Have Your Say 

Recent Comments

1. At last, a Priest with common sense.

   Posted By: anne van tilburg Wandin North

2. Another 'race to the bottom'? NSW prisons are already brimming as each party comes out with 'law and order' agendas and being 'tough on crime'.As parties become more nervous with the electorate the cry for 'justice' becomes louder.
   Whatever ill pedophiles do, they now at best could be described as having a major psychiatric illness.
   Whatever their crime the decision about punishment and treatment is best left in the hands of the courts.
   Our country will run much better if the divide between the executive and legal system is maintained.

   Posted By: Lewis P Buckingham Kellyville NSW

3. With due respect to the good Father, who is he to comment?
   Why not 15 or 20 years, if this pushes his hot buttons?
   His ministry does a wonderful job and he no doubt considers that past sexual abuse is one of many factors which has ut youth on the streets but such inflammatory comments are no better than ++George Sydneiensis and +Geoffrey Lismorensis' exhortations on how Catholics should vote.
   Definitely not his territory.

   Posted By: JR,Sydney

4. I agree with Lewis Buckingham. Crucifiction was a penaly once used. Beware of those who retreat to the black and white when it comes to dealing with our fellows. Civilization asks tougher questions of us and asks us for more considered responses.

   Posted By: Gerard Bennett Melbourne

5. While there is justifiable anger in and outside the church about the lasting damage to victims of paedophilia, I doubt prison is the answer. The community needs to understand the causes of this devastating disease so as to show a more compassionate support to the paedophile.
   A good start might be for Fr Chris Riley to work with the young people of his organisation to research the issue and find more creative ways to support people with the illness while accepting that rehabilitation is a long, slow process and demands a holistic approach.
   Condemning the paedophile to incarceration, while popular, can be only a quick fix ‘solution’ and is unlikely to be rehabilitative.
   

   Posted By: Cecily McNeill, Wellington, NZ

6. It's good to see that Fr Chris has his priorities right.
   Of course, he probably also acknowledges that paedophiles have a major psychiatric illness, but he has sense enough to want to keep them away from kids - and courage enough to say it.
   

   Posted By: Paul Keen of Dalby, Queensland

7. I would be very interested to know if the people who have criticized Father Chris Riley's remarks have themselves been victims of sexual abuse.. or if they have children who were abused.

   Posted By: Patricia Filby Wodonga

8. To Patricia Wilby of Wodonga: In my case, yes, although I firmly reject the tag of 'victim'.

   Posted By: JR,Sydney

• » Advertise in CathNews

Email to Friend Please fill out the following details (fields marked with a * are mandatory):
Send To Email Address*:
Send To Name *:
Sent By Email Address*:
Sent By Name *:
Text to include in email:
Captcha validation:	please enter the code above:

^ Page Top

Comment on this article

More from this section

1. Don't let social services suffer, says CSSA

   Catholic Social Services Australia has called on both major political parties to guarantee that services will not have to be sacrificed to provide fair wages to workers in the social and community services sector.

2. Voters should get 'mad as hell' at shallow election campaign

   Two leading Catholic welfare organisations have urged voters to ensure important matters are not sidelined in the political campaign leading up to this year's Federal Election.

3. Lismore bishop raises abortion, euthanasia policies for voters

   Lismore Bishop Geoffrey Jarrett has urged the faithful in his diocese to consider issues such as abortion and euthanasia when casting their vote at the federal election.

4. Call for suspected contaminated soil to be removed from school

   The Asbestos Diseases Foundation of Australia has called for the removal of suspected asbestos fibre-contaminated soil beneath the playing fields Catherine McAuley High School in Sydney's Westmead.

5. Hundreds gather in small town for MacKillop Mass

   More than 300 people gathered in the small Southern Highlands town of Moss Vale on Saturday to mark the death of Blessed Mary MacKillop for a special Mass and luncheon at St Paul's International College.