That Still Leaves One Step Backwards.

[Trigger warning for clergy abuse and virulent homophobia.]

One Step Forward: "In an attempt to prove that the Vatican is heeding criticism of its handling of paedophile priests, the Holy See today issued detailed instructions to its bishops on how to report abuse to the police. ... Francis X Rocca, Vatican correspondent for Religion News Service, said: 'This is a new and notable public emphasis on the need to follow local laws'." Um, good job? Yeesh.

Two Steps Back: "Gay rights groups have expressed outrage over comments made by a senior Vatican official linking homosexuality to child abuse. Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, who also serves as the Vatican's Secretary of State, made the comment during a news conference while on an official visit to Chile. 'Many psychologists, many psychiatrists have demonstrated that there is no relationship between celibacy and pedophilia but many others have demonstrated, I was told recently, that there is a relationship between homosexuality and pedophilia,' he said."

Maybe you should stop having conversations with know-nothing bigoted dipshits then, Cardinal.

[The hat tip for the second story goes to Shaker koach, who quite rightly notes that CNN frames the story "as if gay folks are the only ones angry when the Catholic Church blames pedophilia on homosexuality!" Get it together, CNN.]