If we are to be honest, we have to account for the reality that it was an era when psychiatry still believed that it could be treated and cured and bishops believed them
The Catholic Church was obfuscating abuse up until the media blowout in 2002, not just in some distant era. If it hadn't been for the lawsuits and publicity, it would probably still be church policy.
Catholic obligation to obey the bishop on issues of morality is enforceable by excommunication, yet look at how much moral dissent and how few excommunications there are in this country - demonstrates that political agenda is not the primary motivator in issues like these.
The reason there are so few excommunications in this country is that the Catholic laity has moved so far away from the dogma of the Catholic Church that to excommunicate everyone who disagreed with some part of church dogma would leave precious few Catholics left. The Catholic Church is to pragmatic to do that, however the hierarchy still fervently pursues its political agenda.
The fact that a very small group of bishops have to step in to enforce their anti-gay policies on the the board of Catholic Charities who voted unanimously to allow gay and lesbian adoptions speaks very loudly of the political nature of the Catholic Church's (not Catholic Charities) decision?
no subject
Date: 2006-03-13 05:12 am (UTC)The Catholic Church was obfuscating abuse up until the media blowout in 2002, not just in some distant era. If it hadn't been for the lawsuits and publicity, it would probably still be church policy.
Catholic obligation to obey the bishop on issues of morality is enforceable by excommunication, yet look at how much moral dissent and how few excommunications there are in this country - demonstrates that political agenda is not the primary motivator in issues like these.
The reason there are so few excommunications in this country is that the Catholic laity has moved so far away from the dogma of the Catholic Church that to excommunicate everyone who disagreed with some part of church dogma would leave precious few Catholics left. The Catholic Church is to pragmatic to do that, however the hierarchy still fervently pursues its political agenda.
The fact that a very small group of bishops have to step in to enforce their anti-gay policies on the the board of Catholic Charities who voted unanimously to allow gay and lesbian adoptions speaks very loudly of the political nature of the Catholic Church's (not Catholic Charities) decision?