U.N. Vs The Catholic Church…
Vatican City, Feb 5, 2014 / 11:14 am (CNA/EWTN News). In wake of the U.N. Child Protection Committee criticizing Vatican policies and calling for the Church to change its doctrine, a leading archbishop countered that the committee’s analysis fails to be objective.
“The concluding recommendations…point out a rather negative approach to what the Holy See has been doing and has already achieved in the area of the protection of children,” Archbishop Silvano Tomasi told Vatican Radio on Feb. 5.
Archbishop Tomasi, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations in Geneva, made his comments in response to Wednesday’s U.N.-authored Rights of Children report claiming that the Vatican “systematically” adopted policies allowing priests to rape and molest children. The document was issued following a Jan. 16 committee hearing in Geneva on global children’s rights.
Charging the Church to open its files on previous cases of abuse and criticizing their stance on homosexuality, contraception and abortion, the report suggested the Church change its canon law to ensure that what it called children’s rights, including access to health care, are guaranteed.
Archbishop Tomasi responded that the analysis first “in some ways is not up to date” because it does not take “into account some of the clear and precise explanations that were given to the committee in the encounter that the delegation of the Holy See had with the committee three or four weeks ago.”
The archbishop also pointed out an apparent “difficulty” in the committee understanding “the position of the Holy See,” which cannot compromise teachings which are “part of their deep convictions and also an expression of freedom of religion.”
The committee’s call for the Church to shift her stance on abortion would be a “contradiction” of the work that they do, which is to ensure that “that children be protected before and after birth.”
Drawing attention to the rigorous efforts to protect minors that the Church has made – particularly in the formation of priests and in the decisions of various episcopal conferences – Archbishop Tomasi said it “is very difficult, I think, to find other institutions or even other states that have done so much specifically for the protection of children.”
In their report to the U.N. commission, Archbishop Tomasi explained how the Holy See emphasized that “priests are not employees of the Pope but they are responsible citizens of the countries,” and as such are “accountable to the judicial system of those countries.”
Highlighting how the Church has made great efforts to “give an objective picture of the remedies undertaken” to protect minors, as well as those yet to come with the new Vatican commission, the archbishop stressed that there is actually “a small percentage of Church personnel that have committed abuse.”
But due to the tone of the U.N.’s report earlier today, he observed that perhaps “not all the observations in the facts have been adequately taken into account in the conclusions.”
“We need time to reflect carefully on the conclusions and recommendations of the committee,” the archbishop explained, “and to prepare an adequate response, so that the objective may really be pursued.”
Noting that the Holy See is a “state party to the Convention of the Child,” Archbishop Tomasi affirmed that they intend to “faithfully” carry out the elements of the commission that they are able to for the sake of “the protection of children.”
“This is the way toward the future,” he said, “and I don’t think that there will be fundamental changes in this task ahead.”
The U.N.’s conclusions announced earlier this morning came at the end of their 65th session, in which reports were of Germany, the Holy See, Congo, Portugal, Russian Federation and Yemen were examined. Source
Comment: the UN seems to be more interested in savaging Catholic doctrine than concerned about the genuine welfare of children. That’s what I think – what do you think?
Comments (55)
The U.N’s arrogance about their “concern” for children and young people is clearly the opposite.
They are anti- Catholic in their attacks on Almighty God and Truth. Catholics can see clearly who they serve ( and it isn’t the child).
How can the UN (an organisation run by communists) claim to uphold the rights of the child, when it supports abortion, contraception and homosexual marriage/ adoption? It is the Church who is the true protector of children due to its advocacy of the rights of the unborn child, defence of normal family life and the inalienable right of children to be raised naturally by a mother and a father.
It may have escaped the UN’s notice, but Benedict XVI sacked 600 Priests, but how can the current Pope do anything when corrupt Bishops hide files? It’s like Cardinal Connell when he said he would go to prison before give over names of paedophile to the Gardai.
The UN should also know that 90% of abusive Priests were homosexuals, or am I wrong here??
Maybe the UN should change their stance on abortion and sodomites rights.
I hardly think that allowing a male child to be adopted by homosexual pop stars and their partners is safe for any young person. It’s a bit like giving an alcoholic a lifetimes supply of free whisky although on a worse scale.
The Church should demand that every country in the world supplies them with the same information.
After all, the Catholic population is equal to that of vast countries like China and India and five times that of the US. It would be interesting to know how much child abuse there is in these countries with their different religions.
As I have previously stated, when we read of cases that involves fathers molesting their children or people locking up their daughters in cellars and fathering children to them, we are asked to believe that the wives didn’t know what was happening in an upstairs room or beneath them in a cellar.
In some cases they didn’t even know there was a cellar, far less the abuse being carried out in it, yet the Pope was expected to know what was happening in chapel houses all over the world.
Having said that, I am in no way condoning what happened in the Church but the UN should keep their noses out of it and start searching for the war criminals that are running around loose not far from their own, and our, doorsteps. It shouldn’t be too difficult a task. If they don’t know their names I will gladly furnish them.
Frankier,
Fantastic post.
In some cases they didn’t even know there was a cellar, far less the abuse being carried out in it, yet the Pope was expected to know what was happening… all over the world
Classic!
Editor
When you saw some of the cellars on TV they were as big as Hitler’s bunker in Berlin.
The wives must have been on a 20 times around the world tour during construction.
I hardly think that allowing a male child to be adopted by homosexual pop stars and their partners is safe for any young person.
Apart from homosexuals, most people on a private level don’t really support gay adoption. They just say they do so they’re not accused of homophobia. Most people see gay adoption for what it is… a sick joke. I give 20 years and I guarantee the law-suits will be flooding in.
Miles
I have maintained that from day one. Some day, I wish it was tomorrow, an adopted child will take them to court for ruining his life by allowing child abusers to legally have their filthy ways with them.
You have to laugh though when you consider the fact that Elton John blamed
the Popes for the spread of Aids in Africa.
His wee boy must be coming on now, it doesn’t seem all that long ago since he adopted him. It must have felt, to him, like winning the lottery.
As soon as Elton John and David Furnish’s ‘son’ reaches puberty, they’ll be trying to molest and have sex with him.
Catholic Convert
Even a worse mob than the communists are running this organisation, the freemasons.
I hope when the consecration of Russia does EVENTUALLY take place that this lot gets well and truly gutted.
I’d like to encourage everyone to sign this petition to the UN. They really mustn’t get away with their insulting treatment of the Church. Demanding Catholic doctrine be changed! The sheer nerve of them.
I have just signed the petition.
Thank you, Bededog – and welcome back!
I have always known in my heart that the Church’s moral prohibition of killing children inevitably led to their molestation by priests (sarcasm).
Seriously though, if the
IlluminatiUnited Nations really thought that the Church changing her teachings on contraception and abortion would make pederasts not want to abuse boys anymore, then they have seriously misunderstood pederasty.Miles Immaculatae,
I love your sarcasm! You are right in saying that the Church changing her teachings on contraception and abortion would not lead to no more abuse. The UN committee showed it’s anti-Catholic bias, ignoring the facts that show the Vatican doing all it can to deal with abusers within the Church. The UN is an evil institution and it’s just a huge pity that the Church has given it any credibility in the past. I hope that stops now.
Frankier,
An excellent post and one that I agree with. This is an outright attack by the U.N. upon Catholic Doctrine. How dare they.
I for one have signed the petition to the U.N.
What next? Will the United Nations be sending weapons inspectors to the Vatican? The Vatican’s doomed if they don’t find anything, because Cameron and Obama will be sure to invade.
Archbishop Tomasi’s response is hardly forceful: in fact, I would characterize it as tepid, or even completely spineless, though typical of a modernist Church sunk neck-deep in the quicksand of geopolitics and political correctness. Here is what he should have said, IMHO:
“The so-called ‘Convention on the Rights of the Child’ is nothing more than a Freemasonic/Communist ruse, under the evil aegis of the United Nations, to destroy the family from one of several angles: by destroying parental authority through the establishment of false ‘rights.’ The Catholic Church rejects this and any and all attempts to make her bow to the satanic agenda of family destruction, and will continue to nurture the family as the cornerstone of civilization and of the domestic church.”
Does anyone in the Curia have the courage to tell it like it is, publicly? Or are they all castrati? (I already know the answer to that question.)
Here is how the Cardinal Newman Society reported this:
http://www.cardinalnewmansociety.org/CatholicEducationDaily/DetailsPage/tabid/102/ArticleID/2965/United-Nations-Report-Rips-Catholic-Schools-Vatican.aspx
Castrati is what they surely are.
They are all needing to grow a pair of sidebreezers.
Time, maybe, for the Pope himself to remind them of the time they buried their heads during the genocides in Rwanda and Bosnia during the reign of the supreme mason, Kofi Annan, whose son was involved in the oil-for food corruption scandal.
These people have short memories when it suits them.
The best way to beat them is with counter allegations, or whataboutery as it is now known.l
This is again a very interesting post and as usual dear Patricia has seized the moment…..I have signed the petition and I hope it accrues thousands of signatures of course it is disgraceful that the U.N can pronounce so boldly its dictates but in a way and it is painful to say this they have been emboldened by Pope Francis and his Statements not so long ago.
The World and civilisation as we knew it is far down the slippery slope that leads to the Stygian mire of death and destruction the proverbial Pandora’s Box was ripped open in the 60 ‘s and Abortion so called contraception and Homosexuality became the in thing so in a World entrenched in murder ,human pesticides and immoral sexual practices ….These poor ensuing Generations know nothing else Satan and his minions have truly done their homework The U N being the hub of it all
Hysterics Hysterics Hysterics!!!!!!!!!!! Please, just do the only ONE thing that You are ALL able to do PRAY PRAY PRAY and for those who can FAST. No one has yet suggested a ROSARY CRUSADE yet ALL of you bang on about OLF and the supposed magical power of the Rosary. SO start praying – SIMPLE…
Chasdom,
‘the supposed magical power of the Rosary’.
Do you not know what Our Lady said at Fatima?
Ban Ki-Moon and all the other UN (blanks) should be taken out and (blank, blank, blank…)
[Ed: essentially, what Catholic Convert means is that they should be given a very hard time] ❗
So who watches the UN? Is it held to account for its complicity in the culture of death which has taken the lives of countless unborn children, that other form of child abuse which sees neither redress nor justice? No protection for the unborn, or appointed advocate for their right to life. Add to that the egregious denial of aid by the UN, Obama and Cameron, to poor countries who refuse to sanction abortion, contraception and homosexuality and you have a dangerous alliance that aims to impose its will by tyranny. I pray for those leaders who courageously stand up to the bullying of the UN and its demonic minions. The Holy See and local dioceses need to publicize the measures already in place to protect children from abuse while simultaneously calling out the merchants of death at the UN for what they are. Oh for a Catholic voice which doesn’t give a toss about popularity but speaks the truth no matter whom it offends!
Bradders,
“Oh for a Catholic voice which doesn’t give a toss about popularity but speaks the truth no matter whom it offends!”
Among the clergy? Hierarchy? You kidding? I can’t believe you even said that 😯
Surely, editor, my remark suggests what you imply – that no such voices exist! ‘Oh for a horse, my kingdom for a horse!’ – is a cry of despair that no horse is available, so I honestly don’t see the need for such a dismissive retort. I depend a great deal on CT and look to it for its defence of the Truth – there are few, perhaps no other sites, which defend it was well. I had hoped you might have seen this as a positive contribution to the present problem – I was not looking for your approval – but hoping simply to add my voice to the Catholic case against the UN’s aggressiveness. Instead, the last rhetorical sentence was plucked out and on the basis of that you respond as though you were conducting a fierce argument with an enemy. I find this disturbing, uncharitable and unworthy of you. I refuse to think of you like many of those in the CT Newsletter who find little Christian forbearance and charity in you, because I know we are fighting and praying against evil together and straight talking is required, but I ask of you, as a brother in Christ, to recognise in all humility that the enemies of Christ love to isolate what they see as ranting and use it as a weapon against us.
Brendan Bradley,
I read this blog a lot and I took it that the editor was joking in reply to you. I think she knows what you meant but was teasing you.That’s how I read it anyway.
I agree with you completely – there’s nobody speaking out at all among the priests and bishops. It’s a tragedy, really.
Michaela,
Thank you. I need the calm voice of reason right now and sorry for not thanking you earlier.
Brendan Bradley,
As Michaela has kindly pointed out, I was not being serious. I knew, of course, that you were not implying that any clergy or hierarchy were speaking out – quite the opposite. My intention was not to offer a “dismissive retort” but merely to create a little fun, since there was nothing in your excellent comment with which I could possibly disagree.
You don’t comment here often, but you have done so often enough for me to know that you are of one mind and heart with us in our concerns. I presumed, therefore, that you would realise I was joking.
My sincere apologies for having offended you. It was absolutely not my intention, I assure you. It didn’t occur to me that you would take my remark seriously. Your comment was excellent and on the button as ever, and so I thought I would underline that with my bit of kidology.
I particularly liked your insightful question “who watches the UN?” This is something that should be pursued – and I wish I’d made that point in my response to you instead of indulging my love of comedy! Please forgive me!
God bless.
Editor, Nothing to forgive, really. I’m as taut as an overstrung violin over the UN and that endless propaganda machine, the BBC, more particularly, Paxman and Wark, who alternate as the great proponents for the redefinition of marriage. I probably need to take a step back and come back to things, but now that Cromwell, sorry, Cornwell, has decided to try collect another thirty pieces of silver(funds must be low) there’s plenty of time for recuperation in the next life. On with the fight! God bless you and Michaela.
Brendan,
I understand – this crisis, worsening by the minute as it is, is making a lot of people depressed and fraught. The devil is making hay, so we all need to be on our guard against his wiles. Setting us against each other is his aim, and it’s sad when some people help him in his policy of “divide and rule”. Happily you’re not one of them!
God bless.
I see the old story has appeared again on the TV news about the elderly making up 25% of the population in a few years time.
They conveniently never mention the fact that this situation has arisen because of the millions of children being denied entry into the world through infanticide. Brainwashing at its best.
This is why they are so desperate to open the doors to immigrants from Eastern Europe.
In other words, it is backfiring on them, and a good job too.
While I’m saddened by the UN report, what more do we expect from those who do not know the Faith of Jesus Christ. What saddens me more thought is the spirit expressed by commentators here. Jesus said, love your enemies and pray for those who hate you. Stop expressing the same spirit as those you claim to be better than. You seek to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye but cannot see the log in your own. Forgive us our sins Father, we know not what we do (myself included).
Jacques,
I can’t see any comments from our bloggers which justify your criticism.
Would you like to tell us exactly how YOU think Jesus would speak to and about the UN were He on the earth today as He was when he castigated the Scribes and the Pharisees, calling them “whited sepulchres” and “hypocrites” for behaviour that was, certainly proportionately, a million times less serious in the first century than what the UN is doing in our times?
Just a quick comment from me – what a cheek from the UN. How dare they preach to the a Church. Don’t they realise that they are under the Pope’s authority, just like all other mortal beings? What a nerve!
However, I think if the pope started behaving like a pope then these useless organisations wouldn’t be so quick to try to mouth off.
Petrus,
Excellent point. But… er… is that Emily I hear crying in the background? Should you not be warming bottles or out buying pretty dresses or something 😀
The UN didn’t stick it’s bib in when Benedict XVI was in power, if my memory serves me right.
I agree.
I’m more than “saddened” by the UN report. More like outraged. That doesn’t mean I don’t love my enemies and pray for them. For goodness sake cut the outraged a little slack now and again; there is such a thing as righteous anger, you know.
Therese,
Exactly. I think, if Our Lord were here today, the incident in the Temple would be ranking as a sideshow. If He called the Pharisees and Scribes “hypocrites”, the gurus at the UN would be running for cover. It’s difficult to stamp out the false interpretation of charity as “let’s be nice to everyone”. I’m fast coming to the conclusion that if Catholics are not thoroughly taught the entire Faith in the systematic way the Church requires as early in life as possible, there’s little chance of them really understanding it in later life. Interpreting charity and obedience properly seems to be a major difficulty among Catholic laity (and clergy, too.) It’s not only tragic, but annoying, frankly. I feel like a Maths teacher who has to keep repeating that 2 + 2 = 4.
Perhaps I over exaggerated, but the comments that led me to comment were those in which Church hierarchy were referred to as castrated and needing to grow…also, “Ban Ki-Moon and all the other UN (blanks) should be taken out and (blank, blank, blank…)”. I’m a recent convert and I’m extremely sensitive to how Catholics come across to other Christians since I actively minister to my family and friends on a daily basis. As I say, perhaps I’m over exaggerating, but Satan can win just as many battles with our fast, loose and crass words as he can with other more obvious evils.
Jacques,
The blogger who wrote that comment is also a convert (hence his username = Catholic Convert) and he is often over-zealous, shall we say. I’ve asked him many times to restrain this aspect of his zeal ❗ and I do delete certain remarks, as in the post to which you refer. Maybe I should have deleted more. One lives and one learns…
Maybe Catholic Convert will reflect on the possible damage he might do by making such personal remarks. He’s been “telt” (as we say in Scotland) often enough so let’s hope this time the message gets through. He’s extremely well-meaning and zealous, as I say, but is sometimes over the top in expressing his zeal for the truth. In any event, thank you for your humble response to my criticism of YOUR criticism – if you get my drift!
Catholic Convert – once again… behave 🙄
I think Catholic Convert is young though, isn’t he? The young, bless them, do tend to react to injustice and evil more passionately and intemperately than more, er, mature subjects like myself.
I feel these is why editor understands him so well, being of a similar age ‘n all.
Therese,
You have shot right to the top of the pay scale – to the very top 😀
Maybe I was bit extreme by saying the UN and the flunkeys in charge of it should be shot (Petain style). I’m truly sorry, but I’m losing it maaan!!! I’ll try and simmer down- Editor knows where I live.
The point is that this was a very dishonest report which completely contradicted an agreement made between the UN and the Vatican at a meeting in Geneva a few weeks ago which the Vatican attended voluntarily and was summoned to. The Vatican presented documentation on the abuses and promised to send any other documents the UN demanded. As Bishop Tomasi, Vatican Representtive at the UN remarked, the report seemed to have been prepared before that meeting and the discussions were totally ignored, He blamed homosexual NGO`s. There is a news item i just read saying that Pope Francis is preparing a reply. Whatever I thiink, whatever CT thinks, I believe the present Pope has had a `wake up` call.
John Kearney,
Pope Francis should have had a wake up call the minute he heard how popular he was with atheists, homosexuals and Hans Kung.
I’d dearly love to think the attack from the UN does the trick but I’m afraid I’ll only believe it when I see it. When he tells the UN to mind it’s own blankety blank business, then, and only then, will I (with delight) believe it.
I’m afraid the only wake-up call will be the Consecration, i.e. a supernatural wake-up call. The hierarchy appears to be composed of either embedded enemies of the Church, or their modernist dupes, or castrati (that’s right, Jacques, castrati), – none of whom, obviously, are going to fight for the Church. Rather, most of them seem to be fighting against it. When you have an institutionalized dynamic of the blind leading the blind, and/or the malicious leading the blind, only Heaven can fix it. Whether Heaven intends to “fix” Pope Francis remains to be seen.
GreatPretender51,
I think Heaven will “fix” the Church before the end of 2017 if not before.
Josephine,
“I think Heaven will “fix” the Church before the end of 2017 if not before.”
So do I. Big time. If we make it to 2017, we can forget about planning a New Year’s Eve party for 31st December. No question about it.
The Church is now reaping what it sowed. Trying to be the nice guy doesn’t work. You don’t fight fire with a gallon of petrol. You have to let them know who is in sole charge, especially when you have the whole celestial court on your side.
If a householder has two dogs, one a toy poodle and the other a raving lunatic of a bull terrier, he wouldn’t send the poodle out to tackle an intruder. Sadly, that is what the Church has the habit of doing.
There are too many poodles in the Church, too many in Scotland and absolutely no bulldogs.
What is the name of that smiling professor again? It rhymes with fair game.
Frankier,
“Trying to be the nice guy doesn’t work.”
That’s why I don’t even bother trying 😀
No disrespect to Archbishop Tomasi but it was taking a knife to a gun-fight! Would loved to have seen a couple of feisty dolls of the calibre of Randy Engels or Niamh o’Broin,Life (Irish pro-life activist) 0r maybe Editor CT. at the bishops side! Good lay people who will bury themselves in the representatives of that luciferic organisation.
BTW the above mentioned Randy Engels has written an excellent piece in Renew America,regarding the abuse in the church. Drawing on the ‘John Jay’ report and her own extensive investigations in this area, what stands out clearly is the proportionately high number of young boys between 11-14yrs who were abused by active homosexuals.
It seems with truth been turned on its head,in such radical fashion day by day now those ominous times pronounced to us by
Our Blessed Lady are here.
Tommy,
“No disrespect to Archbishop Tomasi but it was taking a knife to a gun-fight!”
Got it in one!
There was an interesting twist in one of Robert Mickens’ articles in the Tablet (15 February). The article, entitled “Crying out for a clear voice”, is calling on the Pope to be “an unambiguous Catholic champion of the rights of the child”. Robert Mickens then goes on to say “However, the Holy See’s report did not mention that by virtue of his office, the Roman Pontiff not only possesses power over the universal Church, but also obtains the primacy of ordinary power over all particular churches and groups of them” (Can 333/1) He goes on “instead, the report consistently referred to the Holy See and the Pope as merely “promoting or “encouraging” local bishops to adhere to the CRC – denying any responsibility or power to force them to comply with its articles”.
Well, as I said in a letter to the Tablet, ‘surely this refers to the (good) old days prior to Vatican II’ . In referring to Pope Francis as merely “encouraging” his bishops to comply with the articles of the report – is a sign of the times, and Robert Mickens had better get used to it. This is an example of the much vaunted “Francis effect”.
Bededog
Well said. I’ve almost finished skimming this week’s Catholic papers and the “Francis Effect” on the Church is terrifying. Truly terrifying. I get (falsely) accused of running a “one-woman show” here at Catholic Truth but reading the Catholic press there is a clear impression being given that we are living in a “one-man Church”. Is there ANY news that doesn’t include a photo of Pope Francis?
Oh yes, this one. A report on the Archbishop of Dublin’s exhortation to Irish Catholics NOT to be “homophobic” – he used that word and “gay” without any inverted commas. He is quoted as accepting the Church’s teaching that marriage is for a man and a woman only (although he doesn’t name them – kidding 🙂 ) but that same-sex couples can use other “methods”.
If this is his “leadership” ahead of the referendum on same-sex “marriage” in Ireland, then God help the poor faithful over there. And here, surely, is a cue to switch to the thread on why Catholics are losing the Faith. In a word (or two) – bad bishops and popes.