Comments on: Irish Report Details Catholic Child Abuse

9-Year Probe Reveals Decades Of Beatings, Rapes Ignored By Government, At Church-Run Institutions

[gmw7777]

My Mother, who was born in 1920 in Seattle, WA never forgot how the Sisters used the edge of the ruler on her knuckles (and she never forgave them!) When I was a first and second grader in Seattle, the boys got the strap in the cloak room by Sister Superior (in the first grade) and by the second grade Sister when I was in the second grade. One day, I was caught talking in line when all grades, first to eighth had to line up after recess and march back to class (without talkling). When Sister Superior called me out of line, I was so frightened that she was going to hit me in front of the whole school, I started to cry---hard. She looked down at me like I was some creature from another planet and announced, "I'm just going to have you pick up papers on the playground--I'm not going to kill you!" I was so relieved, I stopped crying instantly and found a bag to start cleaning up the playground. My parents never used corporal punishment on my older brother or on me. My Dad would also go to the school if we were in trouble and talk to the Sisters sternly about any punishment they meted out or wanted to mete out. As long as my brother and I told the truth about any incident at school, my Dad defended us kids against the Sisters. (And my parents were of the WWII generation, when kids were almost always punished if the teacher deemed it necessary). My parents had respect for authority, but it had to be proper and truthful authority. This attitude was passed to me as their daughter especially. I'm not afraid of anyone in authority as long as they behave lawfully. If they don't, watch out! They will answer for it!

[An-Historian]

"You are fond of quoting Robert Owen, socialist and father of socialism. You must be ecstatically happy that your Savior and Redeemer, Obama is the President. Sorry, but Obama and Owen are just mortal men, they are not Gods."

Posted by leeanna59 at 4:08 PM : May 20, 2009

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Socialism:

1: any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods

2 a: a system of society or group living in which there is no private property b: a system or condition of society in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the state

3: a stage of society in Marxist theory transitional between capitalism and communism and distinguished by unequal distribution of goods and pay according to work done

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

By definition, isn't the Catholic church itself obviously a "Socialist" organization?

[kansas1946]

What's wrong with Socialism? Jesus was quite obviously a Socialist himself. Do you hold that against HIM as well?
Posted by An-Historian at 6:04 PM : May 20, 2009
******************************

You are entirely right. In fact, Jesus was probably our first documented socialist. But I think Jesus was too decent and kind for this current crop of so-called Christians. They are more interested in pointing fingers, judging, and wanting to punish anyone they don't agree with. They would have been much happier in Salem, or in Europe during the Spanish Inquisition. They would love to see the "sinners" tortured. Jesus would turn his back on all of them and be horrified that they called themselves Christians. I think their time would be better spent re-reading the New Testament than spewing venom on these message boards. ;o)

[kansas1946]

Jesus. This from a church that is against birth control and choice. Just like the evangelicals in this country. Just get 'em born and then to hell with them.

[An-Historian]

"You are fond of quoting Robert Owen, socialist and father of socialism. You must be ecstatically happy that your Savior and Redeemer, Obama is the President. Sorry, but Obama and Owen are just mortal men, they are not Gods."

Posted by leeanna59 at 4:08 PM : May 20, 2009

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

What's wrong with Socialism? Jesus was quite obviously a Socialist himself. Do you hold that against HIM as well?

[An-Historian]

"How do you suppose that the Universe is so meticulously organized - by accident?"

Posted by leeanna59 at 4:00 PM : May 20, 2009

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The "meticulous organization" of the universe is obviously the result of a very long series of completely natural events, with a mind-boggling amount of time and an occasional random variation thrown in for good measure; it's all natural "cause and effect" governed by a specific set of universal physical laws.

Why should we be afraid or ashamed to openly admit that we really don't know a *whole* lot more about our universe, or it's beginnings, than that, at this point? (though we are learning more, and faster, all the time) Shouldn't it be sufficient, and wise, to simply acknowledge the fact that we *don't* know, and not resort to childishly making up intricate and fantastic religious mythologies in order to attempt to deny facing and accepting the unknown AS the unknown?

The *correct* (and honest) answer to the question "Is there a God?" is: "I honestly don't know, and neither does anybody else."

The sad truth of the matter is that most (if not all) "believers" are simply selfish, frightened people who just cannot face the thought of their own end - they simply refuse to accept that someday they will cease to exist, and in their cowardice they will go to any lengths to attempt to escape that inevitability and reinforce their desperate denial in any way they can. Religion offers an imaginary escape from death, and most simply cannot resist grasping at that vain hope.

Believe it or not, though, there are a LOT of people in this world who CAN face the unknown, and their own end, without fear or selfishness. They don't need to indulge in childish religious fantasies in order to cope.

Try it sometime - it's very liberating.

[Wolfear]

Man.... When the Irish turn against the Catholic church you know it's serious.

[texasbeta]

WHERE are all the right wingers who were defending the Univ of Notre Dame last week? Where is all of the holier than thou Catholics who want to talk about morals and ethics? Face it...this church has been the most corrupt organization of any kind in the history of mankind.

[MissUT]

Is this the same Catholic Church that last week condemned a Catholic priest because he fell in love with a WOMAN? Sounds like that may have been his problem....she was a woman!

And this was also the same Catholic Church that protested our President speaking at the graduation ceremony at Notre Dame? Wow! Sure makes me glad I'm a Baptist.......

[mojo1372]

I attended catholic school in nyc during the 60's getting hit by the nuns was not unusal .
and they did worse stuff . taping kids mouths and taping them into chairs . getting hit on the knuckles with a metal edged ruler was there favorite . once the had a first grader carried into the basedment by 4 8th grades one hodling each arm and leg and carring her into the dark basement and closing her in there just for talking in class .I saw nuns slam boys heads together . so this type of stuff does not suprise me .I bet every kid who went to school up to the 70's can tell you the same thing