US Church to pay $660m

That is really sad.

I mean, I am sure there were a good deal of kids getting abused in the church, as there probably are within any church or organization, but the way in which people are taking advantage of this is just sick.

Once the money starts flowing, people start claiming they were abused too.

I feel strongly for the people who truly were abused, but give me a freaking break...

Ever sadder part is that a lot of this money would have likely gone to pretty decent poverty programs.

LawSuits wrote:

That is really sad.

I mean, I am sure there were a good deal of kids getting abused in the church, as there probably are within any church or organization, but the way in which people are taking advantage of this is just sick.

Once the money starts flowing, people start claiming they were abused too.

I feel strongly for the people who truly were abused, but give me a freaking break...

Ever sadder part is that a lot of this money would have likely gone to pretty decent poverty programs.

Then the Church should have dealt with its problems instead of sweeping them under the rug. They made their bed.

True, the victims really don't need this much money, and there are many other good things that could be done with it.

However, this verdict will be a hell of a deterrent for the Church not dealing with this in the future. It may save a lot of children from being molested from here forward.

Coelacanth wrote:

Then the Church should have dealt with its problems instead of sweeping them under the rug. They made their bed.

As a Catholic I agree with you.

Anyone who thinks these abused people who have had their lives ruined by some disgusting priest, didn't deserve the money, should be shot.

The Catholic church with its hypocrisy and denial makes me want to puke.

hi there kids wrote:

True, the victims really don't need this much money, and there are many other good things that could be done with it.

However, this verdict will be a hell of a deterrent for the Church not dealing with this in the future. It may save a lot of children from being molested from here forward.

Then perhaps money should be instead given to a worthy charity.

next step wrote:

Then perhaps money should be instead given to a worthy charity.

I nominate the "Victims of Priest Sexual Abuse Fund" charity.

Problem solved.

Agreed. And where does it say in the bible (since that's what's referenced and quoted by them so much) that preists and nuns should not marry? Where does the bible even lay out ANY kind of structure that involved priests, nuns, cardinals, bishops, the pope, etc? Repression of natural instncts and needs leads to expression of those in abnormal ways, usually. My theory on priests and nuns: Many many of them are gay. They are religious, but cannot reconcile their homosexual feelings with their religion, so they go into an institution where marriage is forbidden. hate me if you want...i'm ok with it.

do you really think that, in the city of los angeles, over a span of 70 years, there arent actually 500 cases of sexual abuse by the clergy? it's a problem man

i don't really understand where all the money is coming from for these crazy settlements. and i don't understand why the Cathloic church is settling at all. Seems to me that if a priest committed a crime, then let him go to trial and if he's guilty, lock him up. As for the monetary damages, I just wouldn't think a jury would go ahead and take money out of the collection baskets to make these people millionaires. And I don't know where else the money is coming from.

If some people were victimized by priests, then by all means those priests should be brought to justice. Handing out checks to these people though, especially at the expense of the church, seems insane.

Then perhaps money should be instead given to a worthy charity.

screw that, and all the brain washed catholics who think that people who had their innocence stolen by the church's stable of perverted psychos don't deserve big compensation. the cover up for this shit went straight to the top. any corporation in anything close to the same situation would be shut down for good, with many more people going to jail. but since it's the church, we should all roll over and forgive them.

the catholic church is on it's last legs as far as any educated, thoughtful person should be concerned (unless big changes happen, including allowing priests to be married). Have you seen the quality of the people they are desperately pulling in to be priests now? They are in no position to guide people's lives.

I went to a catholic college where the rector for my dorm was a bulimic man very obviously hiding from his homosexuality. The rector next door was caught having sex with a college student (at least it was a female though). The seminarian my family's parish sponsored recently was found fondling little boys at a camp at his seminary, and also exposing himself in public.

These are the people who should be telling me how to live my life? give me a break.

we should care less if the church is broken by these lawsuits. it not only was a widespread and evil crime that happened, the leaders of the church knew exactly what was happening, and they covered it up for years.

????? wrote:

Handing out checks to these people though, especially at the expense of the church, seems insane.

would you say the same thing if it was found that GE or IBM was covering up for sexual predators within the ranks of their managers for decades? I don't think so.

these people deserve to be paid back, and all those involved in the abuse and cover up should go to federal pound-me-in-the-ass prison for life.

They will sell off some propery and Mahony will skate past this pretty much like nothing happened. It is pretty disgusting.

I'm fine with the settlements, the abused deserve it. What they also deserve, along with everyone else, is to know exactly who these scumbag perverts are, and to know that they are being prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. And further, that any lay person, Cardinal, Bishop, or Pope who has helped hide and or relocate this filth be prosecuted as accessories as well.

Until this is done the Catholic Church has ZERO credibility.

fattyboomba wrote:

screw that, and all the brain washed catholics who think that people who had their innocence stolen by the church's stable of perverted psychos don't deserve big compensation.

So how much is sexual abuse worth these days? About $1.3 mil?

we should care less if the church is broken by these lawsuits. it not only was a widespread and evil crime that happened, the leaders of the church knew exactly what was happening, and they covered it up for years.

I couldnt care less about the church. It really is on its way out and good riddance.

Man, could anyone get in on that? There is no proof this happened and while I'm sure most were legit, I'm also sure a few snuck in there to ride the gravy train.

What is crazy is how can a church have 660 million to hand out? Damn, business must be good! All I know is if I was the sap in the back knowing my collection was going to Timmy because at 13 he has a jerk off circle going with other dudes I'd be pissed!

Lesson: Don't go to church! If you pray, pray at home, its free.

next step wrote:

I couldnt care less about the church. It really is on its way out and good riddance.

hahahahaha

people have been saying that about the Catholic Church for hundreds of years.

No, my whole point is that since it's the curch, i wouldn't expect a jury to award $$ to victims if that money is coming from collection baskets that the faithful donate each week. If it were GE, then I would understand the settlements, since few juries would likely think twice about taking some money from a multibillion dollar company.So why not just put these priests on trial? Why settle if you're the Cathloic church?

fattyboomba wrote:

would you say the same thing if it was found that GE or IBM was covering up for sexual predators within the ranks of their managers for decades? I don't think so.

And it has been in decline for hundreds of years. Here in the US its decline is accelerating. Churches closing, schools closing, fewer and fewer priests every year.

Oh it will always be there, of course. But its power and influence is already a shadow of what it once was and less each year.