Do you believe that the communion bread is the actual body of christ?

Seaneh wrote: »

Matthew 28:19.
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Happy?

Seaneh wrote: »

It's like fu*king Godwins law.
There was NO biblical basis for the crusades, they had NOTHING to do with Christ's teachings and everything to do with greed and power. Men wanted more land, gold and money and used something as a pretext for acquiring those things, as has happened all across the the world since the dawn of time.

You're really being silly now.

If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Catholic bishops wash feet of abuse victims

Monday, 21 February 2011

Victims of paedophile clerics made their presence felt yesterday at a forgiveness service in Dublin's Pro-Cathedral where two senior Catholic Church clergymen washed the feet of eight victims.

Boston-based Cardinal Sean O'Malley and Archbishop Diarmuid Martin -- in "an act of humble service" -- washed the feet of "a representative group" of those affected by the sexual abuse of priests. The group included prominent victims Marie Collins and Christine Buckley.

On behalf of the Pope who asked him to conduct an external probe into the scandal-ridden Archdiocese of Dublin, Cardinal O'Malley asked for forgiveness for the horrendous abuse cases catalogued in the Murphy Report, and for the systematic cover-up by church authorities.

But the one hour-and-40-minute service was interrupted twice by two victims who walked on to the altar and spoke of their failure to receive justice.

Both men were allowed to have their say by Archbishop Martin, and their contributions were applauded by the congregation.

Robert Dempsey, who said he was speaking for all victims, spoke of how he was placed in a mental institution when he was only three, and later of how he was raped by a cleric in another institution when he was 15.

Claiming that a court case that he had taken to obtain justice had been stalled for 10 years, Mr Dempsey handed Archbishop Martin a file of legal documents and urged him to use his influence with the judiciary to have his case heard and settled.

The second intervention came from Christopher Heaphy, who spoke of receiving "the lash and the whip" when he was aged five as a resident of Greenmount, run by the Presentation Brothers in Co Cork.

Speaking later, Mr Heaphy said that victims, many now elderly, still wanted justice and compensation, which he claimed had not been given by the hierarchy and religious orders.

A third victim, Paddy Doyle, a disability activist, approached the precincts of the sanctuary, before directing his wheelchair out a side exit. Referring to the presence of two gardai, Mr Doyle said: "Cardinal O'Malley is the most protected man in the building."

But Ms Collins said she was pleased to have taken part in the service as one of those who selected and contributed to the prayers.

"It was a clear and definite expression of repentance by Archbishop Martin on behalf of the Dublin archdiocese," said Ms Collins.

In his address, Archbishop Martin said that the service was only the first step toward healing, and warned against an attitude of "now we can get back to normal".

"The archdiocese of Dublin will never be the same again," said Archbishop Martin.

Unnoticed among the congregation was Cardinal Desmond Connell, the former Archbishop of Dublin, whose 16-year reign from 1988 to 2004 was "devastated" by the abuse scandals

Sharrow wrote: »

Please point out to me the other religions/organisations/societies in this country who did wrong to so many for so long while being so hypercritical?

Or even one where so many of those those who claim to be members of it do not know the central tenements or wilfully ignore them.