Saturday, July 19, 2008

Pope Sheds Crocodile Tears in Australia

Apparently faced with public and media pressure, the Nazi Pope, Benedict XVI, shed crocodile tears in Australia feigning sadness and shame for the clergy sex abuse scandal which has cost the Roman Catholic Church billions of dollars worldwide (in the USA alone the amount of settlement paymenst has well exceeded $2 billion). Of course, if Benedict XVI was truly sorry - which he is not other than for the fact that the Church got caught - he throw numerous bishops and cardinald out of the priesthood and out of the Church without pensions. I.e., like what would have happened in any other institution where such gross negligence if not down right criminal conduct occurred. I will NOT be holding my breath. In my view, the Church is beyond saving unless and until a complete removal of much of the guilty hierarchy occurs. Here are some highlights from the Sydney Morning Herald concering Benedicts false remorse (remember, actions speak louder than words):
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Before 3400 guests, including cardinals, bishops, Australian seminarians, victims and pilgrims from around the world, he said: "Here, I would like to pause to acknowledge the shame which we have all felt as a result of the sexual abuse of minors by some clergy and religious in this country. "Indeed I am deeply sorry for the pain and suffering the victims have endured and I assure them that as their pastor, I too share in their suffering. "These misdeeds, which constitute so grave a betrayal of trust, deserve unequivocal condemnation. They have caused great pain and have damaged the Church's witness."
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Pope Benedict XVI called on those assembled in the great cathedral to help their bishops and to "work together with them in combating this evil". "Victims should receive compassion and care and those responsible for these evils must be brought to justice," he said. "It is an urgent priority to promote a safer and more wholesome environment, especially for young people.
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But Anthony Foster, whose daughters were raped by a Melbourne priest, said the words were meaningless unless they were accompanied by practical measures. Mr Foster's daughter Emma committed suicide in January at the age of 26, while her sister Katherine drank heavily and was left disabled when she was hit by a drunk driver in 1999.
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I agree with Anthony Foster. The Pope's words ARE meaningless. I particularly like the part where he asks Catholics to work with their bishops to address the problem. Now isn't that special! In the USA, the Dallas Morning News in a special report found that roughly 2/3's of the bishops allowed priests accused of sexual abuse to keep working, a systematic practice that spans decades and continues today. Anyone stupid enough to believe Benedict XVI please call me: I have some oceanfront property to sell you in Arizona.

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