The indoctrination process of the Catholic
Church is so effectual among the faithful, particularly as it pertains to questioning church authority, that the mass of catholics still remain relatively silent againt the issue of sexual abuse. Indeed, while some catholics may register their disgust at such matters, they nonetheless continue to support an overwhelmingly patriarchal, secretive and condescending Vatican.

Fr. Maciel may actually be innocent of the alleged charges. Why do the prior posters assume that he is in fact guilty? As far as I know, the accuser(s) were not children at the time when the alleged acts may have occurred, and there is no aspect of abuse of children at issue here. The accusers appear to be individuals with a gripe against the Legion and Fr. Maciel. It is not unheard of for such people to lie.

It is sad to see the Catholic Church and 2 popes fail so badly. That the new pope took such speed to "saintify" the last pope denigrates all previous saints and questions their status. When the new pope was selected, the cardinals brought in 20 nuns to "cook" for them. You've come a long way baby...I am a lapsed catholic means the church passed me by long ago and I can't catch up. The newly found Judas Gospel may mean that those like me actually gravitated toward Jesus and his teachings as the Vatican drifted the wrong way. Doubt me anybody?

In reply to the last comment about Maciel's innocence, the church would not have issued this punishment unless they had found some truth in the allegations. This is one of the most severe punishments a priest could face. The first reported case was in the 50's, and the accusers were in fact teenagers. So this issue has been ignored for decades...this pope is not setting a good example for future generations of Catholics who are flocking in large numbers elsewhere in search of spirituality.

Was it gay sexual relations? (poster: Mike) If only talk and innuendo was involved I would call it harassment. If any physical contact was involved I would call it molestation. If any penetration was involved I would call it rape.

Unfortunately, there are incidents of this type in all religous venues. That's why our faith and trust should be in God and not men. And by the way, no matter how 'anointed" they tell you they are and they think they are, no matter how duped the "Legion of Lemmings" may be - they are just men. Men who can and will sin.

I don't think that this issue is one of facts. I think that the bottom line is that people are tired of these false priests getting preferential treatment. They are perverts any way you look at it. I agree that the church is more forgiving, but they should forgive before, after or during the proper PUNISHMENT. From an outsider looking in, it seems that the Catholic church is all about what "looks" holy instead of actually being holy in your heart. God judges the heart. With that in mind, it doesn't matter how well you cover up perversity, it still stinks in God's nostrils. If these priests were actually punished, then they would stop doing this mess. There are perverse people in every denomination. However we need to be careful not to send the message that the victims' hurt, pain, and embarrassment is insignificant by letting nasty religious leaders get away with this evil. If it is a matter of homosexuality, then they either need to admit what they are and suffer the consequence of redicule from the Catholic church or get married and suffer the consequence of being demoted by the Catholic ordinances. If they don't like the rules of the Catholic church, then they should get out of it! It is as simple as that.

People are talking about PUNISHMENT, but folks, these are crimes that Father Maciel commited 50 years ago, if the civil authorities can't press charges, what should the Vatican do? They can't burn people at the stake anymore. This Priest was the founder of the Legionaires for Christ, a very respected Order of Priests and laymen now in ruins, an order this young depends on the sanctity of its founder, which is now destroyed. This is a HUGE move for the Church. For him to be censured is an enormous punishment. The Vatican can't do that much more to an old man, they can't put him in jail. You are all rushing to judgment. You act like the Church has the power to lock this guy up and throw away the key, this isn't 1487 folks. Despite what ABCNEWS has said in this little piece Cardinal Ratzinger STARTED the investigation into Father Maciel in 1998, AND approved the censure of Father Maciel. This is a big mvoe in the right direction. The Pope is sick of the "filth" in the Church, and while men will always sin, priests are not given the benefit of the doubt anymore. But again if a priest hears of another priests actions during the sacrament of confession, that can't be broken.

To Mike,

So a person who committed murder 50 years ago shouldn't be prosecuted at all? I expect the church to do acknowledge what Maciel did and comfort those who got molested. I expect the church to strip Maciel of all honors he received to date. I expect the church to put more monitoring processes in place to prevent perverts from becoming priests. Yes, I expect the church to do a lot more than to ignore and forget. I expect the justice system to prosecute Maciel to the full extent of the law permits. He did after all commit a crime. It is too easy for Chritians to just go to confession then all is forgiven. I wonder how you'd feel if you are one of those priest who got molested?

What punishment are you referring to? When you get right down to it, the statement from the Vatican says that all canonical process has been stopped, and that Fr. Maciel has been "invited" to withdraw from public life, which is what he has done anyways in light of his age and health. An "invitation" to keep the status quo is hardly an order or a censure. There is no finding whatsoever that Fr. Maciel did what he was accused of, and I doubt that it could have been proven or disproven in light of the passage of time. It appears to me that the media is putting a twist on this that is broader that the statement actually issued by the Vatican. Again, the Church and an individual, Fr. Maciel, is made to appear in a bad light, for obvious reasons. Certain people hate the truth ....

Veritas,

When the Vatican approves an edict for Father Maciel to retire to a life of "prayer and penitence", no doubt the findings of the investigation started by Cardinal Ratzinger were not good. That is a huge slap to a very influential man in the Church, and will more than likely be very destructive tot he order he founded the Legionares for Christ. That is a punishment, and about all the Church could really do to the guy at this point, with the crimes occuring so long ago.

Bill,

What punishment would you like the Church to doll out? They already told him he can't peform his duties as a preist and to live his life in penitence. The only reason I say it was 50 years ago is because the statute of limitations is gone for a civil prosecution. The Church can't draw and quarter the priest, or burn him at the stake, what do you want them to do? They are not the civil authorities, they won't jail him, they can't. If you want him to be punished to the fullest extent of the law, then take it up with the civil authorities. The fact of the matter is this story trashes the new Pope when he is the one who STARTED the investigation into Father Maciel in 1998, and he approved the punishment. Father Maciel is like 80 something I think, the Church can't jail him, they already pretty much removed all priestly duties from him, what can they do? So much vitriol and hatred in this thread towards an entire religion. Protestant ministers, Rabbi's, school teachers, camp counselors, boy scouts, all have the same issues. It's like wanting to become communist because of some corrupt politicians in Washington.

I do not understand how the catholic church and the pope can let this man go after he has molested so many young priests. How do you turn your head and look the other way? The church needs to stop worrying about the issues they have with "The Da Vinci Code" and concentrate on more important matters like child sexual abuse. Seriously, they need to get their priorities straight.

Letting Fr. Marcial Maciel's declaration of innocence stand without any correction or comment certainly leaves the appearance of a vatican cover-up.

Christ's representative? My, OH my, why do people insist that the leadership of the Catholic church has ANY validity. Christ would not allow the guilty to go unpunished, nor would he sanction sexual abuses, I won't go on.... and neither should they.

I agree with Mike's comments defending the Pope. Most posters are so angry, it seems they are repeatedly saying the same thing. I repeat what Mike said, that the church DID take action. The church's words in response were not very angry, but they did in fact remove him from his duties. By the way, did you ever consider that he may also have been abused? I work with abused people, and I find (research backs up) that abuse is learned. Often someone who was abused becomes an abuser.

Do not comment on things you don't know. Only God knows the truth and only God will do what has to be done. What we do know for a fact its that Father Maciel made has made a lot of good things not for himself, of for the church, but for humanity itself.
He who is free of sin throw the first stone...

Ok, let me see if I get this straight. The church does not punish child molesters but instead goes after (and with a vengence) two loving adults of the same sex who just want to care for each other a get married.

I think the church should care more about child molesters than it does about two loving consensual adults who want to marry.

... And we wonder what is wrong with the world. Start with the priorities of the catholic church.

SHAME!!!

The worst possible outcome: Case closed... No investigation... No nothing.....

It looks to me as if the Anti-Christ would have a hand in this matter....

My sincere condolence to all the victims and the millions of voices of true catholics that have been abused by the Holy See.

Croffer,

All Christ did was let sinners go unpunished and forgiven, that was Christs entire message, one of forgiveness, and not of judgment (go read the parable of the Samaritan woman at the well John 4:5-26; 39-42), because we are all horrible sinners in God's eye. Molesting a 14 year old boy is no more a sin in God's eye than fornication, divorce and remarriage, or cheating in business. That is why we can punish wrong actons and call for justice, but we souldn't judge people. Now if Father Maciel is guilty of molestation 50 years ago what exactly would you have the Church do? They punished him, they can't jail Father Maciel. But the Vatican will opt towards forgiveness rather than calling for blood like everyone in this thread. I am all for punishment, if the civil courts could make a case and convict Father Maciel, then they should, and I would enjoy a molester serving a long prison term, however I have no problem with what the Church did, what more would you guys have them do? THE CHURCHES JOB IS TO FORGIVE SINNERS IN THE NAME OF CHRIST, not further condemn them. How would you feel if you went into confession and told the Priest of an affair, and instead of counseling you with kindness and granting absolution, he called you a pig, and told you to get out of the Church? Maybe if they burnt Father Maciel alive you would feel justified or better?

If you were to report (out of spite) false allegations about your neighbor of child abuse to the HRS, they have no choice but to begin an investigation (unless the neighbor gave up the child before the process). Instead of dragging his congregation through this, Fr. Maciel chose not to ride out on the white horse; rather caring a cross like Christ.

If something is good, it will be attacked by the evil one and the devil uses gullible people to fight his battles. If not prayerfully, then even logically examine how you would attack the fastest growing fruits (i.e the new ecclesiastical movements) of the one true church.