Posted On: June 18, 2007, 3:11 pm CDT

Posted By: Charles

I can't speak for what is going on in other dioceses, but ours is one that was impacted mightily by these scandals in the past.

It is true, that in the past, priests were removed from positions, sent to counseling/rehab, what have you, and later allowed to return to ministry once they had been "cured" so to speak. Now it is recognized that you don't get over being a pedophile, and these priests are in fact removed from ministry, defrocked, and prosecuted. It seems that an unreasonable expectations are put on Catholic priests, that they are somehow above other men. The truth is, they are just men who have had a calling to God, not unlike, in many ways, those of their Protestant brethren. The differences lie in the vow of celibacy, poverty and obediance that Protestant ministers do not ascribe to. But in the end, they are men, capable of fault and sinners, just like you and I.

I do think its a terrible tragedy and travesty that there have been coverups, and won't deny that there are attempts to hush things under the rug today. Being an active Catholic, I can tell you, we find it unacceptable, and you can be certain that at least in our parish and diocese, that when these revelations come to light, there is a demand for immediate action and swift justice, as well as healing for all affected.

Even today, Protestant ministers continue to be accused of things. It just bothers me when they are held out like these things aren't going on at probably the same, if not higher level than the Catholic church. All we are hearing about in the article are the number of sex abuse molestation cases being reported as claims. This doesn't include the ones that go unreported or that get "swept under the table".

Personally, I think they should all be held responsible. No two, three strikes. Immediate removal and prosecution. And then, get them the help they desperately need, after all, even though they have fallen, they are still God's children.