BishopAccountability.org
	Churches Are at a Crossroads The News May 5, 2011 http://www.ngnews.ca/Opinion/Editorials/2011-05-05/article-2482915/Churches-are-at-a-crossroads/1 At the very least, Bishop Raymond Lahey admitted his guilt. But it involves evidence no one would want played out in court. People of faith have been shaken ever since learning of the charges against one of their church leaders. Lahey, 70, admitted in an Ottawa courtroom Wednesday to importing child pornography into the country. Bishop of the Antigonish diocese for six years, up until 2009, he asked to begin his sentence immediately. This is disturbing for parishioners in this area, but it also raises questions about the church and its position on issues. Critics are on the rise saying the church – Roman Catholic and other denominations included – is losing touch with people. This child porn case marked a shocking finale for a diocese that had reached a settlement in a $15-million class-action lawsuit brought by former child sexual abuse victims – a settlement Lahey helped put together. The Antigonish diocese has put assets for sale to help pay this cost. The history of abuse by church personnel – of all denominations – is well documented. It happened in missions, schools for aboriginals and among their own parishioners. The Roman Catholic Church has so far refused to acknowledge that its insistence on "celibate" priests carries a downside. Reports have been widespread in recent years of sexual abuse perpetrated by priests in many places – Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, other parts of Canada, Boston, Ireland. Perhaps some people of cloth can function and be celibate. Apparently, many cannot. Also, how many good candidates are lost because they don't wish to be celibate? People, in addition to being spiritual, are sexual beings. You can expect that some, if sexuality is repressed, will find ways to release it. Churches everywhere are losing members for various reasons. If they want to survive, why perpetuate those reasons? Surely churches have altered traditions over two millennia. There's no reason to think that something that causes harm and contributes no good shouldn't be reconsidered.
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