Law: Boy’s Negligence Contributed to Alleged Abuse
I was raised Catholic and for the most part, I identify with it the closest, however, I have so many beliefs about life, I don't think I can be called "Catholic" anymore.
However, this is disgusting and I wish the book can be thrown to Cardinal Law. I don't think God would say it's a 6-year-old child fault that he was being a abused by a whore "of the cloth." Yes, a whore - a man whore. Not even most 12-year-old/13-year-old children would have a clue to sex.
To stand by and allow this abuse to happen and turn the other cheek is not what God and Jesus would want from a man of the cloth. A man of the cloth is to uphold all that's good and denouce evil.
To see that "Cardinal" Law was aware of the abusive "priest," Shanley's longtime advocacy for sex between men and boys, and did nothing about it makes him as evil as the Devil he thinks he's fighting against.
A child would have no clue that sex in the NAMBLA sense is wrong. Children are taught to follow the instructions of adults. Shanley, who I wouldn't be surprised was a card carrying member of NAMBLA, took advantage of this innocent trust violated that person. Now that is just one of the biggest forms of evil in this world.
God, I hope you will do the right thing and punish them.
Posted by Shawn at April 29, 2002 6:55 PM in General.
What I really love is that it says "Child Partly to Blame in Abuse Case". What the hell? As if that little boy doesn't have enough years of recovery in front of him, now it's going to be nearly impossible for him to believe that it really wasn't his fault.
Laura
Posted by: Laura at April 29, 2002 9:24 PMI am a "survivor" of sexual abuse. I was abused until I was 9 years old. I didn't even tell my parent's until I was 15 and only then, because I was going through a nervous break down. This child will live with this for the rest of his life. It is not his fault, and he probly will feel like it is for a long time. I have to deal with this every day of my life, it gets easier but it never goes away. I pray for him to find a good way to deal with this.
Posted by: Seglenda at April 29, 2002 10:56 PMI don't think I could agree more with your first statement, Shawn!!! I, too, was raised Catholic. I consider it my religion, but a lot of the ideals involved in modern Catholosism isn't really my philosophy.
It's so sad, when the one place you're supposed to fee like one of the flock is tainted by such a sick thing. And blaming the child or his parents isn't going to do anything!!!
I'm not a radical when it comes to religion or anything, but there needs to be reform.
Now and Forever,
Liz
I hope the parents can take some legal recourse against that bastard for his remarks of it being the boy's fault. Well, he's a man now, but it's going to haunt him. I know God is on the side of the boy.
Posted by: Shawn at May 1, 2002 2:28 PMLike I always say ... there is Faith, and there is Religion. Faith is a very personal set of beliefs, it's an internal thing. Religion is just a vehicle to express your Faith. My Religion that I feel most comfortable in is Catholicism. My Faith? The Pope would not agree. Heck, a lot of Christians (at least the ones in Houston, deep in the Bible Belt) would not agree. But that's ok, because Faith is just between me & God... 
Just thought I'd share that with you. Some deep thoughts to think about.
