AWKWARD ZOMBIE

The lack of prosecution for the paedophilia cases is because the Church itself covered everything up so the authorities didn't know anything about it. When the crimes came to light, unfortunately the cases had aged (idk if that's the correct term), at least here in Belgium. I don't think that system is in the US so: when a crime happened over 30 years ago (I think), you can't prosecute for it any more.

Wasn't it on record that some people went to the police and it just kinda faded away into the background for various reasons including "But he's a priest..."?

I mean, yeah, most of the cases were swept under before authorities could be notified, but I remember news stories about how a few tried to get action taken and it just didn't work out because the authorities didn't do much because personal conflicts.

The paedophilia cases caused a shitton of public outrage and further alienation of the population with the Church body. As for the investigation, that is still on going I believe and more cases are being brought into light. As far as I know they haven't started prosecuting anybody yet though (because all cases are aged). As far as I know all clergy involved have resigned from their positions, including a loved and progressive cardinal who wasn't guilty of sexual crimes himself but was involved in the cover-up. I do not recall any mention of them being given special treatment for being clergy. Also, in case you didn't know 27% of the population identifies as non-religious, so Catholicism isn't that big of an influence here, especially since most believers are hardly devoted. Empty churches and all that.

I cannot speak for what happened in other countries though, didn't follow that.

The same applies here in the Netherlands. Churches are emptying out and both by the fact that people stop attending and the aged members of the community die. The sex scandal caused a shit ton of outrage and the investigations are still ongoing.

Everywhere he looked, there were empty churches. God had his place in the Old World, that's for sure. But God died with the Calamity. Word is, some folks said that God was dead before that. That the young ones lost faith, stopped believing. The only believers left were those of an older generation. And that generation was dying out. Dying with God.

Nobody really knew what caused the decline. Some say it was a scandal. Others say the downward spiral was around before that. That the scandal only reflected a truth that had been in effect long before. Maybe what they say is true. Maybe God did die before the Calamity. But one thing's for sure.

God died with the Old World.

Nah, God is too flexible to go down with such a simple thing as a church. He loves people far more than he loves their customs. And he cares about what you do. He doesnt care for instuitutions that carry their own desires over hos own though (Haha, that sounds zealous but its not quite what you have in mind about hating other religions XD ). And its rather individual too, in a general way; try to imagine a supercomputer with enough memory to register your every whim and like, and work off each individually. As well as keeping a backlog of your ancestors actions and how he cared for them too with perfect accuracy. Your right though: The Church is a withered old plant that should have been uprooted centuries ago.

Besides, God isnt dead. Far from it. Hell just take a new form of message. After all, that is smart, and Gods the kind of dude to make smart moves. Its not about forcing people to convert; Its not about pounding down your door at 2 AM in the morning to talk to you about Jesus; Its not about pleading for peoples eternal souls and calling them damned when they show up naked to your door/with a shotgun/combo of both or worse ; its much like a quiet radiance of happiness that improves everyones lives that involve themselves with you. Its about setting an example where you are not pushy, where you do not force, where you suggest gently, and move on when things dont go your way. Plain and simple.

Regardless of whether or not he believes in God, the Narrator is playing a character, yo. He's going all...well, Bastion Narrator on several posts in AZ.

aaaand it's really annoying so yeah

He was Defenestrator 2.0 before. Then apparently a mod gave him a name change.

.. I just read that post in the Narrators voice.

Screw annoying that was AWESOME.

If you really find it so annoying you can just add him to the foes list so you don't see his posts?

The kid looked at the man. It was clear from his face that he had rage burning inside like a crackling wildfire. Kid wondered what he did to wrong him. All he did was talk. Weren't nothing wrong with talking, unless you were in a library. But this wasn't a library, it was a forum. A place made for talking.

And here the man wanted him to stop.

Kid dropped into a combat pose, raised his hands. He was quick. He wondered if his opponent was quicker. Only one way to tell.

Kid preferred to let his fists do the talking anyway.