Cardinal says Vatican and Pope Benedict should be congratulated over pedophile handling – POLL

'The best minds in the field' ... this bunch were claiming that the 196O's were to blame for their sheltering of hundreds of child molesters and rapists just a year back. They hired a sociologist to come out with that beauty in New York at a press conference where the said sociologist looked as if she wanted to be anywhere else on the planet rather than sat next to these loons. I haven't heard much about her since, unsurprisingly. Mind you, the Catholic Bishops of the US have plenty of psychological reports on the make-up of the clerical abusers which they paid for and definitely do not like the findings involved so won't talk about those reports at all. Bunch of moonhowling loons at best.

At least the Catholic Church under the present pope has taken this major initiative to gather the best minds in the fields which cover the treatment and study of the causes of child sex abuse, to progress long-lasting solutions to this scourge. This does not in anyway excuse lamentable past failures, but it demonstrates a clear willingness to learn lessons and to implement the best practices. If only other organizations which have dealings with children, would contemplate doing the same.

Well, Levada is kissing his boss's arse, which is the typical Catholic Church pecking order behavior. Having said that, however, one has to take heart that this issue is being confronted whether "Holy Mother" wanted to confront it or not.This is inherently a forward looking thing. Also, keep all this in context. Yes the Church has child molestation problems and yes, it was sometimes institutionalized and covered up. I do believe, however, that pedophilia is a problem not only in The Catholic Church, but also in many institutions who have children in their care. This doesn't excuse the Church, but all you "Generic Catholic Haters" are making this a Catholic Church Problem only. Have you attacked this problem in all the other institutions or you just can't control your contempt of Roman Catholicism?

I wager this guy will be Rottweiler's successor; Rottweiler was also head propagandist of the CDF. An American pope is well overdue. Remember the name Levada..

The only people who can change the Catholic church are it's parishioners. Until they vote with their feet and their wallets by staying away from mass and refusing to fund Parishes the Hierarchy will continue to carry on business as usual. Count on it - all critics of the Church will be condemned as evil people with an agenda to bring down the the 'only true Church' and will be condemned as anti-Christian heathens. This is an institution which sees it's primary responsibility as the survival of the Institution itself, not the principles of Christianity. It is a racist, sexist, misogynistic, bigoted institution with massive wealth, massively disproportionate power. It is utterly devoid of compassion for anyone, especially those it has hurt.

Bring back paganism! At least they worshiped whats real unlike Christians!

go back to our own pree christian religion,get rid of all the frock wearing mumbo jumbo chameleon heretic burning nazi apologist child molesting political manipulative misoginist history changing science denying useless money funnelling superstition spreading crowd.

i can not think of one reason to believe anything any of them say.if they say the sky is blue i'd go look for myself.

What the hell do ye all know.Don't be commenting on stuff ye don't know anything about.Their arrogance is a sign of there power.Religion is all powerful because none of ye have the guts to except who ye are.Grow up.The fairy tale is over.Those who are powerful will always rob you and if you don't keep an eye on your kids someone will always fu*k your kids.Such is life.

The key here is the "magic man", Cardinal Dolan of New York. He will be installed within the month. Levada is from San Francisco and there are tales of how hesitant he was to take on the liberal lobby in that cesspool of humanity. Cardinal Dolan, I have confidence in. Cardinal Levada, I do not.

Well!!! what else would you expect him to say??. He is not going to endanger his chances for the "top job" next time around is he?

Until they send Cardinal Law back to the U.S. to stand trial for all of his cover-up activity, the Vatican and Cardinal Leveda have no credibility.

More like 40,000 cases over the years. Is the Pope aware of two Victorian, Australian child abuses Fr Gerald Risdale and Bro Robert Best who police say are responsible for the deaths (suicides) of 26 young people as a result of pedopholia. Last weekend a Melbourne journalist Allan Howe says the real number is probably 35 and generally amounted to organised crime by the Catholic Church. calling for an enquiry.The jornalist Allan Howe made coments about a new book 'Hell on the way to heavin'a tragic storey of the horrific abuse of 2 girls abused by by a Fr O'Donnel in Melbourne.Its all on the net to read.

I wonder how many people who were raped by paedophile priests would agree with this cardinal.

Cardinal Levada is factually correct, as the Church globally has done more under the current pope to combat the scourge of child sex-abuse within priestly ranks than all of the previous popes combined. He has considerably strengthened the effectiveness of canon law in relation to expediting cases against guilty predators and closed legal loopholes against them escaping justice. He has also met victims in a personal capacity during his pastoral visits abroad. Things are far from perfect but this symposium in Rome should mark another important landmark in the continuing efforts of the Church to get to grips with this terrible reality of the abuse of minors.