Kathy wrote on Mar 1, 2007 5:09 AM:Listen, I think that if the allegations are true they are horrible. However, what amount of money will make it right? I think the diocese should pay for counseling, but suing the church isn't the answer. It is horrible to sue the church of God. The priests that do the wrong things are not following the churches teachings at all, so why does the church get blamed? Sue the priests but not the church. It is horrible to think that you can take money of hard working Catholic families that gave to the church faithfully and just give it away in a lawsuit. Money will not make the matter right in any way. If you are a victim stand up for what is right and correct the problem---do not take money---that is bribery---"I'll take money and shut my mouth." That is as horrible as the crime committed in the first place.

Ask wrote on Mar 1, 2007 7:35 AM:Bankrupt, wow, glad I'm not catholic and throwing my money away...

Arnold wrote on Mar 1, 2007 7:35 AM:This is really sad!

Brian wrote on Mar 1, 2007 8:06 AM:The problem here is that the church continues to conceal information and not turn over documents about priest transfers. Once the church begins to cooperate, at the risk of acknowlegding that their behavior has been conceling thus far, victims can begin to heal.

Emily wrote on Mar 1, 2007 8:07 AM:I dont consider it throwing my money away when I am giving it back to God. It was His to begin with, and I give Him back a percentage gladly, especially at this time when His house is being persecuted by the evil one. I would suggest for all you faithful Catholics, that along with your tithes, you say prayers for our spiritual leaders, for there is a spiritual battle occuring, and the demons are smart, they will attack our leaders full force, because if the leaders fall, then how much easier is it to get the rest of the faithful??? Pray, pray, pray without ceasing, and put on the armuor of God, for we are in a war, not against men, but against the dark forces in the spirit realm. But have courage and take strength, for He is that is with us, is greater than all the evil forces. God bless!

wanda wrote on Mar 1, 2007 9:29 AM:Sex abuse is wrong if priest can't stand being a priest than I would step out of the church! You should realize when you became a priest that their is no sex in the church. If you can't stand it than I think you should step out of the church it is not for you! It's not your calling being a priest! If catholic priest can't keep their promise as being a priest than I would step back and let them go It's not for everybody!

Jerimiah wrote on Mar 1, 2007 10:01 AM:The story says that some of this abuse goes back to 1939. Other stories mention that much of the abuse took place in the 1950's. Most of the priests that have been charged are now dead. There is no way to dispute someone's repressed memory. They are now remembering something that happened so long ago. Since there is money involved, all of a sudden their memory becomes quite clear. A simple pat on the back 35 years ago now becomes a sexual act. The people who will acually suffer are the present members of the church, many of whom were not even born when these acts were supposed to have happened.

Bernard wrote on Mar 1, 2007 10:08 AM:yes it is sad to have to take out bankruptcy. 1. For most of the abuse cases the word of guilt comes from the plaintiff and the abuser is likely deceased and not able to defend themselves, and besides it's usually cheaper to make a pay off if there are a few. But more then 200 Million worth? I would say to the plaintiff provide ablolute proof not just your word. It is also the Bishops responsibility to steward the money given to the Church. If bankruptcy is the road he must take so be it.

Zygo wrote on Mar 1, 2007 10:09 AM:An attack by evil ones? Try agents of the church are the evil ones. Until the Church AGAIN starts allowing married priets the problems will continue by people that are unable to handle an the unnatural act of lifelong celebacy, or find it a means to hide other problems. It was a financial decision by the church to begin requiring priests to be celibate. Without wives, or children, their would be no problem of estates. The church was changed to requre celebrate priests, it is time to change back to the original church doctrine and again allow married priests.

The church didn’t protect its future members. wrote on Mar 1, 2007 10:45 AM:The litigation is about priests molesting children. The priests that were pedophiles didn’t want to get married. They joined the church believing they could suppress this sickness with the help of god. It’s a bit like thinking god can heal gay people. The church needed to do a better job of filtering out pedophiles and report those who had been accused. The church did the wrong thing by protecting the pedophiles and moving them to a new parish when allegations were made. The church thought protecting itself was more important than protecting the children. Gay priests aren’t the problem. Pedophiles are the problem and the fact that the church didn’t protect its future members.

Angela wrote on Mar 1, 2007 11:28 AM:Dear Zygo there are about 27 different rites within the Catholic church most of them allow for married priests an example would be the Byzantine Catholic church. I do not believe that celebacy is the problem, because there are choices. Some of these men chose a celebate life within the priesthood to hide their sick attraction to little children until recently who would have suspected and what better disguise than a celebate Catholic priest. These people would have been pediphiles in whatever field of work they chose married or not.

Who Wants To Be A Priest- wrote on Mar 1, 2007 11:41 AM:What normal man would want the life of a Priest?

Linda wrote on Mar 1, 2007 11:47 AM:Because the Church is a magnet for gay men, it does open the door for more of a possibility for problems. I just think priests should be able to marry as they once did and have normal sexual lives. The Church has done a poor job of filtering out pedophiles and the price it pays is a big one for doing so poor a job.

Reardon wrote on Mar 1, 2007 12:11 PM:Transparency is what is being requested by the Plaintiffs...who did what to whom, when, and what was the role of the Church in keeping it quiet by transferring those accused to another church where they could repeat the crime -- and the sin. The lawsuit, and money requested, is to get the records. The bankruptcy is an effort to deny the records to the Plaintiffs. It is not about money on either side…it is about current silence, and past records, and the Catholic Church is using the delaying process until EVERYONE involved -- victims, Priests, and conspiring Bishops -- are long dead. Then everyone can say, “That is old news, let’s put it all behind us.” The cover-up is at least as bad as the crime…and if there is no cover-up, why no release of records?

Victor wrote on Mar 1, 2007 12:36 PM:Re: Kathy's comment: What "church of God"? How about house of organized superstition? The biggest scam ever! People who run it allowed themselves to use their status to abuse your children. It's time the parishes opened their eyes and stopped donating money to this rotten institution.

Doorman wrote on Mar 1, 2007 2:15 PM:Celibacy in the priesthood is based upon the priest fashioning their life on that of Jesus Christ, who lived his earthly life as a celibate man! St. Paul himself suggested that pastors of the Church should remain unmarried unless they absolutely could not control themselves (his intention seams to be that most should be able to control themselves, with the Grace of God). Most of those people that have real problems with celibacy usually are hyper sexualized themselves. They cannot imagine a life without sexually indulging themselves. Certainly sexual relations inside the bonds of marriage are holy and the intended practice of most people (as long as it is done out of selfless love of your spouse, and not indulgantly using your spouse to 'get-off'). Those who state that living live as a celibate is unnatural, are also stating that Jesus and Paul and many many many Holy Christian's down the ages were 'unnatural'. Sadly, our hyper sexualized society has so blinded some people, that to them, total lack of sexual control is the norm, and celibacy becomes unnatural. It is certainly an insight into our corrupted culture.

Cal wrote on Mar 1, 2007 4:09 PM:Dont forget to add Satan worshipping too.

Reply to Doorman- wrote on Mar 1, 2007 9:08 PM:1. We know very little about Christ, as it was written many years after the crusifiction. 2. People who wrote the gospels had ulterior motives, to start a church, so imbellishment was not uncommon but encouraged. 3. Romans kept very accurate records and nothing is written about Christ. 4. There were other gospls written, but they did not make it into the Bible because the church made the decisions on what sounded the best for the church. 5. Sex in necessary for the survival of the human race and it is unatural for men to practice celebacy, but some can as nature probably does not want them to re-produce. 6. The Catholic Church is big business and all the info about St Paul , celebicy for priests and the Pope being infallible are taken as absolute truth without proof and quoted as truth. 7. If you are a good Catholic, facts are not important, you will believe what the church tells you.

John wrote on Mar 3, 2007 9:44 AM:Do any of you Catholics feel betrayed by the Church? I certainly do,and havent been to Church since all this trash broke several years ago. Think I'll try the Methodist church.Real quiet over there.

Lexie wrote on Mar 3, 2007 2:06 PM:I am appalled by catholics who still believe that their bishops and priests are so innocent! They have been abusing and covering up for centuries! And for those of you who think anyone alleging sexual abuse by a priest would make it up, well, you are just plain stupid! Why would someone go through all of this for no reason at all? Sexual abuse by priests and even bishops has been rampant. It was kept secret for so long because people were afraid to say anything negative about the priests. They may be representatives of God, but, believe me, they are still very much human beings!! Many priests told their victims that if they told, they would go to hell. Many priests told their victims that their parents knew what was going on, and said it was okay. I know of a priest who told a young girl that if she reported him, her father, who was in the process of converting to catholicism, would lose his faith, and she would be responsible for spending eternity in hell! That's pure evil! Think long and hard before you make a judgement in these cases if it has not happened to you. If it has, you would understand the lifelong agony it causes!

V wrote on Mar 5, 2007 9:22 PM:It is sad that the whole diocese of San Diego is being under attack for what happened to the victims. I do believe the priests that committed those acts should be punished, however as most of the other comments have stated, most of those priests are dead and cannot defend themselves. I pray for the victims for their healing. Unfortunately, as another comment stated money will not heal the hurt. Also, I do believe in the celibacy of priest. And to say they should get married is doubting the power of GOD gifting the priests of celibacy. It is very unfortunate that the priests that violated these victims chose to give into their weakness, and yes they should not have been a priest if they had those types of desires. I pray for forgiveness in everyone who was a part of this. It is a sad to hear how people want to bring down the whole Catholic church. But as a good man, named Alex, once said, "There are good and bad in the church, but The Church ITSELF is Not bad..stay on Board the Ship", because this is the true Church of Christ.

Carol wrote on Apr 28, 2007 9:40 AM:It's so easy for those of you who werent abused. My husband was when he was an alter boy and let me tell you how it has effected his life. First he has had alot of potential but just as things get going good, he loses it. He is not affectionate at all, he gets in these dark moods and won't say a word, and I'm glad he doesn't. That's just the start of it. He'sm over 50 now and you think just counseling is going to correct all the years (over 40) he has lost and messed up because of what that pervert did to him? Get a clue you idots.