Wednesday, September 10, 2008

McCain's Disregard for Children's Protection


As Catholics, following the lead of our Holy Father, we feel great regret for the sexual abuse of minors that occurred within the Catholic community, namely by a number of our clergy victimizing young people under their pastoral care. The individuals who committed these evil acts bear the primary responsibility. But, as the Pope has said, certainly the sad truth is that our Church authorities should have done better at having in place systems for the protection of minors.

We have learned from our mistakes and the regret still weighs heavily on us. That is why we of the Catholic community are particularly concerned to see others disregarding the need for the protection of children from sexual abuse.

John McCain now troubles us that he is not committed to the protection of children from such abuse. Senator Obama has said that all school age children need to be given age appropriate education to guard against sexual abuse and molestation. McCain is attacking Senator Obama for this statement. McCain is saying kindergarten children should not be taught that is wrong for strangers to touch them inappropriately.

In charity, I assume McCain is not affirmatively for child molestation but has a misguided prudity that believes in saying nothing and hoping for the best. We, as Catholics, know where this leads and the results are tragic. We now have programs -- needed programs -- for the protection of children in our Catholic schools. Should John McCain be allowed to block programs with the same goals from our public schools?

26 comments:

Anonymous said...

McCain is so in the gutter.

Anonymous said...

I can't believe how low McCain goes. He really would do anything to win an election. He really has no decency.

Anonymous said...

Should children be told to say no to sexual molesters? Obama says yes. McCain disagrees with him. What kind of a man is McCain?

CatholicsForDemocracy said...

Isn't the real problem that we have an unhealthy fear of sex in American society that leaves even many parents uncomfortable discussing sex and sexuality with their children?

It seems to me the argument many on the right make, that the first teachers on matters so intimate as sex should be children's parents, is a really sound argument. However, parents are a product of their culture. And the culture is the problem; in that it instills a sense of shame, even if a subconscious sense of shame, that prevents them from being too comfortable in discussing the matters with their own children.

What is age appropriate? One would think that parents who effectively relate with their children are in the best position to know what their children are ready to know. Unfortunately, that does not happen: one, because parents are embarrassed to discuss the matter with their children; and two, many parents are not effectively relating with their children.

So does schools step in, with the help of professionals in the necessary disciplines, to help feel that gap? That's a sketchy question to answer.

I personally think schools should step in for the two reasons stated above. But I hope we can move to a direction where parents can take the lead; and am confident many parents already are.

Katherine said...

I tend to agree. But given the sad events of recent history, I do agree with Senator Obama that we have to teach even young children not to let strangers touch them inappropriately and to tell another adult if someone does.

McCain's attack on this is just beyond decency.

Anonymous said...

Here's a source for bumper stickers.

http://store.barackobama.com/product_p/bs24194.htm

We need undecided Catholics to see they're not alone in supporting Obama-Biden. "Ask not what your country can do for you..."

Anonymous said...

You would think a man who dated a stripper and has had two wives, first second of which he started fooling around with whiel still married to the first, would not be so squeemish about having young children taught not to let strangers fiddle with them.

Mike Moehlenhof said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
CatholicsForDemocracy said...

"So Barack Obama says its ok to allow for comprehensive sex education for 5 year olds in school. Its fine that we teach kids at a young age to use a condom and know what their bodies are all about."

I don't know what Obama said. I do know what I read in Katrina's blog post reporting on what Obama said. And I did not see anything in the blog post about "comprehensive sex education to 5 year olds."

Katrina reported: "Senator Obama has said that all school age children need to be given age appropriate education to guard against sexual abuse and molestation."

Now let's get real. I do not think anybody considers "comprehensive sex education to 5 year olds" to be "age-appropriate." Stop trying to stir things up unnecessarily.

Anonymous said...

So Barack Obama says its ok to allow for comprehensive sex education for 5 year olds in school. Its fine that we teach kids at a young age to use a condom and know what their bodies are all about

No, Mike, Barack Obama does not say that. It is unfortunate some liar told you that. Barack Obama supported a bill that said young children should be not to allow strangers to touch them inappropriately. John McCain said Obama was wrong for supporting that bill.

Anonymous said...

Is McCain some kind of perv that he doesn't want children protected from molesters?

Rustler45 said...

Mike Moehlenhof said... "I can't disagree more that its over fear...."

Mike, they know it's not fear. That's just the FEAR ROCK that they like to throw. Everytime somebody disagrees they start yelling fear, but the fact is liberals are the most paranoid people on the planet. They have reason to be.

And guess who teaches the children about inappropriate touching? Perverts who get a thrill out of doing that.

We wouldn't be having this problem if liberals hadn't demanded that homosexuals be allowed in the seminaries. Now we have queer pedophile priests running rampant and you fail to blame yourselves and then start pushing sex education on 5 year olds.

Homosexuals are all pedophiles. Pedophiles are all liberal. You have caused the problem. You have this whole thing backwards.

And now you are accusing John McCain of loving child molesters. I assure you that he doesn't love you.

Rustler45 said...

Hey Mr. Political Science Major, you just have to realize what a Farside Cartoon that whole program is. I can see it now "political scientists" in white lab coats holding up beakers and peering into the misty substances held within. One scientist saying to the other, "No Murray, I don't think we need to run this through the horse again."

CatholicsForDemocracy said...

Rustler,

"Hey Mr. Political Science Major, you just have to realize what a Farside Cartoon that whole program is."

You have noticed, right, that I am increasingly developing the discipline to ignore you. I am still working on increasing that discipline even more.

You're not providing any substance to the conversations that take place on this blog.

In addition, you are actint as if I'm running for office and that I am the person you need to address on this blog. The reality is that you respond to me because I have responded to you.

That will not continue. I am committed to the substance of this blog of Catholics for Obama. Just like I have increasingly been letting your personal slights of me slide over my shoulders, I will be letting your preemptive strikes of me slide over.

This blog does not exist for you to gain personal attention. It exists for Katrina, Kurt, myself and others who support Obama to talk about why we support Obama and develop community among Catholic Obama supporters.

You obviously don't listen or care about what other people write. You only care about being a trouble-making troll who derails legitimate dialogue. Despite the fact that you ignore the facts behind others' comments, I have noticed you also ignore others' descriptions of who they are. For example, you keep calling me a "political science major." A claim you already know to be untrue, based on prior conversation. But, then, you're waiting for me to take that bait so that you can sarcastically share what you know in the school of study I actually did engage in.

But I know there is a real difference between their is a real difference between one who has an academic background in philosophy and a philosopher who happens to understand the background of the discipline of philosophy. While I, myself, would not be so bold as to identify myself as a philosopher, I have a sense of which end of that spectrum you're in.

I also know there is a major difference between a Sophist, who sounds philosophical in the attempt to win arguments, and the real philosopher who is interested in discovering deeper truths.

So... you can raise your sarcastic comments about me and personal titles of me, I will not be responding. I will engage in this blog consistently to the purpose the blog exists. Period. The blog is not about me. It's about Barack Obama.

Rustler45 said...

DEMOMARXIST SAID: "Are you really that retarded (no personal offense meant to Palin's baby)?"

RUSTLER45: I SUPPOSE THAT COMMENT WAS ABOUT OBAMA? You did mean personal offense. If you didn't you wouldn't have made reference to her baby. That makes you a liar. In addition it proves what a low-life scum you really are.

Rustler45 said...

DEMO: "You're not providing any substance to the conversations that take place on this blog." wah wah wah

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAA

And that means? What? My joke was funny? Everybody I know laughed their axxes off over it. It was classic. YOU didn't think it was funny? Of course not you're a liberal. Liberals don't have a sense of humor.

Now tell me, just how many times do you run your nonsense through the horse before you put it in here?

DEMO: "You're not providing any substance...."

That's what every liberal says when they don't like what you're saying and can't argue the logic. It's all whining and moaning. Liberals also use that "substance" argument to deprive others of their right to free speech.

Now, Let's talk about substance. Twice you have shown that you know nothing, first about democracy, and second about socialism. I provided substance and you provided whaaaaaaaat???????

BTW did you ever go to Wikipedia to find out who Aristotle is? Just wondering.

DEMO: "You have noticed, right, that I am increasingly developing the discipline to ignore you."

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAA

Like in this last response?

Actually I only notice that you are becoming increasingly long winded. So where's the discipline?

DEMO: "The reality is that you respond to me because I have responded to you."

Man, that makes a lot of sense. And then you respond to me because I respond to you. WOW what a concept. You're a freeaking genius! How'd you figure all that out. Oh I forgot. You learned it at the Indoctrination Center that you called "college."

DEMO: "You only care about being a trouble-making troll who derails legitimate dialogue."

Legitimate dialogue? What legitimate dialogue have you provided? Is your last post here where you whine on and on forever an example of legitimate dialogue?

Fact is you can't provide legitimate dialogue. I explained in great detail to you why democracy is intrinsically evil and you could not comprehend it. I just recently posted as to why the Catholic Church condemns socialism and you once again had no clue and start arguing about it.

HEEEEEELLLLLLOOOO DEMOOOOOO, the Church has condemned socialism. There's no argument. Oh no here I go again derailing legitimate dialogue.

Face it Demo, you've been brainwashed into thinking that you can be a sincere Catholic, live any lifestyle, and believe whatever you want all at the same time. I bet you believe in evolution too don't you?

DEMO: I also know there is a major difference between a Sophist, who sounds philosophical in the attempt to win arguments, and the real philosopher who is interested in discovering deeper truths.

Whoa......DEEEEEEEPER TRUUUUUTHS!

DEMO: "The blog is not about me. It's about Barack Obama."

Then shut up about McCain and Palin and just talk about Obama.

DEMO: "So... you can raise your sarcastic comments about me and personal titles of me, I will not be responding."

Man you sure do a lot of bellyaching.

OH BTW you WILL be responding. You just can't help yourself.

Rustler45 said...

DEMOMARXIST SAID: "Are you really that retarded (no personal offense meant to Palin's baby)?"

Hey Katherine, You have been talking about what kind of people support McCain. I believe you said they are McCain's own worst enemies?

Well look what we have right here in River City! Your own catholicsfordemocracy demonstrating for us the kind of supporters that are behind Obama. Isn't he your favorite supporter who exhibits all the liberal qualities that we all know are typical of Democrats?

WELL Whaddya think about that? You better have a talk with that boy dontcha think???? Wasn't that about the meanest most underhanded life thing anyone could say?

Be sure and delete this like you have the other embarrassing things for your supporters.

Therese said...

Can you show me where McCain said, the children should not be taught that it is wrong for strangers to touch them?

Talking about children's protection, Obama can hardly be thought of as protective of children when he voted against the born alive protection act.

Rustler45 said...

Exposing Children to Sex Leads to Predictable Results

It looks like sex ed is really catching fire with the prepubescent set. From Australia:
Three boys aged six ran a sex club at a Brisbane state school demanding and receiving sexual favours from Year 2 classmates, a father has claimed. […]

The angry father's claims came as similar stories emerged at state schools on the Gold and Sunshine coasts and in Cairns, which indicate the sexual abuse of young students by other school children appears rampant. […]

His revelations came as uproar was sparked by [a] Courier-Mail story, which told how the sexual assault of a seven-year-old girl by a young classmate was dismissed as a "childhood experiment" by a country school principal.

The Courier-Mail revealed how the young victim was forced to perform oral sex on the boy, who had threatened her with violence. […]

Meanwhile, on the Sunshine Coast, a gang of nine-year-old boys has been accused of "grooming" children as young as five to engage in sex acts. Investigators were told victims were rewarded with lollies.

Kindergarten sex ed advocate Barack Obama must be pleased. Thanks to liberal policies exposing children to sex, Change is already underway.

CatholicsForDemocracy said...

"Exposing Children to Sex Leads to Predictable Results"

Just ask Bristol.

Katherine said...

Can you show me where McCain said, the children should not be taught that it is wrong for strangers to touch them?

Yes. Senator Obama voted for an education bill in the Illinois Senate. McCain attacked Obama for the part of the bill that applied to kindergarten students (in a campaign commerical the McCain campaign produced). The provision for kindergarten students was that they should be taught that it is wrong for strangers to touch them inappropriately.

Therese said...

I also have thought about this a bit since I read the post, Why do you think the bill didn't pass? Is Obama the only decent politician that wants to protect children from predators and molesters? Why did the bill get voted down?

Therese said...

Is there any reason why my previous comment to the last one wasn't published?

Katherine said...

It was not voted down. It passed out of committee by a vote of 7-4. It never came up for a vote on the floor of the state Senate.

Of course, I don't really believe John McCain wants to see children molested. But he is willing to take cheap and dishonest political shot.

The Republican will do anything to hold on to the presidency.

Alan Keyes, as nutty as he is, didn't attack Obama on this issue but was fair enough to ask for an explanation of 'age appropriate' sex edcuation and Obama made it very clear that for kindergarten students it means protection from molestation.

Therese said...

The bill never became law. Have you asked yourself why?

From Political Punch:

To back up its claim, the McCain campaign points to Illinois state senate bill 99, which never became law and which Obama didn't author -- though he did vote for it in the state senate education committee on March 6, 2003, on what was a strictly party-line vote.

Anonymous said...

Kindergarten children don't need Hussein Obama teaching them how to catch Jungle Fever.