# So this is how the Catholic Church shows compassion to the victims of the child abuse it facilitated **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 30, 2010, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-this-is-how-the-catholic-church-shows-compassion-to-the-victims-of-the-child-abuse-it-facilitated/541282 "2010-05-30T12:47:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2010, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-this-is-how-the-catholic-church-shows-compassion-to-the-victims-of-the-child-abuse-it-facilitated/541282/21 "2010-05-31T17:33:10Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > In fairness, that policy sounded much better in Latin. Laboro ergo cum? ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2010, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-this-is-how-the-catholic-church-shows-compassion-to-the-victims-of-the-child-abuse-it-facilitated/541282/22 "2010-05-31T18:01:37Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > In fairness, that policy sounded much better in Latin. And they get to wear fancy dress! ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-this-is-how-the-catholic-church-shows-compassion-to-the-victims-of-the-child-abuse-it-facilitated/541282/23 "2010-06-28T15:42:30Z")
[More **WIN** for Church Sponsored Compassion:](http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100628/ap_on_re_eu/eu_vatican_belgium) > [@](#): > > A Catholic panel investigating clerical sex abuse in Belgium is shutting down to protest a police raid on its church offices last week, the group’s chairman said Monday ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-this-is-how-the-catholic-church-shows-compassion-to-the-victims-of-the-child-abuse-it-facilitated/541282/24 "2010-06-28T15:46:10Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > At this point, nothing is a surprise anymore. > And, in before the apologists. equivalencies. tu quoque and hair splitting legalistic bullshit starts. Is Bricker busy this morning? ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-this-is-how-the-catholic-church-shows-compassion-to-the-victims-of-the-child-abuse-it-facilitated/541282/25 "2010-06-28T15:56:20Z")
It’s worse than communism! It’s like they have a mad-lib generator. It’s \ \ that requires us to \ despite our \. It’s \ \ that requires us to \ despite our \. It’s \ \ that requires us to \ despite our \. ---
**Author:** ![justrob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a9adbd/32.png) [@justrob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justrob)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-this-is-how-the-catholic-church-shows-compassion-to-the-victims-of-the-child-abuse-it-facilitated/541282/26 "2010-06-28T16:00:35Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > It’s worse than communism! It’s communionism! ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-this-is-how-the-catholic-church-shows-compassion-to-the-victims-of-the-child-abuse-it-facilitated/541282/27 "2010-06-28T16:09:12Z")
> [@justrob](#): > > It’s communionism! Oh, bra-_vo_. ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-this-is-how-the-catholic-church-shows-compassion-to-the-victims-of-the-child-abuse-it-facilitated/541282/28 "2010-06-28T16:18:52Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Laboro ergo cum? Only if you ask for permission first! ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-this-is-how-the-catholic-church-shows-compassion-to-the-victims-of-the-child-abuse-it-facilitated/541282/29 "2010-06-28T16:24:54Z")
I’m not sure you can actually blame the Church for this one (er, other than the actual abuse bit). The family has filed a suit, and if the Church doesn’t mount a vigorous legal defense there’s every chance the jury will award the victim eleventy billion dollars. Not that the jury shouldn’t, but it should be obvious that even the most compassionate religious institution isn’t going to be keen on giving away all its assets. In any case, anyone who thought the Pope meant “give them lots of money” when he talked about compassion probably wants their head examined. In this particular case, there are probably very few legal defenses the Church _can_ raise beyond, “well, the family is partly responsible.” ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-this-is-how-the-catholic-church-shows-compassion-to-the-victims-of-the-child-abuse-it-facilitated/541282/30 "2010-06-28T17:01:18Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > How can such a blatantly evil organization still have members and supporters? I don’t get it. It’s been drilled into people’s young soft heads for generations that they are God’s representatives on Earth. There’s very little they won’t be able to get away with until people realize what a sham it is. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-this-is-how-the-catholic-church-shows-compassion-to-the-victims-of-the-child-abuse-it-facilitated/541282/31 "2010-06-28T17:05:23Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I’m not sure you can actually blame the Church for this one (er, other than the actual abuse bit). The family has filed a suit, and if the Church doesn’t mount a vigorous legal defense there’s every chance the jury will award the victim eleventy billion dollars. Not that the jury shouldn’t, but it should be obvious that even the most compassionate religious institution isn’t going to be keen on giving away all its assets. > > In any case, anyone who thought the Pope meant “give them lots of money” when he talked about compassion probably wants their head examined. OK, but we didn’t think it could square with, “be uber-assholes to them to prevent them from getting lots of money from us.” As Jesus said, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich Church to enter the kingdom of God. Maybe the Church should sell everything it has, give the money to its victims, and follow Christ. That would be more consistent with the Gospel teachings than what it’s doing now. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-this-is-how-the-catholic-church-shows-compassion-to-the-victims-of-the-child-abuse-it-facilitated/541282/32 "2010-06-28T17:52:35Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > It’s been drilled into people’s young soft heads for generations that they are God’s representatives on Earth. > > There’s very little they won’t be able to get away with until people realize what a sham it is. Unless it is not a sham, and God really is a child buggerer. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2010, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-this-is-how-the-catholic-church-shows-compassion-to-the-victims-of-the-child-abuse-it-facilitated/541282/33 "2010-06-29T01:50:43Z")
Uh… no. He’s not. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2010, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-this-is-how-the-catholic-church-shows-compassion-to-the-victims-of-the-child-abuse-it-facilitated/541282/34 "2010-06-29T01:56:06Z")
> [@digs](#): > > Uh… no. He’s not. Hmm… how old was Mary when God shoved a dove up her hoo-haw? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2010, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-this-is-how-the-catholic-church-shows-compassion-to-the-victims-of-the-child-abuse-it-facilitated/541282/35 "2010-06-29T02:37:45Z")
Old enough to know better. ---
**Author:** ![Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8c91f0/32.png) [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bam_Boo_Gut)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2010, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-this-is-how-the-catholic-church-shows-compassion-to-the-victims-of-the-child-abuse-it-facilitated/541282/36 "2010-06-29T02:38:36Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > I wonder, how many police departments, worldwide, would beg to differ with you. The problem is, the “code of silence” makes it hard to file charges and make them stick. “A police officer who tried to bring one of Newfoundland and Labrador’s most infamous scandals to light has died. Art Pike, 69, was a Royal Newfoundland Constabulary officer who gained notoriety — and a demotion — in the late 1970s when he leaked a police report regarding a fire at the Elizabeth Towers apartment of cabinet minister Tom Farrell.” Read more: [http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2007/09/19/pike-obit.html#ixzz0sCp0ZYb9](http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2007/09/19/pike-obit.html#ixzz0sCp0ZYb9) Tried. Pike died in 2007 ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2010, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-this-is-how-the-catholic-church-shows-compassion-to-the-victims-of-the-child-abuse-it-facilitated/541282/37 "2010-06-29T03:31:01Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > Unless it is not a sham, and God really is a child buggerer. Well, you have to understand-he tried it once with an adult woman, and look at the fiasco _that_ turned into. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2010, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-this-is-how-the-catholic-church-shows-compassion-to-the-victims-of-the-child-abuse-it-facilitated/541282/38 "2010-06-29T05:16:55Z")
In the US, I would have to specifically get my client’s permission in writing to avoid pleading the defense of “failure to mitigate damages”, which is a pretty standard defense in a civil case. Granted, I would also want to get in writing my client’s permission to plead it in this kind of case. It is a necessary defense and a formal matter cannot be pleaded later if it is not pleaded now. I think that the RCC has been despicable in their conduct around molestation and covering it up. But the pleading of this affirmative defense is has nothing to do with the despicable part. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2010, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-this-is-how-the-catholic-church-shows-compassion-to-the-victims-of-the-child-abuse-it-facilitated/541282/39 "2010-06-29T05:40:33Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > It’s shit like this that makes me think that somewhere, somehow, some way, **Der Trihs** might just have a point. Much more of this and Fred Phelps is gonna have a point. ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2010, 8:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-this-is-how-the-catholic-church-shows-compassion-to-the-victims-of-the-child-abuse-it-facilitated/541282/40 "2010-06-29T08:51:56Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > How can such a blatantly evil organization still have members and supporters? I don’t get it. Ask Bricker. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-this-is-how-the-catholic-church-shows-compassion-to-the-victims-of-the-child-abuse-it-facilitated/541282.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-this-is-how-the-catholic-church-shows-compassion-to-the-victims-of-the-child-abuse-it-facilitated/541282.md?page=3)