BishopAccountability.org
	Moral Outrage over Catholic Scandal but Also the Usual Light-hearted News By Ray Hoffman Main Line March 24, 2011 http://mainlinemedianews.com/articles/2011/03/24/main_line_suburban_life/opinion/doc4d8b603d04ede334267323.txt Nobody asked me but I think that there needs to be another level of defined sin in the Roman Catholic Church. Mortal and venial sin each has a long litany of offenses identified over the centuries, and one might think that this multitude of imperfections and separation from God covered it all. Not so fast, my friends. A few short years ago, the white-hot spotlight of front-page press illuminated pedophilia among priests throughout the United States. Child abuse by priests was amok, even affecting legions of faithful families along the Main Line. As if this evil plague of child abuse were not enough in itself, the heinous cover-up by the church hierarchy of priests abusing innocent and trusting children was equally disgraceful. The world continues today to be further appalled by and mourns this unthinkable parasitical pestilence on a daily basis. As the incidences of child abuse grow in number and location, the question could well be asked: where and when does this stop? Last week fellow columnist Henry Briggs joined a clamoring contingent of lamenting and lambasting journalists in the cry: “Enough!” Which brings me to my suggestion that there should be another level of defined sin within the Catholic Church: unforgivable sin. No ifs, ands and buts! Just unforgivable! I know that the basis of many organized religions is that God is a forgiving Creator and Father. But it is difficult for me to believe that my God would not have a hard time forgiving men who have prostrated themselves before him, vowing that they would do his will, and to have those men shatter the sanctity of young and innocent children who have been entrusted to their care and spiritual upbringing. What is even viler is that many of these offending pedophiles are also homosexuals. Pedophilia and homosexual behavior is more than mortal (deadly) sin. It is the work of evil incarnate and therefore unforgivable. Masters trip to help fight Huntington’s Main Line golfers and fans of the game will have a chance to help a local charity and win gallery tickets at two practice rounds at next month’s Masters Tournament. In addition to the tickets for Tuesday and Wednesday, April 4 and 5, the winning bidder will receive overnight accommodations at the Clarion Suites, only two miles from the fabled Augusta National Golf Course. But the winner is responsible for his own transportation, taxes and gratuities. The prize is being offered as a “tee-off” event for the 2011 Philly HD Classic, which will be played at the St. Davids Golf Club on Monday, June 13, to benefit research on Huntington’s disease and to help local families who are battling the disease. Anyone interested in bidding on this once-in-a-lifetime Masters Package should e-mail tcancelmo@btcmarketing.com. The current high bidder will be periodically announced to only the list of responders until March 30. Bidding will close at 3 p.m. that day and the winner will be announced. Shortcuts around town Private-equity firm Blackstone Group LP (soon to be the new owners of the Chesterbrook and Valley Fair Shopping Centers in Tredyffrin Township) in a joint venture with Square Mile Capital LLC has purchased $385M of mortgages to 45 hotels from the FDIC at about 80 cents on the dollar, according to The Wall Street Journal. The loans originated with the failed Silverton Bank, which the FDIC took over in 2009. Most of the hotels backing the loans are new-build properties in the limited-service segment ... Lamb/McErlane will celebrate its 40th anniversary with a reception Thursday, April 7, at the Chester Country Historical Society. The prominent West Chester law firm’s chairman, Bill Lamb, is a resident of Devon, Easttown Township ... The Berwyn Fire Company is conducting its annual fund drive. Donations may be made online at berwynfireco.org or by traditional mail to the fire company at P.O. Box 555, Berwyn, PA 19312. According to Chief Matthew Norris, a new tower/ladder truck will be put into service this spring, and part of the funds realized in the drive will be used to equip the truck ... National Doctors’ Day will be observed on March 30, and Paoli Hospital is observing the occasion by asking former patients for donations to the hospital in the name of one or more of its doctors who have made a difference in the lives of those patients. For more information please call the hospital at 484-565-1385 ... Green Homes 101 will be held next Tuesday at Keene Hall, Tredyffrin Township Building, at 7 p.m. Attendees will learn how to increase the efficiency of their home energy consumption, water use, and stormwater-handling The program will be conducted by the Delaware Valley Green Building Council, and admission is free ... The Radnor High School Scholarship Fund Spring Benefit will be held at the Willows next Thursday from 4 to 9 p.m. For more information please contact RHSSF committee chair Denise Rinear at 267-251-6050 or e-mail Denise.Rinear@ally.com. The last word: Good day, good luck and good news tomorrow. Ray Hoffman writes a regular column for Main Line Suburban Life. You may contact him at mainlinebanter@verizon.net
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