Because being called out on harboring child molesters is JUST LIKE being persecuted

[mystickeeper]

I don't usually love Maureen Dowd, but I've gotta say that every time in the last two weeks that I've wanted to write a blog post about how much I despise Benedict XVI and the priests who represent the face of Catholicism to the world, she goes ahead and does it for me. It's just...UGH. IT IS HOLY WEEK, SIR. HAVE A LITTLE HUMILITY. Instead of

Comments

[homo_nescius]

I never thought of that politician analogy before, but it really is perfect! (Not that I've ever gone around demanding people justify their faiths to me).

Reading those articles was "liek whoa." It's tough to see so many Wisconsin examples.

Anyway, as far as the issue of the church goes, I get it, I really do. People have told me over and over that the hatred from stubbornness and vagueness is better than the hatred that comes with admitting failure - and in some ways I believe it. There's something in people's perspective that makes acknowledgment profoundly important. It's even more of a distinction when you consider that the Catholic church is an institution, not a person.

For argument's sake, I get the church's position. If it takes responsibility for the past, it loses a lot more face and future benefit of the doubt, even though people are already upset and many people already know that the evils occurred. Furthermore, with a history of war, genocide, and child molestation, it can't get much worse, so I really don't think they're digging themselves into any deeper of a hole by putting off an apology.

And yet, in spite of the things people say to me about putting up a flawless cover, as an individual I still admit weaknesses, even if I know it's not in my best interests. It doesn't even occur to me not to. It's a battle of pragmatism versus idealism in an institution that is part business, part role model, and part lantern in the darkness.