True, unless it's institutional which there seems to be concerns that it is.
Nobody can say for sure since the media has no credibility and are only after ratings. One big headline, and move on to the next.
Pretty sad.
Another instance of human nature at work. The old saying "the Lord works in mysterious ways" may be at play here. I will not condemn nor condone the priest and those participants in the games. The life he chose to lead and the rules he chose to live by are rigorous for any man, thus the challenges of the flesh are a slippery slope for all. The Devil will tempt any or all of us at any given time. Weakness is natural and for those held to a higher level of position by parishioners are often the hardest hit by these sinful temptations. Through honest, heartfelt confession and true sorrow this man just may pull himself closer to his calling. If we believe the Lord already knows the trials and tribulations we will encounter in our lives and that he already knows our sins, then may this man either truly realize his errors and deal with the Lord IOT gain the Lord's pleasure again, or may this force him(the Priest) to realize the calling was not truly for him. Let he without sin throw the first stone.
Two previous drug overdoses and he was still being considered to be a bishop? Three strike rule?
Granted I'm not a fan of catholicism to say the very least, but it seems if these men weren't put on pedestals and maybe allowed to have normal human interactions, the catholic church wouldn't have the issues of molestation and the "debauchery" like you see here.
Again, I'm looking at it from the outside, but I don't see how any of these individuals are different than normal men.
Again, I'm looking at it from the outside, but I don't see how any of these individuals are different than normal men.
Everybody always conveniently leaves off the rest of that passage...
So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
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Sorry, @mugsy, if my post came off as Catholic bashing to you. In all honesty, the older I get, the less I care for ANY organized religion.
I know it is not everyone's experience, but in my life I have seen more lying, cheating, stealing, abuse of others, etc. all in "God's name" by "the most righteous" among those institutions than anywhere else.
I can't seem to get past the Man being made in God's likeness thing. If there is a God, and this is true, I am NOT impressed. Because people, as a whole, are not very nice, to put it gently.
I have met some very fine individuals in my time here but they have been few and far between in a general population of complete and total assholes. Seems to me if God was really a "good" God, it should be the other way around.
I'm guessing I'm gonna go straight to hell for saying that but it's my truth. I'm glad yours is different and you have that faith. For those who have it, I have noticed a "peace" in them I do not have, nor have I ever experienced it. Except when I rely on myself.
My prayers, if you can call them that, because they are mostly kind and hopeful thoughts for others, when called upon to do so, are ALWAYS for others and out of respect for their beliefs. But for me, it always has been, and probably always will be, me just sucking it up and dealing with the cards I've been dealt.
Anyway, apologies for any offense I may have caused you. I don't know if you remember this or not but you made a post once, several years ago, in a thread about a woman being raped. At the time, I believe you were doing what we all do -- sarcasm is so hard to find when it is an issue you are sensitive about -- and I took it as horribly offensive and told you that in all my years on OSA I'd never read anything as offensive as your comment. You responded to me in a PM I will never forget. I had always had a good amount of respect for you, but after that PM you made my "Top 10" list. There are WAY too few men in this world like you. And the world is a worse place for that ...
Even if you are a damned Yankee!!
I know it is not everyone's experience, but in my life I have seen more lying, cheating, stealing, abuse of others, etc. all in "God's name" by "the most righteous" among those institutions than anywhere else.
I can't seem to get past the Man being made in God's likeness thing. If there is a God, and this is true, I am NOT impressed. Because people, as a whole, are not very nice, to put it gently.
I have met some very fine individuals in my time here but they have been few and far between in a general population of complete and total assholes. Seems to me if God was really a "good" God, it should be the other way around.
I'm guessing I'm gonna go straight to hell for saying that but it's my truth. I'm glad yours is different and you have that faith. For those who have it, I have noticed a "peace" in them I do not have, nor have I ever experienced it. Except when I rely on myself.
My prayers, if you can call them that, because they are mostly kind and hopeful thoughts for others, when called upon to do so, are ALWAYS for others and out of respect for their beliefs. But for me, it always has been, and probably always will be, me just sucking it up and dealing with the cards I've been dealt.
Anyway, apologies for any offense I may have caused you. I don't know if you remember this or not but you made a post once, several years ago, in a thread about a woman being raped. At the time, I believe you were doing what we all do -- sarcasm is so hard to find when it is an issue you are sensitive about -- and I took it as horribly offensive and told you that in all my years on OSA I'd never read anything as offensive as your comment. You responded to me in a PM I will never forget. I had always had a good amount of respect for you, but after that PM you made my "Top 10" list. There are WAY too few men in this world like you. And the world is a worse place for that ...
Even if you are a damned Yankee!!
The position the hold in society makes them not normal. Priests, politicians (any elected official), cops, judges, etc, should be held to a higher standard
Should they be forgiven, yes. Should they still be punished, HELL YES
