Catholics Walk Out of Sermon After Priest Urges Forgiveness for Sexual Predators

[Skwim]

.

"Around 70 Catholics walked out of a service after retired priest Ulrich Zurkuhlen urged everyone to practice forgiveness… for predator priests who had been found guilty of molesting children.

Zurkuhlen was trying to make the case that no one is purely evil and that the pedophiles were also “good clerics in their communities,” but the Church members, some of whom were reportedly victims of sexual abuse, weren’t having it.

Several parishioners reportedly interrupted the 79-year-old Zurkuhlen and tried to argue with him. A worshipper told Kirche-und-Leben that the situation became chaotic and the priest was not able to finish the sermon.

When asked about the reaction his sermon caused among worshippers, Zurkuhlen said that it was “a real shock.” He lamented that he was unable to get his point across, especially the biblically important meaning of forgiveness, to what he called “the screaming mob.”

​

Ah, yes. That’s a good idea. Insult the people making a good point while doubling down on your bad one.

The problem isn’t his claim that bad people have their good moments. It’s that the Catholic Church’s leaders have a long history of defending predator priests and ignoring abuse victims until they’re forced to do so. Even now, Zurkuhlen seems more interested in finding a silver lining in sexual abuse than seeking justice for victims of the Catholic Church.

For now, the church has invited congregation members — whoever’s left, anyway — to have a conversation about the sermon on Monday. There’s no indication that Zurkuhlen will apologize or that he believes he has anything to apologize about."
source

​

So, whether you're a Catholic or not, do you feel pedophile priests deserve forgiveness from the Catholic laity?

Why?

Why not?

.​

 

[Hockeycowboy]

.

"Around 70 Catholics walked out of a service after retired priest Ulrich Zurkuhlen urged everyone to practice forgiveness… for predator priests who had been found guilty of molesting children.

Zurkuhlen was trying to make the case that no one is purely evil and that the pedophiles were also “good clerics in their communities,” but the Church members, some of whom were reportedly victims of sexual abuse, weren’t having it.

Several parishioners reportedly interrupted the 79-year-old Zurkuhlen and tried to argue with him. A worshipper told Kirche-und-Leben that the situation became chaotic and the priest was not able to finish the sermon.

When asked about the reaction his sermon caused among worshippers, Zurkuhlen said that it was “a real shock.” He lamented that he was unable to get his point across, especially the biblically important meaning of forgiveness, to what he called “the screaming mob.”

​

Ah, yes. That’s a good idea. Insult the people making a good point while doubling down on your bad one.

The problem isn’t his claim that bad people have their good moments. It’s that the Catholic Church’s leaders have a long history of defending predator priests and ignoring abuse victims until they’re forced to do so. Even now, Zurkuhlen seems more interested in finding a silver lining in sexual abuse than seeking justice for victims of the Catholic Church.

For now, the church has invited congregation members — whoever’s left, anyway — to have a conversation about the sermon on Monday. There’s no indication that Zurkuhlen will apologize or that he believes he has anything to apologize about."
source
​

So, whether you're a Catholic or not, do you feel pedophile priests deserve forgiveness from the Catholic laity?

Why?

Why not?

.​

You find some interesting articles, that's for sure!

 

[Hockeycowboy]

No way!

If they made a practice of this behavior, they need to go to prison!

 

[David T]

This Made more sense at the gallows. A kind of we forgive you may god have mercy on your soul..... drop.

So context here is a bit confused by the priest. It isnt his role to ask the community to do that. Its the perpetuators role to confess they are doomed because they know no escaping the wrath of god! Justice will be served. Especially if god happens to be a she. Omg!

Sometimes religion makes sense just wierdly articulated. . Justice knows no bounds.
Being an atheist wont keep you out, but being a serial pedophile most certainly will. Heaven is filled with atheists god does not care what is, or is not believed. It does not matter....
be good is a whole different topic.

 

[Revoltingest]

Christians are supposed to be forgiving.
This doesn't mean they approve of the wrongdoing
or that the offenders shouldn't be punished.

Btw, I'm not a Christian, & I'm not into forgiveness.

 

[The Reverend Bob]

No way!

If they made a practice of this behavior, they need to go to prison!

As do the people who did likewise:

Jehovah’s Witnesses Accused of Mishandling Child Sexual Abuse Claims

 

[metis]

So, whether you're a Catholic or not, do you feel pedophile priests deserve forgiveness from the Catholic laity?

Why?

Why not?

The NT, including Jesus, talks a lot about us having forgiveness, so I guess the answer should be yes. However, we need not forget what he did, nor should he be put in a position whereas he could do it again, imo.

The mass is about God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit-- not about what Fr. Joe does. Yes, I want my priests to be moral of course, but we also need to remember "let he who is without sin cast the first stone".

BTW, the Catholic bishops passed a resolution that requires a bishop or priest to refer any question along this line to both the Church and the civil authorities, and the numbers of new charges are very low. However, even one is too many, so there's still a need to keep track of what's going on and reporting any suspicious behavior, and we get that message literally every Sunday at our church.

 

[Twilight Hue]

I can see the preist's defense now...

"But David himself had a twelve year old concubine/wife named Abishag and he was forgiven".

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

Christians are supposed to be forgiving.
This doesn't mean they approve of the wrongdoing
or that the offenders shouldn't be punished.

Btw, I'm not a Christian, & I'm not into forgiveness.

I'm not a Christian, either, but I am into forgiveness. I was only finally freed of the effects of the abuse I experienced when I finally forgave my abusers. And I mean that fully!

 

[joe1776]

Gandhi said: "Hate the sin, love the sinner," That's not a Christian saying but it's a wise one, I think.

It's hard to do when you're talking about people who have abused children or committed other terrible crimes, but I don't think of this as a general rule, one with exceptions, just because it's hard to do.

Had I been born with his genes, raised as he was, had his experiences and lived in his time, I would probably live as Adolf Hitler did. I don't like to think that, but I can't deny the probability.

 

[Enoch07]

So, whether you're a Catholic or not, do you feel pedophile priests deserve forgiveness from the Catholic laity?

They can ask for forgiveness from Jesus.

They can ask for forgiveness from their victims.

They can ask for forgiveness from the Church itself.

They can ask for forgiveness from society at large.

In which it may or may not be given on a case by case basis depending on each person.

@Revoltingest said it best I think.

Christians are supposed to be forgiving.
This doesn't mean they approve of the wrongdoing
or that the offenders shouldn't be punished.

So even those that do chose to forgive doesn't mean they should allow it to go unpunished.

Send em to jail as far as I'm concerned. They can earn my forgiveness in there.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

They can be forgiven only after they take responsibility for they've done, accept justice (turn themselves in, be defrocked, etc.) and stop trying to shift the blame to gay men, among other things.

 

[Shiranui117]

.

"Around 70 Catholics walked out of a service after retired priest Ulrich Zurkuhlen urged everyone to practice forgiveness… for predator priests who had been found guilty of molesting children.

Zurkuhlen was trying to make the case that no one is purely evil and that the pedophiles were also “good clerics in their communities,” but the Church members, some of whom were reportedly victims of sexual abuse, weren’t having it.

Several parishioners reportedly interrupted the 79-year-old Zurkuhlen and tried to argue with him. A worshipper told Kirche-und-Leben that the situation became chaotic and the priest was not able to finish the sermon.

When asked about the reaction his sermon caused among worshippers, Zurkuhlen said that it was “a real shock.” He lamented that he was unable to get his point across, especially the biblically important meaning of forgiveness, to what he called “the screaming mob.”

​

Ah, yes. That’s a good idea. Insult the people making a good point while doubling down on your bad one.

The problem isn’t his claim that bad people have their good moments. It’s that the Catholic Church’s leaders have a long history of defending predator priests and ignoring abuse victims until they’re forced to do so. Even now, Zurkuhlen seems more interested in finding a silver lining in sexual abuse than seeking justice for victims of the Catholic Church.

For now, the church has invited congregation members — whoever’s left, anyway — to have a conversation about the sermon on Monday. There’s no indication that Zurkuhlen will apologize or that he believes he has anything to apologize about."
source
​

So, whether you're a Catholic or not, do you feel pedophile priests deserve forgiveness from the Catholic laity?

Why?

Why not?

.​

Forgiving somebody doesn't mean letting them off from all the consequences of their actions. We're required as Christians to forgive all who wrong us, no matter how "deserving" they are of our forgiveness or not. Forgiving somebody also doesn't mean being all hunky-dory about what they did. In fact, what they did can still deeply hurt and you can refuse to trust that person ever again for as long as you or they are still alive. But it does mean not judging them to Hell (which isn't our job) or harboring hatred or wanting revenge. (Note: Justice=/=vengeance).

So yes, the congregation is required by God to forgive those priests. But those priests also need to be held accountable before God and man for their actions and face the consequences of what they did.

 

[Hockeycowboy]

As do the people who did likewise:

Jehovah’s Witnesses Accused of Mishandling Child Sexual Abuse Claims

"They" includes everyone doing so.

At least, when we find them, we throw them out of our organization! Disfellowshipped!

Yet, we take slack for that, too.

 

[sooda]

.

"Around 70 Catholics walked out of a service after retired priest Ulrich Zurkuhlen urged everyone to practice forgiveness… for predator priests who had been found guilty of molesting children.

Zurkuhlen was trying to make the case that no one is purely evil and that the pedophiles were also “good clerics in their communities,” but the Church members, some of whom were reportedly victims of sexual abuse, weren’t having it.

Several parishioners reportedly interrupted the 79-year-old Zurkuhlen and tried to argue with him. A worshipper told Kirche-und-Leben that the situation became chaotic and the priest was not able to finish the sermon.

When asked about the reaction his sermon caused among worshippers, Zurkuhlen said that it was “a real shock.” He lamented that he was unable to get his point across, especially the biblically important meaning of forgiveness, to what he called “the screaming mob.”

​

Ah, yes. That’s a good idea. Insult the people making a good point while doubling down on your bad one.

The problem isn’t his claim that bad people have their good moments. It’s that the Catholic Church’s leaders have a long history of defending predator priests and ignoring abuse victims until they’re forced to do so. Even now, Zurkuhlen seems more interested in finding a silver lining in sexual abuse than seeking justice for victims of the Catholic Church.

For now, the church has invited congregation members — whoever’s left, anyway — to have a conversation about the sermon on Monday. There’s no indication that Zurkuhlen will apologize or that he believes he has anything to apologize about."
source
​

So, whether you're a Catholic or not, do you feel pedophile priests deserve forgiveness from the Catholic laity?

Why?

Why not?

.​

No.. let God forgive them. Don't ask the parents or victims to forgive.

 

[sooda]

I'm not a Christian, either, but I am into forgiveness. I was only finally freed of the effects of the abuse I experienced when I finally forgave my abusers. And I mean that fully!

For yourself.. to forgive for your peace of mind or whatever... not because you owed it to your abuser or any church.

 

[Vinayaka]

"They" includes everyone doing so.

At least, when we find them, we throw them out of our organization! Disfellowshipped!

Yet, we take slack for that, too.

Disfellowshipped? Is that all? How about calling the cops as well? Perhaps you do, I don't know.

 

[Hockeycowboy]

Disfellowshipped? Is that all? How about calling the cops as well? Perhaps you do, I don't know.

Didn't I say they need to go to jail?
Sounds good to me.

 

[Vinayaka]

Didn't I say they need to go to jail?
Sounds good to me.

Not that I read earlier. Maybe I missed it. But yeah, that sounds good.

 

[Skwim]

Forgiving somebody doesn't mean letting them off from all the consequences of their actions. We're required as Christians to forgive all who wrong us, no matter how "deserving" they are of our forgiveness or not.

If someone doesn't deserve to be forgiven, they're unworthy, then why forgive them?

So yes, the congregation is required by God to forgive those priests. But those priests also need to be held accountable before God and man for their actions and face the consequences of what they did.

I assume then that forgiveness doesn't come with any grace period, like you can wait two years to forgive X for doing Y. But, in fact, one is expected to forgive immediately. God expects you to forgive the rapist and killer of your four year-old daughter immediately.

.