What is your opinion of the hundred of millions of dollars currently being paid out by the Catholic Church to?

victims of clergy sexiual abuse? One of my friends, a devout Catholic, believes that these people should not receive retribution, particularly years later. What do you think about this? NOTE: I am not taking a stand one way or the other.

What is your opinion of the hundred of millions of dollars currently being paid out by the Catholic Church to?
It is difficult to establish the truth of the allegations of abuse, but apparently the Church found them sufficiently credible to pay up. Now, if they can only correct the problem....
Reply:Hard for me to believe you don't have an opinion, Kudos


for not "A" your own "Q"-------------I think if it is proved in


court they should get all they can. And I am not one who believes in frivolous law suits--Liken to the woman who spilt


hot coffee on her own self. (McDonalds)
Reply:It's not charity, the church owes this to those victims.
Reply:The statute of limitations is the ONLY reason that these cases aren't being tried in a criminal court.





Frankly, I'm not sure that the pay out is enough. Sex abuse can mess someone up for life. The priests who have been found guilty (if there is enough evidence to pay the victims, then there surely is enough to determine guilt), should be removed from the church entirely. The church shouldn't be allowed to maintain the cover-up.
Reply:I am a practicing Catholic, and my purpose in helping the victims is just that, helping the victims.





Therapy costs ....
Reply:Now I don't know what to think when I'm in a Catholic church and I hear someone say "I've gotta get me some of that!"
Reply:I agree with your friend. Coming forward years after the fact is bull. They knew it was wrong when they did it. They should not get a dime! That's my belief!
Reply:They can't pay enough.





Why would your friend think that young boys raped and sodomized by priests not deserve any money?





Your friend is suffering from cognitive dissonance.
Reply:I think that if you can't throw them in jail then make them pay for their sins.
Reply:I am a "confirmed" catholic, born in 59, the only thing I haven't done in the church is my funeral. I think it is a total disgrace. I do support the idea of celibacy for the father of the church, after all, just like the sisters, he has given himself to the service of our lord, he should be above the "sins-pleasure" of the flesh, .....I don't understand how any amount of money could fix the hurt these people may or may not have had inflicted on them....just my opinion
Reply:I am happy that victims are compensated. Churches should not hawk money to themselves anyway.
Reply:if that's all the church gets to do then they got away easy. if i committed a crime and i had the details of the crime hidden and in exchange my insurance and the church community gets to pay the victims of the crime then i got away easy. So i think the church got away easy and who knows how many more priests are still unconvicted because they paid off the victims. I would feel slightly better if the money actually came out of the pocket of the abusive priests but no, the faithful churchies are footing the bill
Reply:I think child sexual abuse is one of the worst crimes out there and it is unfortunate for generations of children, their families, the priests and their supervisors. The victims - and I do not believe all of them are legitimate - deserve compensation. But how much is enough? This is certainly a heinous crime, and awards should be large enough to pay for any and all counseling, disabilities, medical needs, etc of the victim. Money should also be awarded for pain and suffering. But it is also important to remember that throwing money at the problem is not going to fix it.





The priests themselves not only are suffering a perversion, but the church let them down by not meeting the situation head on. This would have saved future victims, gotten the priests some help, and maybe even helped in their eventual salvation. Those who covered this up for so long also deserve punishment, and I'm sure it will be coming.





That said, it should be noted that only a small percentage of the millions of men who served as priests were involved in this behavior. Unfortunately, the BSA has just uncovered much the same, and even ministers have been accused of having relations with parishoners who came to them for counseling.





I guess the botton line to my meanderings is that I am very conflicted over the entire situation. It is horrible for all involved.
Reply:uh ... that would be "alleged" victims of sexual abuse. It's just amazing how many men experienced "sudden recall of suppressed childhood memories" once the cash started flowing. And conveniently, the supposed perpetrators were mostly dead and unable to defend themselves. But the cost of settlements is apparently less than the cost of so many separate trials. There is a lot of free cash being distributed, and a lot of people laughing up their sleeve at taking the Church for a ride. I'm not denying that such crimes happened, but the opportunity for reverse abuse in this situation is obvious, and there are plenty of people taking advantage of it.
Reply:I think it great. Its about time the Catholic church did something right in this area. When Jesus said, "Suffer the little children, com onto me", that isn't what he meant.
Reply:I am outraged that a "pay out" is even necessary. I have a real personal problem with anything to do with children, the elderly, abuse victums, and animals. It is unacceptable on any level. Period.
Reply:Glad none of it is my money.