Kellfire
Blackballed
Nope because religion offers a crutch for the ignorant and the lazy. It's the easy way out.
Nope because religion offers a crutch for the ignorant and the lazy. It's the easy way out.
Liverbirdie
Ryder Cup Winner
The easy way out of what?
With so many options in the world nowadays, whether religion or not, why do you have to believe in it, especially if your lazy and ignorant?
It seems that with all the stories in the news then the people in the RC church are all guilty of being Ignorant to what has been going on in their own back yard.
Time to come clean, time for change.
bigslice
Tour Winner
slightly of course but worth a mention. i believe that the catholic church has a BIG say in education which is wrong. also with the diminishing numbers going to a church on a sunday. i would say very little numbers at these schools actually go to church reguarly if at all. my church was knocked down a few years ago as it wasnt cost effiecent to keep it open.
ive posted elsewhere that i was brought up a catholic but wished i wasnt. my mum still goes my gram moved next door to the church and goes every day. ive an aunt who is a nun and one of dads pals is a minister (he was a bt engineer before finding god). im on good speaking terms with at least two priests and respect their views etc . but come on god created the world???? ma asre
ive posted elsewhere that i was brought up a catholic but wished i wasnt. my mum still goes my gram moved next door to the church and goes every day. ive an aunt who is a nun and one of dads pals is a minister (he was a bt engineer before finding god). im on good speaking terms with at least two priests and respect their views etc . but come on god created the world???? ma asre
Liverbirdie
Ryder Cup Winner
As posted elsewhere, catholics are saying that there are major problems. Not every catholic chooses to believe via their church though.
If you are not happy with what the british government do, do you always walk on parliament?
Liverbirdie
Ryder Cup Winner
:fore:
ne:I am not all that happy with what the government do but remember we get to vote every 4-5 years as to which party we think will do the best by us, the Catholic church is a closed house and the followers only follow and have no say on how the church is run and by the looks of things it is not being run very well. And it seems that the members of The RC Church are willing to turn a blind eye and not question their leaders, now could same same be said for the same members if they did not agree as to what was happening in the work place....... I think not........ So why don't they follow the same princaples for their faith.
Maybe if they did so this dreadful behaviour would be stopped and people could start believing again.
Liverbirdie
Ryder Cup Winner
As I've said elsewhere, I think the rank and file of the catholic faith should and hopefully will have more input in the future.
I still don't think it will have any effect on non-believers though.
You got to question that given all this fresh information and allegations, is there any believers left.......
I think that over the next few weeks it will only get worse as more complaints come to light.
Liverbirdie
Ryder Cup Winner
This is the crux though, people believe in Christianity, not Catholicism per se.
They may move away from that religion, but will still believe in God. Catholicism is just a medium.
A leading Scottish solicitor believes a change to the law making it easier for sexual abuse victims to claim compensation could be considered in light of fresh allegations against the Catholic Church.
Cameron Fyfe is acting on behalf of six clients who claim they were abused by priests, two of whom came forward in the weeks since Cardinal Keith O'Brien resigned after admitting sexual misconduct.
It follows reports that bishops in the Scottish Catholic Church knew of 20 allegations of child sex abuse between 1985 and 1995.
Mr Fyfe said: "I'm acting for six clients who allege they were abused by priests, some in the 1980s, some in the 1990s. One we have raised a court action over in the Court of Session and one we're just about to raise a court action over. The other four we're currently investigating.
"Two of the victims were abused in the early 1980s, two towards the end of the 1980s, and two relatively recently in the mid-1990s. Two say they were raped by the priest in question; the others suffered serious sexual abuse.â€
Mr Fyfe complained that the “time bar†in Scots law, which gives claimants a set period of time in which they must raise an action, was unfair.
He explained: "There's a rule in Scots law that you're supposed to raise an action within three years of abuse or, if you're a child, three years of your 16th birthday, which in my mind is totally unrealistic because victims of sexual abuse hide their memories inside them. But the Catholic Church have always used this time bar as a defence and I think they'll use it in this case as well. As a result of that, they could well escape liability."
The solicitor added that recent events could give weight to his campaign for a change in the law around the time bar.
He continued: "For ten or 15 years, I've been trying to have that law changed. I took two cases all the way to the House of Lords, as it was back then, but without success. I've tried to campaign for the Scottish Parliament to change the law as well, again without success. But it may be that this raft of cases which are now coming through will make the authorities change the law because it's so unfair on victims who've hidden these feelings inside them for many, many years that they cannot then claim compensation."
The Catholic Church has previously renewed its apology to those whose complaints were not taken seriously in the past and insists that all cases are passed on to the police for further investigation.
A spokesman for the Church could not be reached by STV News on Saturday.
Cameron Fyfe is acting on behalf of six clients who claim they were abused by priests, two of whom came forward in the weeks since Cardinal Keith O'Brien resigned after admitting sexual misconduct.
It follows reports that bishops in the Scottish Catholic Church knew of 20 allegations of child sex abuse between 1985 and 1995.
Mr Fyfe said: "I'm acting for six clients who allege they were abused by priests, some in the 1980s, some in the 1990s. One we have raised a court action over in the Court of Session and one we're just about to raise a court action over. The other four we're currently investigating.
"Two of the victims were abused in the early 1980s, two towards the end of the 1980s, and two relatively recently in the mid-1990s. Two say they were raped by the priest in question; the others suffered serious sexual abuse.â€
Mr Fyfe complained that the “time bar†in Scots law, which gives claimants a set period of time in which they must raise an action, was unfair.
He explained: "There's a rule in Scots law that you're supposed to raise an action within three years of abuse or, if you're a child, three years of your 16th birthday, which in my mind is totally unrealistic because victims of sexual abuse hide their memories inside them. But the Catholic Church have always used this time bar as a defence and I think they'll use it in this case as well. As a result of that, they could well escape liability."
The solicitor added that recent events could give weight to his campaign for a change in the law around the time bar.
He continued: "For ten or 15 years, I've been trying to have that law changed. I took two cases all the way to the House of Lords, as it was back then, but without success. I've tried to campaign for the Scottish Parliament to change the law as well, again without success. But it may be that this raft of cases which are now coming through will make the authorities change the law because it's so unfair on victims who've hidden these feelings inside them for many, many years that they cannot then claim compensation."
The Catholic Church has previously renewed its apology to those whose complaints were not taken seriously in the past and insists that all cases are passed on to the police for further investigation.
A spokesman for the Church could not be reached by STV News on Saturday.
Liverbirdie
Ryder Cup Winner
Priest abuse claims: 'I struggle every day'
One alleged victim told the BBC people had to seek out help
Continue reading the main story
Related Stories
Church 'knew of priest abuse claims'
BBC Scotland has seen evidence that bishops in the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland knew of 20 allegations of child sex abuse by priests from 1985 to 1995.
Another alleged victim of abuse says his life has been ruined.
Continue reading the main story
“
Start Quote
I genuinely used to wake up every morning believing there was no hopeâ€
'Chris'
The man, named by the BBC as "Chris", has encouraged others to speak out.
The Church said all allegations of abuse were passed to the police.
Chris, whose identity is not being published to protect his anonymity, is another who claims he was abused by his local priest.
He was not one of the 20 alleged victims identified in the decade up to 1995.
Chris received help through counselling and through groups which work with people who have been abused. His advice for anyone in the same situation is to find someone who they can talk to.
He said: "There's many people out there that have been abused. Have the strength to speak to somebody and know that there are other people out there like you who are suffering. You're not on your own.
"Speak to your GP, or a friend, someone you trust with that information.
"I think unless I'd found the support network through my counselling, I genuinely used to wake up every morning believing there was no hope. I think that's a big problem.
"We've still got a lot of stigma against mental illness, especially when it's been caused by something like this. People can't talk about it so no-one understands why they're depressed, no-one understands why they do what they do, what their mental thought process is.
"Have the strength to speak to somebody and know that there are other people out there like you who are suffering. You're not on your own."
Sex acts
Chris claims he was abused as a minor and informed the Church in 2012.
He said: "He would get me to perform sexual acts on him, and he would perform sexual acts on me - away from the family home, in the family home, in the church, in their vehicle.
"There's many people out there that have been abused, personally, it's a way of being able to admit that it did happen to me and it wasn't my fault, because that's something I struggle with every day.
"But also to try and give hope to people that have been abused - don't be scared, there's help out there for you."
Safeguards
In May 2011 Pope Benedict issued guidelines telling bishops around the world they had a duty to promptly report all allegations of sexual abuse of minors by priests to local police.
A spokesman for the Church said this case of Chris "was handled in complete accordance with the guidelines".
He added: "As soon as the complaint was reported, the police were informed, the priest concerned was removed from his parish and after they investigated the police passed a report to the procurator fiscal, who took no further action. The Church sent its file to the Vatican in July last year and now awaits a decision."
The Church also pointed out it has, since 1999, had nationally agreed guidelines on the protection of children and vulnerable adults.
The spokesman said: "In 2003, as well as existing Diocesan protection staff, the Church appointed a National Director of Child protection. Ten years later that post now titled; National Co-ordinator remains a key part of our safeguarding structures."
One alleged victim told the BBC people had to seek out help
Continue reading the main story
Related Stories
Church 'knew of priest abuse claims'
BBC Scotland has seen evidence that bishops in the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland knew of 20 allegations of child sex abuse by priests from 1985 to 1995.
Another alleged victim of abuse says his life has been ruined.
Continue reading the main story
“
Start Quote
I genuinely used to wake up every morning believing there was no hopeâ€
'Chris'
The man, named by the BBC as "Chris", has encouraged others to speak out.
The Church said all allegations of abuse were passed to the police.
Chris, whose identity is not being published to protect his anonymity, is another who claims he was abused by his local priest.
He was not one of the 20 alleged victims identified in the decade up to 1995.
Chris received help through counselling and through groups which work with people who have been abused. His advice for anyone in the same situation is to find someone who they can talk to.
He said: "There's many people out there that have been abused. Have the strength to speak to somebody and know that there are other people out there like you who are suffering. You're not on your own.
"Speak to your GP, or a friend, someone you trust with that information.
"I think unless I'd found the support network through my counselling, I genuinely used to wake up every morning believing there was no hope. I think that's a big problem.
"We've still got a lot of stigma against mental illness, especially when it's been caused by something like this. People can't talk about it so no-one understands why they're depressed, no-one understands why they do what they do, what their mental thought process is.
"Have the strength to speak to somebody and know that there are other people out there like you who are suffering. You're not on your own."
Sex acts
Chris claims he was abused as a minor and informed the Church in 2012.
He said: "He would get me to perform sexual acts on him, and he would perform sexual acts on me - away from the family home, in the family home, in the church, in their vehicle.
"There's many people out there that have been abused, personally, it's a way of being able to admit that it did happen to me and it wasn't my fault, because that's something I struggle with every day.
"But also to try and give hope to people that have been abused - don't be scared, there's help out there for you."
Safeguards
In May 2011 Pope Benedict issued guidelines telling bishops around the world they had a duty to promptly report all allegations of sexual abuse of minors by priests to local police.
A spokesman for the Church said this case of Chris "was handled in complete accordance with the guidelines".
He added: "As soon as the complaint was reported, the police were informed, the priest concerned was removed from his parish and after they investigated the police passed a report to the procurator fiscal, who took no further action. The Church sent its file to the Vatican in July last year and now awaits a decision."
The Church also pointed out it has, since 1999, had nationally agreed guidelines on the protection of children and vulnerable adults.
The spokesman said: "In 2003, as well as existing Diocesan protection staff, the Church appointed a National Director of Child protection. Ten years later that post now titled; National Co-ordinator remains a key part of our safeguarding structures."
FairwayDodger
Money List Winner
My word, you typed that quick - are you the supreme being?
No. He's just a very naughty boy.
Val
Ryder Cup Winner
Rumours you say
Rumours are exactly that, allegations with a bit of substance are a different kettle of fish.
The Catholic Church does need cleaning up from the top for sure but not every apple is bad and not all top cardinals and senior clergyman should be tarred with the same brush.
To say the ex pope is hiding is nonsense
T
thecraw
Guest
Rumours you say
Rumours are exactly that, allegations with a bit of substance are a different kettle of fish.
The Catholic Church does need cleaning up from the top for sure but not every apple is bad and not all top cardinals and senior clergyman should be tarred with the same brush.
To say the ex pope is hiding is nonsense
Rumours indeed. It is however 100% correct that lawyers were blocked in attempts to have him arrested on entry to Britain due to his Diplomatic Immunity. He was wanted in relation to child abuse scandal. No smoke without fire buddy!
PhilTheFragger
Provider of Entertainment for the Golfing Gods 🙄
That would have gone down well, pope getting banged up, I can imagine the international uproar that would ensue...
Would put an end to our Eurovision Song Contest chances for ever
Val
Ryder Cup Winner
Maybe so but let me ask this question, if there was potential for him to be arrested had he no diplomatic immunity then surely remaining as pope would be the most sensible thing for him to do to avoid arrest.
At the end of the day no one will ever know all the stories.
The next Pope has a big job galvanising the congregation and cleaning up the top clergymen.
Val
Ryder Cup Winner
Have you read the article or did you just find it and fancy it would tick the boxes?
No where in the article is there any mention the Pope would face any legal case, it suggest there may be potential cases but I see no where saying anything for definate.
