Discrimination ok, if based on religion? what else then?

So, adoption is a human right? I thought it was a human privilige that other people determine your qualifications for based on their standards Reproduction on the other hand IS a human right.

If doing what you believe in, and doing what you belive is the right thing, qualifies as discrimination, then I rest my case. By all means let the members of one church be forced to do what is uncomfortable for them, and let them as well give up their desire to be put into that situation again. I prefer to value the family unit, to nurture the distinct gifts that a male and female can give to a child, the respect due to our body. If that makes me a discriminating person, fine. I have high standards for myself, I won't enforce them upon anyone else.

A church is people, a government is people. People are all different, and they all have the same right to freedom of belief, of expression, of existance. Find a happy medium, 'k? And I don't mean, a gay witch

I suppose you are going to say this equal treatment law applies to the priesthood next

Why? The Vatican decides what the people as church can get away with. No one likes it when they conflict and get involved with government. Both are people, both are governments, blah, blah, blah. Some things are just more 'equal' than others. If the church wants to get out of the business, and that is the only solution possible for both parties as rational adults to come to, fine.

That is not what I meant, I was actually referring to the no-gay, no-woman clause for candidates to the priesthood.Honestly, though, the reasons why most of these cases were not brought to court trial was because the statute of limitations for a criminal charge had expired decades ago, and/or the priests were deceased.

I won't say I make an error by looking at the positive results of a male/female coexistance when it is done well.It teaches mutual respect of different sexes, proper male behavior towards women, female grace towards a man's sometimes blunt exterior. It teaches that a man who neglects his family is not good, or a man who abuses his strength.In short, it gives an example of a role model for both sexes, and 'role' means just that...being the role of a father, or of a mother, amoung other 'roles'. I am sure that there is much to gain in most family situations if they are loving, but it is not an error to value the most ideal situation.

Obviously so did the victims and their families.

Good values are in the eye of the beholder.

Would polygamy be a good subject to research? Or a religion where women are segregated from the men for most of the day, even in a positive way?In most same-sex partnerships, the roles of male and female are not clearly shown. It is often not two men showing male behavior, or two women showing female behavior. They may be showing love, but not 'role' as they are often acting in the 'role' of the opposite sex.

I do not harbor ugly thoughts, sir, perhaps only imperfect conversational skills.Simply, my point is; a priest can not be prosecuted without a witness or a victim. Since as you admit, so many were afraid to speak up until decades later, it is not polite to use such a blanket statement as 'the church concealed the crimes until the statute applied'.And reminding you that the victims themselves were often concealing the crimes, does not make them part of the conspiracy. My bad if it sounded like that was what I meant.Edited by anastasia, : No reason given.Edited by anastasia, : No reason given.

These things are beautiful because they are 'what is meant to be'. How we use our abilities to love, to progress, and to care for others, is still a choice. No good choice should negate something else that was meant to be, like procreation. If compromise is our only option, adoptiong to homosexuals is not the worst of all possibilities.I have said all I mean to say on the issue. I am very proud of the churches who are not bullied by secular standards, and I expect that if they are state-funded operations, that they will be allowed to relinquish their duties without further insult. I have had many friends from the gay and lesbian community who are aware of my religion and not threatened by me as a person. There is no antagonism, only difference, and we are all capable of seeing beyond difference to the person beneath.

God's law is God's law. It does not come from the Bible, but from our hearts. It is written in stone and locked in the ark of each one of us.Jews have laws, Catholics have laws, and these pertain to the beliefs and the culture of the people. They should not be confused with the commandments.

Here are some secular standards on pedophilia, as taken from Wiki. I have no idea what your racism and wife-beating comments refer to. Last I checked the Catholic clergy have no wives to beat.

Of course not. The point is, the reason why the church scandal is seen as such a big deal, is precisely because people expect better of christianity, and not because the issue itself is unusual.The Catholic church did not 'endorse Nazi Germany'. It maintianed a neutral stance as opposed to complicity with Communism. Pius XII himself harbored Jews in the Vatican.