en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/965110 Comments by kirk3 http://dev.frontpagemag.com/2010/04/13/in-defense-of-the-pope/#IDComment68313001 Prof. Dershowitz, The second tradition you mention, forgiveness, does not apply to pedophile priests. In Mark 9: 42-47 Jesus says (King James Version): "And whosoever shall offend* one of these little ones that believe in me**, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea. And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:" See also Matthew 18: 6-10, and if you still doubt Jesus' meaning, please check out what Jesus says in Matthew 19:12: " ... and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it." Even if a few pedophile priests had been castrated, everybody, including the castrated pedophile priests, would have been much better off now. Mind you in Mark 3:29 Jesus says: "But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin." Doesn't a priest who rapes a child in the church or rectory , blaspheme against the Holy Spirit? * Note: Other translations use "trespass" or "scandalize" instead of "offend". ** Note: Other translations use “in my name” in lieu of ”that believe in me”. *** Note also that this "fix" applies only to those who offend/trespass/scandalize kids in Jesus’ name. It seems not to apply to a priest who molests nonebelieving kids while masquerading as a lay person. It certainly does not apply to a lay person offending another adult. Fri, 16 Apr 2010 03:19:09 +0000 http://dev.frontpagemag.com/2010/04/13/in-defense-of-the-pope/#IDComment68313001