How to deal with negativity and insults against the Pope

[feo]

As we all know, the Pope passed away. And it has spurred quite a few conversations with people I know.. or deal with at work. And there was much negativity said among people. I want to speak up for the Pope, and defend him... but honestly, I'm at a loss of what to say.

People sit there and accuse him of moving around Priests so they wont get in trouble for sexual misconducts; and..., to be quite honest, I have no idea how to refute that! I don't even know the news behind that. Where do I do some research, in the Popes defense? I don't want to let people say bad things about him, but I also want to speak with some knowledge...

 

[seebs]

I don't think John Paul II had much direct involvement...

Anyway, the issue is complicated and challenging. I think the essential question is whether or not people who have erred in a certain way can or should be trusted not to repeat their error. The question of when to give someone a second chance is not a trivial question! Ongoing research suggests that, in sexual abuse cases, recidivism is too high to make this safe... But not everyone had access to these results when decisions were made.

 

[frettr00]

I know what you mean, sometimes you don't know what to say. I say just pray for these people. It is a shame that out of all the wonderful things he has done, they will only focus on the negative associated with our church.

 

[feo]

Well I dont associate sexual abuse cases soley with the Catholic Church. The same thing happens in the Protestant Church... the people I deal with arnt really angry at the Priests .. as much as they are for the Pope covering things up. Where can I read more about the Popes involvement with that? And that it's not true?

 

[seebs]

Well I dont associate sexual abuse cases soley with the Catholic Church. The same thing happens in the Protestant Church... the people I deal with arnt really angry at the Priests .. as much as they are for the Pope covering things up. Where can I read more about the Popes involvement with that? And that it's not true?

A very good question, and I frankly don't know. But you might try looking into Cardinal Law, who was blamed for a great deal of the "coverup" in the United States. Being able to say who did do this might make it easier to say that the Pope didn't.

 

[lonnienord]

A saint has gone to heaven!! Pray for anyone who has anything negative to say about our Saintly pope!! He had nothing to do directly or indirectly with any sexual abuse.

The earth has lost another saint. What we need is more saints. Pray for an outpouring of GOD's SPIRIT on the earth through HIS Church!!

all for JESUS!!
lonnie

 

[Canada_Girl]

from the Washington Post today. It astounds me how people will pick on the one problem facing the church and completely ignore the litany of greatness that our beloved John Paull II accomplished. Now, if this pope did so little for the world, how is it that every world leader and every media broadcast almost everywhere, were covering his passage? And that even non-Catholic world leaders stopped to acknowledge his greatness with tears in their eyes?

How about that he helped bring an end to the Soviet Union; he apologized for the Church's treatment of and reconciled with the Jews with the Vatican officially recognizing Israel; he won the hearts of the Palestinians and pleaded for peace; he was respected by all world leaders of all faiths for his insistence on righteousness according to the Gospel...there's just so much...I truly believe that after St Peter, Karol Wojtyla was the most remarkable head of the church in history. But I might be biased.

Here is a link to the Washington Post story on his legacy to the world. I hope it opens for you.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A21187-2005Apr2.html?referrer=email

As we all know, the Pope passed away. And it has spurred quite a few conversations with people I know.. or deal with at work. And there was much negativity said among people. I want to speak up for the Pope, and defend him... but honestly, I'm at a loss of what to say.

People sit there and accuse him of moving around Priests so they wont get in trouble for sexual misconducts; and..., to be quite honest, I have no idea how to refute that! I don't even know the news behind that. Where do I do some research, in the Popes defense? I don't want to let people say bad things about him, but I also want to speak with some knowledge...

 

[garydench]

Pray for them, Feo.

 

[FLMike]

I've already seen some protestants on different sites declare that they think he's in hell (you know, false gospel, worshipping Mary, etc). Sigh. They know not what they do.

 

[Skripper]

Well I dont associate sexual abuse cases soley with the Catholic Church. The same thing happens in the Protestant Church... the people I deal with arnt really angry at the Priests .. as much as they are for the Pope covering things up. Where can I read more about the Popes involvement with that? And that it's not true?

Anyone can say anything. I'd simply ask them to provide some sort of evidence to support this (somewhat ridiculous) claim. The Pope didn't cover anything up. Although, like any leader, he is (was), in a sense, where the "buck stops" (to borrow a phrase from Harry Truman), the Pope cannot be held responsible for the actions of wayward priests and bishops who don't follow the teachings of Christ and His Church, and commit sinful and at times criminal acts. But to claim that he was actually somehow complicit in this, that he somehow "covered it up," is simply ludicrious. Like I said, anyone can say anything. That doesn't make it so. The onus is on anyone making such an outlandish claim to provide some sort of actual evidence to back it up. It's nonsense.

 

[Axion]

As we all know, the Pope passed away. And it has spurred quite a few conversations with people I know.. or deal with at work. And there was much negativity said among people. I want to speak up for the Pope, and defend him... but honestly, I'm at a loss of what to say.

People sit there and accuse him of moving around Priests so they wont get in trouble for sexual misconducts; and..., to be quite honest, I have no idea how to refute that! I don't even know the news behind that. Where do I do some research, in the Popes defense? I don't want to let people say bad things about him, but I also want to speak with some knowledge...

Well firstly the Pope had nothing to do with the cases, or movement, of individual priests in the United States. (There are 45,000 priests in the US alone.) That was the responsibility of diocesan bishops. Also the incidence of abuse in the Church is no greater than elsewhere in society.

Secondly most of the priests who were moved were moved in line with the standard psychological practice of the time, which believed that these tendencies were treatable and curable. In most cases the movement of an accused priest was less an attempt to "cover up" anything, than a genuine attempt to give a priest who had confessed, attended counselling treatment, and vowed not to fall again, a fresh start. Most such moves were done in a spirit of individual forgiveness.

Nowadays the view of such crime, and its treatment has changed. Child abuse is considered an "incurable" vice for which punishment and permanent separation from temptation are the only treatment. With hindsight, the Bishops are now condemned for not adopting the modern view, and accepting the then current professional advice.

 

[12volt_man]

As we all know, the Pope passed away. And it has spurred quite a few conversations with people I know.. or deal with at work. And there was much negativity said among people. I want to speak up for the Pope, and defend him... but honestly, I'm at a loss of what to say.

People sit there and accuse him of moving around Priests so they wont get in trouble for sexual misconducts; and..., to be quite honest, I have no idea how to refute that! I don't even know the news behind that. Where do I do some research, in the Popes defense? I don't want to let people say bad things about him, but I also want to speak with some knowledge...

I'm not Catholic, but if it were one of our leaders, I would simply say, "All of us make mistakes in our lives. A good man is gone. Let's remember the good that he did in the world." and leave it at that.

 

[Skripper]

I'm not Catholic, but if it were one of our leaders, I would simply say, "All of us make mistakes in our lives. A good man is gone. Let's remember the good that he did in the world." and leave it at that.

While I understand and appreciate (and thank you for) your good intention, this response, in a sense anyway, would sort of be saying the accusation is true, which it's not. It's sort of like saying, "Yeah, he's guilty of covering up the abuse, and that was a mistake, but he's a good man other than that." Which I think would convey the wrong message.

 

[Christy4Christ]

I know how the pope would deal with insults. I take the example of how he dealt with the man who shot him.

He not only taught the forgiveness of Christ, he practiced it.

"Pray for those who persecute you"

 

[feo]

Thanks for the advice everyone; it is much appreciated

 

[PetertheRock]

Jesus forgave the people who crucified him, the Pope forgave the person who tried to shoot him, I think we can look to those examples for what we should do to people who attack the Pope.

Darryl

 

[feo]

Oh jeez; concerning the new Pope- now I've heard accusations about him watching jewish concentration victims burn because he's German.

How are people making these things up?!?

 

[feo]

ah I give up

 

[HisKid1973]

We live in a world in that anything or one that is associated with Christ will be attacked by the antichrist spirit. we are told to expect that from the world. We have an enemy whose goal is to steal,kill and destroy anyone who is in Christ. PNN(pharasee news network) did the same in Christ's day..We arent told to defend God, we are told to pray for our ememies.God can take care of His children and His enemies the way He sees fit.. Shalom..kim

 

[feo]

We live in a world in that anything or one that is associated with Christ will be attacked by the antichrist spirit. we are told to expect that from the world. We have an enemy whose goal is to steal,kill and destroy anyone who is in Christ. PNN(pharasee news network) did the same in Christ's day..We arent told to defend God, we are told to pray for our ememies.God can take care of His children and His enemies the way He sees fit.. Shalom..kim

Yeah
I expect the enemy to pervert and twist God's msg...
But I don't see *what* is being twisted; I dont see the basis; nor where it even came from... ya know?