Arizona "John Doe" Behind Latest Priest-Abuse Lawsuit Against Archdiocese of Philadelphia

• Your words: "probably weeded out by now" Why should we believe this is over? What has the church done to come clean and take responsibility? Many victims were told in the 1960's, then in the 1970's, then in the 1980's, then when the stories seriously broke in the 1990's, and even now...that it's over. Says who? Are you intentionally incurious? How do you know it's over! I was raised Catholic and the one lesson I have not lost, despite all the awful revelations of what was going on in my own church, is that when you sin - you are responsible. Forever. The church leaders and the church itself is no different. This doesn't mean you're responsible when the media makes noise or when people complain. It means responsible. The church has shown very little responsibility and willingness to atone. Like an immature child the church hides behind irrelevant distractions: "Other religions have this problem." (The church is still responsible for its own sins.) "The Catholic bashers are using this as an excuse to bash the faith." (The church is still responsible for its own sins.) "It's probably not happening anymore." (The church is still responsible for its own sins.) "Some people are just trying to hurt the church with false allegations in order to make money." (The church is still responsible for its own sins.) "Modern society has pedophiles, so of course, the church has some too." (One last time! The church is responsible for its own sins - just as every person is!) This is not honest. This is not leadership. This is not moral. You are deluding yourself if you think this problem is coming from outside the church. The current leadership of the Catholic church is as irrelevant as it can be. For evidence, look no further than the fact that it cannot take true responsibility for the rape of children over decades without qualilfying it and claiming the authority to police from within - exactly the thing it has proven it has no ability to do. And in the meantime, it feels that the biggest thing it needs to correct is rewriting the Mass. This type of equivocating on one of the worst crimes that can be done to a person in this life shows that the Catholic leadership deserves all of its own criticisms, even if it continues to refuse to be responsible for them in a true, adult, without-excuses way.

• Will you be my Simon? Simon Cyrene helped Jesus carry his cross. This Lent, help all Catholics carry this cross. Your prayers are needed! Join us as we pray for all victims of abuse, the priests who are not involved, and pledge to keep our prayers coming throughout Lent. Thanks and God bless. http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/I-Will-Be-Your-Simon/198973010122271

• So much garbage. These priests stood before God and the community and promised to spend thier lives serving the Church and then turned and spit in God's face. What they did is dispicable and the response of the Church is even worse. They hid the truth and tried to cover up anything that would put them in a bad light with no concern for the children whose lives had been destroyed. This level of arrogance is only found in the Catholic Church. I spent 30 years teaching in a Catholic School in Philadelphia and am so disgusted that I no longer think of myself as a Catholic. This is not my Church. These pigs who made the dicisions will get just what they deserve; They will al be unemployed when Catholics close their purses and say... never again.

• I am proud to be a Catholic. I am ashamed of the leadership of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States that has enabled and facilitated the rape and sodomizing of thousands of innocent children in their criminal and misguided attempts to protect an institution from scandal. They have betrayed the children and they have betrayed us. They should be charged with felony crimes of the reckless endangerment of children, of enableing and covering up for known, credibly accused or convicted sexual predators. Bishops and other church officicals who have participated in any way in any cover-ups, in any harassment or intimidation or threatening of victims of childhood sexual abuse or their parents should face criminal charges. For those of you who are Pennsylvanians, please, I beg of you in God's name, call the local office of your PA Representative and implore him or her to support the recent bills introduced by Rep. Louise Bishop and Rep. Michael Mc Geehan. House Bills 832 & 878 will remove all criminal and civil statutes of limitation on the sexual abuse of children AND provide a two year civil window to bring forward previously barred cases of child sexual abuse - BY ANYONE. Visit: www.votfgp.org Sister Maureen Paul Turlish Victims' Advocate maturlishmdsnd@yahoo.com

• Jesus gave us the story of the Good Samaritan who helped the man on the side of the road. These bishops kick children to the side of the road, one even leaves the scene for the man to die alone on a curb. Honestly, why does anyone still listen to these thugs?

• This excuse for a church is not going to change. It likes it's power (wealth). It casts kids aside like broken toys after they have been damaged and never looks back. It's not going to change. But WE can change, for the better. Walk away, folks. You've been brainwashed (as was I). Do NOT give them money. Do NOT give them your children. And above all else, if you know of abuse or suspicion of abuse, report to the civil authorities. The church is not above the law of the land nor is it abov God's law, in whose name it commits autrocities.

• We humans have been getting fooled by religions for the last 20,000 years. Religions are basically drug pushers using the “freeware” marketing program as current computer software companies do today - “If you like the product, give us some money.” They don’t tell you that the product they’re selling is our own bodies’ drugs – endorphins. 2,000 years from now students will still be studying ancient religions, just like we do today. Among the sumarians, roman and greek religions, Christianity will be just another one. Learn how to make your own edophornic experiences and stop relying on the stories of others. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_of_morality http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Stuart_Mill#Utilitarianism http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felicific_calculus

• Sorry charlie,but this is a catholic problem! Since the years 308 and the1100s. there were no boy scouts, no protestants, no public school teachers, etc,etc. John Paul II when he was told of the abusive priests said, "the devil made them do it." And he did nothing else. Ratzinger in 2001, not yet Pope, said there were only 1000 priests in the US that abused. And he was in charge of this investigation. In 2002 we learned there were about 6500 who abused children. Sounds like a cover up to me! Stan Jezior

• From an atheist. Lest we forget: There have been more atrocities committed by man in the name of "God" than for any other reason.

• James, I hope you can make use of my correspondence to you from Saturday. Steve Tracy

• We urge anyone who has knowledge or may have been harmed by any priest, to contact police, not church officials. Sex crimes, however old, should be investigated by the independent professionals in law enforcement, not the biased amateurs in church offices. Keep in mind your silence only hurts, but by speaking up there is a chance for healing, exposing the truth, and therefore protecting others. Also, know that you are not alone, and there is help and healing. Judy Jones, SNAP Midwest Associate Director, 636-433-2511 snapjudy@gmail.com "Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests" http://www.snapnetwork.org/

• from a non-christian!!!! Lest we forget! Excerpts of an article written by non-Catholic Sam Miller - a prominent Cleveland Jewish businessman: "Why would newspapers carry on a vendetta on one of the most important institutions that we have today in the United States , namely the Catholic Church? Do you know - the Catholic Church educates 2.6 million students everyday at the cost to that Church of 10 billion dollars, and a savings on the other hand to the American taxpayer of 18 billion dollars. The graduates go on to graduate studies at the rate of 92%. The Church has 230 colleges and universities in the U.S. with an enrollment of 700,000 students. The Catholic Church has a non-profit hospital system of 637 hospitals, which account for hospital treatment of 1 out of every 5 people - not just Catholics - in the United States today. But the press is vindictive and trying to totally denigrate in every way the Catholic Church in this country They have blamed the disease of pedophilia on the Catholic Church, which is as irresponsible as blaming adultery on the institution of marriage. Let me give you some figures that Catholics should know and remember. For example, 12% of the 300 Protestant clergy surveyed admitted to sexual intercourse with a parishioner; 38% acknowledged other inappropriate sexual contact in a study by the United Methodist Church , 41.8% of clergy women reported unwanted sexual behavior; 17% of laywomen have been sexually harassed. Meanwhile, 1.7% of the Catholic clergy has been found guilty of pedophilia. 10% of the Protestant ministers have been found guilty of pedophilia. This is not a Catholic Problem. A study of American priests showed that most are happy in the priesthood and find it even better than they had expected, and that most, if given the choice, would choose to be priests again in face of all this obnoxious PR the church has been receiving. The Catholic Church is bleeding from self-inflicted wounds. The agony that Catholics have felt and suffered is not necessarily the fault of the Church. You have been hurt by a small number of wayward priests that have probably been totally weeded out by now. Walk with your shoulders high and you head higher. Be a proud member of the most important non-governmental agency in the United States ... Then remember what Jeremiah said: 'Stand by the roads, and look and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is and walk in it, and find rest for your souls'. Be proud to speak up for your faith with pride and reverence and learn what your Church does for all other religions. Be proud that you're a Catholic."

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