T1B

Priest calls for pope's resignation
East Longmeadow, Massachusetts (CNN) -- The phones are ringing off the hook at the parish of St. Michael's Church, where the Rev. James Scahill called in a sermon last weekend for the pope to resign over the church's sexual abuse scandal.

Pope Benedict XVI has found himself tied to the crisis after news broke last month that 30 years ago, when he was an archbishop, he approved accommodations in his diocese for a priest accused of child sex abuse so the priest could undergo therapy.

The priest, who was not identified, was let go from church service in 2008, according to church officials in Germany.

"If he can't take the consequences of being truthful on this matter, his integrity should lead him, for the good of the church, to step down and to have the conclave of cardinals elect a pope with the understanding that the elected pope would be willing to take on this issue, not just in promise," Scahill said.

His church has received more than 100 emails and dozens of calls, of which only two were negative, Sister Betty Braughan said.

Scahill, a longtime critic of the sexual abuse crisis in the church, said the Vatican is responsible for the controversy and believes that it is wrong to blame the media for perpetuating the scandal.

"I have met with countless victims of abuse. I have lives I can relate this to, and you know anyone with an ounce of intelligence knows the media has not created this scandal," he said. "The institutional church has brought this onto themselves."

The priest complimented the church on its programs for better protection of children over the past eight years but added, "The last temptation, the greatest treason, is to do the right thing for the wrong reason."

The church took action after years of sexual abuse only because it had been exposed through the media, Scahill said.

Although he has received great support from his parishioners, he admits it has been hard to speak out against the church and the pope.

"This has not been a healthy thing for me. It's a lot of stress, but I believe the truth needs to be spoken, and I believe the people want to hear the truth and [that] they are sick of the smoke and mirror approach."

Bishop Timothy McDonnell, whose diocese includes Scahill's parish, said it was a sad irony that Scahill gave his sermon on Divine Mercy Sunday, "a day on which the church throughout the world re-affirms Christ's forgiveness, reconciliation and mercy towards all his followers."

Wolfman wrote:It's a little odd that some of you have this fixation on the problems of Catholic church. Perhaps you could explain it.

Wolfman wrote:It's a little odd that some of you have this fixation on the problems of Catholic church. Perhaps you could explain it.

Wolfman wrote:You act like the Roman Catholic Church accepts pedophilia as doctrine.

mvscal wrote: All you have to do is say you're sorry....

Wolfman wrote:Were they trying to cover up the problem, of course. Maybe a bad decision not to air dirty laundry in the public forum given the modern world of information in which we live.

Wolfman wrote:Like it doesn't happen elsewhere ? Why single out one entity, why not vent against NAMBLA and the likes ?

You act like the Roman Catholic Church accepts pedophilia as doctrine.

You can't seriously believe that

Were they trying to cover up the problem, of course.

Maybe a bad decision not to air dirty laundry in the public forum given the modern world of information in which we live.

mvscal wrote:It's what makes Christianity such a pathetic religion

Van wrote:Mikey, your new avatar represents the single best upgrade ever witnessed 'round these parts. The only thing that ever came close was the replacing of LV's Fugly Ginger Baby pic with basically anything else.

I really do wonder, how retarded does someone have to be in order to look at that old German feeb in the gay clown suit and say to themselves, "Yep, I will worship that man as God on Earth."

C'mon, people! Look at that guy! That's what you worship?!

PSUFAN wrote:If Catholics don't worship the Pope, then they definitely underwrite his crimes.

PSUFAN wrote:You're right, of course. The Catholic Church is exempt from property tax. As a taxpayer, I underwrite their crimes just as surely as one who cuts them checks does.

Sorry, Mikey - If the Church aids and protects pedos, then takes money from parishioners and indirectly from taxpayers (money intended for good works) and spends it on pedo crime settlements and resettling criminal priests - that organization has lost its grasp on moral leadership. At that point the Church IS a bad thing.

Mikey wrote:

PSUFAN wrote:You're right, of course. The Catholic Church is exempt from property tax. As a taxpayer, I underwrite their crimes just as surely as one who cuts them checks does.

Sorry, Mikey - If the Church aids and protects pedos, then takes money from parishioners and indirectly from taxpayers (money intended for good works) and spends it on pedo crime settlements and resettling criminal priests - that organization has lost its grasp on moral leadership. At that point the Church IS a bad thing.

Then I guess the United States is a bad thing. It takes your tax money, a lot more of it, and spends it on illegal wars, subsidizing corporations that rape the land, keeping Dick Cheney alive, etc, etc, etc.

So, you gonna leave it?

PSUFAN wrote:The only way you can change your organization is to leave it.

Van wrote:That's not what Dave said, Tom. He said the only way a person can change the organization - not themselves - is to leave it. He was making that point to demonstrate the difference between supporting this country and supporting the Catholic church. By law he is forced to support this country through the paying of taxes, and he also has the ability to effect change with the power of his vote. With the Catholic church he has no say-so in their dealings, so his only option for changing the organization is to leave it.

PSUFAN wrote:That doesn't wash.

BSmack wrote:Seriously, was there ever a time when this fraud of a pope did NOT cover up for a pedophile? Ever?

PSUFAN wrote:I respect that, Mikey - and I'm not trying to smack you on this. I'm fascinated by your reply - it seems very similar to that of my parents in similar discussions, back when we had them. My take remains that the vast majority of Catholics are good, moral people who try to lead good moral lives. What I can't understand is the willingness of those good folks to be represented by - and for their monies to support - such criminally depraved authorities.

I tell my parents, "Interested in doing good works? Become Quakers." I do really believe that they'd be better suited to another organization. In my book, the Church has no exclusive hold on good works - there are churches that seem to pursue them with more honesty and more vigor.

Thank for recognizing - as so few actually do - that I am not crafting attacks on you as a Catholic.

KC Scott wrote:

Mikey wrote: I will say this, though. For us it's more about the community than the Church heirarchy.

I know quite a few that are in for this reason alone. It's what their friends do, where they go and a big part of their social lives.
Nothing wrong with that -

KC Scott wrote:
Actually more like Softball and Pot Luck Dinners