WHETHER YOU WANT TO SACRIFICE A GOAT, GO TO MASS OR JUST EAT AND DRINK YOURSELF INTO OBLIVION ON DECEMBER 25, GO FOR YOUR LIFE, BUT DON’T CRITICISE OTHERS SPLIT ON CHRISTMAS
AMID the happy time of Christmas, it was sad to see so much bile directed towards Christians and in particular, the Catholic Church. A look through social media during December started with people blasting the church after the findings of the royal commission into institutional sexual abuse of children.
One of the recommendations was that priests should be prosecuted for not reporting child abuse if an abuser confesses it to them.
While compelling clergy to break their vows and report child sex confessions has merit, it is tricky to implement when other professions have similar confidentiality rules.
If priests are lawbound to report some confessions, it’s only fair we also remove the lawful protections granted to doctors, lawyers and even spouses to not reveal what they’ve been told in confidence.
The findings against the church have outraged everyone … and it might be surprising to some that the church shares this outrage.
Cairns Bishop James Foley made a good point recently. He described hearing at a recent conference of bishops that Christianity’s product – Jesus – is great, but its marketing arm – the church – stinks.
But while the church is worthy of scorn for the actions of some senior members, there seems to be a concerted effort to use this minority to denounce the whole religion and to unfairly smear the vast amount of good done by adherents to the faith.
Countless people – myself and other family members included – consider themselves lucky to have come under the firm but caring guidance of Christian Brothers, priests and nuns who devoted their lives to education and counselling.
The generosity of the St Vincent de Paul Society in providing for the poor, and caring for the sick and elderly knows no bounds.
Some people online said they opted out of Catholicism because of