Netherlands commission suggests levels of abuse payment

AMSTERDAM -- A church-appointed commission has recommended that victims of clergy sexual abuse be paid up to $144,000 by the church, depending on the gravity of the offense.

A panel of three judges -- known as the Lindenbergh commission after its chairman, Siewert Lindenbergh, a civil law professor at Erasmus University in Rotterdam -- also said victims should receive apologies, assistance and recognition for their suffering.

A spokesman for the Dutch bishops said they and the conference of religious would study the recommendations.

The Lindenbergh Commission was set up after nearly 2,000 people complained of sexual abuse by Catholic priests -- dating to 1945 -- during an inquiry by another church-appointed commission last year.

$144,000 seems not very much for soul murder. The idea of reconciliation with those abused is much better. This should include a life time of Psychotherapy and even job training when needed as these victims many if not most are suffering severe Post Traumatic Stress. The sinfulness of the actions was compounded by the enablement of the Bishops. The whole structure of church leadership must change. it can not be a structure formed from a tyrannical top in Southern Europe, but must be formed by the local appointment of the leaders in each individual diocese. There can not be a continuing of the cult of personality requiring litmus tests of belief prior to appointment. Many of those appointed that way are those currently involved in sexual and financial coverups. They must be allowed or forced to resign. In some cases, these Bishops belong in jail. Benedict himself should be asked to come before the International Court and asked why he does not obey the International treaty on Child Abuse signed by the Vatican. Until this is done some will not be able to stop seeing the face of Palpatine described by many of these people in their nightmares about the Bishop of Rome.

It is time for the People of God to exercise their authority to throw out any and all episcopal tyrants or they become the guilty enablers just as are so many Bishops. It is time for us to recover the Way of Christ and throw out the way of a fearful small minded leadership that has forgotten to respect its people.

May we seek peace through graceful action.

R. Dennis Porch, MD

Netherlands: Wilders Not Guilty of Islamic Defamation

This morning the Court of Amsterdam has acquitted Geert Wilders of all charges.

“I am delighted with this ruling,” says Geert Wilders. “It is a victory, not only for me but for all the Dutch people. Today is a victory for freedom of speech. The Dutch are still allowed to speak critically about islam, and resistance against islamisation is not a crime. I have spoken, I speak and I shall continue to speak.”

This decision marks another step towards Europeans being able to draw a line between themselves and their Islamic immigrants.

The reality is that throughout Europe anti-Islamic sentiment is rising up and the Netherland, like some other European nations may also ban veils or burqas, like France has (Headscarf debate returns to spotlight in Europe. http://africa.ibtimes.com/articles/67932/20101002/headscarf-veil-islamic-muslim-veil-france-netherlands-turkey-ban.htm ).

While I do not believe at this time that Geert Wilders will be the final biblical “king of the north”, the fact that he has been rising up in the Netherlands, and now has been acquitted, suggests that many of the Europeans are inclined, even in the 21st century, to accept a more radical top leader than many would have thought possible.

The Bible shows that a European military leader will line up with a religious power from the city of seven hills (Revelation 17) and ultimately defeat the forces of Islam (Daniel 11:40-43).  But before this happens, the ability of leaders to publicly criticize Islam would seem to be necessary.  And this seems to now be legally sanctioned.

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