Mass Catholic pedophilia in Ireland

[memphis]

Anybody really surprised? May as well do a story about how people in China eat, sleep, and go to the bathroom just like Americans do.

[memphis]

Anybody really surprised? May as well do a story about how people in China eat, sleep, and go to the bathroom just like Americans do.

Don't do that again! As a Catholic, I feel insulted by that free statement, without any bases.

Don't you dare say anything about Jews though! Those generalizations are totally uncalled for around here and memphis would be one of the first to whine about it.

The double standards on this forum are amazing.

Feel free to mock as soon as there is international, massive child abuse that has been systematically covered up for decades. Seriously, can anybody honestly say that they are surprised by this?

[memphis]

Wikipedia says four percent of US priests have been accused.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholic_sex_abuse_cases

I doubt four percent of rabbis or Baptist ministers or whoever are sexually abusing children. That's a really high number for such an inexcusable offense. Also, the efforts to cover up abuses make the situation so much worse. Again, can anybody say they are surprised by the Irish story?

[memphis]

You think 4% isn't a lot? Comparing to black murderers? There are about 600,000 blacks in Philly. 4% would be 24,000 black murderers.  If there were that many (which there obviously aren't) I think we might be reasonable to talk about it. Jesus Christ, take a math class! BTW, there are far too many murders among blacks, and I think the fact that you have chosen to make the comparison says something. Again, the real reason this story has such a profound impact is that they Church has systematically covered it up and moved people to new environments where they can offend again.

[memphis]

Wikipedia says four percent of US priests have been accused.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholic_sex_abuse_cases

I doubt four percent of rabbis or Baptist ministers or whoever are sexually abusing children. That's a really high number for such an inexcusable offense. Also, the efforts to cover up abuses make the situation so much worse. Again, can anybody say they are surprised by the Irish story?

First off, you are a dumbass.

Secondly, you are a dumbass.

Third, you are a dumbass.

The first reason you are a dumbass is because, as Phil was pointing out, accused and guilty are not the same thing.  I know of three priests who have been accused at some point, two of them I know never would (and no proof was ever presented), and in the third case, it was proven that the "victim" was lying (though the victim had been abused by his real father as a child).  In fact, all scientific studies suggest that pedophilia is no more common in the Catholic priesthood than in the general population, and that, aside from being committed to celibacy, the sexual leanings of the Catholic priesthood are generally in line with those of the population at large.  Something like 80% of the recorded cases of sexual abuse were committed by repeat offender priests, who had generally abused as many as five children.  Thus, only a couple hundred priests, over the last fifty years, have accounted for the vast majority of cases.

The second reason you are a dumbass is because, in fact, ministers from other faiths are no less likely to be convicted of such charges as Catholic priests.  When it happens, though, it usually stays local, because people from these other faiths don't have bishops, archbishops and the Vatican above them to point fingers at (deservedly, at times).

However, I will never forget the story, about six years ago, about a child porn ring that was busted in West Virginia.  The news loudly proclaimed that two Catholic priests had been arrested as having a role in it.  You had to dig deep into the story before you discovered that three protestant ministers had also been arrested on charges, in connection to the same ring.

Third, well dude, you are just a dumbass, so go f-uck yourself.

Emo much?