The Catholic church has become a hypocritical joke.

Now really, the man runs around in his ruby red shoes and his pointed hat, just had his own perfume commissioned, and claims to be God's spokespeson on earth. Anyone who expects such a person to think and reason like a normal human, is fooling themselves and simply not doing the math. Just doing an objective evaluation, normally a person exihibiting such behavior would probably be instutionalized for his own safety. It's Sunday Catholics!! Time to do your zombie-like walk (think "Time Machine") into the cathedrals where they ban brains. Go on now....get in there and donate!

These dissident nuns seem to have a lot more in common with Jesus than the man sitting in a Roman palace today.

The power and authority of one man is tearing our church apart at a time when a good majority of people are well educated and clearly differ with the judgements of one man. The Vatican needs to clean house and listen to the voices of men and women who are living in the here and now not the past.

This strident, dogmatic fossil is the worst pope in decades. A closed-mimded authoritarian living in the past.

Excellent op-ed, Joan. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Per the article: "That doesn't wash with Anne Barrett Doyle of Bishopaccountability.org. "These are the most powerful people in Boston," she said of the BC trustees. "They knew or should have known that Schaeffer had supervised Father McGuire." >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> This is the kind of criminality that makes Boston a small, provincial place -- not a world-class city (this and, of course, and the pervasive corruption). >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Yes, you have the beautiful old buildings, the harbor, the bay, the Cape, the enlightened intellectual and political tradition. But remember, the history was then, and this is now. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> How many Harvard and MIT graduates are on the city council, in the legislature -- are there, in fact, any? The beautiful old buildings, the historic stands for freedom, for "doing the right thing", and the current leading edge research are all here, yes. BUT THEY DON'T control or represent the culture in Boston. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> What controls the culture? The most powerul people in Boston do. And what do the most powerful people in Boston stand for? Like the mafia, they stand for loyalty to the person. If you do what your told and please you superiors, if you are "useful", if you have expertise, then you get, and keep, power. And, if you make certain "mistakes" -- we all do. Understand, it's not about loyalty and steadfastness to principles. You might call it the good old boys network -- but one with it own local rules. &g

(my comment ran off the end). My last thought was that for Boston to be considered a world class city it has to run by world class (humanistic, really) principles: freedom of the individual to pursue their own concept of happiness, fairness and justice, opportunity, protection for the weak, and protection against the criminal and abusers.

Thanks, Ms. Vennochi, for your persistent hammering at the gates of the world's most powerful bureaucracy. Gallantly, you shovel the **** against the tide, but every bit helps.

Joan agree with you. However, when are you going to write something about Muslims and Sharia law? Or is that off limits with the editorial board, because you don't want to offend Muslim men?

Forget enablers of priest abusers, as bad as they are. There is more involved here. I don't know what makes American nuns progressives, but thank God for whatever it is. The nuns stand in for left-of-center Catholics who have grown weay of pronouncements of our far-right Republican bishops. What really bugs progressive Catholics is that our bishos proclaim the Republican party line while claiming it is Catholic theology. Whatever is going to happen: Go nuns!

All the while, the hierarchy of organized religions ruminate over why has the public lost faith and no longer contribute. Talk about being blind and can see.

Thanks for the link. I was not aware how bad Sharia law was in England and that the gays are under attack. We need to put ALL people first, not the Globe's agenda.