In the next week. Brace yourselves for more huge attacks on the Church.

[Aragon]

if you want to split hairs over whether the Catholic Church's sexual abuse scandal was pedophilia or ephebophilia you can go ahead and do that amongst yourselves. I don't really want to participate. I still believe a grown man going after a 15 year old boy is more disturbed than going after a man of comparable age.

What I will not stand for is allowing you to shift the blame from members of Roman Catholic clergy who perpetuated abuse, and worst of all, covered it up and allowed it to continue with absolute disregard to the victims, whatever age they were. They are the ones who are guilty, not "the gays." I just hope we're all clear on that. The only thing that bothers me more than people assuming that there are a disproportionate number of child molesters in the priesthood is Catholics whitewashing the whole scandal and diverting the blame to groups they aren't particularly fond of.

Yep. Using homosexuals as a scapegoat for the sins of priests and bishops is disgusting. It makes it seem like Catholics are trying to vindicate the Church by shifting the blame to a group we already have a reputation (correctly or incorrectly) for mistreating.

Also, a man going after a 15 year old boy is hardly just a regular 'homosexual' anymore than a man going after a 15 year old girl is a regular 'heterosexual'. They're still kids, even if they're in the middle of puberty (they're not, as it's incorrectly claimed, post pubescent at that age). As with all forms of rape, this is often much more about power and abuse than sex.

[IgnatiusofLoyola]

The movie has not yet been released (or was released very recently). I am starting to read reviews in magazines.

I'm going to wait and see what the reaction to the movie is. (Because it is very difficult for me to go see movies in the theatre, I will wait until it shows up on one of the streaming services, and watch it then.)

If the movie provokes strong anti-Catholic reactions (and we don't know yet what the strength of the reactions will be), this will be an excellent chance for the Roman Catholic church to show how much it has changed since the first reports of abuse that were denied by Bishops. For example, as I understand it, the movie focuses on the Boston Archdiocese, and we know that the Archbishop of Boston has since been removed from his position. If the movie provokes a very negative reaction, it is also a good chance for the Roman Catholic church to show the world (as it has before) that humility is a sign of strength, not weakness, and to remind the world that it is genuinely sorry that the abuses were allowed, and has taken responsibility.

 

[Anomaly]

The continued ineptitude bordering on intentional dissembling on the part of sitting priests, Bishops, and clergy is what offends most people. It makes NO difference if it was homo or hetero.    It was sexual abuse by persons in authority. Persons whose esteem was founded on the Institution of the Catholic Church.   The Institution has repeatedly failed and/or fallen short of what most reasonably informed people would deem as appropriate action to care for the victims, punish the perpetrators, and prevent further abuse.   Sadly, the failures are the fault of well intentioned people that wanted to protect the good effect and esteem of the Church as a moral and spiritual beacon.  Effectively, they were replacing a battle ravaged flag while the enemy overran the perimeter walls.  

[Gabriela]

I'm just curious: Do we think that one type of sexual sin/perversion/disorder (whatever you want to call it) can pave the way for a person to slip into other types of sexual sin/perversion/disorder?

[DameAgnes]

Unfortunately this movie will probably win all the awards, simply b/c of its topic. And it will create an environment where people will fee justified in hating Catholics again, or still. Or more.