VATICAN CITY — American Catholic leaders meeting at the Vatican Wednesday formulated a special process to defrock any priest who has become "notorious and is guilty of serial, predatory sexual abuse of minors."

However, the group of cardinals and top bishops stopped short of developing a zero-tolerance plan to punish abusive priests.

Cases that do not fall under the "notorious" category will be left to the local bishop to decide if the priest is a threat to children.

Full Story on Foxnews[/URL]

Soooo, I guess molesting a kid once or twice is okay!? Sheesh!!! If they raped a woman once or twice, would that be ok too? Why are priests not held to the same standard as the rest of us!??

I'm disgusted. >:-(

Kell

I didn't read the story (I will later) but I just wanted to voice my opinion.

I don't think they should be defrocked, after all they are in the "forgiveness business". I think they should develope a formal "robe" for these types of priests that will let everyone know his sin and I think they should stop protecting them and let them be prosecuted to the full extent of the law just like any other predator - let them be a priest in prison. If they can't prosecute (time limits, evidence, etc.) they should be removed from any access to children - there are monastaries that are secluded - and be made to reflect on their crime. They could also be caregivers for dieing and ageing priests that are no longer active - that would relieve others to serve in a more active role in society.

Being raised Roman Catholic I've had an acute interest in this. I've been following this story and many of the cases that came to light in the past and were covered up.
What is significant enough to consider defrocking a priest?
The Catholic Church doesn't want to loose anymore preists especially with the ever declining rate of men entering the preisthood.
Does a man taking vows to serve God and then betray those vows mean a serverer punishment? Or because he is a man of God get less severe punishment? What is worse, the stranger who sexually assaults your child or the trusted friend?
Especially since many of these preists aren't even just a one time offender. Most of them are predatory. They seek children who are more predispositioned to allow themselves to be abused. They didn't just suddenly come to their sense one moment and find their hand down someone elses pants. They were premeditated, calculated actions based upon abused and mislain trust.
I think they need to be removed from any position of trust as they have and must seek professional, not just talking to another preist, help.
Though another part of me wants to see them serve time just a like any other man. In any other walk of life, you are found guilty of this crime you pay the punishment. Not just secreted away because you belong to a religious organization. I know we need to give forgiveness constantly but time and actions have proven that they will do it again and again. Because they are not mentally well.

Although they are in the "forgiveness business", at what point do we stop forgiving them and make them accountable for their actions. If some average joe schmoe were to be caught molesting little kids, would we say "forgive and forget" and hope that it and he go away? No, we would want retribution!
In my opinion ( don't shoot me okay?) as the case stands now, this is been going on for way too long. There are way too many victims, too many life's shattered. Someone has to be held accountable and if that someone just happens to be a preist, then so be it. Also, although I am not intirely up to pare on the Catholic faith, it still stands to reason that if presits were allowed to (across the board) marry, the inclination to seek sex through other means would be less, yes? I understand Orthodox preist's can marry, so what makes them different from the rest of them? It seems that the catholic church has gotten too big for its britches and perhaps this is just Gods' way of knocking it back into place?
=\ It's sad, disappointing and discouraging and I don't know quite what to make of it. I myself believe in forgiveness, everyone makes mistakes and the "golden rule" of most religion is that whenever you seek forgiveness in your heart, mind and soul, heaven grants this, picks you up, dusts you off and kicks you back into play, much like an earthly parent does. I think, for me anyway, a one-time only infraction is worthy of forgiveness but this goes past once or one man. The fact that many knew and aided in the "cover up" changes the idea of forgiveness?

Connie: I like the idea of the "scarlet letter" or robe. ;-)

[ April 25, 2002: Message edited by: Miss Grrl ]

I heared about this and am so angry I could spit fire. I usually avoid these kinds of topics because this happened to my mom and my cousin and I am not at all forgiving in these matters. I am a very peace loving person to a point, but when it comes to children being harmed in any way, I have no tolerance for that. My two cents is it shouldn't matter what position they hold. I don't think there should be a second chance for molestors. Those poor children do not get a second chance at their innocence do they????? Anyone who harms a child has abused that child's rights, not to mention their psychological and physical welfare. The scars will haunt them the rest of their lives....why should it be any different for the offenders?

I'll bet there would be a lot less second offenders if they would.......Castrate em, brand em, tattoo it on their foreheads, then stick em out in the streets for us moms to have a go at em >:-(

Okay think I got it outta my system now :redface:

atta girl! I like that! You know in "olden days" we did that sort of thing...stoned them in the public square.

Boy scout leaders that molest don't get reassigned to another troop - they get prosecuted. I don't think it should be any different for priests or anyone else! A molester is a molester and a predator is a predator!

Why don't they get it!? grrrr!

Kell