Cardinal Keith O'brien Has Resigned.

[sandyRoe]

Old sins cast long shadows. Could he have done anything else?

[ludwig]

//..an ability to simply not see what doesn't suit. //

Yes, yes, ill-fitting and too gaudy. Enough about the outfit.

[gness]

I second Andy and the more resignations the better. Yes he should resign. I wouldn't mourn the end of the Catholic Church.
I have just returned from clearing my mother's house. I found more letters from priests thanking her for the gifts of money she had given to them while visiting her parish.
This is the parish she has supported for over sixty years. Last year she was hospitalised for two months......no visit from the priest. When I told him she would now be living in a home about six miles away he told me to find another priest if we wanted visits...she wasn't his responsibility any more.
I guess he knew there would be no more money coming his way.
An evil organisation.

[bazwillrun]

"He's been accused of 'inappropriate behaviour' - presumably wandering around in a dress and silly hat talking about mythical beings and the like. "

and fiddling with young chaps !

The Vatican is more corrupt, more secret and more dangerous than any government has or probably will be.

The Pope didnt "resign" he was forced out.

[Kromovaracun]

O'Brien is a vile man with vile convictions. If he turns out to have been a total hypocrite as well I can't say I'll be surprised, but we'll have to wait until these allegations have been properly investigated. If they're true, then I dearly hope he ends up humiliated and dragged through the gutter press - as he deserves to be.

Good riddance.

[Baldric]

What's he going to do with all that extra free-time?

[LazyGun]

@gness That is pretty shocking behaviour of a priest to a long serving loyal parishioner.

[andy-hughes]

LazyGun - it's not actually.

My MIL whom I mentioned has gone to mass religiously (scuse the pun!) for the fifty-plus years since she moved here. How many visits did her parish priest make to see her when she had a hip relacement? Er that will be just the none!

Of course there are good priests, but the bad ones are so much worse because of the stratospheric levels of hypocrisy involved.

[LazyGun]

@Andy - Well, it shocks me. I have no time for religion or the trappings or the clergy, but I had assumed that they at least offered the comfort to those of faith of visits to the sick and elderly faithful.

[andy-hughes]

LazyGun - well, as i say, some do, but a lot don't.

I have personal experience of the Catholic clergy's work - my wife was head of a Catholic Prep School and was alerted to issues of child abuse (phyiscal) by a female teacher. After a long and tortuous period of time, the Chritian Brothers closed ranks around the teacher, and tried to make my wife resign. long battle ensured and with the helpo of the Heads' Union - my wife was able to retire through ill health. the teacher left the school, and the CB's assured us she would not teach locally again. hew now teaches at another Catholic school two miles away.

My wife's health was broken, she suffered pneumonia and was hospitalised, this lead to ME and permanent ill health.

Not only did the Christian Brothers cause this by defending a known and acknowledged child abuser, and assiting her in gaining another post - they never even phoned to see if my wife was alive or dead, much less a visit.

My hatred of the church runs deep and long - their 'God' may forgive them - I never will.

[gness]

Lazygun.....shocking behaviour but not surprising to me now. Occasionally a church member will visit the home where my mother is but for people of her age and after her years of devotion a visit from her priest would mean so much, especially to give her communion.
The priest and I have had a few words....not least when he told me that as she had dementia a priest from another town would be just as good. She really wanted someone from her own parish.
Still...I will be speaking at her funeral which will be held in her church.

[LazyGun]

@andy - well It is not difficult to see why you would feel that way, and from what you say, the consequences to your wife in challenging the closed ranks is appalling.

[LazyGun]

@gness - Sounds like a completely indifferent and completely uncaring individual your mother had the misfortune to be a parishioner of. That line about having dementia so any old priest would do is both callous and cynical.

Yours and andys and his wifes experiences at the hands of the clergy are horrible, and make me all the more relieved that I have no involvement with religion...

[Davethedog]

Kromovaracun Investigation? If there is i'll give you the money myself.He apparently off to devote himself to prayer

[Sqad]

There are over a billion Catholics in the world and so it is not surprising that there are a few "bad apples" along the way.

If people feel that they need Catholicism to enable them to get full value out of their lives, then it is fine with me.

Yes, the examples given by gness and andy are unacceptable.

[naomi24]

Andy-Hughes, //My hatred of the church runs deep and long - their 'God' may forgive them - I never will.//

If you feel like that, why on earth do you enjoy going to church every week - and taking communion? I know you said you take your wife, but you've actually said that taking part in the services gives you a certain comfort or words to that effect. In the circumstances, I don't understand why it would.

[gness]

I'm probably more that a little touchy today, Lazygun. Clearing out Ma's attic I have found old photographs. There are quite a few of a priest with whom my parents were friendly during my childhood. He was so scary....even the adults feared him.
He too went off to pray after it was discovered he had had an unhealthy attachment to his altar boys.
A little bonfire this evening I think.

[joggerjayne]

There's a whacky headline on the front of the Guardian today ...

The Pope is "considering how to respond" to these new revelations.

Err, let me make a prediction. Just a wild stab in the dark.

1. We are looking into the matter.

2. We are still looking into the matter.

3. We are still looking into the matter.

4. We are still looking into the matter.

5. Yay, I'm not Pope any more. Not my problem.

[gness]

Sqad...more than a few bad apples in my experience, and the ones with power are the dangerous and sickening ones. It would be fine with me too if it wasn't for having seen them use and abuse that power. I did know a nice priest once.
He ran off to San Francisco with the girl up the road.

[gness]

Jordy..........big as I can but with my track record I'll keep a bucket of water close. :-)