I beg your pardon? I couldn't be more right actually

In the UK, the state is specifically aligned with the Anglican church, thus the reason why religion is taught in schools.

in the USA, the country is not aligned with any religion, and the teaching of religion is forbidden in schools.

:laugh: Like a guidance manual on what to do if a priest discovers a group of choirboys or altar boys have formed a secret devil-worshipping circle?

Something entitled: "How To Penetrate Any Choirboy Ring? :hee:

Looking at the thread you just started I don't find this joke in very good taste.

Oh no.That's bad:laugh:

That's disgusting there are many good priests who do not deserve to be tarnished with the same brush. Like all men aren't automatically kiddie fiddlers :idc:

The issue isn't whether most priests are child touchers, the issue is that the ones that ARN'T touching kiddies are still covering up for the ones that ARE! that makes them just as bad.

In the same way the getaway driver is just as bad as the bank robber.

That happens, but becoming less common, why don't we say all care workers abuse their charges given SOME carers have been convicted in the past of abuse and others have helped covered it up. Abuse happens in ALL professions and it gets covered up in all professions, the Catholic Church is an easy target.

and all coverups in all professions deserve to be exposed and shamed! How would you feel if you found out your childs teacher was molesting kids in a another country, and instead of facing justic they were just given some counciling and then moved into your neighborhood to start again? never brought to justice, never forced to receive any medical therapy for their affliction, just given a bern lecture and then allowed to teach your children?

Who is truly holding the catholic church accountable? they always find a way around it as a "religious organization" why is no one at high levels being held accountable? and how can they get away with covering up probably the most despicable crime of them all, child rape???

It's been documented time and time again that the Catholic church knew what was going on, but instead of turning the molestor to the local police, they moved them to a new country to do it again!

A priest in America gets caught raping children in Boston, what does the Catholic church do? they move that priest to a South American church to continue raping children.

There is NO EXCUSE.

Becoming less common, how could that ever be known how common it is/was?
The catholic church is an easy target due to the victims experiences, over time the sheer numbers are too great to be taken as an anomaly.

Who is saying they should be excused? My point is there are a lot of good people who work in the Church who get overlooked and tarnished with the usual choirboy jokes

Sorry but that's no excuse. A child rapist can cure cancer, but that doesn't make him any less a child rapist.

The Catholic church has still not held any child rapists accountable or any of the authorities within the church accountable for transferring them and covering it up. WHEN IS THE CHURCH GOING TO PUNISH THE PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR COVING IT UP? it's an institutional problem that still hasn't been addressed.

WHERE ARE THE CONSEQUENCES???

FFS - It was a joke to Paul. Bad taste - yes, but a joke. Chill out.

Of course not all Priests are molesters, like all Muslims are not terrorists, like all Claimants are not Benefit Cheats etc etc. - but this does not preclude jokes being made about those who are, and nor should it.

Most jokes are based on misfortune or are in 'Bad Taste' - do not be so touchy.

Yes but surely it can't be denied that religion plays a much bigger part in US politics than in the UK. Ted Cruz in Iowa being a fairly typical example where a hardline Christian wins because of the evangelical vote.

IMO it is our non-separation of Church and State which is responsible for the CoE being a very moderate force these days and our country having a more healthy relationship with Christianity.

According to the firsts amendment, American politics are not supposed to have any allegiance with religion but that doesn't mean they don't.

71% of Americans are Christians and that's why politicians frequently discuss religion when campaigning.

They just want to get the bible belt on board I thought, like Dave he starts warbling 'Jerusalem' to get all the middle Englanders fired up.