I had missed this:
Welcome to GoErie.com: When will they ever learn? Boston's Roman Catholic archdiocese has once again shot itself in the foot. As we noted previously, its lawyers sought the records of the counselors who treated the victims of pedophile priests. The lawyers say now that the records of alleged victim Gregory Ford indicate he may have been abused by his father, Rodney, not the Rev. Paul Shanley. Rodney Ford denied the accusation and called the tactic "a disgrace," which it is. But the lawyers have a different opinion: "You have to make a distinction between victim assistance and litigation. It's trial by combat." We agree with the lawyers about the law -- we only point out, their client is supposed to favor victims, supposed to minister to them, serve them, but never exploit them or (as in this case) call one of them an abusive father as a legal ploy. Does the archdiocese want to win a lawsuit or win back public opinion?...
I suppose that nothing coming out of the Chancery of the Archdiocese of Boston should surprise me any more, but things keep doing so.
The only thing that makes any sense is that Boston Bishop Richard Lennon and his entire staff must be convinced atheists. If they believe in the Judgement Throne, what are they going to say before it? "Lord, we didn't bear false witness against Gregory Ford, we hired lawyers to bear false witness for us!"? "Lord, we know that our covenant with you obligates us not to bear false witness, but that covenant is rendered null and void by this contract with our insurance company"?
Remarkable...
Posted by DeLong at May 30, 2003 11:33 AM | TrackBack
So what is the going rate on Indulgences anyway?
Posted by: Rob on May 30, 2003 01:11 PM"So What is the going rate on Indulgences anyway?"
$19.95
( http://www.ticket2heaven.com )
(via Making Light, http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/002589.html#002589 )
I don't know the going rate, but I do know that the practice of indulgences has not been abolished:
(http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2001/109/45.0.html)
The Bishop and his staff needn't be convinced atheists. Instead, they may be genuinely convinced of the insignificance of women, children and the laity (in short, of everyone who is not clergy).
Posted by: Invisible Adjunct on May 31, 2003 03:52 AMAnd the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
Posted by: Canadian Reader on May 31, 2003 09:03 PMI.A.,
You're confusing people ... the indulgences available on jubilee years (every 25) are only given for actions (donations to the poor, volunteering in the community, overcoming addictions, etc) not sold. But then bashing Catholics has always been a fun sport ... good thing Protestants don't abuse children or have peculiar religious beliefs.
Posted by: Ex Catholic on June 1, 2003 07:25 AMConsidering what the Boston clergy has done to its parisioners, I'd say they're quite the Catholic-bashers themselves, and in this regard far surpass anything that's been written about them.
Posted by: Curtiss Leung on June 3, 2003 05:44 AM