"...the Catholic church was not the only institution whose members have turned a blind eye to the rape and abuse of prepubescents in its care."

Indeed not, although since Ratzinger-once personally responsible for Vatican policy in relation to reports of child abuse- has probably turned more blind eyes and condoned more instances of child rape than anybody else in recorded history, perhaps he isn't the ideal spokesman on this topic. I'm guessing there are literally thousands of child rapists walking free thanks to his 'interventions'.

If it weren't for its 'special' status, the Catholic church would undoubtedly be classed as an international organised crime syndicate devoted to the systematic rape of children. I certainly welcome the Pope's speech on this matter but it does create a somewhat incongruous precedent; I can imagine being lectured on the benefits of anger management by Genghis Khan would invoke a similar sense of "What the Fuck?".

...and I speak as a one-time Catholic. I hesitate to employ the term 'lapsed' since it implies I once occupied a position from which lapsing was possible. I'm a one-time Catholic in the sense that some old kiddy-fiddler once poured some holy water on my head and pronounced some profound mumbo-jumbo in order to welcome me into the bosom of his fucked-up paedophile organisation.

Of course other religions spouted from the corruption of the Vatican. Perhaps the greatest was the Quakers and not just because of the porridge and the quarks that lay inside. A dwarf of a man called Benjamin Ley took on his own people, the Quakers, calling on them to free the slaves that they owned. Ley was a little over four feet tall, a hunchback, and appeared like a Christmas Elf with wild white hair. He always wore the same non-sparkly outfit. Once he went into his church half way through the sermon with a Bible and a Sword. He stabbed the Bible and red juice came pouring out onto some of the assembled. He was into stunts in the 18th century!

People remember Wilberforce but Ley came way before him. His efforts persuaded Quakers in the 1780s to free their slaves.

http://trilogy.brynmawr.edu/speccoll/quakersandslavery/commentary/people...

Buckskins

"..It never took me long to figure out what a load of crap the whole thing is."

It wasn't like that for me. I'd always sorta classed religious narratives with Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and fairy tales. I can still recall my disbelief when a priest patiently explained to me that baby Jesus was 'real'. I can still feel the almighty slap around the head I received -aged about 7 or 8-when I started laughing because I thought he was cracking a joke.

I went home and asked my dad. He said "No, you're right they're just silly fairy tales for grown ups who haven't really grown up". Then he went around to the priest's and told him if he laid a hand on me again he'd break his legs. No doubt he ran to his bishop and complained about being 'abused' by a godless thug.

Thank you so much for this article Laurie.

As someone who was raped as a young child by my father, it is such a relief to read this sort of article, not least because it is quite rare.

I'd also like to say that most victims do not become abusers. For a start, the majority of victims are female and the majority of abusers are male.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PgHiQRm4wI&feature=related

Known and worked with number of people who've been through this. What it does to people..something like that, with a trusted family member.. it's beyond my words, not theirs sometimes unfortunately. How anyone can call for more humour in a sensative piece about a topic like this...? (she mocked the pope right off the bat, what more d'you want?) I felt like she contained the rage pretty well, i detected shouty typing, mostly towards the end. For me there's anger, but mostly it's just incomprehension.

As a Roman Catholic I would like to point out the main advantage of this religion, namely confession. Once you've confessed your sins to God and Jesus, and said your penance and been absolved you are free from the guilt. You can start again. Your guilt is instantly absolved by the love of God. You don't need a priest to do this for you can just do it yourself. This is a fantastic psychological tool for your health yet people get all uptight about the malpractice of the organisation and the idea of there being a God.

Mr D.

I don't think "a part of yourself 'seeks' an answer to the question of creation" that the concept of infinity of time and space are unanswerable questions nor are they the entire equation in discovering creation. In not so many words you could be saying that religion brings comfort and inner peace to many of us. This is true, but not to me. Have you ever thought what a weapon religion is and the role it plays in wielding power for the wrong reasons.

I use to for everything. I'm going to leave you a post in the other thread. .....because you are being a bit naughty again.

Yes have to agree to Tesco shelf stacker. I really want you to get well soon Laurie from the spider bite. In fact I think I can speak for all of us here and hope you get well soon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUd8Qs_DAZ0

Buckskins: Of course I know how religion has been used as a weapon mainly by men who like to think they are great. Sometimes the more they prostrate themselves before God the greater they think they are. Some women get on the act as well. They stick on a nun's outfit and try to deny their fluttering heart. Shame on you ... why can't you just say I Love You?

You see I don't belong to a religious organisation. There is no reason whatsoever that I can't say I am a Muslim or a Catholic. And why can't I reject some of their interpretations and accept the ones that I feel will benefit me?

It's good to hear that Laurie Penny has finally realised that going around in a nun's outfit isn't as black and white and she makes out. There are many shades of gray and red in her knicker box brain cells.

Do you need your hair brushing?

Please tell me what I have to do in order to have you quit posting to me.

Why would I tell YOU anything. Any information you get you try to use it to further your fantasy life and imagination that is fueled by jealousy. I asked you your age is and you elected to tell me. WTF is this ? Are you the host for To Tell The Truth. Mind your own fukin business. If I am talking with another poster about something personal, keep your nose out of it.

Got it Jackass?

erm....thanks, but no thanks.

(this thread is a bit odd, you as a lapsed Catholic want to brush my luscious locks, and the Yankee Catholic keeps posting comments of a sexual nature. like he's imagining me doing....you know....things...)

seriously Mr D, he wrote this earlier;

"sh1t, cun t, or fuk or mucky stuff."

what kind of person i ask you...?

jankaas ... how long does internet grooming usually go on for ... 3 years? Quite often there is an element of deception like the person who is doing the grooming is not who they say they are. jankass maybe it is you that is doing the grooming because you are not who you say you are .. and you're leading on Buckskins, a married man with a Texas ranch. You could be the person doing the grooming ... I mean who are you?

I would like to groom Laurie Penny because quite frankly her clothes could do with a good brush down. There's no way she'd accept me anyway because I'm always having little digs at her despite the fact that I think she's a sensational writer with a wicked sense of humour. I suppose being married with four kids living in macho man paradise might put her off as well. Besides she never writes to me.

I don't if the system was started by pedophiles but obviously it has attracted them in droves. It is amazing what has been done under the pretense of God's will.
While waiting for my lithium, anti-psychotic and sleeping medication at the Chemist I asked a retired Catholic priest sitting waiting for his meds about confession and it was he who told me it was instantly granted. I asked the question that if it is instant why then has God enabled other men to arrest wrong doers and imprison them for 20 years? That doesn't seem instant to me. Despite 40 years of priesthood he couldn't give me an answer!

Crabstix: Confession is like therapy with the added bonus that you have been forgiven by your maker. You can't get any higher authority that the 'Creator'.

If you are beating yourself up over thinking dirty thoughts (and doing dirty things) about some sexy shelia's topless picture on the Max Faulkner's website then a confession to the highest authority can clear your mind. It can stop all those thoughts from snowballing out of control.

@Mr D

"jankass; you're right..."

thanks, though do mind my 'bottom' pls. no doubt just a typo.

"That would make the absolution more complete."

well said. i share your opinion that much of the maneuvering from the Vatican is for fear of financial liability. this scandal could essentially bankrupt their institution.

if there is any truth in that assessment then it does illustrate that the Vatican is as morally corrupt as secular money worshippers. something many of us already thought based on the history of the Catholic church.

"Please tell me what I have to do in order to have you quit posting to me."

beg?

"Why would I tell YOU anything."

really? but we covered this already. see my previous explanation regarding those concepts called 'discussion' and 'debate'.

"fueled by jealousy"

oh brother.....and you accuse me of too much fantasy and imagination.

"I asked you your age is and you elected to tell me."

and you did not reciprocate, didn't even say thank you. just nothing but swearing. which is all a bit odd and quite unfriendly. again i refer you to those concepts called 'discussion' and 'debate'.....(bloody hell you are so dumb...)

"If I am talking with another poster about something personal, keep your nose out of it."

this is not your personal chat-room dear.

"Got it Jackass?"

yes i have Sucksdicks. it's rather hard to miss.

"So you've been taking the piss out of little baby Jesus! Spud, has it ever occurred to you that you've generated bad karma..."

Funnily enough it didn't Mr D. I'm an all purpose, multicultural atheist opposing all stripes of numinous tomfoolery, so just how likely is it that I'm happy to ridicule the notion of baby Jesus but then I'm going to spend time worrying about the effect on my Karma?

..but then again, now I think about it..

Confession merely justifies the religion and in this case also the act of abuse. I can do it because I can be absolved. I wonder how many priests confessed their abuse and continued to abuse, because gods love would in the end forgive them - the ultimate get out clause.

jankaas

My best guess for Buckskins is that he is a spotty teenager, who spends most of his life in front of a computer, living his virtual life and spouting all his lies about it here.

Yes Mr Divine, we hammered the giants of the eight tier of English Football 6-1, we were lucky that we've got a good Goalie or it would have been 6-6! We're gonna win the cup, now wheres my meds???????

Sorry jankaas ... my eyes are giving me grief at the moment. Their delaying tactics is all to do with money and reputation. Britain should be taxing this organisation like any other. Does anyone know if the churches pay the poll tax? And there is no income tax on their income! I can't understand why these groups of people can avoid tax. I can't understand why they are allowed to withhold pedophiles from the law. Is it because they are wearing Fucking Fancy Dress?

You're right and you're wrong Stuart. The meds have been washing down my throat ... but you're right in the sense that I've been getting far too obsessed with Laurie. Nothing can be gained by this fixation. I've even been following her on Twitter .. how juvenile is that! I suppose there is something about her writing style that gets to me. Then I saw some pictures of her with her hair in a mop style partly in her eyes. I go, "Oh that's nice". Then the youtube videos got me really interested with her talking. It's the writing that seems to connect that has me kind of transfixed.

But you're right Stuart I've got to take a few cold and then hot and then cold showers. I'll try to forget and I wont bother mentioning it. Do you think that will work Stuart? I should really apologise to her as well for being an internet blog stalker.

How have you been anyway Stuart? Bristol Rovers have been going great guns against non-league teams I hear. And everything ... going well in your new abode .. a small little village in the West Country sounds great.