Dear Friend in Christ,

Sub: Seekers of the Truth - Sign This Online Petition:

The media is rife with allegations flying all around accusing the Pope from one end of the spectrum to another. However, to blame Cardinal Ratzinger of sweeping the child abuse cases, under the carpet is gross injustice to the man, by the very media, who once called him ultra orthodox on his election as pope. There is absolutely no proof to show that Pope Benedict XVI deliberately did nothing, inspite of having information. We are presenting below a background on the controversy, urging that the culprit priest be brought to book, but urging that the authority and credibility of the Pope be kept intact, for what he represents - the moral conscience of the world. Signing it does not make you Catholic, as will be clear from a number of secular others, here below, who have supported the Pope, in his hour of need.

Warm personal regards,

Your Servant in the Lord's Service - Joseph Dias, General Secretary, The CSF ( www.thecsf.org )

On Pope Benedict XVI knowing about the abuse incidents, he not only expressed his zero tolerance of the same, but also moved swiftly for it not to occur in the future. His representatives, like Cardinal Oswald Gracias and the Conference of Bishops in India were among the first to issue guidelines and ensure that priests face trial, until proven guilty. The Pope's recent guidelines, which have appeared on the Vatican website, clearly gives the go-ahead to the Church and insists it follows the civil law in all cases of abuse. What more can one expect the Church to do? If we allow the institution of the Church to be battered & torn assunder, as it is being now, what days lie ahead is for all to see. Remove this last hurdle of the Pope and the Church and you have a free-for-all world, where man, woman & child are stripped of their basic dignity - And are mere cogs as part of the animal kingdom ecosystems. Without the Church, money and force will determine the rules of the game.

We are for all paedophiles being punished - whether they are part of the clergy, the laity or the secular world. As we are also against homosexuals who force themselves on non-consenting adults or any other criminals for that matter. However, one even notices, an attempt to justify homosexuality, polygamy, beastiality, incest or any such crimes, as being one of legitimate rights, being genetic... We fully back the attempts made to bring the priests, who are culprits to book. However, one notices that there is more than meets the eye, to the vicious attacks on the Papacy or Catholic Celibacy - a sinister attempt to undermine the moral authority of the Church specifically and Christians in general - which is dangerous. The motive behind defaming the Pope and damaging the credibility of the Church is apparent - they stand opposed to rich and powerful vested interests or lobbies of the media, pornography & irresponsible lifestyles. Any journalist will tell you how "FREE" he/she is when it comes to taking an opposing stand to that of the management.

Proof of Homosexuality - Paedophilia Link?
Cardinal Bertone's comment that homosexuals are more likely to be paedophiles has drawn anger especially from gay groups. He is seen as second only to Pope Benedict sought to link homosexuality to paedophilia, saying homosexuality, not celibacy, lay behind the child sex abuse scandals. Cardinal Bertone told a news conference: "Many psychologists, many psychiatrists have demonstrated that there is no relationship between celibacy and paedophilia but many others have demonstrated, I was told recently, that there is a relationship between homosexuality and paedophilia. "That is true. I have the documents of the psychologists. That is the problem." The CSF has placed on its website, a well researched article that seeks to establish a relationship between gays & paedophiles. If this is true, then one needs to come down as heavily on homosexuality as well. This is something the media and liberated others are not likely to. Check this link for more info & decide: http://www.thecsf.org/pdfs/homo-abuse.pdf

The CSF View Matches Those of Others
He was the first one who, already as cardinal, felt the need for new and stricter rules, which there hadnt been. The Pope never prohibited anyone from denouncing abusive priests and never gave orders to hide anything. He is the one above all, who has tackled this thing head on. The Holy Father has always testified to the same spirit of zero tolerance on the subject ... What deepens the sadness now is the unrelenting insinuations against the Holy Father himself, as certain sources seem frenzied to implicate the man who, perhaps more than anyone else has been the leader in purification, reform and renewal that the Church so needs. No one has been more vigorous in cleansing the Church of the effects of this sickening sin than the man we now call Pope Benedict XVI. The dramatic progress that the Catholic Church in the United States has made documented again just last week by the report made by independent forensic auditors could never have happened without the insistence and support of the very man now being daily crowned with thorns by groundless innuendo.

Does the Church and her pastor, Pope Benedict XVI, need intense scrutiny and just criticism for tragic horrors long past? Yes! He himself has asked for it, encouraging complete honesty, at the same time expressing contrition, and urging a thorough cleansing. All we ask is that it be fair, and that the Catholic Church not be singled out for a horror that has cursed every culture, religion, organization, institution, school, agency and family in the world. The Eucharist is the Sunday meal of the spiritual family we call the Church. At Sunday dinner we share both joys and sorrows. The father of our family, il papa, needs our love, support and prayers now. The Church will not be reformed as the Church of Christ by cries from outside, of those who do not believe. Renewal is a matter of faith and of understanding what it means that Jesus Kingdom is not of this world. The Pope has answered his critics. The Pope has met victims of abuse and expresses in this letter his deep sadness for what they have endured, his praise for their courage in coming forward, and his personal resolve to bring them justice and healing so far as is humanly possible. He tells the bishops and leaders of religious orders that they must cooperate with the civil authorities in reporting abuse, and he proposes to send officials with the appropriate authority to the worst-affected areas to assist with the work of healing and renewal.

Sam Miller, defends the faith
Here is what a non-Catholic, prominent Cleveland Jewish businessman has to say - "Why would newspapers carry on a vendetta on one of the most important institutions that we have today in the United States, namely the Catholic Church? Do you know - the US Catholic Church alone, educates 2.6 million students everyday at the cost of 10 billion dollars, and a savings to the American taxpayer of 18 billion dollars. The percentage of graduates who go on to post graduate studies is 92\%. The Church has 230 colleges and universities in the U.S. with an enrollment of 700,000 students. The Catholic Church has a non-profit hospital system of 637 hospitals, which account for hospital treatment of 1 out of every 5 people - not just Catholics - in the United States today. But the press is vindictive and trying to totally denigrate in every way the Catholic Church in this country. They have blamed the disease of pedophilia on the Catholic Church, which is as irresponsible as blaming adultery on the institution of marriage.

A study of American priests showed that most are happy in the priesthood and find it even better than they had expected, and that most, if given the choice, would choose to be priests again in face of all this obnoxious PR the church has been receiving. The Catholic Church is bleeding from self-inflicted wounds. The agony that Catholics have felt and suffered is not necessarily the fault of the Church. You have been hurt by a small number of wayward priests that have probably been totally weeded out by now. Walk with your shoulders high and you head higher. Be a proud member of the most important non-governmental agency in the United States. Then remember what Jeremiah said: 'Stand by the roads, and look and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is and walk in it, and find rest for your souls'. Be proud to speak up for your faith with pride and reverence and learn what your Church does for all other religions. "Be proud that you're a Catholic."

Finally, let me give you some figures that Catholics should know and remember. For example, 12\% of the 300 of a non-Catholic (group identity hidden) clergy surveyed admitted to sexual intercourse; 38\% acknowledged other inappropriate sexual contact in a study by a non-Catholic Church, 41.8\% of clergy women reported unwanted sexual behavior; 17\% of laywomen have been sexually harassed. Meanwhile, only 1.7\% of the Catholic clergy has been found guilty of pedophilia, while 10\% of another non-Catholic clergy ministers have been found guilty of pedophilia. This is not a Catholic Problem.

Ed Koch on Media and Pope
The Jewish former mayor of New York is affirming that "continuing attacks" by the media on the Church and Benedict XVI have become "manifestations of anti-Catholicism". Edward "Ed" Koch, who also served as a U.S. Congressman from 1969 to 1977, stated this in a blog published online by The Jerusalem Post. "The procession of articles on the same events are, in my opinion, no longer intended to inform, but simply to castigate", Koch asserted. He acknowledged that the sexual molestation of children is "horrendous", noting that this is a point of agreement among "Catholics, the Church itself, as well as non-Catholics and the media." On this point, the politician and political commentator said, the Pope has openly proclaimed his abhorrence for the crime and compassion for the victims. Koch noted that "many of those in the media who are pounding on the Church and the pope today clearly do it with delight, and some with malice."

He continued: "The reason, I believe, for the constant assaults is that there are many in the media, and some Catholics, as well as many in the public, who object to and are incensed by positions the Church holds, including opposition to all abortions, opposition to gay sex and same-sex marriage, retention of celibacy rules for priests, exclusion of women from the clergy, opposition to birth control measures involving condoms and prescription drugs and opposition to civil divorce. "My good friend, Cardinal John O'Connor, once said, 'The Church is not a salad bar, from which to pick and choose what pleases you.' "The Church has the right to demand fulfillment of all of its religious obligations by its parishioners, and indeed a right to espouse its beliefs generally."

The Jewish politician clarified that he personally does not agree with the Catholic position on these issues, but he added that the Church "has a right to hold these views in accordance with its religious beliefs." He affirmed: "Orthodox Jews, like the Roman Catholic Church, can demand absolute obedience to religious rules. Those declining to adhere are free to leave." Koch stated his belief that "the Roman Catholic Church is a force for good in the world, not evil." As well, he said, "the existence of 1 billion, 130 million Catholics worldwide is important to the peace and prosperity of the planet." "Of course, the media should report to the public any new facts bearing upon the issue of child molestation," Koch affirmed, "but its objectivity and credibility are damaged when the New York Times declines to publish an op-ed offered by New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan on the issue of anti-Catholicism and offers instead to publish a letter to the editor, which is much shorter and less prominent than an op-ed."

He asserted, "I am appalled that, according to the Times of April 6, 2010, 'Last week, the center-left daily newspaper La Repubblica wrote, without attribution that certain Catholic circles believed the criticism of the Church stemmed from a New York Jewish lobby." Koch clarified that if these "certain Catholic circles" were referring to the Times, it should be stated that the publisher, Arthur Sulzberger, Jr., is not Jewish, but rather Episcopalian, and its executive editor, Bill Keller, is also a Christian. "Enough is enough," Koch said. He continued: "Yes, terrible acts were committed by members of the Catholic clergy. "The Church has paid billions to victims in the United States and will pay millions, perhaps billions, more to other such victims around the world. "It is trying desperately to atone for its past by its admissions and changes in procedures for dealing with pedophile priests." Koch concluded by quoting the words of Jesus, as recorded in John 8:7: "He [or she] that is without sin among you, let him [or her] cast the next stone."

Truth? What does that mean?
The director of the Vatican press office is suggesting three steps for responding to the scandal of sexual abuse of minors. He is also calling communicators to a love for the truth if they wish to "serve rather than confuse." Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi responded to the ongoing scandal. He began by recommending steps to "sail through these stormy waters while maintaining a secure course." First, he called for "continuing to seek truth and peace for the victims." Father Lombardi noted how "so many inner wounds" are coming to light, though they date back many years or even decades. "There is something that we have yet to fully understand; perhaps we need a more profound experience of events that have had such a negative impact on the lives of individuals, of the Church and of society," the Jesuit reflected. Abuse opens wounds at a deep inner level."

In addition to concern for victims, the Vatican spokesman affirmed, there must continue to be an implementing of "correct procedures for the canonical judgment of the guilty, and for collaborating with the civil authorities in matters concerning their judicial and penal competencies." Father Lombardi said that only in this way "can we hope effectively to rebuild a climate of justice and complete trust in the ecclesiastical institution." He acknowledged that various leaders "have not had a ready understanding of the protocols and criteria for intervention." Finally, the Vatican spokesman reiterated the importance of selecting and forming candidates for the priesthood.

"Achieving a healthy maturity of the personality, also from a sexual point of view, has always been a difficult challenge, but today it is particularly so," he contended. Father Lombardi noted how the greatest frequency of abuse coincided with the most intense period of the sexual revolution. "Formation must take account of this context and of the more general context of secularization," he said. "In the final analysis, this means rediscovering and reaffirming the sense and importance of sexuality, chastity and emotional relationships in today's world."

Father Lombardi said Benedict XVI as a "coherent guide along the path of rigor and truth, merits all respect and support, testimony of which is reaching him from all parts of the Church." He is a pastor well capable of facing -- with great rectitude and confidence -- this difficult time in which there is no lack of criticism and unfounded insinuations," the priest stated. "It must be said that he is a Pope who has spoken a lot about the Truth of God and about respect for truth; and he has become a credible witness of this. We accompany him, learning from him the constancy necessary to grow in truth and transparency, continuing to open our horizons to the serious problems of the world and responding patiently to the slow and gradual release of partial or presumed 'revelations' which seek to undermine his credibility, and that of other institutions or individuals of the Church. "This patient and solid love of truth is necessary, in the Church, in the society in which we live, in communicating and in writing, if we wish to serve rather than confuse our fellow men and women."

Sign the Online Petition to Express Solidarity
Facts that stare in the face are ignored, like the homo-child abuse link, even while defending permissive lifestyles. Pope Benedict XVI has called upon the community to suffer all these indignities and offer penance. We want to tell the Pope, that we bear with him the pain of the slander, he suffers. We renew our expression of communion and support. Any insinuations that he has deliberately sought to conceal or gloss over painful cases of these heinous crimes, we believe are completely unfounded. We see this as a form of direct attack on the person and dignity of the Pope, as well as an attempt to discredit the Catholic Church & Christians. Trial by media has wrought its havoc and this is a small attempt say we are with you & the Church....

NB: http://www.crossroadsinitiative.com/library_article/362/Do_You_Love_Me_.html