“British atheists want Pope arrested”

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   paarsurreyposted 14 years ago

   News Items:
   
   British atheists Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens have asked human rights lawyers to produce a case for charging Pope Benedict with “crimes against humanity”.
   Dawkins wants to have the Pope arrested during his planned state visit to Britain, The Australian reports.
   
   http://www.cathnewsusa.com/article.aspx?aeid=20576
   
   “Massachusetts priest calls for Pope's resignation”
   
   Scahill has accused Pope Benedict of lying about his role and called for his resignation over what he described as a cover up of "systemic" child abuse by priests.
   Fr Scahill of St Michael's Parish in East Longmeadow made his comments one day after he took to the pulpit during Sunday mass and called for the pope to resign, ABC News reports.
   "I think there has been a cover-up, knowingly, to protect the image of the institution and the image of priesthood, even at the expense of children," Scahill told the ABC News affiliate WCVB.
   
   http://www.cathnewsusa.com/article.aspx?aeid=20609
   
   Hi friends
   
   I think Christianity should be reformed and should be set again on the truthful path of Jesus, in teachings as also in deeds; and reversed from the erroneus path of Paul and the Church.
   
   I love Jesus and Mary as mentioned in Quran.
   
   Thanks
   
   I am an Ahmadi peaceful Muslim

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      Don Wposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Quote from Professor Dawkins in 2006 regarding the Catholic Church and sexual abuse:
      
      "Why aren't Catholics and ex-Catholics lining up to sue the church into the ground, for a lifetime of psychological damage? I am not advocating this course of action. Much as I would like to see the Roman Catholic Church ruined, I hate opportunistically retrospective litigation even more. Lawyers who grow fat by digging dirt on long-forgotten wrongs, and hounding their aged perpetrators, are no friends of mine. All I am doing is calling attention to an anomaly. By all means, let's kick a nasty institution when it is down, but there are better ways than litigation. And an obsessive concentration on sexual abuse by priests is in danger of blinding us to all their other forms of child abuse."
      
      Ironic much?

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   TheGlassSpiderposted 14 years ago

   OOoooooh....What very, very interesting news. Thank you for sharing.

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   TheGlassSpiderposted 14 years ago

   You mean to tell me that there's no one else here who thinks the idea of the Pope being arrested is something to talk about?!!
   
   All the threads downing the Catholic church? Atheists, Protestants....people who think the pope is the Antichrist - where are you?! All the people disgusted by the sex scandals and maneuvering and NONE OF YOU has anything to say to this???

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   aguasilverposted 14 years ago

   Hi, I've been busy finishing a hub, but I saw this the other day, and I agree with Dawkins on this, not his real motives (Christian bashing) but the by product....
   
   There should be a full investigation, and if the man has been guilty of subverting justice to protect the guilty parties, no matter how much he felt it was to protect his churches image, then he (and all others involved) should stand trial as conspirators.
   
   I am not trying to bash believers or the Roman Catholic hierarchy, but as supposed leaders of 750 million believers, they have a responsibility to their 'flock' to be transparent and hold true to the virtues that Christ said should be obeyed.
   
   I suspect that Christ would NOT have approved of protecting paedophiles and perverts.
   
   John

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   IntimatEvolutionposted 14 years ago

   Very interesting find.  You know I think he should be arrested.  He might as well have committed the crimes himself.  If he really didn't.  I'm incline to think he is a monster himself, hiding in sheeps clothing.  He just looks evil to me.  I've never supported him, and have fallen away from the church even more than before.

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   Jeramiposted 14 years ago

   @John   I agree completely ...
     "The Truth shall set you free" is what the good book say!
     A man of God would never try to hide the truth?
   He would want the pervert to be set free (from his bondage) and spend some time in Jail while getting over it; instead of his continueing to place stumbling blocks in front of may children. Realy is a simple answer.

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   Twenty One Daysposted 14 years ago

   Am not at all surprised by the Brit stance.
   The CoE and even the Protestant Reformers within her shores certainly are not very tolerant of these things and agree, no matter how great a power this organization is, it deserves its day in the global court -not only a civil one, but a 'jury of its peers' (meaning theological one- including Judaic & Islamic sects). This is a global issue, not just the little church in the wildwood.
   
   The civil side, certainly. Bring charges as high as you possibly can, if these crimes were done under his vicar/leadership -from start to pontiff and all persons involved -either committing the act itself or ignoring it/covering it up.
   
   This is where hardliners have an opportunity to air out the dirty laundry, start fresh and possibly get back to where they began and where (I personally feel) atheists should back the **** up on the religious arena. They are only in it to promote themselves and point the a-ha at. All for the "civil atheist" processing the civil suit, but if they are not of the theologian arena, then they should not be allowed to play in this arena...

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      Randy Godwinposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Peers?  On the other hand, perhaps atheists would rather not be judged by believers either!

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         Twenty One Daysposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         if they allow the Judaic & Islamic law to apply, I am certain no punishment any civil international group or atheist group would come even close to it. The world is weak and passive -even the mightiest of people in it. Any atheist can only apply the full extend of civil law...

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      alternate poetposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      International abuse of children is a basic public offense - covering it up is also a civil offense.  Should be tried in International courts.
      
      Lying, cheating and mass murder are the same - is why Bush has arrest warrants out in several countries, Blair should be included.  It is not hard to think of world leaders who deserve to face real justice out of their homelands and enclosed religions. Maybe we should just collect them all up and submit the whole business to justice in an International court.

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         Sab Ohposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         "Lying, cheating and mass murder are the same - is why Bush has arrest warrants out in several countries"
         
         Why? He hasn't done any of those things and nothing will ever come of such silly, politically-motivated venting of emotions.

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            lovemychrisposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            "IndictBushNow.org reports that on April 3, at a meeting of over 150 lawyers, legal scholars and human rights campaigners, Ramsey Clark, founder of Indict Bush Now, was chosen to be the chairperson of an international campaign to investigate war crimes committed by officials from the Bush administration."
            
            Not just Bush mi amigo....all of them.
            Lots of heads are going to roll. For the sake of the dignity and integrity of the United States of America, in whose name those criminals were acting.
            
            Just like you think this Pope is acting for Jesus? In your dreams! Our Cardinal, Cardinal Law, covered up and moved priests around, the abuse never stopped. What happened to him? He was moved to the Vatican with a promotion. It's not JC they are serving, that should be clear.

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               lovemychrisposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               Could Bush Be Prosecuted for War Crimes?
               A Nuremberg chief prosecutor says there is a case for trying Bush for the 'supreme crime against humanity, an illegal war of aggression against a sovereign nation.'
               July 10, 2006 
               
               "The extent to which American exceptionalism is embedded in the national psyche is awesome to behold.
               
               While the United States is a country like any other, its citizens no more special than any others on the planet, Americans still react with surprise at the suggestion that their country could be held responsible for something as heinous as a war crime."
               
               Same holds true for the Catholic Church!
               Accountability, or nothing ever changes.

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   dfagerposted 14 years ago

   It would be interesting to find the leader of the Catholic church to be on trial under civil authority.  It would be a profound and sad day when that happens.  It would be best, if the Pope were to just step down.  Separate the criminals from the church and save the church.

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   earnestshubposted 14 years ago

   

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      qwarkposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Excellent Earn!
      This "bastard" pope should be arrested and made to suffer the same punishment any CEO of any capitalistic corporation would suffer for deleterious, sub rosa, purposeful mismanagememt that was harmful to those who placed trust in and invested in his purported purpose!
      His actions in ref to turning his head when evidence proved that priests had molested children, is and was criminal!
      Arrest the phoney bastard!

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    CMHypnoposted 14 years ago

    Looks like the Vatican is dropping itself deeper into the mire with every speech they make - don't they have a decent PR?
    
    
    http://uk.news.yahoo.com/18/20100413/tw … 199cf.html
    
    Unfortunately, I don't think that the Pope will set foot on British soil if he thinks that he's going to get his collar felt by the old bill!

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    kessposted 14 years ago

    My friends since all evil doers will get their sure retribution in full, we should not be too eager to persecute even the quilty less our own hands are found to be bloody.
    
    And since cover up is the name of the game in all man made organisation from the top down, who then can rightly bring charges and serve witness?
    When even the very custodians of the law are in many ways guilty of the same?
    
    If you consider yourself a child of God, then do as your Just as you Father does, be still in a knowing understanding, that ultimately all things are for that good purpose.
    
    And if you truly believe your call is to act, then act also with that same knowing understanding that all things are for that good purpose.
    
    For anything less belongs to those who sees sin as something...

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       paarsurreyposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Yes, we all are sinners;but humanity first.Truth should prevail.
       
       Thanks

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          kessposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          Sorry Paarsurrey, a sinner I am not.

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             paarsurreyposted 14 years agoin reply to this

             It is OK with me
             
             Thanks

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       alternate poetposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       This is trite drivel - don't try to prosecute wrongdoers because they will get punished in the afterlife !!!!  Please.

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    Will Apseposted 14 years ago

    Hitchens is a clever man who never misses an opertunity to get into the limelight. He is also shrill and silly.
    
    Dawkins is one of those scientists who has spent his whole life avoiding being a human being.
    
    The other guy I don't know but I wouldn't want any one of them sitting in judgement on me (or anyone I know).

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       paarsurreyposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Indeed!
       
       Thanks

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    selrachposted 14 years ago

    Pope Benedict said there is no room in the catholic church for child molesters, the priests have filled all the vacancies.

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       paarsurreyposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       funny thing indeed
       
       Thanks

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    cupid51posted 14 years ago

    Humanity and social justice is above all. Nobody whatever might be his social and political position, should be allowed to do anything wrong against humanity or social justice!

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       Daniel Carterposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       We have a lot of world leaders and law makers hiding behind protections that would otherwise bring them to swift prison sentences. The law is not necessarily fair in all cases, and therefore, it's time to address such inequities.

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    Daniel Carterposted 14 years ago

    A witch hunt on the Pope is stupidity. Let the full investigation verify the facts, then bring charges (which I think there would be) accordingly.
    
    Good grief, have we learned nothing from scape-goating and creating martyrs? That's all we would need out of this situation is to make the Pope a holy martyr for child molestation.
    
    The first course of action is to figure out legally how to remove all the obstructions to justice that are being covered up. From there, it will all break loose.

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       paarsurreyposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       A rational approach
       
       Thanks

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       habeeposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       I agree, Daniel.

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    thisisoliposted 14 years ago

    This is funny, however I don't think the pope really needs to be arrested, even though countless cruelties have been committed by christianity in the past and present.
    
    I do not believe that the pope was even aware of most of the cover-ups, and the current pope has not really done anything to deserve an arrest, or public humiliation.
    
    I am an atheist, I do not agree with religion, but I also understand how some people feel the need for something greater to function.

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       Sab Ohposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Not "feel the need," but "recognize."

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       paarsurreyposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       I like your viewpoint
       
       Thanks

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       Daniel Carterposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Actually, I think you have a very rational, clear insight on this issue. Great comment.

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    Will Apseposted 14 years ago

    'I am an atheist, I do not agree with religion, but I also understand how some people feel the need for something greater to function.'
    
    In another twenty years, if you keep an open mind, travel widely and lose that English sense of being better than everyone else I hope you will realise just what a wonderful thing religion is, even for non-believers.

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       paarsurreyposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       
       
       I like your charitable wiewpoint.
       
       Thanks

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       Daniel Carterposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       You may benefit from your own words, it would seem. What gives you the impression that he, or the English, think they are better than everyone else? Is the pot calling the kettle black here?

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          Twenty One Daysposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          not to cut in on the dance, but we Brits still rule the world.
          Ask anyone of us
          
          And let's not forget that the CoE to this very day despises the papacy -especially w/ regard to France & Spain.

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             Daniel Carterposted 14 years agoin reply to this

             Ahh, and I thought such attributes were only applicable on a case by case basis! I suppose I'll have to unfriend a lot of people in my Facebook account then. [sigh...]

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    premierkjposted 14 years ago

    It is interesting that the new pope is getting all the flack when most of the abuse happened under the previous reign. This should tarnish the life of Pope John Paul, but of course he was nice and likable and we had better not speak ill of the dead!

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       Padrinoposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       I'm pretty sure the abuse has been happening for a very long time and under many Popes...so to speak

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          Rod Marsdenposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          Sure but it has come to light for many people of late because of world wide media coverage. Children were abused by priests in orphanages in Australia going back to the 1960s. This abuse involved torture. The whole thing came to light about five years ago. What had been happening in Dublin and in Boston also came to light.

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             Padrinoposted 14 years agoin reply to this

             I have been hearing about molestations involving Priests for over 30 years, it is not just within the last 5 years this has come to light. This Pope is guilty of covering up abuse, he should go! But to blame one or two Popes is ridiculous!

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                Daniel Carterposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                Perhaps it's more about the tradition of coverup rather than making a scapegoat out of one person. The system used for coverups are rampant in religion, government and other institutions. I think those systems ought to be broken down and outlawed. There are specific people who should also receive justice as well, but scapegoating to drive home a point is just another form of witch hunting. I think we have to be careful about this.

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                Rod Marsdenposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                Maybe Padrino you have been better informed for a lot longer than some of us. That happens. My big beef is giving money to a Catholic charity organization that was supposed to help less fortunate kids in the outback and the bush. The school I was at urged us to give what we can and, though my parents were anything but wealthy, they gave us some money to give to the charity.
                
                Decades later I discover that this money and other money given by other not very well off families went toward the mistreatment of young people which also included torture.
                
                Only in recent times were some of the people who had suffered as children able to stand up ands say what had happened to them as orphans the church was supposed to protect and nurture. I am probably not the only one who feels betrayed. The catholic charity organization responsible is still in existence and advertises to this day on Australian television. They may have changed their ways but I will NEVER give to that charity ever again. I am talking about Barnardos.

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       Twenty One Daysposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       this new pope was the head of the investigation commission under the old one. Hence why he is under heavy fire. And yes, the former is passed away.

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    Rod Marsdenposted 14 years ago

    This present day pope needs to stop dancing around the issue of child abuse. He thinks by not speaking out things will eventually cool down and people will forget. Americans aren't like that and neither are Australians or the Irish. If he cannot put proper accountability into the church system then he is no proper leader and should step down. Oh and whatever the pope decides to do he needs to let everyone know. Transparency is one of the really big issues here. He not only needs to act properly but be seen doing so or there is going to be loss of faith all around. It has already started.

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       premierkjposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       The pope is unable to broadcast what he really thinks. He must be really careful with what he says because if he confesses to all these atrocities on behalf of the church, then surely they will be forced into legal proceedings, and then will have to compensate many people. We all know this would be the right thing to do, but apparently the church is a business too.

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          Rod Marsdenposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          The church is far from poor. It even has its own bank. What's more the treasures in the Vatican are priceless. They include paintings by past masters, gold and silver objects and documents of great historic value. I am sure the British museum would love to get their hands on Henry the 8ths reply to the pope's refusal to grant a divorce. What they would possibly pay to even be able to display it would go some way to helping the church to satisfy its obligations in covering up child molestation. Various kings including King John have been excommunicated. The documents even being lent out would bring in a tidy sum. Yes the church is a business too and still quite a lucrative business unless the church persists in ignoring the people and the secular law of various lands.

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    Madame Xposted 14 years ago

    The actions of these priests, and subsequently the Pope in protecting them, is unconscionable.
    
    And they wonder why they're losing followers.

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       Beelzedadposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       And, we wonder why they are following losers.

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    Pandoras Boxposted 14 years ago

    A Maltese town is so afraid of the pope that they're considering removing a phallic-like monument before his visit to avoid getting him too excited.
    
    
    http://content.usatoday.com/communities … es-visit/1

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       Rod Marsdenposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Then the pope should NEVER visit Egypt. Come to think of it there is an obelisk in the heart of Sydney and you can't ignore the one in Washington.

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          Rod Marsdenposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          I believe there's an obelisk in London, too...
          
          I believe it was a female pharaoh (someone rare in the history of Egypt) who created the most famous obelisk. No need to wonder what she had on her mind at the time.

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             Pandoras Boxposted 14 years agoin reply to this

             The maltese one is really phallic-like. Well, phallus-wearing-a-rainbow-colored-condom-like. 
             
             Might be too much for certain members of the catholic priesthood.

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    wyanjenposted 14 years ago

    Thanks for the link
    It is my favorite of the day
    Here is the pic, along with copy from the article:
    
    The monument, entitled Colonna Mediterranea, was created by local artist Paul Vella Critien and was erected in 2006, the newpaper says.
    
    
    

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    Pandoras Boxposted 14 years ago

    Isn't it cute? Blueberry flavored.

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       Rod Marsdenposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Not my cup of hemlock but then again I am not the pope.
       
       Cute ain't the word.

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          Rod Marsdenposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          By the by, the May pole is also phallic by nature and by tradition and you have maidens dancing around it. No maidens for the Maltese wang? How  disappointing!

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             Rod Marsdenposted 14 years agoin reply to this

             By the by Pandoras Box, how would YOU know if it was Blueberry flavored?
             Blueberry colored I buy but flavored? Unless...Nope better not got there!

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