Church Pain

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Originally Posted by Illusions

During last year's gap a wealthy parishioner died and left a large sum of money to the church my family frequents. Did they do something reasonable or charitable with it? Nope...it was funneled directly into aesthetic upgrades for the church and those associated with it.

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That's such an odd decision that I can't help but suspect the bequest included direction that the money be spent on such a project.

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Originally Posted by Hazir

But if that were the case; why should anybody but the offender pay?

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Because the church itself or someone overseeing it may have played a role in covering up the molestation. This is the general gist I get from these claims, that Priest X molested someone or some group, Church Y overseeing them covers it up, so Church Y becomes an offender too. It could also be argued that if Church Y was ignorant of Priest X's abuses that Church Y still has to pay out because of the Catholic Church's manner of handling property etc. They're not like a corporation or an individual.

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Originally Posted by LittleFuzzy

That's such an odd decision that I can't help but suspect the bequest included direction that the money be spent on such a project.

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It would have to be terribly specific. As in the money be spent immediately, instead of over time (which would be useful as then it could be used for repairs as needed)...

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Originally Posted by Illusions

Because the church itself or someone overseeing it may have played a role in covering up the molestation. This is the general gist I get from these claims, that Priest X molested someone or some group, Church Y overseeing them covers it up, so Church Y becomes an offender too. It could also be argued that if Church Y was ignorant of Priest X's abuses that Church Y still has to pay out because of the Catholic Church's manner of handling property etc. They're not like a corporation or an individual.

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Yes, but who does the 'money' belong to? Is it for the priests or bishops to dispense of in the pursuit of their illicit pleasures or does it belong to the community that makes up the church? I'm affraid I don't see how the 'handling of property by the church' should have any bearing on the question.

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It would have to be terribly specific. As in the money be spent immediately, instead of over time (which would be useful as then it could be used for repairs as needed)...

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It happens all the time and is of all times. In the old days people gave money to build chapels etc.