By photoshock, September 28 at 1:20 pm

“...if they are to remain a valid voice of reason and
morality in the world..”

“remain” implies that something used to be more than “remains”.

Any real world examples of “reason” or “morality” from the catholic church?

Nothing that the Roman Catholic Church does and says
amazes or astounds me.
Their’s is a system set up to defend and protect
those who, by dint of their selection as priests are
put above the laity and the laity made to feel that
they are second class citizens, who have no say in
the goings on of the Church.
We, the people who make up the Catholic Church, are
starting to come alive and looking for the godliness
that is inherently part of the service that is
supposedly part of being a priest.
For the hierarchy of the Church to cover up these
abominable crimes against the people is by far the
worst thing that could happen. In the supposed words
of Joshua, allow the little children to come to me,
also if someone offends one of these little ones it
would better if a millstone were hung around his neck
and he be cast into the sea.
We cannot long abide the continued stigma of the
hierarchies belief that the people are nothing more
than playtoys and money machines for their
lifestyles. There must be a change in the thought
processes of the hierarchy of the Catholic Church if
they are to remain a valid voice of reason and
morality in the world, but then I believe with all my
heart that they have given up this position by their
continued denial of married priests, women priests
and accountability to the people.

Here, here; well said. “centuries old crimes” indeed. The list is extraordinary. That said, we live in the here and now, and ten year old deaf boys getting repeatedly buggered in the rectory is High Crime enough for me. Raping children should carry a very long jail sentence and not, in those rare instances, just “excommunication”. In addition, the Church should be forced to pick up the tab. I hope this never goes away until their own brand of retribution is dealt in kind. Let loose the fire and brimstone. 

I don’t think people are so much gullible as they are willing to turn a blind eye in order to keep their precious, and self-rationalizing, existence above water.

If the centuries old crimes of this church weren’t so appalling one could look upon these absurdly attired old fools with a bit of amusement. However, knowing what this cult has perpetrated over the generations, these old thugs and bullies dressed in their ostentacious glad rags only inspires an almost overwhelming loathing for their self-righteous sleaziness and arrogance! And to think that there are so many gullible people in this world who apologetically defend this criminal institution for fear that they may not be permitted to live forever in bliss and ecstasy! You see, greed isn’t always about material wealth in the here and now!