In Light of the Popes Role in the Catholic Church Sex Abuse Scandal Should He Resign, Jack Cafferty, CNN, March 25, 2010

In Light of the Pope's Role in the Catholic Church Sex Abuse Scandal, Should He Resign?

By Jack Cafferty
CNN
March 25, 2010

http://caffertyfile.blogs.cnn.com/2010/03/25/should-pope-resign-in-light-of-church-sex-abuse-scandal/

Here we go again. Time now for another chapter in the tawdry tale titled: The Pope and the Pedophile Priests.

The New York Times reports that top Vatican officials - including the future Pope Benedict XVI - refused to defrock a Wisconsin priest who molested as many as 200 deaf boys.

Deaf boys? Doesn't get much sicker than that. This is despite the fact that several American bishops repeatedly warned the Vatican about this creep.

Church files show that although officials disagreed about whether the priest should be dismissed, their top priority was protecting the church from scandal. Of course.

This Wisconsin priest - the Rev. Lawrence Murphy - was never tried or disciplined by the church. He also got a pass from police and the criminal justice system. We all know the story by now... Instead he was "quietly moved" to a different diocese where he spent the last 24 years of his life freely working… ready? With children! He died in 1998... still a priest.

The Vatican calls this case "tragic" and says part of the reason the priest was never defrocked was his poor health and lack of more recent accusations.

Meanwhile this comes on the heels of a sex abuse scandal spreading across Europe - From the pope's native Germany to Ireland, Austria and the Netherlands.

There are other accusations against Pope Benedict that he didn't alert authorities or discipline priests who were sexually abusing children, when he was both an Archbishop in Germany and the Vatican's top doctrinal enforcer.

Critics say it's time for the pope to resign. But that's only happened a handful of times throughout history - and not for 600 years - so don't hold your breath.

Here’s my question to you: In light of the pope’s role in the Catholic Church sex abuse scandal, should he resign?

Interested to know which ones made it on air?

Christian writes:

Though perhaps unlikely, Pope Benedict XVI should indeed resign… It is clear that Benedict was, to some degree while a Cardinal, complicit in such cover-ups. Because the ultimate measure of an apology's sincerity is made manifest in the actions of the person apologizing, his resignation would send a clear measure that he is not only sincere in wanting to heal both the wounds inflicted upon the Catholic Church in general, and the untold number of wounded souls in particular, but that he is willing to take personal responsibility for his actions, an essential element of contrition.

Janet in Fort Dodge, Iowa writes:

The pope should resign, yes, but the problem is, anybody in line to follow him is going to be just as committed to keeping the church's secrets. The good priests are stuck in little country churches and never move up the corporate ladder. Real reform is needed, and I hope the people will make it happen. I am a priest sexual assault survivor and left the church long ago, but I hope for the sake of the people still in it that true reform occurs. I'm not holding my breath.

John writes:

In my home country of Ireland, the church governed communities with an iron fist and with little love, compassion or a desire for service and understanding. It's disgusting to reflect on how scores of priests got on their moral high horse every weekend and lectured to the people about how to live their lives, made sure they were confined to the narrowest of cultural and intellectual experiences and then raped the most innocent and vulnerable in society.

Peter writes:

His resignation should be demanded. His actions are the worst criminal offense: they are pre-meditated and against children. Many more children and families became victims as priests were repeatedly shuffled about in these sick cover-ups. All this was done to protect the Vatican's image or wealth or both. Famous leaders have resigned for far less crimes.

Joe writes:

Why should he resign? He would just be replaced by another priest who hides pedophiles. In 1966, a priest made a pass at me in the confessional, in Vietnam. I've never had anything to do with the church since.