Note: I wrote this eight (8) years ago, in April, on my personal blog, Facts Matter.
The Catholic Church is, first of all, a criminal organization. It conspired for several generations to shield criminals from justice, just like the Mafia. Reading the press, I experience a sense of growing disbelief. Many commentators sound as if it the Catholic Church should be given a pass, somehow. The reverse is true. I am not religious but I know enough about the traditional Jesus to remember that he held hypocrites in special contempt. (Within the context of his day, he called them “Pharisees,” a sect known for showing off instead of acting righteously.) The Catholic Church’s own historical, philosophical, and moral claims demand that its crimes be treated with special severity. The Catholic Church deserves enhanced penal sentences and seizure of property.
If you are a grief-stricken Catholic and you hesitate to leave the Church, you should wonder whether even your simple passivity does not make you complicit in the large-scale, systemic, criminal cover-up becoming apparent right now. If you believe that the Catholic Church has the ability to cleanse itself somehow, you have not been listening to the shameful lies and self-deceptions expressed by prelates, during Holy Week of all times.
As always, I pay attention to what one should reasonably expect to happen and that is not happening. It’s striking how nearly none of the accusations of pedophilia against the Catholic church concerns girls. Catholic sexual crimes against children are almost exclusively homosexual. It looks like we are speaking about thousands of homosexual crimes. It makes me wonder why I don’t hear a word from so-called “gay” organizations. I mean militant gay organizations. I do not (not) refer here to the many homosexuals who lead irreproachable and constructive lives. They have no more to do with priestly pedophilia than I am responsible for heterosexuals who cut up their wives into little pieces. Nevertheless, anyone who thinks that mass molestation of children by homosexuals within the church has no bearing on the discussion of homosexuals’ right to marry is dreaming. The numbers are just too large and the criminals are homosexuals, anyway you look at it.
Notes On Liberty 
“According to the John-Jay-Report, 80.9% of the abuse victims in the United States were male;and a study by Dr. Thomas Plante found the number may be as high as 90%.” Facts matter and more precision is generally better.”Nevertheless, anyone who thinks that mass molestation of children by homosexuals within the church has no bearing on the discussion of homosexuals’ right to marry is dreaming.” I guess that makes me a dreamer. Please explain this alleged ‘bearing’.
I asked the same question.
In good faith, I think Jacques is implying that the Catholic Church’s stance on homosexuality leads to child molestation. Gay marriage, and the Church’s opposition to it, is a great way to alleviate social stigma and get homosexuality out of the shadows (where crime happens) and into the mainstream of American life. This is the Andrew Sullivan argument, too.
So the Catholic Church opposes gay marriage in order to alleviate the stigma associated with homosexuality and thereby move homosexuality into the mainstream. Um, ok. Thanks for the explanation.
Hey, I’m on my phone. (What’s your excuse?)
It should read: Gay marriage [—] is a great way to alleviate social stigma and get homosexuality out of the shadows (where crime happens) and into the mainstream of American life, and the Church’s opposition to it prevents this from happening. Indeed, this harsh oppression and opposition contributes to pedophilia.
I went back and reread the Sullivan piece. He definitely suggests that the Church’s stance on homosexuality is tied to child molestation [and explains why the majority of victims are boys without engaging in homophobia]. However gay marriage never comes up.
You’ve obviously never read Sullivan before!
Not till you put it in the nightcaps. Mea Culpa.
Yeah, Sullivan (who has a PhD in political science from Harvard and edited the New Republic for years) is known for his light conservatism and strident gay rights advocacy. He’s also a Roman Catholic and has spent numerous years pointing out what Jacques points out (if – if! – we are to read Jacques in the best possible light).
Lol. My excuse is early onset senile dementia. My wife doesn’t buy it though, she claims I’ve been dumb as a sack of rocks for at least 4 decades 😉
That’s better than mine!
Do not bother to read me in the “best possible light.” Go to town, gentlemen! Myself, if I dare interpret Delacroix, I favor the following: If you are a male homosexual in a repressed society, or in a repressed corner of any society, a male homosexual not equipped to do your own hunting of adults, or if you already are a homosexual pedophile, the priesthood must be an attractive career choice. It may be even better than being a summer camp counselor in a boys-only camp. working as an art instructor in a girls’ school… . I think support of or opposition to homosexual marriage is irrelevant, a pebble on the surfing beach.
“I think support of or opposition to homosexual marriage is irrelevant, a pebble on the surfing beach.” My opinion is different. My mother is gay, my youngest son is gay, I have close friends, and colleagues that are
gay. I care for these people and find opposition to the right of gay people to get married despicable.
I have no idea about who on this meme has opposed the rights of homosexual of any sex. I reject the word “gay” for several reasons, the main one being that it’s not a neutral description but the label for a political agenda that I deplore.
Homosexuals of all sexes, including transitionals, would have my blessing if they cared. I especially like the conservative male homosexuals I know. They are brave, intellectually honest, and likable, on the whole.