Theism vs. Atheism ... will it ever be settled?

I don't think so. Do you?

No....unless its somehow more wrong to have sex with a young boy. Or at least that's how he feels. Perhaps he just phrased it badly?

I hope you're not trying to make it appear like he's saying that picking the right (hetero) combination, that would somehow make it less immoral.

Now, I grant that Hitchens can sometimes be awfully high handed  - but I don't mind too much, as long as it doesn't affect his general line of argumentation (and it doesn't). 

Journalists should strive to be precise in everything they say - but don't tear their head of whenever they say "everything" instead of "most".

 

Iván

The cover-ups were not "attempted" - they actually did it and got away with it for years - and not just a few years but tens of years. Electing to conduct hearings within the body of the church, (and deal with any subsequent punishment internally), for what are undeniably criminal acts (regardless of whose statutes and laws you care to chose) is a cover up intended to avoid any embarrassment to the church rather than exact punishment for the offenders or any redress for the victims. These are not unfounded allegations and fairy stories - they are facts as admitted by the church itself. By holding internal hearings and not handing the offenders over to the police for public trial they are protecting them, which can be seen as condoning their behaviour - that is the point Hitchens is making (note the repeated use of the word "seems" in the quote).

I didn't read Teo's thread on the abuse scandal, this is the first time I have commented on the scandal as far as I recall and I don't keep records of everybody's stance on every subject nor do I have such a great memory as to be able to remember who is on which side in any controversy. Sorry.

 

I think I need to learn to write more succinctly: I was also referring to the same phrase (... it's the Roman Church who seems to want to have sex with children, and seems to want grownups to have sex with children, at that. ) and gave my interpretation of the reasons why Hitchens would make that statement (which, incidentally, is not a claim or an accusation). Of course Hitchens is talking about the cover-up in that quote - and the cover-up is "the facts" that you were so dismissive about - he is using sarcasm to make the point that by covering up the crimes the church seems to be encouraging priests to molest and abuse children. With that in mind perhaps you should re-read my post.

 

The wrong sex issue I covered in my previous post - I think you are being selective in your interpretation, (or mistaken in your interpretation depending on how you look at it). I hope my subsequent silence on the subject isn't misinterpreted.