Will the Catholic church's cover-up never end?

Cardinal O'Brien has a thread all to himself. It was suggested by GNers and firstly by Evan Davis and some other prominent gays, that his aggressive attacks on homosexuality were triggered by his own internal conflicts and probably by a degree of self-hatred. Incidentally, while I don't think enforced celibacy is a good idea or even doctrinally required, it's only fair to point out that thousands of people live happy and otherwise fulfilled, celibate lives. And when did being married stop anyone from abusing children or adults of either sex if they were wicked enough that way inclined and in a position to do so?

How can an archbishop command a cardinal? Just interested in the protocol!

I can see why "Lilygran" feels that things are changing and the fact that an archbishop is trying to get a grip on the situation in his diocese is progress. But the fact remains that the rules of the catholic church encourage unacceptable sexual behaviour by repressing normal instincts - and their systems may attract people who wish to have unfettered access to children.

The need for change is in grassroots doctrine, not in tinkering around the edges.

Cardinal Keith O'Brien, former Bishop of St. Andrews and Edinburgh, has taken early retirement and admitted to 'inappropriate sexual conduct' with young priests. One of his victims said he had been told to keep quiet or he would be 'crushed'. See the article in the Catholic Herald.
I think the fact that has enraged Catholic homosexuals is that he was very virulent in his condemnation of homosexuality for many years.
There may well be a lot more to come out about alleged homosexual parties within the Vatican walls.
Hypocrisy?
I have great sympathy for the many catholics who feel betrayed by the institution in which they placed such faith. I was taught to revere it, and all priests.

Yes do agree Eloethan with all you say. Religions run by men to subjugate women. Seeing all the Cardinals gathered at the moment (all men) just smacks of chauvanism, women as always excluded from any decision making, relegated to the minor tasks of flower arranging and cooking for the all important men. They are as you say, pompous, secretive, out of touch, self obsessed with hierarchy and appearances.

It is all appalling makes me mbrassed to be catholic!

I was appalled by the cardinal at least he admitted his failings but is pretty grim don't tell me there is more.

My feeling is that most religions don't bear an awful lot of examination. They are run by men, for men and generally do a great disservice to women and the less powerful.

That's not to say that there aren't decent and caring people within them, but the actual organisations and their "leaders" are usually pompous, secretive, out of touch, self-absorbed and obsessed with hierarchy and appearances.

(With apologies to The Quakers who, whilst not sharing their spiritual beliefs, I greatly admire for their kindness and humanity)

Absent I'm not sure what you're doing reading that junk missive. Did you read the article about the Magdalene Laundries - and the replies?

Sometimes I can't believe I was brought up to revere the hierarchy of the Catholic church, I was disillusioned enough to find out in my mid teens what a dark and evil history it had, they don't teach you that at a Catholic School. Seems at times it's not much better now, will the abuse and cover ups never end. Just gets worse and worse. I think I read somewhere on the internet that Mother Theresa was a bit dubious in the way she cared for people. Giving last rites to people of other faiths, not really doing anything much at all for the sick and I believe misappropriating money.

Covering up abuse was appalling and the original abuse even worse. But what we have here is a story about an archbishop NOW refusing to allow the cover up to continue. Indication of change and a good news story, surely? Some senior clerics were guilty of putting their fellow clerics' interest ahead of the interests of the individuals who had been abused. Now it looks as though senior clerics are taking the opposite approach. The answer to the OP is, yes, it appears as though it has!

The problems in the RC church are obviously deep seated and have been going on far longer than any of us originally thought. The reaction of the senior clerics is to cover up/look inward and become even more conservative. There was a time around Vatican Two when many of us thought things were moving forward and modernization was around the corner but it all came to a halt and I see it going backwards instead. Very, very sad especially for women who have been marginalized and have now given up any hope of that changing.

I think you can blame the organisation if a large proportion of the senior management have been conspiring to protect staff when they are engaged in an activity that is unlawful.

helshea I blame the individuals for the acts of abuse committed by them. I blame the organisation, i.e. the church, for covering up those acts to prevent the organisation from being damaged and to prevent a police investigation that might bring the perpetrator to justice and prevent further terrible harm done to young people.

The organisation, i.e. the Catholic church, not just keeping the secret but its senior members conspiring to do so is unforgivable.

Reading the article it appears it relates to a cover up in the 80s which has come to light now through the Archbishop.

What happened in the past can't be undone but acknowledging it now is a step in the right direction.

There isn't an organsation in the world that doesnt have some secrets... you can blame the people but not the organization!

Barrow All credit to Archbishop José Gomez. However, that these two people appear to have been conspiring to cover up abuse recently doesn't fill me with confidence that the church as an organisation is doing all it can.

Surely, the fact that the Archbishop has relieved them of their duties shows that he is as disgusted by it as you are. Of course there will be more skeletons in the cupboard but I think the modern day church is doing what it can to bring this out into the open.