4 ms·

When I was 18/19 I was well on my way to entering the seminary. I use to spend a lot of time with priests, I can't recall who it was, maybe my parish priest but

by hotz 5y ago

When I was 18/19 I was well on my way to entering the seminary. I use to spend a lot of time with priests, I can't recall who it was, maybe my parish priest but I was told "priests don't become pedophiles, pedophiles become priests." That has stuck with me for quite a few years. Life happens, you meet a girl, get married and have a baby. When I look at my 5 year old son, it really screws with my head how anyone could want to harm children. I think as a Catholic I'm just disappointed/disgusted that the Church has failed all these kids for as long as they have. I'd probably kill the person that leaves my child with lifelong trauma. I just wish society had enough balls to take on the Church's leadership. There's no real justice and I doubt we'll ever see anything meaningful done.

snarf21 5y ago
The Catholic church can't change because they would have to give up the ghost. The Catholic church has always been about emotional and monetary control. You aren't allowed to ask for forgiveness of your sins but someone who went to a special college can ask for you? Umm, okay. I also think you also underestimate your power. Stand outside your local church protesting the molestation every Sunday. It won't be easy or comfortable but you can undermine the system you used to support. Good luck.
rich_sasha 5y ago
CC lacks meaningful tools for protest. You can put up or leave. As far as I can tell, UK and US at least have some non-trivial involvement of lay Catholics in daily running of the institution. But in Poland? You'd be kicked out for asking to see a church's books. Incidentally, leaving is what's happening in Poland. The bastion of Catholicism with unshakable faith. When I was at high schools O(15) years ago, pretty much everyone attended religion classes at school (yes, Catholic religion classes, not some kind of broader religious education). Now most kids are signing out. Churches are emptying and were doing so well before Covid. The institution of CC is very wealthy in Poland and well-connected to politicians (they command a lot of unquestioning votes), so that can perpetuate even after the last Catholic signs out.

by hotz 5y ago

snarf21 5y ago

The Catholic church can't change because they would have to give up the ghost. The Catholic church has always been about emotional and monetary control. You aren't allowed to ask for forgiveness of your sins but someone who went to a special college can ask for you? Umm, okay. I also think you also underestimate your power. Stand outside your local church protesting the molestation every Sunday. It won't be easy or comfortable but you can undermine the system you used to support. Good luck.

rich_sasha 5y ago

CC lacks meaningful tools for protest. You can put up or leave. As far as I can tell, UK and US at least have some non-trivial involvement of lay Catholics in daily running of the institution. But in Poland? You'd be kicked out for asking to see a church's books. Incidentally, leaving is what's happening in Poland. The bastion of Catholicism with unshakable faith. When I was at high schools O(15) years ago, pretty much everyone attended religion classes at school (yes, Catholic religion classes, not some kind of broader religious education). Now most kids are signing out. Churches are emptying and were doing so well before Covid. The institution of CC is very wealthy in Poland and well-connected to politicians (they command a lot of unquestioning votes), so that can perpetuate even after the last Catholic signs out.