Pope Benedict did was betray the trust of parents, innocent children, and the teachings of Jesus Christ and the church. That IS NOT the church's or the New Testament's fault, but the fault of men who were corrupted by the absolute power their position had over members of the Church. Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely.

@Mike Barrett thank you for your post. I've been involved with several organized denominations of Christianity since I was young child. My journey started in the Catholic church when my Mother had me baptized Catholic. She was excomunicated from the Catholic church because she got a divorce from my abusive alcoholic Father. She then became Episcopalian (think more lenient Catholic), then in my young adulthood I found "non-denominational" christian churches. Let me now get to my point. I don't go to church anymore. Life happened to me...as it did I found that it didn't matter one bit which church I was involved in because the judgement, intolerance and hypocrisy were more prevelant within their walls than what their beloved bible taught..."judge not lest ye be judged", "come to me ALL who are burdened..." and of course "remove the log in your own eye before trying to remove the splinter in another's". I'm not quoting word for word verses here but the intent of the teachings. I try to live as the Bible teaches not as a Priest, Pastor or Parishioner teaches because the one thing I learned is that they claim to know what to do in ANY given life circumstance yet they themselves have NO experience with it. As another poster so wisely stated...how on earth can a Priest counsel on marriage when they themselves cannot BE married. One of so many Priests/Pastors I've heard speak shocked me when he stood in front of his congregation and spoke on compassion. He admitted that he'd had a very blessed and easy life. That he'd not experienced loss or tragedy and it always felt so false to him to counsel someone that had lost or been through tragedy. What he ended up saying is that we as human being can cultivate compassion towards others even if we do not understand. I don't necessarily understand homosexuality...but it is my choice to cultivate compassion for a human being not hatred just because I do not understand it or even agree with it.

What I'm trying to say, this is a HUGE discussion topic and easy to go off on another road, the Catholic church holds itself to standards and that would be fine if in doing so, they also acknowledged their humanity and held themselves accountable when those standards are blatantly corrupted. Instead we're all seeing their exposure while they continue to try and hide and minimize their actions. "there have been times that my sexual conduct has fallen below the standards expected of me as a priest"..." I will now spend the rest of my life in retirement. I will play no further part in the public life of the Catholic Church in Scotland." Can any religion truly expect someone to join them after something like this? Do they seriously think that a member will walk into a confessional and reveal their sins and heavy hearts, to TRUST that person and accept their penance? I just don't get the justification of these churches. Does that mean I'm judging ALL for the misdeeds of some? I don't think so, I'm simply choosing to live with the lable of a human being created by God vs. a christian.

I do not understand. I thought the pedophile priest cover-ups pre-dated this pope. How is it all on him now? And...if what some posters here are saying is true, Catholicism is going to take a HUGE hit.

Sad, because there are so many great teachings to be had from the story of Jesus Christ.

I am reasonable-I get that the "miracles" can't be true, but I have benefitted by bringing to mind the teachings of my faith over the years.

no instead he hid them in hundreds of locations and those locations will never be known.. if you think Boston was the only place in the USA guess again.,. and remember Bishop Sheen frequently had more in his mouth than food..

TC 2545604...give me a break! I don't identify with the Catholic Church BUT...over the years I've seen plenty of pretestant bible thumpers crying apologies for playing with "double standards" so to speak!!!

oh let me see STEVE Jim of Tammy and Jim fame had his share or more than food in his mouth. haggard had the same problem . swiegart loved being used sexually.. yet all three of these men are back in the church i can only ask WTF

yes they must hav3e had lock jaw LOL

Anteup, immorality is not a crime. Or perhaps use the same court that tried the butler and send them to the prison at the Vatican? That would work.

BW-267706 - Anteup, immorality is not a crime

Sexual harassment may not be a crime but in most organizations it's a reason to be fired.

Immorality covers many sins that are crimes.

Sometimes public school teachers have molested their students. Is that a reason to vilify all teachers?

JBFlyer - Sometimes public school teachers have molested their students. Is that a reason to vilify all teachers?

Have the administrators of those public school been involved in a global conspiracy to cover up those crimes, or did they call the cops and fire the teacher?

The problem isn't that pedophiles are attracted to professions where they have access to children (and thus some priests and some public school teachers will be pedophiles), but that the Catholic hierarchy conspired to cover up those crimes and never once called the cops. They even moved the pedophiles to new unsuspecting communities so they could rape even more kids, and paid $20,000 bonuses to priests who had raped children.

Even ex-Benedict was part of the conspiracy and directly helped cover up the crimes of Peter Hullerman, Stephen Kiesle, and Marcial Maciel.

Skrekk, the biggest mistake parents made over the years was not believing their children. They were so wrapped up in the sanctity of the church that children often didn't dare tell their parents what had occurred, and if they did, they were not believed. AFter all, how could a holy priest do such a thing????? Had parents gone to the POLICE, rather than run to the church, the vast majority of this would have been uncovered and cleaned up years ago. So, unfortunate as it is, part of the blame lies with the parents from many years ago who were devout and many times very trusting and naive.

Tess42 - Skrekk, the biggest mistake parents made over the years was not believing their children.

Maybe, but I suspect most of those children never told their parents given that they were raped by the representatives of a violent and psychotic deity, and were entrusted to those representatives by their parents.

The same thing often happens with incest, where the child is afraid to tell the other parent (or has been convinced not to do so).

NO NO NO a VOW is a vow and is a contract with god .. to many violate this and the church continues to forgive them even though they have destroyed some childs life

unfortunately as lonhg as these pedophiles are in the vatican or hidden by Benedict and others the law will never be able to touch them .. so if I molest a priest I should be ok..

Maxgiver, it should also be OK to punch his flaming lights out if he messed with your child. What is it called?? A midnight blanket party?

I like the bigots who say that homosexuality is a choice. The only possible way you can think this is if you are bisexual. I can't "choose" to be attracted to men, being hetero is an innate part of who I am. Why would it be any different for gays? If you think this is a choice, you are bisexual. How could you possibly feel this way if you aren't?

Leroy, it's ok if you are gay, but it's not ok if you molest or harm others in sexual acts. I believe most gays are gentle people, but the pedophiles and perverts that are out there are horrible excuses for human beings. Priests have harmed young peope (mostly boys) since the religion was invented. We were all expected to respect them and they in turn abused that trust. This creep probably has many notches on his little belt.

so now he gets to live a life of leisure with no responsibility gee that is a real punishment! And I too thought when reading the article sexual conduct? what sexual conduct he is not supposed to have any sexual conduct!! His behavior was inappropriate and against his vows so where are the consequences of that? he gets to retire and do whatever he wants!

I agree completely Becky, what makes you think that I condone child molestation?

ERIK first azzhole I am gay and NOT a pedophile like all you str8 homo haters.. It's idiots like you who do not and will never understand.. my question to you.. would you chose to life the life of a homosexual where you would be physcially and verball abused at every turn, to be forced to try and change so you might be accepted.. I think not.. but that is just what you say about every LGBT peroson in the world.. my bet is that you also pretend to be a christian

@Max - I may be wrong here but I think you misunderstood Erik's post. First of all he didn't say a word about pedophiles. Second, he seemed to be saying that Cardinal O'Brien was a self loathing homosexual because he never admitted to himself that he was/is in fact a homosexual. He goes on to say that a choice was made by O'Brien to repress his nature (homosexuality) and that he is bitter about the choice he made so many years ago to not be true to his real nature, to embrace his homosexuality. I don't think that Erik was disrespectful of homosexuals at all, in fact just pointing out how sad it is the O'Brien was not able to live his life as a gay person without guilt. Please re-read the post and I think you will see that no offense was meant to you or other gay people.

bigdogmom---You are absolutely right. I read no insult to gays in Erik's post either. He said specifically, "it is OK to be gay." The saddest part is that the older generation, of which most of these men/cardinals/priests are, was taught that homosexuality was an "abomination." It was drummed into their heads constantly, not only while they were growing up, but later in the strictest interpretation of scriptures. They were never able to accept the fact that they were "different" in that respect and felt constantly ashamed and terrified. Yet, at times when they needed affection, they sought out their own gender, then hated themselves for it and hid it at all costs. I am glad and relieved that today people can find affection where and when they need it without such shame. There will always be a collection of people who will continue to rant about homosexuality. However, I do not believe that the Almighty will hate and condemn any good, kind, loving person who cares about his or her fellow man to burn in hell because of an accident of birth.

Don't forget slavery and forced labor, as with the Magdalene laundries.

Dolores Wilson......there are 1.2 billion roman catholics in the world, 40% are from latin america, while africa has the biggest growth in roman catholic congregation in recent years. who are you to say a non roman catholic engaging in bashing the roman catholic church, that the roman catholic religion is a joke. it s not worth for me to explain to you, that catholics know and understand priest and the rest of the clerics are humans and not saints, that humans are sinners face daily temptations. those clerics who cannot resist temptations know must voluntarily quit as cleric of the roman catholic church. roman catholics know as well, among many priest worldwide a micro number of clerics will be caught in the web of sins. the pope leaving the papacy have become an open season for bashers like you, bashing the roman catholic church. these bashers of the roman catholic church will not even attempt to bash the muslim religion

I am skeptical about that number of a billion Catholics. They claim baptisms in their stats! Non-consenting babies. LOL

I'm baptized but reject every single thing about Catholic doctrine. They still count me. They still counted Hitler who was baptized Catholic. There is no way that number is right.

I bet the number of Catholics in the world is more on par with Hindus. I wish we could have a religious census in the US like they do in the UK.

Atheist-6939529...so be skeptical. you were not counted and never was counted, so as hitler whose been dead, atheist like you and the deceased catholics were not counted, so you think the 1.2 billion catholics will be less with you and hitler, both atheist not counted?, will make you ecstatic and happy. hinduism followers estimated at 950 million, out of the 950 million, 1.5 million from america. gosh does that make you down and sad?, hinduism did not supersede the roman catholic church in numbers of followers/believers.

Re. Atheist-6939529:

Hard to follow your logic, if you first consider yourself "counted" as one of 1.2 billion baptized Catholics but are now [re]considering as a "non-consenting" baby. Was unaware the Catholic Church conducts a religious update census.

Does an unborn baby reconsider itself as a "non-consenting" zygote after it is born? Seems to me, it - your religion at birth - is what it is. Welcome to the 'Catholic Club'. Live with it or leave it. You were still "counted" as a Catholic.

east to west I understand that you want to be protective of your religion. but .. THOU shalt have no other gods before me.. gets lost when you worship THE HOLY FATHER or HOLY SEE, or you pray infron of the statute of the V???? Mary,, but you quickly deny the roghts of others.. your view is to stop abortions yet not one of you has stood up andf said they would adopt these children to prevent an abortion.. your sprinkling your self with tap water and saying you are forgiven. or going to a confessional and getting penance for your sins.. understanding that that priest does not have to power to do those things.. yes people like Paul Ryan and others do make a mess of uyour religion .. so set the record straight .. bring out the phedophile priests turn them over to the law.. or the entire religion will live in sin forever

Maxgiver *** You said "..your view is to stop abortions yet not one of you has stood up and said they would adopt these children to prevent abortion."

Max you are either very ignorant or a flat out liar! The record of prolifers adopting, both catholic and other religions andeven no religion,, is EXCELLENT.

There are plenty of things about catholics and others which can be validly criticized. Are you so scatterbrained that you cannot even find a valid criticism to level against those you hate and must, therefore, be reduced to making something up out of whole cloth??? You're pathetic !!!

He's a gay man who hade sex w/ willing partners. Don't lump him into this catagory dumba$$.

stevo, does celibacy only apply to heterosexual relationships? Just curious.

@on the edge: yes...yes it does.

We need to wait until all the Left Wing Racists come forward first.

@comp: you dont seem to know your left from your right.

Compromise now

"We need to wait until all the Left Wing Racists come forward first."

I heard all Far Right Wing Ideologs are Fags. I'm sure that can't be true. What do you think?

Yeah, it happens. My brother-in-law who is gay, knew another gay man who had sex with a priest, in the priest's church, ON THE ALTAR. Yes, the priest was Catholic.

@buster: on the altar you say? hmm... sounds like fun. im gonna add that to my bucket list.

@buster: on the altar you say? hmm... sounds like fun. im gonna add that to my bucket list.

Whatever floats your boat.

@buster: exactly.

Inka, he was immoral, but not criminal. He did not molest or abuse children. He perhaps had to admit it because it is likely someone else told him he would come forward and expose him as a gay man.

what did Harvy Dent ever do to you? (giggity)

The trouble was he turned the other cheek.

he didnt molest anyone. he had sex with, and made passes at, other ADULT priests. read the article before acting like you know anything...idiot.

Minty Freshness

he didnt molest anyone. he had sex with, and made passes at, other ADULT priests. read the article before acting like you know anything...idiot.

If he had sex with, and made "passes" at other ADULT priests and it was nonconsentual, that is molestation. He's a typical dirty catholic prelate.

Where does it say it was nonconsentual ??? Or are you just making that up?

to insinuate that marriage would keep a pedophile from molesting a child..whether theyre a priest or not..is a bit naive.

also. would they allow gay priests to marry their gay partners, or would they try to force them to marry women? or just kick them out?

im guessing a simple mind like yours has a very simple answer for that too.

As I understand it, the majority (I once read 85%, but can't cite the source off the top of my head) of pedophiles are straight men, most of whom are married. I don't know whether pedophilia is something that can be treated (as if it were a mental disorder, for example), or whether it is inborn. We need further studies on all of the actions that society as a whole regards as perversion, if for no other reason than to understand why so many different societies regard the same actions as perversion.

I certainly feel that unwanted sex or sexual advances is wrong, no matter who is doing the advancing, nor why they are doing it. If there is consensual sex (and different societies, even different states here in the USA, define the age of consent differently), then I don't have a problem. What two (or more) other consenting people choose to do in the privacy of their home isn't my business, and it is definitely not the state's business. The SCOTUS agreed with that view in Lawrence v. Texas.

All that said, I do think that preachers especially, Catholic or not, Christian or not, married or not, gay or straight, must be extra-careful not to give scandal, which is the religious definition of immoral acts that become public. Scandal among the clergy is a big deal, and to set one's self up as an arbiter of morals implies that one's self is living according to those morals. Sadly, too many fall short of the bar, thus bringing their entire moral teachings into disrepute.

Ghandi once said that "I like your Christ; I don't like your Christians." I don't know the context, but my guess is he was probably referring to those who do not practice what they preach.

How many married men hunt down children for sexual pleasure? Thousands. Human trafficking is rampant in the U.S., and other countries. Marriage doesn't mean a damned thing if someone is a pervert to begin with.

And they need to drop their homophobia, especially since a lot of priest are gay.

Willis33...too obvious you are a non roman catholic, suggesting ending celibacy in priesthood believing you are right, really shows your ignorance to interfere on roman catholic religion, you have nothing but false knowledge.

and only your religion is true. am I correct?

laurel-1941384...what correct. i said his/her knowledge of the roman catholic religion is false. can you comprehend that? anybody with whatever religion they belong to, doesn't mean a catholic religion will be the same or totally understand a mormon religion or a mormon religion to a baptist religion and so on. do you understand how incorrect you are to say: and only your religion is true., in the context of your one liner.

According to the counsel of Trent anyone not under the authority of the pope is DAMNED. The Roman Catholics are guilty of thinking they're THE only way to God!!

Willis33,

"The Roman Catholics are guilty of thinking they're THE only way to God!!"

Is it the Roman Catholic Church's fault that so many people chose to follow that Arch-Heretic Martin Luther? According to Catholicism people have free will and are free to chose their own damnation. What's wrong with that?