Pell convicted.

I read that, I could not believe it and did not reply to them because I would of been banned from the forum.

 

The “blame the victim” mentality is very very strong in parts of America especially the Bible Belt. Do you realise that child marriages are still legal there?

 

I did not, that is so sad.

 

Agreed
We, as a nation are shocked and outraged by any child abuse. We act collectively to protect children with pool fences, product recalls, and severe punishment for those abusing children. I am always saddened to read gun threads where the horrific child firearm morbidity and mortality rates in the ISA are dismissed as “more kids are killed by........”.

One of the reasons I debate on these forums is that I do NOT want those attitudes becoming norms here

 

With a little bit o' luck Pell will top himself - they often do.

 

Suicide is a worse sin than molesting choir boys isn't it?

 

I guess religiosos see it that way, but in my book no. In fact nothing would give me greater pleasure than to help him to do the honourable thing.

 

Sadly that mentality remains entrenched all over the place. You might remember we had a Governor General who had to resign because he implied something similar about a case he dealt with when he was an Archbishop.

 

Yep, and Vanilla crimes against children! Robert Richter must be squirming with mortification.

 

He came out and apologised without reservation, which is more than most ever do. He hasn't had a good trial. Hopefully he has an equally poor appeal.

 

You are innocent until proven guilty. He was found guilty by a jury.

Yes he is appealing, but by law he is still guilty. There are hundreds of terrorists, rapists, pedophiles etc in prison pleading innocence and lodging appeals.

Pell is just one more.

May he rot in prison.

 

There is no such thing as a "vanilla" sexual crime, yet alone one against a child.

 

It's bad that he even thought such a thing!

 

And when I young there were lots of jokes about Kiwis and sheep.That doesn't mean average ram or yew in the country gets nervous every time it hears someone mispronounce the number '6'. You simply can't tar all members of the clergy with the same brush. You want to accuse someone/anyone of involvement in, willful blindness of or even just plain negligence regarding sexual abuse in the Catholic Church (or any other organization) you need proof.

FYI most diocesan priests are in their respective parishes on term postings and as such they are expected to move from post to post during the course of their careers. And pedophiles infiltrate any organization that gives them access to children. If all priests and nuns are 'guilty' then so are all teachers, nurses, police, child care workers etc. The key issue is identifying them and removing them before they can do (any) damage sadly most will only reveal themselves after they have done so.

 

Voice of moderation speaks the truth. Not everyone is a malignant drooler lusting after young kids. Child sex abuse seems to be a very common problem. What is the matter with our society?

 

I'm not talking about all being pedophiles or even that they condone it .You don't have to dig very far and I think you will find some evidence that has been swept under the carpet either by those "in the know", to protect the church or through blind adoration of priests who could do no wrong.

I know one family personally where even though the father was a senior member of the church, the family was shunned by most of the congregation after they "confidently" reported an abuse of one of their children.

 

We are a very repressive country in certain respects.

 

so true.....