Whine of the Week: "What about them? They did it, too!"

[joshwriting]

As further proof that the Catholic Church is taking seriously accusations that they are out of touch with the modern world, today the Vatican released a statement that superbly illustrates their grasp of both current events and modern business ethics/leadership.

The Vatican's chief spokesman, Father Federico Lombardi, observed: "Sexual abuse of children is not just a Catholic Church problem and other institutions should take steps to acknowledge and deal with such "wickedness" within their own ranks"

From the NY Times:

"It has decided to commit itself in every way to avoid a repetition of such wickedness," he said, adding that the Church now had a "a policy of prevention and creation of an ever more secure atmosphere for children and young people in all aspects of (its) pastoral programs."

Lombardi reaffirmed a position taken by other Catholic Church leaders in the past -- that other organized religions and institutions should also deal with pedophilia as publicly as the Catholic Church has been forced to by various scandals.

"The problem of the abuse of childhood and its adequate protection certainly does not regard only the (Catholic) Church, but also many other institutions and it is right that these take the necessary decisions as well," he said.

I am glad the church has finally decided to avoid a repetition of such wickedness, and now has a policy of prevention. I wonder what the prior positions and policies were.

Oh - if you object to my picking on the church, there are many other people out there doing it to! It is not just me!

Comments

[illative-rime.livejournal.com]

>>Oh - if you object to my picking on the church, there are many other people out there doing it to! It is not just me!

Tee hee.

[mhuzzell.livejournal.com]

From the Regularis Concordia, a 'Monastic Agreement compiled by King Æthelwold of England late in the Tenth Century; part of the wider monastic reform movement sweeping Europe at the time:

"In the monastery morevover let neither monks nor abbots embrace or kiss, as it were, youths or children; let their affection for them be spiritual, let them keep from words of flattery, and let them love the children reverently and with the greatest circumspection. Not even on the excuse of some spiritual matter shall any monk presume to take with him a young boy alone for any private purpose but, as the Rule commands, let the children always remain under the care of their master. Nor shall the master himself be allowed to be in company with a boy without a third person as witness; but let master and scholars go together in the accustomed manner wherever reason and necessity demand, reciting psalms in silence and having received a blessing."