Leon J. Podles :: DIALOGUE

Some Americans praise the more sophisticated European attitude to sexuality. The fuss about the Palin pregnancy, or about Clinton’s affairs, would be unimaginable in Europe.
The Catholic Church hierarchy in the United States is heavily influenced by Europe: rising stars among the priesthood were educated at the North American College or at other European seminaries [...]

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Bishop Fisher, the youthful bishop who is the organizer of World Youth Day, has demonstrated by his remarks what bishops really think. We learn from this article and this article  in The Age:
The bishop organising World Youth Day, Anthony Fisher, made the remarks in response to questions about two Melbourne women who were repeatedly raped [...]

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I have been mulling over the comments that Benedict has made about sexual abuse. His public acknowledgment of the evil of abuse, his acknowledgment that it was badly handled, and his meeting with victims were far more that John Paul II could bring himself to do. When one cardinal begged John Paul to make a [...]

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Pietro Gelmini (which news stories also spell Gelimini) founded centers for the homeless and drug addicts. He was prominent, popular, influential, and well connected to the Italian right, including Silvio Berluscone and Rocco Butiglione.

Then the accusations began. Young men said he had sexually abused them. He said that he had kicked them out for stealing, [...]

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A factoid has taken root in the minds of the Vatican: that less than one percent of Catholic priests have been accused of pedophilia. According to CNA, 
The prefect for the Congregation for the Clergy, Cardinal Claudio Hummes, said pedophilia is one of the gravest problems of sexual misconduct, but he asserted that the media exaggerated [...]

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Marcial Maciel has died, some reports say here in Naples, Florida, others in Houston.
He has been accused by scores of people of sexual abuse. Pope Benedict to all appearances thought him guilty, but because of his age did not have a formal trial.
The administrative acts of the popes are not infallible. The Legionaries, of whom [...]

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Throughout the history of the world, the weak have been exploited by the strong. One version of this bad human habit is sex tourism. Pedophiles from the First World go to the Third World to buy sex with children cheaply and safely. Thailand is a major destination.
Some countries have acted, According to Pédophilie: les lois [...]

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