to wonder how Catholics can reconcile their faith with the Vatican's reaction to Ireland's abuse scandal?

[ChristinedePizan]

Recalling their envoy to Ireland can only be seen as an a tacit acceptance of paedophilia surely? Rape and torture of children is okay obviously as long as its carried out by men of the cloth

[lettinggo]

Well I'm one of those a-la-carte catholics. There's loads I don't agree with in the church, some of them quite substantial things. But I'm catholic and always will be. My catholicism is very different to the catholicism that my parents experienced and practise, a much more diluted version. And anyone in the world can pick all the holes they want in it, I'm catholic because that's who I am. It may be illogical to the rest of the world but being catholic is absolutely a part of who I am.

[debivamp]

I am a Catholic because i believe in the faith not the church. Faith is a gift from God, the Church is a human institution and therefore has human it has failings. It should also be noted that the Catholic church is the people and I do believe in the goodness of most catholics. The vatican is something completley different. I am a proud practising Catholic and is raising my 6 year old DD in the faith.
I am very lucky to have only know good/excellent priests, many were more interested in the sprituality of our faith rather than Catholic ditates.
Child abuse of any kind is apporant and I do believe that the vatican should be condemed for it's mishandling and lack of action in all these cases, both in Ireland and in USA.

[seeker]

So how do you know you are a catholic, rather than any other sort of Christian? What makes you a catholic?

[DioneTheDiabolist]

What makes you a Catholic is the culture.

[Marjoriew]

''Ireland and in USA''? Add a few more countries to that I would say.

[seeker]

What does the culture comsist of?

[SESthebrave]

My DH is originally from Ireland and moved to England when he was 16yo. He goes to mass at Easter and Christmas. He absolutely defines himself as Catholic though and is offended if anyone suggests otherwise it is how he was brought up and is part of the essence of who he is.

Some of what the Catholic Church has done over the years is abhorrent to him but his Catholicism can't just be removed or stopped.

Some people would say he is not Catholic because he doesn't go to mass regularly but why should anyone else say what he is/isn't?

[onagar]

This goes around in circles. The current excuse for supporting a child abusing organisation is that the poster can't get another religion because this is their religion and their connection to god.

If you then claim that the connection/belief can be anything you choose (or even nothing at all) then your excuse for supporting the child abusing organisation went out the window. It then amounts to you continuing your support because it's something you quite like to do.

Legally you may of course continue, but the rest of us can hold you in deep contempt for it.