ANSWERS: 15
  • If you were caught playing butt hockey with boys AGAIN wouldn't you change the subject?
  • It would seem they are an easier target than other religious groups. It's 'wrong' to attack those of different religions, but it's 'ok' to attack those who are 'immoral' as some try to parade that atheists are. It's just a matter of finding an easy, ready made scape goat to distract from the real issues.
  • No, they are just "convenient." That's a move called, "distraction." You take the heat off yourself, by creating heat for someone else.
  • It wasn't atheists who abused vulnerable children for decades; it wasn't atheists who covered up the abuse; and it wasn't atheists who said 'Honest to god I knew it was wrong but I didn't know it was illegal and that's why I condoned covering it up'. Of course atheists are guilty. Whoops, spelling mistake there: theists not atheists.
  • I guess they believe that the best defense is a good offense.
  • Reading his remarks, I would say it's a mixed bag. First, there's no real connection between the child abuse case and his remarks on atheism, except for the notable fact that he said nothing about the child abuse issues (not surprising). But the article says he considers atheism the cause of war and destruction, which is a pretty bold and I think unsupportable claim. Then he says "“Faith in God is the gift that takes us beyond our limited self, with all its incessant demands . . . Some today propose that faith and reason are crudely opposed, with the fervour of faith replacing good reason. This reduction of both faith and reason inhibits not only our search for truth but also the possibility of real dialogue.” Having just finished calling atheists the evil ones who cause war in destruction, and then in the next breath talking about "the reduction of both faith an reason" inhibiting the possibility of dialog -- I'd say this dude is one confused dude. You can't with one mouth call your opponent the devil, and then moments later claim the high ground in the 'search for truth' and 'real dialog'.
  • im an atheist and if i expressed my views on religon all hell would break loose!! I'd be made out to be the devil man, but people seem to think insulting atheists is fine because there beliefs are not important or that they don't have any! It's crazy man!
  • Well the Irish Catholic church is offering more in compensation. As if that will ever make up for what those sick 'religious' men did!! Even bar the sexual abuse the things they did to those childern was horrific! In one of the schools if they wet the bed they had to take the sheets off the bed and tie them around themselves and run around the yard so everyone could see the stains. It was so so sick. I would like everyone to know this is not accepted in Ireland by anyone and the church does not do this anymore. The whole country is totally sickened by the report.
  • Yes. Atheists are always the prime target whensoever someone is seeking to avoid responsibility.
  • I have been trying to add a comment onto my answer but I can: Just watched the news there a few mins ago, the radio must have had it wrong or maybe were just voicing an opinion that the chuch should pay more. I think the biggest problem was that these poor childern were orphhans,(lots of which the mothers did want just werent allowed to keep as they were not married!!!) the state put them into the care of the church. The church minded them and taught them so they had no chance to tell anyone :( Its just so so so so sad. Also even ones that are named, most of them are dead so they will never face justice. It is so sick!! :( The Catholic church has a lot to answer to in this country. Just watch the film the Madgaline sisters to see how cruel the nuns were.
  • The Roman Catholics have gotten away from a lot of scandals from way, way back simply because they are the church. But this has changed and all these evil deeds are being magnified.
  • Catholic Bishops in Ireland have apologized. From the link: "At the installation of the Most Rev Vincent Nichols at Westminster Cathedral, his predecessor, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, described a lack of faith as “the greatest of evils" That does not look like a directed attack on atheists to me, more like an affirmation that he consider religion to be very important. Would you expect a bishop to say anything else ? I see this pretty much as a rabblerousing non-question. regards JakobA
  • 1) The title of the article is mixing two different events, which are detailed inside: 1. an interview to ITV news where Archbishop Nichols was asked for his position about the child abuse scandal 2. Archbishop Nichols installation office, where he did not mention the child abuse scandal, but where "The new and the departing Archbishops of Westminster launched a joint offensive [...] against atheists and secular society" 2) As for the child abuse scandal, Archbishop Nichols had not been silent: "Despite his controversial comments, Archbishop Nichols was one of the few Roman Catholic leaders to say that the perpetrators, who have been granted anonymity and may never be prosecuted, should be held to account." Source and further information: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article6334837.ece "Responding to the report, the Most Rev Vincent Nichols, the new leader of Catholics in England and Wales, told ITV News: "It's very distressing and very disturbing and my heart goes out today first of all to those people who will find that their stories are now told in public... Secondly, I think of those in religious orders and some of the clergy in Dublin who have to face these facts from their past which instinctively and quite naturally they'd rather not look at. "That takes courage, and also we shouldn't forget that this account today will also overshadow all of the good that they also did." Asked whether those who perpetrated violence and abuse should be held to account, he said: "Yes they should, no matter how long ago it happened. "In this country now we have a very steady and reliable system of co-operation with police and social services who actually now hold us in good regard. "They know that we are reliable and trustworthy partners. Those that abused the trust that was placed in them should be brought to public account." Asked whether legal and police process should take place, he said: "Yes, absolutely. If the offences are such that demand that." Asked why abuse seemed more prevalent in the Catholic Church than other faiths, he said: "Every time there is a single incident of abuse in the Catholic Church it is a scandal. "And I'm glad it's a scandal. I would be very worried if it wasn't a scandal... I hope these things don't happen again but I hope they're never a matter of indifference." " Source and further information: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ireland/5356587/Church-failed-to-act-on-child-sex-abuse---report.html 3) As to the position to atheism, there seems to be some difference between the position of the new Archbishop Vincent Nichols and his predecessor: "his predecessor, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, described a lack of faith as “the greatest of evils” and blamed atheism for war and destruction, implying that it was a greater evil even than sin itself." Archbishop Nichols said: “Faith in God is not, as some would portray it today, a narrowing of the human mind or spirit. It is precisely the opposite. “Faith in God is the gift that takes us beyond our limited self, with all its incessant demands . . . Some today propose that faith and reason are crudely opposed, with the fervour of faith replacing good reason. This reduction of both faith and reason inhibits not only our search for truth but also the possibility of real dialogue.” Source and further information: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article6334837.ece It is not the same to condemn atheism for all the evil of mankind and to say that faith is not opposed to reason and that a real dialogue should be sought.
  • Unfortinaly it is yes, the relgous tend to attack atheist instead of fixing themselves and getting rid of the child abusers like they should do. (I'm assuming it is a nun at an orphanage.) Ateists are manly good people, and no reson he shold be doing this.
  • Atheists have always been, for some religious leaders and others, the baby eating, nearly satanic targets of their wrath. Not always, certainly. But often enough. +5

Copyright 2023, Wired Ivy, LLC

Answerbag | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy