Why Doesn't The Pope Throw The Pedophiles Out

Your Captain is hardly a priest- and does not believe in saying "never"- but lemme tell each and every one that the Captain not only would NEVER abuse a child sexually or otherwise- but would go as far to engage in fisticuffs with anyone who did.

I have to think the American Catholic Church is in deep peril in regard to the constant lawsuits brought by victims of sex abuse by priests. This continuing process has to be the absolute WORST P.R. anyone- let alone a church- has ever suffered.

I'm related to Catholics and have attended Catholic churches on a number of occasions. I could no longer- in good conscience- ever again attend such a church and would surely take my "faith" elsewhere if I were Catholic.

Forgive and forget? I'd take the latter road.

Courtesy of the Associated Press- the following is a list of Catholic dioceses who are or already have paid off the victims of the Church's despicable acts:

"Dioceses in Spokane, Wash., Portland, Ore., and Tucson, Ariz., have already emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The Davenport, Iowa, diocese, which faces claims from more than 150 people, is still in proceedings.

Sex abuse by Roman Catholic priests has cost the U.S. church at least $2.3 billion since 1950. Some of the largest known payouts to victims since the crisis erupted in 2002 include:

- Archdiocese of Los Angeles, 2007, agrees to pay $660 million to about 500 people.

- Diocese of San Diego, 2007, agrees to pay $198 million to 144 people.

- Diocese of Orange, Calif., 2004, $100 million for 90 abuse claims.

- Diocese of Covington, Ky., 2006, up to $84 million for more than 350 people.

- Archdiocese of Boston, 2003, $84 million for 552 claims.

- Diocese of Oakland, Calif., 2005, $56 million to 56 people.

- Archdiocese of Portland, Ore., 2007, agrees to pay about $52 million to 175 victims to emerge from bankruptcy protection; sets aside another $20 million for any future claims.

- Diocese of Spokane, Wash., 2007, agrees to pay $48 million for about 150 claims to emerge from bankruptcy protection.

- Diocese of Sacramento, Calif., 2005, pays $35 million to 33 people.

- Archdiocese of Louisville, Ky., 2003, $25.7 million to 243 victims.

- Diocese of Tucson, Ariz., 2005, agrees to fund a settlement trust worth about $22 million for more than 50 victims to emerge from bankruptcy protection."

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