Senator Rick Santorum has blamed the Catholic priest pedophilia scandal on, you guessed it, liberalism.
There is an interesting item on Andrew Sullivan's blog linking to an article for Catholic Online written by Republican Senator Rick Santorum, who is well known for his homophobia and ultra-conservatism. Santorum blames the priest pedophilia scandal on, you guessed it, liberalism.Priests, like all of us, are affected by culture. When the culture is sick, every element in it becomes infected. While it is no excuse for this scandal, it is no surprise that Boston, a seat of academic, political and cultural liberalism in America, lies at the center of the storm.Maybe this is going out on a limb, but I bet the fact that Boston is the biggest city in Massachusetts—one of only two states in the U.S. with a majority-Catholic population (the other being tiny Rhode Island)—has a little something to do with it.…
Article comments
76 - Jason
Silas, Nancy, from what I've read on the priest pedophile situation I have heard no reference to any politican that was aware of the problem. If so, especially in the Boston area, I'm sure that that politician would have been drawn and quartered. What we do know for sure is that there was a coverup that started in the highest reaches of the Archdiocese of Boston (Cardinal Law).
A question for Silas and it is delivered with respect for what you have endured and had the courage to openly admit: Do you believe that homosexuals that grew up in strict Catholic families (lots of those in Eastern Mass and I think that's the correlation BTW) were so ashamed by their sexuality that rather than deal with their sexuality they opted for the priesthood and that unhealthy suppression manifested itself in deviant sexual behavior?
77 - Silas Kain
No, Nancy, everyone remains quite silent on the issue of what politicians and law enforcement officials may or may not have known. Allegations of sexual abuse were known by law enforcement and politicians as far back as 1980. Mysteriously no one seems to be able to recall this little fact. The news media, New England in particular, has done nothing to expose this side of the cover up. I've asked many in law enforcement to come forward and they won't. It's all about preserving "their own."
NAMBLA is the North American Man Boy Love Association. It is a group of twisted pedophiles who seem to think that what they believe is in some way normal. What may have been accepted in ancient Greek and Oriental cultures is not accepted today, period. I know what damage is done to a kid who's been molested. From that first night in July, 1966 my life changed. I was the victim of a pedophile, NOT a homosexual. The perpetrator did not distinguish between boys and girls. He went after either sex.
When I hear people rant about pedophiles and liberalism my blood boils. I wish that there would be a study done on these predators. Once the data was disseminated we would learn that the majority of pedophiles come from conservative, religious roots.
78 - andy marsh
don't get testy Steve...it was a joke...you through out liberty...I through out another backwards university...relax man! FUCK!
79 - Silas Kain
Jason asks: Do you believe that homosexuals that grew up in strict Catholic families (lots of those in Eastern Mass and I think that's the correlation BTW) were so ashamed by their sexuality that rather than deal with their sexuality they opted for the priesthood and that unhealthy suppression manifested itself in deviant sexual behavior?
ABSOLUTELY, Jason. Boys who were less than totally masculine were often encouraged by their families to go to seminary. I know, in my own case, that seminary was something that was presented as an option for me early on. My own grandmother was aware of the sexual abuse and did nothing for fear of bringing shame upon the family. So, how did she deal with it? She encouraged me to go to seminary and find forgiveness with God. OK, that sounds good. There was one problem - why did I need God's forgiveness? The refuge of the Church has been a tool used by strict Catholic families for centuries. It's unfortunate that the good priests who actually serve God are shadowed by these predators.
In the final analysis, Jason, the Catholic Church's unhealthy attitude towards all forms of sex has played a part in the problem. Sexual relations between two people who are in love and choose to be life partners are a very precious, beautiful thing. The Church, in its own misguided way, has made Catholics feel that anything beyond the heterosexual missionary style of sex filthy and tantamount to mortal sin.
80 - andy marsh
Silas says - has made Catholics feel ...small correction if I may Silas...has tried to make catholics feel....fair enough?
81 - Steve S
I'm not testy andy. I know you don't expect me to know. You put a question on me, I put one back on you. I'm not offended, just put it back in your court.
Regarding the church, it is clear that strict 'sex is for procreation ONLY' and abstinance only programs are complete failures across the board. The Catholic doctrine on sex, not exclusively homosexuality but sex in general, runs counter to natural biological urges. Therein creates the problem.
The reason why there have been so many priestly abuses cases, is because the priests question their orientation, society condemns them, so they turn to the church for answers. If you all haven't figured out that the church cannot provide a qualified answer to sexuality, then of course you are going to be shocked that it's filled with the sexually dysfunctional.
82 - Nancy
That doctrine was added later; it isn't intrinsic to the original. JC didn't say 'only for kids' ... but Augustine did, and that nutcase, Jerome, who unfortunately had a good deal of pull in the 4th c.
83 - Silas Kain
Fair enough, Andy.
Indeed, Nancy. St. Augustine, as intelligent as he was, comes across as a deeply troubled man. His writings show that there was a conflict which raged within him. Same could be said of Jerome. The problem is that the 'doctors' of the Church had a field day twisting the intent of the original twelve Apostles. I wonder what would happen if we stripped away all the writings of the early Church fathers after the First Century. What dogma would remain? Would the teachings of Christ finally be revealed in their Truth rather than filtered through an established institution? I think Christ spent less time in the bedroom than all who have followed in His name.
84 - Nancy
If you strip away all the additions very strictly, you lose all that "only thru me" stuff, & a good deal of John & Luke, like the lineage, annuciation, temple presentation, etc. It actually reads better and makes more sense. Darn! I have a book that does this & explains what is cut & why, but can't remember the name. There's several of them, but IMO this one was the most lucid, best reasoned & supported. If I can find it, I'll post title & author.
85 - valarie
And again I have to ask; It took Ted 3 years to find this? I heard him read the "prepared speech", full of nonsensical data. Obviously written by someone else. Pathetic show Teddy. Well done.
86 - Janice Fish
Hello to all seriously seeking the truths of the Priest Media Circus,
I have only to say to those who think celibacy contributed to this horrific behavior by a small percentage of priests that they need to consider the fact that 1/2 of 1% of Roman Catholic Priest have acted in the horrific manner of any sexual misconduct, The figure for child molestation alone for protestant ministers is 8% and 10% for parents. So if you think celibacy should end, then parenthood should end. I think you get my point. Also, I meant no disrespect of Protestant ministers and certaninly not parents, I am a parent after all. But I do feel the number of priest who have participated in sexual misconduct would be much higher, were it not for celibacy of which 99.5% of priest adhere too.
Thank You and God Bless,
J G