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People and Politics by Patrick Roberts

Why not have Muslim congressman investigate Catholic Church scandals, ala Peter King?

Posted on Wednesday, March 09, 2011 at 09:03 PM

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Read more: Congressman Peter King's strange journey from Irish radical to Muslim inquisitor -- I no longer recognize the politician I have known for 25 years

Here's a novel suggestion. Why not have Muslim congressman Keith Ellison investigate the Catholic Church sex abuse scandals?

After all the latest shocking revelations from Philadelphia where 21 priest have now been suspended en masse surely points to something very rotten indeed in the nature of Catholicism.

While not terrorism it is a uniquely filthy crime nonetheless, the abuse and damage of young defenceless children.

There have been 12,000 cases of clerical sex abuse in the United States, a remarkably under reported crime and the real numbers are obviously much higher.

If Congressman Peter King, a devout Irish Catholic, feels certain he can plumb the depths of what is wrong with the Muslim religion perhaps Ralph Ellison can do the same for the Catholic religion.

It is no easy task.

Frank Keating , a prominent Catholic and Oklahoma governor resigned from a Catholic Church oversight committee claiming that bishops were acting like mafia dons covering up evidence of horrific child abuse.

He might be a very interesting witness for the Ellison hearings.

Then there is the possibility that the investigation could go all the way to the top , to the pope himself, who has much to answer for in the realm of child abuse cover-up.

All the above goes to show that we can rarely afford to be holier than thou.

In what I consider the most profound words in the Bible Jesus said 'Let him without sin cast the first stone' when a prostitute was threatened with being stoned to death.

It is the same with Pete King and his like. We are quick to point fingers, to blame it all on the 'other.'

Maybe we should look at the mote in our own eye as another bible lesson suggests.

Read more: Congressman Peter King's strange journey from Irish radical to Muslim inquisitor -- I no longer recognize the politician I have known for 25 years

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Collette2 | Mar 23, 2011, 02:49 AM EDT

With the release of QC Geoffery Robinsons book on Vatican accountability for Human Rights abuse, there are plenty of references for those interested in drawing any conclusions, covering the majority of comments.

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johnymac60 | Mar 22, 2011, 02:03 PM EDT

Satirical commentary is all very well, and it's not really necessary to go into endless comparisons of muslim extremists versus Catholic Priest criminality. It's done elsewhere to the n'th degree. But patrick, this piece is not well written at all. For example: "surely points to something very rotten indeed in the nature of Catholicism"??? How do you draw that conclusion? You certainly have not done enough to make that point salient, my friend. Indeed it's extreme enough in itself to warrant a reader to step-back and ponder your personal prejudice towards the Catholic religion, and therefore your ability to write worthy satire at all. There is of course, absolutely no similarity between the crimes you compare here. Any considerate person can quickly see that. I have to admit, I do find myself having to agree that this particular piece seems to be more of a "Look at me, how smart I am?" rather than thoughtful writing. Try to do better next time.

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kaydog1 | Mar 21, 2011, 01:03 PM EDT

Well, Mr Roberts, I guess there's just NOTHING an Irish Lefty won't say to stop folks talking about the sins of his 'friends'. So the Muslims have a disturbing frequency of murdering their own children in so-called 'honour killings', murdering other's children such as at Itamar (bravely stabbing a 3 month old, a 4 year old, and an eleven year old to death), TRYING to maim and murder hundreds of children by setting off a bomb outside the Times Square production of the Lion King when it let out (the Times Square Bomber), not to mention the thousands of dead in 9/11, and at other Islamic terrorist acts of destruction? Well then let 'Lefty' Roberts even the tally sheet by pointing out that OTHER people do bad things too, and so we should stop looking at his murderous friends and look at where the Lefty wants you to look. Are you deranged? Doe this somehow count as an argument in your fevered little brain? Does this make it all "even?" Well it won't work-we're still going to focus on our most pressing problems, of which people like YOU appear to be a part.

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maloney | Mar 17, 2011, 11:14 PM EDT

Yea right, muslims, hitler, Attila the Hun, Jack the Ripper ect ect.

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marciaashley | Mar 17, 2011, 10:58 AM EDT

you sound like the protestants and catholics. you know god knows what you do and so does youself. you are the one who has to live with yourself if you are participating in a wrong doing the old saying is YOU HAVE TO PAY THE PIPER. you will get caught up with sooner or later.

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John G. Hogan | Mar 14, 2011, 08:01 AM EDT

Better yet, investigate the # 1 MOTUS

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hancock | Mar 13, 2011, 11:15 PM EDT

Great congressman.

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mayoman | Mar 13, 2011, 08:32 PM EDT

Good satire, Patrick. I'll be sure to send a copy to Senator McCarthy's, er, Congressman King's office. One must wonder why it is that If King is so concerned about possible Muslim plots why has he ignored law enforcement pleas that he not establish this grandstanding, counter-productive Inquisition? King is far more concerned about Pete King being viewed as some sort of Savior than he is in truly addressing this nation's security issues. His divisiveness will only create more problems and resolve nothing.

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duke410 | Mar 13, 2011, 08:06 PM EDT

Yeah I get the satire but its intent on making the point that he disagrees with Peter King's investigation and the fact is that this investigation is long overdue. The investigation is trying to ferret out who is an enemy to the U.S. Since the Islamic churches and organizations will not openly condemn the violent terroristic acts then there's something wrong with their leadership. Some Islamic organisations in the US are funding these people.

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duke410 | Mar 13, 2011, 08:02 PM EDT

We shouldn't have the Muslim Congressman investihgate the Catholics because the Catholics haven't attacked the USA over 300 times in the last 15 years in the name of their God. There aren't Catholics creating cells in the USA with the intent on uprising against the USA. Catholic Churches aren't sending money to terrorists to fund their violent acts against the USA. Well there's more but why continue. If you haven't understood this or the fact that you asked this question in the first place means you don't understand that the Radical Islamists are bent on destroying western culture. And that the majority of Muslims in the U.S. refuse to condemn their acts.

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eiriamach | Mar 13, 2011, 07:41 PM EDT

Didn't that make sense, Seano? the English got enough profit out of Ireland without the Irish buying their coal too. I'd guess that like the Old Catholics, getting in trouble with the colonial authorities was what made Irish men and women out of many Anglo-Irish. Lady Gregory, the Wildes, my own Anglo-Norman ancestors, . . .

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seanomelbourne | Mar 13, 2011, 06:14 PM EDT

Swift's satire landed him in trouble with the colonial authorities when he wrote "burn everything English except their coal"

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jerryoneill | Mar 13, 2011, 04:04 PM EDT

Wow. What a wonderful idea. a jihad against abuser priests. They would be beheaded(How appropriate)Then they would go to heaven and be given 72 altar boys.Problem solved for everyone.

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jerryoneill | Mar 13, 2011, 03:57 PM EDT

My dearest sirpeter. You are absolutely correct it wasn't 12,000 cases of Catholic priest abuse it was only about 11,500. I am kinda thinking that one would be one too many. And the millions and millions spent on the broken people as a result of this FATHERlY exercise is probably also overstated.What we really need is for the bishops and cardinals and even our wonderful pope to provide a better cover up of these lovely emotional vampires. I wonder whatever happened to that little story when Christ mentioned something about millstones and abusing His children. He probably meant if the number exceded 12,000.

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jerryoneill | Mar 13, 2011, 03:45 PM EDT

wow. what a great idea. a jihad against pedofile priests and when the offending priests are beheaded(How appropriate)they will be able to go to heaven and get 72 altar boys.

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