tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2349955924476319599.post930930348105777515..comments2023-10-08T05:43:12.096-05:00Comments on Wall's Paper: Separation of church and sex still elusiveArthurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13326797256101480676noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2349955924476319599.post-78156098170450472982010-10-15T20:02:51.942-05:002010-10-15T20:02:51.942-05:00The fact that the Catholic Church has historically...The fact that the Catholic Church has historically, and reflexively, attempted to cover up its pedophilia scandals comes as no surprise to me. The same problem has existed for years with alcoholic priests. <br /><br />Perhaps things have changed for the better, but for many years, the standard practice had been to reassign alcoholic priests to a small parish in the boondocks, in the mistaken belief that reducing the pressure on the priest would enable them to conquer their alcoholism. This practice may even have had the opposite effect because it removed the priest from the support systems, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, that might have helped him.<br /><br />The institutional Church seems to be in a constant state of denial. But then, the institutional Church has been out of touch with the real world, and the problems that Catholics in that real world face, for years.<br /><br />So often, it lacks the courage to face reality. Perhaps the worst example of this was the failure of the Catholic Church to speak out against the extermination of the Jews by Hitler in World War II. The Church had the moral power to make a difference, but it failed to use that power.Robert E. Simanskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14522942862219517896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2349955924476319599.post-9595312068533592072010-10-14T17:01:32.980-05:002010-10-14T17:01:32.980-05:00It would be very interesting to read a study about...It would be very interesting to read a study about how much the individuals of a religious group believe in the tenets of that group. <br /><br />Ignorance is sure to come into play: you can't agree or disagree with something if you don't even know what it is. Consider transubstantiation or infallibility for "common" Catholics.<br /><br />But our desire to belong and exclude keeps us attached to labels that describe the groups people belong to: Democrat, priest, Catholic, jock, husband, friend, father, patriot, nerd, straight, old, beautiful, hard-worker. How well we fit our labels is a classic topic of gossip, where perceived failings of others are relished.<br /><br />Surely, we all carry labels that don't fully reflect our beliefs, ideals, and actions. But yes, when the those who tout their labels publicly fail, it can be entertaining. Irony can be wicked.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com