Nobody buying what Catholic Church defenders selling
By: Father TIm | Published Friday, December 21, 2012, 5:38 PM | Updated Friday, December 21, 2012, 5:38 PM

My friends:
The Catholic Church's "defenders of the fake" have begun their expected counterattack to those pesky critics who still don't believe -- despite Pope Benedict sending them a letter -- that the Church's leadership (if that's the right word) is serious about putting pedophile priests behind bars along with the conspiratorial clergy who covered up their heinous crimes.
In my adopted hometown of New York City, the Church's defensive lineup was especially pathetic, and even comical.
Archbishop Timothy Dolan, leader of some of the city's Catholics, used his Palm Sunday performance to compare Benedict to Jesus Christ, a hysterical analogy that may in fact become blasphemous if the Pope is found to have been complicit in cover-ups himself.
The best comment on this absurd remark came from a commenter on IrishCentral's Facebook page: "The Pope is like Jesus Christ as much as Britney Spears is like the Virgin Mary."
As an IrishCentral blogger, I'm obviously biased, but I found it absolutely remarkable to see the unanmity of opinion on several articles about the Church scandal, as well as its critics and defenders. The sheer number of comments was astounding, and barely one had anything but criticism and rage to vent at the Church hierarchy and those who think the Pope made everything better with a letter.
But as it turns out, Dolan was just a warm-up act for the star comedian, Catholic League president Bill Donohue. Of course, this "league" isn't exactly the NFL; the staff list begins and ends with Donohue, who can devote all his time to it now that he's divorced (Oops! A cheap shot! Sorry!).
Donohue donated several thousand dollars to the newspaper he considers to be the pen of the anti-Christ, The New York Times, to run an ad declaring that gay people and homosexuality -- not child abuse and certainly not any cover-up -- was the real problem.
Donohue is a gifted writer -- of fiction, and this pathetic attempt to shift the blame and find a scapegoat was the work of a veteran actor. It's a classic Donohue move, but it's like a re-run you've seen a few times too often.
The "reviews" on the IrishCentral Facebook page in this case are so severe I can only repeat a few without racing to the confessional: "Complete moron." "Total b---wipe." "Stupid man." "Eejit." "Jaysus, what a f---ing gobshite."
Donohue must have thought he had a sure winner by blaming it on gays. The priests were men, right? Most of the victims were boys, right? There ya go! Fags, right?
Wrong, and everybody saw through it like glass.
As I said in my last blog, pedophilia is a dangerous mental illness that is arguably one of the most-studied in psychiatry. While no truly effective therapy or medication exists to deal with it at present, it is well-established that almost all pedophiles are heterosexual. They are sexually attracted almost exclusively to children, not to adult members of their own sex or the opposite sex. Most were not sexually abused as children -- another common myth.
Johns Hopkins University psychiatrist Dr. Frederick Berlin, who runs a treatment program for offenders, says it's flawed to assume that men who molest young boys are gay, and are attracted to adult men.
Interestingly, he defines attraction to children as a separate "orientation" of its own.
As pedophilia relates to priests, psychotherapist Dr. A.W. Richard Sipe argues that the sexual deprivation that occurs in the priesthood could lead a sick individual to turn to children, and that boys are more accessible to priests and other male authority figures than girls. The same is true of prison rape, where male and female offenders are segregated.
Needless to say, Donohue is not a doctor -- although he may need one, for his thinking is delusional and his passion uncontrollable. Facts are facts for most people, but sadly and pathetically, not for him. I'm sure he considers generations of scientific studies of pedophilia to be the work of pedophiles, or socialists, or whomever else is handy as a scapegoat.
People's comments on this comedy act may have given me a brief smile, but there's nothing at all funny, really. Terrible, unspeakable crimes have been committed, with God's most-innocent the helpless victims. They were abused, beaten or raped by a clergy entrusted with their care. Almost as bad, their crimes were routinely covered up by the Church hierarchy -- perhaps even by Benedict -- and the perpetrators were left to prey on others. Church officials swore victims to secrecy and blamed them for their own abuse in acts of psychological torture. The Church used its self-made throne in society to hold police and political leaders at bay.
Until now, thank God.
The day of reckoning has arrived at last, and Our Heavenly Father has opened the dark skies to let His Light pour in. No one can escape God's Final Judgment, and let us pray that those who abused His Dear Children by vile act or vile cover-up, will not escape earthly judgment as well.
God bless you all!
-- Father Tim
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.2BorNot2B | May 01, 2010, 12:13 AM EDT
Sez PrairieFlower: **It's time for some real soul-searching and house cleaning or maybe another Reformation** -- Yeah, time for another 'Reformation' because the first one worked so well!; there are now some 30 thousand man-made protestant sects and quasi-religions all competing for attention, all theologically confusing and confused.
murphy66 | Apr 12, 2010, 10:51 AM EDT
I blame it on the children--the little seducers.
Monsoonman | Apr 04, 2010, 12:37 PM EDT
The church needs outside blood to come in and take over. I say draft Sheriff Joe Arpaio into the Church and let him clean the mess up. He will have the offenders behind bars and in pink jumpsuits before they know it. Evidently the church does not have the will or the intention of cleaning itself up....The evil is too entrenched over the centuries.
jratigan | Apr 02, 2010, 10:29 AM EDT
Love the photo and the article!!
Padraig | Apr 02, 2010, 02:21 AM EDT
you going to post my comment?
bcoc1124 | Apr 01, 2010, 07:35 PM EDT
Thank you for your voice and your work VOTF - don't let up
McNamara31 | Apr 01, 2010, 04:50 PM EDT
VOTF Vigil Times and Locations: New York City - St. Patrick's Cathedral, 12pm - 3pm Boston - Cathedral of the Holy Cross, 12pm - 3pm Chicago - Holy Name Cathedral, 3pm Washington, D.C. - Cathedral of St. Matthew, 12pm – 1pm Long Island – Rockville Centre - Easter Sunday, April 4th St. Agnes Cathedral, 10am
McNamara31 | Apr 01, 2010, 04:47 PM EDT
Voice of the Faithfull Good Friday Vigils "The revelations emerging from Europe these past weeks demonstrate that all the cases have not been resolved, that some priest offenders are still serving. It is long past time to open the files on sex abuse. An apology is not enough. The secrecy and oaths of silence must end." Good Friday Vigils will be held in New York, Long Island, Boston, Washington and more..... http://www.votf.org/goodfridayvigil2010
irishathens | Apr 01, 2010, 01:42 PM EDT
Kilgara, the church is not being beseiged..It's just being made accountable for it's actions. Honest God loving priests are as horrified as we are and can no longer stay silent.
bcoc1124 | Mar 31, 2010, 11:56 PM EDT
I haven't been to mass since Mr. Law was elevated to an honored position in Rome. He was rewarded and welcomed - I could almost hear the words from the Vatican: This is our beloved son in whom we are well pleased. His job as Cardinal Archbishop of Boston was to be a shepherd - he did not protect his flock - he endangered them by transferring those perverts who raped the most vulnerable among us. These perverts and their abettors, including Mr. Bernard Law, defile the host with every touch
kilgara | Mar 31, 2010, 11:04 PM EDT
if you are really a priest {heaven help us} why are you piling on an already besieged church? Do you enjoy spreading scandal during holy week?This fiasco involves only a very small number of clergy.It was blown out of all proportion by a Catholic hating media and many, many quick-buck lowlifes who falsely claimed to be victims. The biggest mistake the chuch made was in not defending these many bogus lawsuits.Shame on you. You'll surely answer for this one day.
McNamara31 | Mar 31, 2010, 10:59 PM EDT
Father Tim, Do you think Cardinal Law's reassignment to Rome was a reward for silence?
abbaetienne | Mar 31, 2010, 10:31 PM EDT
And Bernard Law, a Cardinal, is living as a prince in Rome. Rome looks after its own! Too bad about all the kids abused.
KathyCallahan | Mar 31, 2010, 07:20 PM EDT
powerful members of the roman catholic church hierarchy were more dedicated to enabling and elevating pedophile wing nuts and preserving their role and racket within the institution than being honest, acting lawfully, treating children compassionately, appropriately and having a conscience -individually and collectively.
hollabackgurl | Mar 31, 2010, 05:57 PM EDT
Psychologists say that pedophilia has little to do with the gender of the child or the orientation of the molester; pedophiles are attracted to youth and control. Accessibility is more the factor in who a pedophile abuses. This may explain the high incidence of children molested in church communities and fraternal organizations, where the pedophile may more easily have access to children. Trying to pin this on gays is the Church sidestepping accountability.
johnozed | Mar 31, 2010, 05:21 PM EDT
Bottom line: The RC Crutch was more concerned with preserving the institution rather than stopping the child molestations. The children were not of the age of consent. That is the crime right there, not whether or not they were pubescent or prepubescent.
TonydeNewYork | Mar 31, 2010, 04:15 PM EDT
Father Tim most of the abuse were MALE (11 to 17), and most of the priest were and are HOMOSEXUALS. Nothing against homosexual is just the FACTS. Have u read: The Nature and Scope of the Problem of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Catholic Priests and Deacons in the United States http://www.usccb.org/nrb/johnjaystudy/ Dublin Archdiocese Commission of Investigation Report http://www.dacoi.ie/
belfastblonde | Mar 31, 2010, 02:39 PM EDT
I say Fr. Tim should be pope. He is the only clergy voice of reason I have heard in this disgusting farce. Bless you, Fr. Tim.
noozguy1 | Mar 31, 2010, 01:19 PM EDT
fathertim@irishcentral.com
LilPaddy | Mar 31, 2010, 12:20 PM EDT
IF THERE IS ONE AMONG YOU WHO HAS A "DIRECT" LINE TO FATHER TIM??? PLEASE USE IT AND ASK HIM TO CALL ME AT 951-2647103. I (as one of those Irish Inst. "victims") WILL GIVE HIM SOME REAL FACTS THAT Irish Central WILL NOT PRINT!!! No typo there... WILL NOT PRINT!!!
kjpnbmt | Mar 31, 2010, 10:10 AM EDT
The Catholic Church continues to spiral in a downhill direction. I for one have become so disillusioned with the Catholic Church, and have not attended mass in many years. It was refreshing to read Father Tim's take on the hypocrisies of the Catholic Church. If only the Pope, as the leader of the Church, would take Father Tim's lead and clear the waters, admit the truth, realize the church and its rules/laws are ancient. Ok, enough, but thanks Father Tim.
FGilfeather | Mar 31, 2010, 09:47 AM EDT
I agree with Father Tim 100%.
PrairieFlower | Mar 31, 2010, 09:46 AM EDT
Good article. It's about time the Catholics in this world woke up and started to face the truth. From the Pope's letter I got the impression that this whole scandal would go away if we all just prayed and went to confession. Wait a minute! We're the victims here.Somehow I don't think us doing penance will overcome the evil that has crept into the church. It's time for some real soul-searching and house cleaning or maybe another Reformation.
Joanhugh | Mar 31, 2010, 09:43 AM EDT
Read the report from the John Jay College it was homosexual behavior...you can call it pedophilia but you hav not read the report
fatherbob | Mar 31, 2010, 08:55 AM EDT
Congratulations, Father Tim, for your enlightening and spot-on analysis. Did you notice that when Archbishop Timothy Dolan (New York Archdiocese) was apologizing for the Pope and comparing his sufferings to those of Jesus, his "skull cap" was crooked, sitting to the left on his head. I can't help but think that was God's humor reminding us all of the "crookedness" of the institutional Church and its so-called leaders. Keep it up, Tim, from a priest trying to endure in West Orange, NJ.