Pope updates criminal code for priests

mellowyellow

mellowyellow

Well-known Member
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Pope Francis updated the Catholic Church's criminal code Tuesday, adding directives on punishing sexual abuse crimes of minors by priests that have long been sought by activists against paedophilia.

Since becoming pope in 2013, the Argentine pontiff has striven to tackle the decades-long sexual abuse scandals involving Catholic priests around the globe, although many activists against paedophilia insist much more needs to be done.
 

mellowyellow said:
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Pope Francis updated the Catholic Church's criminal code Tuesday, adding directives on punishing sexual abuse crimes of minors by priests that have long been sought by activists against paedophilia.

Since becoming pope in 2013, the Argentine pontiff has striven to tackle the decades-long sexual abuse scandals involving Catholic priests around the globe, although many activists against paedophilia insist much more needs to be done.
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Good to know.
 
This edict expands the current sexual abuse policy of the Catholic Church to include abuse of adults. It also includes sanctions against laypersons who hold church offices. Long overdue... but still does not go far enough.

In the name of the Church, many lives have been ruined by sexual predators in the priesthood. Read one article on this most recent edict that said the abuse of adult parishioners and church workers by priests had been long overlooked. Adults will hide their being abused because they fell they were "part of the problem".

Also cannot truly understand the articles I've read that suggest the Pope has made sexual abuse of adults "illegal". What "legal" enforcement is the Church authorized to perform? They can't send an abuser to prison. If it's simply "We don't want you in the public eye, so we will hide you away in one of our safe houses for the remainder of your life"... is that a consequence that will be a learning experience for other potential abusers.

If while sipping morning tee in the church office and a priest tells another "Wow! Got a little drunk on communion wine last night and ended up in bed with John Doe, John Doe the church janitor. He knew he couldn't say no to a priest because I'd get him fired" would that be an admission protected by clergy privilege?
 

It's been going on forever, now finally forced to act.

Sexual abuse in the Catholic church been reported as far back as the 11th century, when Peter Damian wrote the treatise Liber Gomorrhianus against such abuses and others.

The Liber Gomorrhianus (Book of Gomorrah) is a book authored and published by the Benedictine monk St. Peter Damian during the Gregorian Reformation circa AD 1051. It is a treatise regarding various vices of the clergy, and the consequent need for reform.
 
The Catholic Church, and a host of other denominations have paid out billions in settlements for clergy abusing little boys. Homosexual pedophiles are a statistically small portion of the population. It begs the question of abuse of females by clergy, which is never mentioned. Unless all clergy are homosexual pedophiles, there is a vast under reporting of the abuse of young females by heterosexual pedophiles. I don't see any outing of those kind of abuse cases, by any religious organization.
 
fuzzybuddy said:
The Catholic Church, and a host of other denominations have paid out billions in settlements for clergy abusing little boys. Homosexual pedophiles are a statistically small portion of the population. It begs the question of abuse of females by clergy, which is never mentioned.
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It's my guess that because the Catholic church doesn't allow marriage, it would naturally attract more men who had no desire for women than other churches. So, although homosexual pedophiles and regular homosexuals are a small proportion of the population they might be a relatively large proportion of Catholic priests -- what better way to get the family to quit asking questions about why they aren't dating or getting married? Now that the gay lifestyle is much more accepted in society the Catholic church probably wont be used as a place to hide that orientation.

Of course pedophiles are a different story and they still might join the priesthood to gain easy access to children. I don't think the church should be "punishing" those priests at all. I think they should be immediately defrocked and handed over to the police.
 
mellowyellow said:
View attachment 167626
Pope Francis updated the Catholic Church's criminal code Tuesday, adding directives on punishing sexual abuse crimes of minors by priests that have long been sought by activists against paedophilia.

Since becoming pope in 2013, the Argentine pontiff has striven to tackle the decades-long sexual abuse scandals involving Catholic priests around the globe, although many activists against paedophilia insist much more needs to be done.
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He sure did drag his feet, didn't he? :mad:
 
Aunt Marg said:
You said it so much better than I ever could have, Terry.

I wouldn't have been anywhere near as nice.
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Same here I’d be in line to get banned from this forum for life ,
if I wrote what I told the Australian royal commission ( in person ) into child abuse what I thought of the Catholic Church practices

( and I didn’t use one swear word )
@Aunt Marg @terry123
 
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terry123 said:
Don't even get me started on the Catholic Church. All in the name of God!
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I am a non-practicing Catholic and I agree. The atrocities committed are beyond belief. I still can not get past the idea that so many knew but kept silent...I do admire those who continue to belong and participate in the Church with the intention of improving the Church
 

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