Tuesday, March 10, 2009

The beginning of the end?

(From Oregonlive.com)

Oregon has found itself at the center of an international story after a federal appellate court ruled that a former Portland man can sue the Vatican in a U.S. court over his alleged molestation as a teenager by a parish priest.

It is the first time in history that a victim has won this right. The decision also means that top Catholic officials may be deposed for Rome's role in the case.

Victims have long argued that in a rigid hierarchy such as the Catholic Church, decisions come from the Vatican and, therefore, Rome should be held responsible for ongoing coverups of clergy sex crimes.
Read the whole thing here.

Is it wrong to be delighted about this? In a religion where children are supposedly considered sacred and precious, it seems atrocious to me not only the extent of the child abuse on the part of the clergy, but the cover-ups as well. I really can't help but feel overjoyed that the people at the top are going to have to answer for this, even if it does mean the fall of Catholicism (which, in all likelihood, it won't). Now if only someone would take George W. Bush to court for war crimes...

Matthew 18:5-6 says:
And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.
Matthew 23:25 says:
Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.
Serves you right, Vatican officials. Perhaps you should have read the Bible a little more closely. WTFWJD?

4 comments:

Seattle Mama said...

I'll be surprised if a US appellate court decision will stand up to the Holy See but I'm certainly interested to find out.

Jocelyn said...

Well, I mean the US is slightly more powerful than the Vatican. Only slightly, though.

Katy said...

I'll hold them (the child molesting priests and those that facilitated them) down while you tie the millstone around their necks - then we can both chuck them into the sea, k?

Jocelyn said...

Only after the trial. I wouldn't want them to miss the opportunity for further public humiliation.

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