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March 3rd, 2013
02:08 PM ET
Embattled Cardinal O'Brien apologizes for 'my sexual conduct'By Josh Levs, CNN (CNN) - A cardinal at the center of an international scandal over alleged sexual abuse reversed course Sunday, acknowledging wrongdoing. "I wish to take this opportunity to admit that there have been times that my sexual conduct has fallen below the standards expected of me as a priest, archbishop and cardinal," Cardinal Keith O'Brien said in a statement. Until days ago, O'Brien was the archbishop of Scotland. O'Brien has been dogged by allegations he abused four men studying to be priests in the 1980s. "In recent days certain allegations which have been made against me have become public. Initially, their anonymous and non-specific nature led me to contest them," O'Brien said. FULL STORY |
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"The sad part is that your lust to assassinate a gay priest only detracts from any real perspective of the ongoing child abuse crisis that is worldwide. You act like you care for children but what you are really about is hatred. Hatred for Catholics, hatred for priests and ultimately hatred for children."
Who is this directed towards, Bill Deacon? Because is it is directed at me, we WILL have words.
More of Bill's nutty idea of logic.
Yeah, you Akira:
You are representative of all the bigotry towards Catholics because of the criminal actions of a small percentage of priests. Bring it on hater. But before you do, get an education:
In 2002, the Boston Globe began running a series of investigative reports detailing dozens of cases in which Catholic priests had abused scores of children.
By year's end, some 1,200 priests had been accused of abuse nationwide. Five U.S. prelates resigned. Also, bishops from Argentina, Germany, Ireland, Poland, Wales, Scotland, Canada, Switzerland and Austria were forced out of the church. More than 80 percent of the victims were male.
Worse for the church, Americans discovered some of the most abusive priests were protected by upper echelons of the clergy. These priests were moved around from diocese to diocese, given positions that limited their contact with children, or moved to administrative duties – but they often found their way back into a parish, holding Mass and coming in contact with more potential victims.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, in a report on the nature and scope of the abuse problems, found almost 11,000 cases of abuse by about 4,000 priests and deacons since 1950.
Now, on the heels of the Catholic abuse scandal comes another of historic proportions—one that has the potential to be much greater and far-reaching. According to a draft report commissioned by the U.S. Department of Education, in compliance with the 2002 "No Child Left Behind" act signed into law by President Bush, between 6 percent and 10 percent of public school children across the country have been abused or harassed by school employees and teachers.
Charol Shakeshaft, the Hofstra University scholar who prepared the report, said the number of abuse cases could be much higher.
"So we think the Catholic Church has a problem?" she told industry newspaper Education Week in a March 10 interview.
When you continue to cast stones at the clergy, you are willfully ignoring the epic proportion of abuse in other segments of society. When you call for justice for the 11,000 and ignore the crimes against the 11 million, can you tell me how that isn't hatred for children? You pig.
@Bill
What's truly pathetic is that you are attempting to get people to stop calling out the Catholic Church for it's blatantly criminal behavior by using a complete Red Herring. It amazes me that you can be so immoral as to continue to support an organization like the Catholic Church by throwing out something irrelevant to the discussion. Whether school abuse is a problem or not, that doesn't let the CHurch off the hook you evil little punk.
You're full of crap hawaii and you know it. You are the one using a red herring. You think you can keep calling out Catholics for what everyone acknowledges is 11,000 cases of abuse over the last 60 years while many multiple times that many are being abuse in the public school system. Where is the outrage against Arnie, Why isn't Obama up for criminal indictment? Shouldn't the Department of Education be dismantled? You make me sick. You think you can keep the spotlight on the Church so your pet political favorites can perpetuate a systemic destruction of children and families by your perverted ideology.
@Bill
You sad, pathetic little fool. Your so enamored with the thought that anyone who doesn't agree with the church. It's so very telling that your so willing to throw the plain fact that the church protected the priests from prosecution and shuffled them to other states and countries in order to continue whining and bitching about teachers and schools. Tell me, where is the overarching federal mandate that the schools are not supposed to call the police? Oh wait, it's the exact opposite! You immoral little bigot, why don't you just go in your church and rail. That's where people will agree with you, and that's all you want. Self-gratification and a feeling of piousness.
Bill, your panties are in such a bunch because you're grasping at straws. You're just embarrassing yourself at this point.
How many times have you read about the coverups in the school system hawaii? How many times have you read about the pay offs to families to protect the district or some politician? None? Oh that means it probably doesn't happen then. Why don't you just keep you head stuck in the sand where it's comfortable and you can puff on the ganja while kids are being brutalized. But just to make yourself feel better, pull your head out once and a while and yell "Pedophile Priest!" Then everyone will know you are for justice. What a hero
@Bill
You truly are pathetic. Your contention is "Oh you don't hear about it, but it still happens because I say so. Never mind that I'm not actually demonstrating that it happens, and nevermind that this STILL doesn't let the church off the hook". You evil little zealot. Are you so willing to put your religion on a pedastal that you would ignore the sexual abuse of children through such dishonest means? Well, at least we can use your posts as a clear demonstration of the evil of religious preference, and the damage to the mind religion can do.
@Bill,
"How many times have you read about the coverups in the school system hawaii?"
If you lived in Hawaii you would hear it. The Hawaii schools are a local organization while the Catholic Church is a massive international organization. Which do you think is going to make the news outside Hawaii? I read plenty about scandals in my local schools; I don't want or care to read all the details about every school system scandal in rural Nevada or northern Ja’pan or Scotland or wherever. They have little to nothing to do with one another as they share few (when any) governing structures.
Bill Deacon
The RCC sets itself up as a beacon of morality and requires the clergy to take a vow of celibacy, when an oh so pious organization such as that falls from grace and the attempts to buy off and cover up the crimes they are way beyond hypocricy and deserve all the derision society can throw at them. You feel picked on, good very good.
This guy reminds me of Allen Ginsberg!
Would anyone convict a victim of these degenerates for blowing their brains out?
Parasites, deviant parasites!!
I hope they suffer greatly
Here you are again Bill advocating violence. Has it occurred to you that the Violence Against Women Act now includes prosecution for hate speech against h0moseexuals?
Bill, being gay has nothing whatever to do with being a pedophile, but you already knew that. You remain as disingenuous as ever.
Bill Deacon for Pope.
You would have to eliminate the celibacy pledge, being already married and have stated you would like to see the se.xual criminals rooted out and punished. That would require turning over the perp's and all the doc.uments currently deemed secret. What do you say, Bill, a write in vote?
I'm aware of that midwest. Did you miss the part that said the victims were men, not children?
Surprising to me in this thread how I was challenged for conflating pedophilia with h0moseexuality, erroneously, but no one confronted William for advocating violence against gays, which is, in fact, what he did.
Cry more, Deacon.
Not crying sam, just calling a spade a shovel.
That seems to be your maximum level of understanding of most things, yes.
REALLY!! The RCC is in DEEP Do Do, and I cannot see any way out!? To actually admit their sins would show that they are "human" beings! To change their teachings/beleifs, would only admit that they are "human"! Celebacy, obviously has only enforced their actions! NEW Pope. What will he do? Again, to admit, change, etc., would only reinforce that HE is also human! To make real changes would bring about the conclusion that they are ALL, human, and their "traditions", etc., are human ones and not necessarily biblical ones!
O'Brien
"Initially. their anonymous and non-specific nature led me to contest them." Translation: Oh, those four guys ya, now I remember. I wasn't sure which of the priests would break the omerta and turn me in, noli senere nothos te opprimere.
Amen.
sorry i r.aped your kids and covered it up. can i go back to being a cardinal now? thanks.
The hole conclave should be tested for STD's
The story line says the Cardinal pursued inappropriate relationships with MEN who were in seminary. Are you conflating h0moseexuality with pedophilia? Or do you just hate gays?
Agreed. The abused were men.
When the Cardinal was breaking his vows, gay or straight, THAT should have been the time he should have had enough courage and integrity to step down. One incident with one priest may be construed as a mistake. Four known incidents with four different men? Not so much.
That being said, Bill Deacon, you conflate pedophilia with being gay constantly. Although I do see progress in you finally getting to know the difference.
You're mistaken Alira. I have never misunderstood the difference between gender orientation and age preference. I have even been accused of it here today, in error. But, I have not ever been confused. It appears blatant to me that others are willing to jump to the conclusion that because a member of the clergy has admitted seexual failures that must mean pedophilia. It's simply an example of the bigotry towards the church and of practicing the judgmental hypocrisy we are often accused of.
@Bill,
"It appears blatant to me that others are willing to jump to the conclusion that because a member of the clergy has admitted seexual failures that must mean pedophilia"
There's nothing wrong with keeping the facts accurate. Nevertheless the culture of cover-ups of illegal behavior in the highest ranks of the church continues.
If we are talking about sëxual harrassment of younger seminarians here, that hardly sounds like activity that should be brushed under the rug and the perpetrator rewarded with a career including promotions to the highest levels of the organization.
The fact that this sort of thing 'happens all the time' in other organizations does not make it right.
You are mistaken about my post as well. I have made it abundantly clear that I know that the four men involved in this were fully grown when the incident started.
I do jump all over pedophilic priests because they have caused untold harm to thousands of children. I hate pedophiles, and I especially hate pedophiles that are supposed to represent God. The biggest difference in pedophiles in the secular world is that they are punished when found out, instead of being moved about, cloaked in secrecy.
Invariable, any organization that is found covering it up for decades, such as th BSA and the RCC, is going to be attacked for the decisions. If it goes as high as the Princes of the Church, it's going to get uglier. And any organization that systematically covers up abuse deserves every bit of criticism it gets, because maybe, just MAYBE, they'll finally get the memo and really make an effort to clean it up. The RCC has started to try. Let's see what happens.
You don't hate pedophiles Akira. You hate Catholic pedophiles. Are you even aware that the U.S. Department of Education has a report that pedophilia in the public school system is 50-100 times greater than in the Catholic Church? Don't tell me you hate pedophiles while you turn a blind eye on that and pose as a defender of children abused within the Church so you can vilify all priests and paint one of the world's great religions with your hatred. You ignorant hypocritical thug.
@Bill, it has been pointed out to you dozens of times that a) the numbers in the public schools aren't comparable because there are larger numbers exposed for more hours and b) the main objection to the Catholic church's actions are related to the cover-up. The fact that you continue quoting the same thing over and over without acknowledging this reality reeks of bias at best and outright dishonesty at worst.
Sara, did you really just say that
A.The numbers of children abused in public schools are not comparable because there are so many more of them?
and
B. The exposed cover ups within the church are more scandalous than successful ones in other organizations?
Amazing
No, Bill, but I find Catholic priest pedophiles reprehensible, being that I'm Roman Catholic myself. Yep. Born and raised Catholic, born at St. Catherine's hospital in EC, Indiana, baptized at St. Joseph's Church in Dyer, Indiana, and attended St. Catherine of Sienna Church in Hammond, as well as St. Thomas More in Munster.
Do not tell ME I'm a hypocritical thug, Bill. I am not.
I find your defense of pedophilia most curious, though, especially in light that you attack people who DO speak against pedophilia...you, BILL DEACON are part of the problem. You, Bill Deacon, are part of the reason that rampant child rape has been covered up by people JUST LIKE YOU for decades. You are disgusting.
@Bill,
A. They are not comparable because the number of children in contact with public school teachers is larger and the number of hours they are in contact with those teachers is larger so the numbers will logically be much higher.
B. The cover-ups in the Catholic church are worse than recent cover-ups in the public schools because oversight in the public schools currently is much higher. Other organizations may still have comparably poor oversight, and likely the Catholic church will soon have checks in place that are comparable to those of the Catholic church. On the other hand those in power have more to lose by loss of face for the church, so it's possible that it will continue to be somewhat worse in the church.
I hate to tell you this Sara, but you are wrong. Whether by gross numbers, per capita concentration, preventative metrics or any measure you want to use (barring media coverage) the Catholic church is one of the safest places on the planet to put your children. I am accused of being a disgusting apologist for pedophilia, which I am not but the truth is that people are blinded to the abhorrent amount of crimes committed daily int eh world because the Church is an easy,visible target. I am as more, or more so outraged by the criminals admitted to our clergy and frustrated by the reaction of administrative types to it. But, I re-iterate THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IS THE SMALLEST PART OF THE PROBLEM.
@Bill, The only numbers I've seen from people claiming things are worse in the public schools compares rate of abuse by priests (not generally a significant group of teachers in Catholic schools) to the total abuses of children in the public schools (usually in a particular state). Those aren't school to school numbers. We need school to school numbers adjusted by s_ex ratios of the teachers. If you have that please post it but that was not in the original study you posted or any other source I've seen.
Jesus, Bill, you're swinging for an even crazier part of the bleachers, today. On a scale of one to yourself, how persecuted are you feeling on behalf of catholics? Go soak your head.
You do the numbers Sara. I challenged you to last week and it's obvious you chose not to. Let's see someone back up the claim that it's about the children. Post the numbers on child abuse from any other large organization. Public school systems, sports organizations, other religions or cultures. Let's have a peer reviewed, accredited, comprehensive, mutually acceptable data analysis and find out who is really abusing kids. It's about the kids isn't it? You really care don't you? Let's see the math. You do it and then we'll know you accept it.
@Bill, I said the numbers aren't comparable because the data isn't there. You are the one who is making the claim that there are measures by which the public schools are worse. If you have the data, show it.
And God said let there be light. And there was light. And then later he created he Sun. Makes sense to me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcyW7rMYR7A
I just can't get enough of this music. I have never heard a five year old play the piano so well.
How much are the RCC sheep willing to forgive? How many of their flock are happily ripped off by the Princes of the church? How many of their children are they willing to sacrifice to the abuse of the clergy? How many Bill Deacon's are there to defend this conduct? Too many it would seem.
We're commanded to forgive seventy times seventy. Are you saying that we should judge and condemn h0moseexuals? Or only h0moseexdual priests?
Bill, Does that forgiveness extend to people who avail themselves of legal procedures such as abortion or those who use legal contraception?
Bill Deacon
That is the problem Bill you are commanded and blindly obey. The "noble cause corruption" that the followers of the hierarchy of the RCC have become accustomed too, the clergy can do no wrong. Did you know that the church had a "fixer" who would travel the country trying to pay off the parents and victims of abuse and that he had a budget of millions of dollars? Do you approve?
Bill deacon, LOOK UP THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE CRIMINAL PEDOPHILE AND A GAY PRIEST.
I have nothing against a gay priest. A pedophile priest should be locked up and defrocked, and the fact that you INSIST on defending such behavior simply astounds me.
Disgusting.
According to the storyline I am reading this CArdinal is not accused of pedophilia, He is accused and admitted h0moseexuality. Why is he being vilified as a pedophile?
Bill Deacon
Forgot to address your point on condemnation of h0mo se.xuals. No of course not. I actually think that the RCC should allow marriage vows of same se.x couples in their churches. Gay priests who have relations with consenting adults also should not be condemned in my world. It is in your belief system where they do take a vow of celibacy and break that vow, then when caught out try and deny their action; the cover up is sometimes worse than the offence, but you know that by now.
I believe he's accused of something similar to coercing an adult student or employee into s_ex. Bad, and worthy of job loss and possible legal action, but not exactly blowing someone's brains out bad unless I missed something.
Bill Deacon
If you read into my comments that I accused O'Brien of being a pedophile, let me correct your assumption, I do not. I do not think he even should have resigned. It would be refreshing to see an openly gay Cardinal accepted in the church. The doc.umentary, Mia Maxima Culpa, estimated that as many as 50% of priests could be gay, have you watched it Bill?
Haven't watched it. Probably won't. That number of gay priest wouldn't surprise me nor offend me. My argument today, which seems to be making progress, is that seexual immorality amongst they clergy is A> not limited to pedophilia, nor even to h0moseexuality. B. While sometimes criminal, is not always. C. Is forgivable within the sacrament of reconciliation. D. Used by Church haters to camouflage epidemic abuses in the larger society. E. Not a valid platform for condemnation of the religion in itself.
Bill DeacoA
I think you should watch it, it is revealing I agree with A and B. C is in your baliwick, I as.sume that the breaking of the vow of celibacy is quite common and must be forgivable. D. Blaming the media and critics of the church as being haters of the RCC borders on paranoia in my opinion. The concept that ordained priests are chosen by God and are perfect in the eyes of some of the laity are what has prevented the outing of the bad apples that numbered in the thousnds, perhaps you failt to see this. E. Of course you should not condemn the whole orginization but should demand they clean up their act. Not just se.x abuse but money laundering, internal scandals and the like.
Bill Deacon
Sorry for the typos in last was distracted. Have you heard of, Marcial Maciel, Tony Walsh, Servants of Parcalete, Luciano Storeo, the Cloyne Report, Bernard Law, Paul Marcinkus, etc? The media have plenty of ammuniton to report on the RCC and Vatican, willful blindness on your part or ignorance.
Clean up your own house. No one I know thinks a man becomes perfect just because he dons a collar. That's something you sell to yourself so you can use it as a club when you want to.
Bill Deacon
Stay blind in your faith. I did not say the man becomes perfect but the office, some of the faithful do though, the infallible pope another big example. One story of a young abuse victim that told his mother what happened. She slapped him and told him he should not tell lies about a priest, a priest would never do that but the man did and she sent him back to be abused again, true story, Bill. Blind faith can get very ugly.
Bill Deacon
That club you say I use is from a statement by a Bishop that stated that ordained Priests are chosen by God and may be seen as perfect and must be obyed by the laity. Why would you not want to educate yourself in what has happened in the chuch?
O'Brien: "my sexual conduct has fallen below the standards expected of me as a priest, archbishop and cardinal." Poor fellow doesn't know that a little decline in performance is normal for many men of a certain age. A considerate partner and perhaps some medication is way better than all that shame.
All of this and more have been going on in the RCC for Centuries. This is nothing new and worst things have happened. So anyone, anybody pretending to act surprised or shock about all of these things is a HYPOCRITE. Idolaters and Atheists have a lot of things in common, HYPOCRISY is one of them.
Want to know what you have in coomon with most Christians? Hatred an bigotry. Want to know what you have in common with Jesus? Nothing.
A dot (.) is nothing more than a dot period!
And the stench of decay within the RCC increases again. Mentally ill delusional hyocrites, one and all.
Yeah because no secular college deans have ever had gay affairs with students
Bill, the secular deans are not equivalent to Catholic high holy rollers. It is the claims of the latter re morality that justifiably result in the hypocrisy claims.
Bill Deacon, how many college deans at a secular college take a vow of celibacy? See the difference here yet? Good gravy, get some perspective here.
No one anywhere claims that priests or bishops are anything other than what they are: human beings capable of sin. The secular world projects holy roller status onto these servants and then crucifies them when they fail to live up the the higher standards which they have willingly set for themselves. Breaking celibacy is not a crime. It is a sin, but it is not a crime. It's fascinating to watch the feeding frenzy that goes on over a priest who happens to be gay. Some here even want to label him a pedophile. That's just tastier isn't it?
The sad part is that your lust to assassinate a gay priest only detracts from any real perspective of the ongoing child abuse crisis that is worldwide. You act like you care for children but what you are really about is hatred. Hatred for Catholics, hatred for priests and ultimately hatred for children.
@Bill,
Breaking celibacy is not a crime. It is a sin, but it is not a crime.
No argument there.
But are we talking about consensual relationships or sëxual harrassment in the context of the seminary here?
Oh, I am not assasinating anyone for being gay. In fact, I am a staunch supporter of gay rights. The fact is, however, that the RCC requires a vow of celibacy, and proceeds to tell their followers about how to conduct their lives sexually, all the while denying basic human rights to gays and women on religious grounds. It would be great if the RCC held their priests to the same standards as they expect their adherents to uphold.
For the most part, they do, but when they fail, as in the failure to bring the priests responsible for thousands of child rape any kind of justice, they do it big.
Akira, I agree. Lofty goals, big misses. The misses do not diminish the goal. Of the roughly half a million priest in the world today, estimates are that 2-4% are pedophile. Ad in another 5% for other seexual failures. That means that today, on this planet, there are between 400,000 and 450,000 men in the priesthood who are continually and actively adhering to their vows and consecrating their lives to the service of others. Those that have failed are invited, through reconciliation to repent and renew their vocations. (criminals excluded) Can you compare any other organization that can claim this ministry to mankind?
If not, then why not do us all a favor and lay off
If you think I am EVER going to lay off pedophiles, you are sorely mistaken.
Nowhere have I EVER stated that ALL priests are pedophiles. The vast of majority of priests are good pastors who genuinely are what they represent. I have never stated otherwise, which is why, when I talk about them, I use an identifier such as 'pedophilic' priests. I do not generalize. That's specious. I am not one who makes jokes at the expense of the RCC, either. If you do not like the truth of my statements, that the RCC was not only aware of the pedophilic abuse but actively covered it up, tough.
Attacking me makes you look vicious and petty, Bill Deacon, and implying that I hate Catholicism and am using pedophile-abused children as an excuse to lash out is indicative of how very badly you feel everyone is persecuting YOU, which is untrue. But to flat out lie about my motivations shows just how deeply your denial about the conduct of these priests is. Trying to turn it on me is a bully tactic, and isn't worthy of any more of my time spent talking to you about it.
I won't stop talking about it every time there is a story about it, Bill. If it disturbs you, feel free not to read my posts. I genuinely don't care.
Maybe you could provide me a link where you've lashed out against pedophile coaches or scout leaders or politicians. NO? Then my persecution complex looks little more accurate doesn't it. You liar.
He need to come clean on subject, hind love ism, gay ism is fundamental ritual of hindu Mithra sim pagan savior ism, Christianity is an off shoot of. Every hindu pagan priest practiced hindu filthy hindu hind love ism, filthy gay ism from hindu dark ages till today, including every hindu sanatan, filthy goon man god of hindus, ignorant s from hindered gutter of hinduism racism india, till today.
STFU GOON
Such conduct basically has brought attention to the decomposing underbelly of all religions and reinforces the following:
Recognizing the flaws, follies and frauds in the foundations of Islam, Judaism and Christianity, the "bowers", kneelers" and "pew peasants" are converging these religions into some simple rules of life. No koran, bible, clerics, nuns, monks, imams, evangelicals, ayatollahs, rabbis, professors of religion or priests needed or desired.
Ditto for houses of "worthless worship" aka mosques, churches, basilicas, cathedrals, temples and synagogues.
I've made $84,000 so far this year working online and I'm a full time student. Im using an online business opportunity I heard about and I've made such great money. It's really user friendly and I'm just so happy that I found out about it. The potential with this is endless. Here's what I do Rich45.c om
BOOO!!!!!!! Are you scared?
“In recent days certain allegations which have been made against me have become public. Initially, their anonymous and non-specific nature led me to contest them", O'brien said.
I see. He waited until he found out the identity of his accusers before admitting it.
When he was committing the acts is when he should have stepped down; it would have preserved a modicum of integrity. I guess the lure of the red hat was too strong.
What kind of a man would he be if he admitted that he was guilty without having to?
One with integrity, AB, and one who should have quit when he was breaking his vows instead of waiting until he got caught to pretend he was remotely sorry.
It's always been interesting to me only when after criminals are caught is when they feel remorse.
Wow Akira, I supposed you never fondle and molest young people that trust you. Give this poor man a break.
It would seem important to me that anyone interested in keep the child abuse cases relevant would not conflate those crimes with the consensual acts of grown people, even if they do rise to the level of harassment, or at the least a failure of ethics.
"Give this poor man a break."
You're kidding right? He should have left the priesthood years ago.
Yes everyone fails to live up to ideals of behavior. Priests are no different in this regard, but the question is one of degree.
People who preach about righteousness do have to set an example in the way they live their lives.
Abusing young men is very different to having too many second helpings of dessert.
@Bill,
so, is sëxual harrassment an 'acceptable' failing for a Cardinal?
Not acceptable but forgivable.
@Bill,
business executives who get caught harrassing their employees are usually forced to resign.
How is this situation any different?
The corporate world doesn't practice repentance and reconciliation.
@Bill,
the reason people are forced to resign is not that the activity was immoral and forgivable but illegal and punishable.
If it is illegal then they should be brought to justice. Reconciliation is still however available to the communion.
well Keith, what makes you think you are above the law? Apology is not going to work, you should be tried for non-consent s exual advances aka minors in the court of law.
Where did you see them reported as minors? Or are you advancing an agenda?
I was just kiddin he he he
Reblogged this on The Atheist .