Monkhood is ripe for reform

EDITORIAL

Published: 15 Mar 2013 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

When Pope Benedict XVI announced his resignation last month, the shock generated by his decision was soon replaced by global admiration. Here is a man at the apex of the powerful Roman Catholic Church which commands more than 1.2 billion members across the globe. Yet the 85-year-old pontiff dared to do the unthinkable. Citing his advanced age, he decided to step down to let the new pontiff take on the challenges which he admitted were beyond his physical capabilities.

Yesterday, the world rejoiced in welcoming the new pontiff, Pope Francis, whose well-known humility and dedication to the poor in his former capacity as Argentina's archbishop of Buenos Aires _ and also as the first non-European pope in the modern era, the first Latin American, and the first Jesuit _ has renewed hope for reform in the Vatican.

His decision to assume the name of St Francis of Assisi who was revered as the reformer of the Church also speaks volumes of his character and mission.

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whatajoke
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Discussion 8 : 16 Mar 2013 at 11.068
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The Buddhist sangha is not without its sex scandals, and corruption, but its comparatively minor. Monks who are caught out are generally forced to disrobe in shame by the community, not covered up by the abbots.
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felixqui
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Discussion 7 : 15 Mar 2013 at 17.217
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It might help to cut the ties that make the Thai version of Buddhism a tool of the Thai government, and therefore somewhat remote from the Buddha version of Buddhism.

Are Thai politicians really the people we want in charge of something that is supposed to be honest, spiritual and even ... selfless?
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jck
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Discussion 6 : 15 Mar 2013 at 15.226
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Disc #1. 20 years is only how long the Catholic church scandals have been in the news. More likely they have existed for hundreds of years but there was no means of easily disseminating the disgraceful actions to the general public.
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jacksprat
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Discussion 5 : 15 Mar 2013 at 10.405
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Remember the 1980s when Wat Chana Songram was still a refuge for animals rescued from the slaughterhouse, a quiet sanctuary in the heart of Banglamphu? A later abbot got rid of the animals and turned the temple grounds into a car park. Money is god.
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jimbly
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Discussion 4 : 15 Mar 2013 at 09.514
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"Their duty is to be living proof that it is indeed possible to live a life of equanimity free from greed, anger and delusion of self." The proof is in the pudding. These monks are proving that it is IMPOSSIBLE, for imperfect humans, to live such a life
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spiceman
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Discussion 3 : 15 Mar 2013 at 09.433
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Any organized religions will fall, sooner or later, Roman Catholicism included PERIOD!
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Eggmeng
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Discussion 2 : 15 Mar 2013 at 08.222
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The interest in Buddhism may not be declining, but interest in supporting power hungry corrupt organizations is.

Organized religion has always served the organizers far more than the followers. It can, should and will die out in time, and with luck we will find our spirituality in a love of the natural world that supports our existence, and in our relationships.
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naomi
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Discussion 1 : 15 Mar 2013 at 05.171
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Amen! The Catholic Church has been in this sex scandal for about 20 years now. It put them on the spot. The Church's foundation was shaken. But 20 years later, I think they are stronger. They faced the perpetrator and saved the victims and future victims. We now see that this power abuse is everywhere, every culture. The Buddhist temple can learn from this, if they have a strong group of monks that's will to say - change.
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Monkhood is ripe for reform | Bangkok Post: opinion