Letter to my local paper about the Pope

[Pappa]

I'm considering sending this to my local paper... what do you think?

In 2001, Joseph Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI) wrote a letter to all Catholic bishops reminding them that it is forbidden for them to report the rape and abuse of children to the authorities and reminding them that the accusations are to be dealt with solely by the church. The penalty for breaking this secrecy is excommunication. Years before, in 1979, a German boy was raped by a cleric under Ratzinger. Ratzinger was responsible for transferring the cleric from Essen to Munich for “therapy”. The cleric was soon returned to pastoral work and soon resumed sexual assault. Ratzinger has also started that the church's jurisdiction in these matters extends to 10 years after the date that the child reaches 18 – which removes almost any real possibility that accusations could ever be dealt with successfully by the police. It's time that all Catholics accept they are members of an organisation that covers up and facilitates the rape and abuse of children. As long as they continue supporting the Pope by continuing active membership of the Roman Catholic church they also continue supporting the rape and abuse of children. Likewise, for all of us, Catholics or not, it's time we stopped accepting this kind of thing as an acceptable part of our society. Why aren't the press calling on Catholics to distance themselves from the Pope/church? It's so disgusting that we actually expect Catholic priests to be paedophiles and we don't do anything about it. We don't petition the Government to demand that the secrecy and cover-ups be regarded as perverting the course of justice. We don't critisise our Catholic friends for supporting a church that harbours and protects paedophile rapists. We don't tell our Catholic friends that we are utterly disgusted with their continued membership of an organisation that harbours and protects paedophile rapists. It's time we all did.

[Azathoth]

[devogue]

Very good.

The trouble is that too many people need their Catholicism because, pathetically, they are terrified of the universe and they are scared of dying. They will forever find excuses and ways to hold on to their precious dogmas and doctrines, even at the expense of something they (as fundamentally good people) know is an abberation.

Expect a major, major shitstorm if it's published.

[Tigger]

[AshtonBlack]

Dooooooooo iiiiiiiiit!!!!!!!!

[devogue]

Also, don't send it to a local paper, send it to The Daily Mail.

[AshtonBlack]

Also, don't send it to a local paper, send it to The Daily Mail.

Would it EVER get published?

Send it to the Guardian!

[devogue]

Also, don't send it to a local paper, send it to The Daily Mail.

Would it EVER get published?

Send it to the Guardian!

The Daily Mail doesn't like Catholics.

[AshtonBlack]

Also, don't send it to a local paper, send it to The Daily Mail.

Would it EVER get published?

Send it to the Guardian!

The Daily Mail doesn't like Catholics.

Oh fair enough then.

[devogue]

Also, don't send it to a local paper, send it to The Daily Mail.

Would it EVER get published?

Send it to the Guardian!

The Daily Mail doesn't like Catholics.

Oh fair enough then.

I just made that up but, as you know, I'm probably right.

[Elessarina]

Perhaps you should also mention that by using tax payers' money to fund the Pope's visit, the government are, in effect, making us all contributors to child abuse

[Feck]

Good letter ,they won't print it .

It strikes me as a terrible example of how the media works that tabloid readers are goaded into mob rage when a paedophile is released often after serving a long sentence. Words like Evil, Beast and Monster are used and Demands are made for the public to be informed of their whereabouts.

But Priests are sheltered.We are talking about one or two victims of abuse themselves , we are talking figures like during the 70's 10% of Irish clergy had allegations made against them ! When the levels of systemic abuse come to light in yet another country ....The US for example the Church will go great lengths to smooth things over at government,even Presidential levels.This Popes job and now it seems his mission has not been to stop abuse but to cover it up .

It is about time a country nationalised the Church, Blocked bank accounts and seized property owned by this evil organisation and brought the guilty to public trial. .

[cowiz]

I'm considering sending this to my local paper... what do you think?

In 2001, Joseph Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI) wrote a letter to all Catholic bishops reminding them that it is forbidden for them to report the rape and abuse of children to the authorities and reminding them that the accusations are to be dealt with solely by the church. The penalty for breaking this secrecy is excommunication. Years before, in 1979, a German boy was raped by a cleric under Ratzinger. Ratzinger was responsible for transferring the cleric from Essen to Munich for “therapy”. The cleric was soon returned to pastoral work and soon resumed sexual assault. Ratzinger has also started that the church's jurisdiction in these matters extends to 10 years after the date that the child reaches 18 – which removes almost any real possibility that accusations could ever be dealt with successfully by the police. It's time that all Catholics accept they are members of an organisation that covers up and facilitates the rape and abuse of children. As long as they continue supporting the Pope by continuing active membership of the Roman Catholic church they also continue supporting the rape and abuse of children. Likewise, for all of us, Catholics or not, it's time we stopped accepting this kind of thing as an acceptable part of our society. Why aren't the press calling on Catholics to distance themselves from the Pope/church? It's so disgusting that we actually expect Catholic priests to be paedophiles and we don't do anything about it. We don't petition the Government to demand that the secrecy and cover-ups be regarded as perverting the course of justice. We don't critisise our Catholic friends for supporting a church that harbours and protects paedophile rapists. We don't tell our Catholic friends that we are utterly disgusted with their continued membership of an organisation that harbours and protects paedophile rapists. It's time we all did.

Typo alert

[Pappa]

Perhaps you should also mention that by using tax payers' money to fund the Pope's visit, the government are, in effect, making us all contributors to child abuse

That might confuse the point as the taxpayer is actually paying for the policing, etc.

Typo alert

Thanks.

Also, don't send it to a local paper, send it to The Daily Mail.

Would it EVER get published?

Send it to the Guardian!

Good point... I'll send versions to local, regional and national papers I think. Though I'll need to reword it so I'm not plagarising Hitchins.

[devogue]

Also, don't send it to a local paper, send it to The Daily Mail.

Would it EVER get published?

Send it to the Guardian!

Good point... I'll send versions to local, regional and national papers I think.

And sign it Mr D Lama or something.