Latest on Catholic Abuse Scandals. Connecticut Catholic Priests Oppose Abuse Law.

The future Pope Benedict XVI resisted pleas to defrock a California priest with a record of sexually molesting children, citing concerns including "the good of the universal church," according to a 1985 letter bearing his signature. The correspondence, obtained by The Associated Press, is the strongest challenge yet to the Vatican's insistence that Benedict played no role in blocking the removal of pedophile priests during his years as head of the Catholic Church's doctrinal watchdog office.

TPJ: For the "good of the universal church??!!" Would Jesus allow a child molesting apostle to carry on with his abuse of kids for the "good of the universal church???" I think we could safely say, "No way." This is yet more evidence that the Catholic church is more interested in maintaining the power of the hierarchy than protecting innocent children. They often refer to the Pope as "God's" representative on Earth and the shepherd of his flock. Well, what kind of shepherd allows a wolf to stay amongst the sheep? Hey, Pope!! I still remember a lot of my Bible from my 22 years as a Christian. Surely you remember this one? Luke 17: 2, "It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones."

Or have you discarded that too for the "good of the universal church?" In other Catholic abuse news:

Hartford, Connecticut (CNN) -- A bill in Connecticut's legislature that would remove the statute of limitations on child sexual abuse cases has sparked a fervent response from the state's Roman Catholic bishops, who released a letter to parishioners Saturday imploring them to oppose the measure. Under current Connecticut law, sexual abuse victims have 30 years past their 18th birthday to file a lawsuit. The proposed change to the law would rescind that statute of limitations. The proposed change to the law would put "all Church institutions, including your parish, at risk," says the letter, which was signed by Connecticut's three Roman Catholic bishops.

TPJ: There are a couple of problems here. First, if the Catholic church really is interested in protecting "the least of these" as Jesus referred to children then why would be oppose the statue of limitations being lifted? Do they not want to see child abusers brought to justice regardless of age? They should if they truly believe in the punishment of sins and crimes. It's obvious that there are one set of rules for the patriarchal hierarchy of the Catholic church and one for the average, trusting lay practitioner.

The other issue here is that this priest is preaching politics from the pulpit and urging his followers to get involved in politics to oppose this measure. Thus, it should be stripped of their tax exempt status. Too many religious figures are getting away with preaching politics to their flock.

This church has gotten so far away from the essence of the Jesus of the New Testament that I know that it's hard not to see them as rotten to the core. If I was a Catholic Christian then I'd be done with them. After the abuse cases of the 90s and now these implicating the Pope himself? That would be it for me--I've move onto another church or new religion altogether.

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