Robert:"if the catholic church hierarchy stops covering up sexual abuse"

It isn't the hierarchy, it was some bishops, and very few of them. There are 4000 bishops: some are bound to be rotten eggs: they don't give up their freewill (as neither do Popes).

Catholics have a strict sexual code.

Greg Lorriman, Leatherhead, UK

Well, the Catholic Church is a political organisation, especially in the UK where it tries to interfere in the making of our legislation, so it should expect to get bad press like any other political organisation when it does something bad no matter how much spin-doctoring it employs.

David Jones, Loughborough, UK

Well, thank goodness for the critical lmedia. And blogs on the internet. For the first time in my long life, in which I've been continually inflicted with absurd radio and TV faith propaganda, I have the chance to answer back. And I take great delight in doing so. That's called freedom of speech.

alan, germany,

I think the morale may be that if the catholic church hierarchy stops covering up sexual abuse and stops behaving in an unethical way towards victims who seek compensation in the courts, then it might be possible for more people to be less critical of them.

Robert

Robert Black, Livingston, Scotland

The BBC blog always follows the ABC and ABC is actively anti "conservative". Last election: ABC current affairs show anchored by former Labor staffer while nightly news woman stood against the conservative PM and even its weatherman stood against another Minister! Now they're gunning for Catholics!

Edwatd, Sydney,

i attended WYD and there actually were other relkigions there, most other demoninations were positive about it, good on JPII!!! All you Catholic haters should be ashamed of yourselves, get your information right and stop the religous discrimation- get a life!!!!!!!!!!!!

mina, sydney, australia

I've been in Sydney this past week mixing with many non-catholic locals. Whilst the media is undoubtedly influential, most Sydneysiders I've spoken to seem to have made up their own minds. The 'warmth and delight' is present but by no means universal.

Maria, London,

'World' Youth Day? I haven't seen any other religions at this event. This should be called 'Catholic' Youth Day, for starters... & yes, this is the perfect time to address issues such as the child sexual abuse that is so rife in the catholic church!
Erin: Get your head out of the sand!

Shayne Coles, Sydney, Australia

The other story covered by the media was the rights awarded by a magistrate to distribute condoms to pilgrims who are the guests of the Catholic Church and first time visitors to Australia and I sent several messages to the daily telegraph expressing my outrage none of which were published.

Michael, Sydney, Australia

The young folks at WYD will All become more aware that the media is in the hands of the enemy from this experience. This
is a good thing. Now we must boycott the newspapers, magazines, and TV news that lies for their diabolical cause.
Robert Epperly Author, Sons of Thunder.

robert epperly, Weaverville, USA

The BBC has a worldwide reputation for being a bigoted government dependent conglomerate but I admit to being taken by surprise at the Australian media. Millions of Catholics all over the world are watching and very saddened. On an upbeat note, the Church WYD organizers did an awesome job.

Aine, bronxville, USA

The world has seen it's share of popes. Needless to say in my own personal life, and the lives of millions I have no need for any pope or alledged nonsense of being God's world authority and man's moral conscience. I wish to live in a world with NO Pope At All.

Terry Lenick, Mt. Prospect Il. 60056, America - The great USA

"Hard Hearted"? Because the Press has written about and reported on the world wide sexual victimization of the children of the Roman Catholic Church? As a survivor of clergy sexual victimization, I was raped, betrayed and abandoned by my church. THAT, IS HARD HEARTED!! Thank GOD for the Press.

Victoria Martin, San Pedro, California, USA

Who cares about the press coverage? Do we get our direction from the Father in Heaven or the 'press' on earth?

charles dimech, sydney, australia

I was amazed at how negative the Australian press has been about the WYD. We watched EWTN and saw the Pope arriving by boat and thought - wow what a fabulous place (Sidney)would be to visit but after reading how vehemently anti Catholic it is , we dont think we would be comfortable going there.

L D , Suffolk, USA

The media is obsessed with anything to do with sex,and if it relates to the Catholic Church then so much better. WYD is not the time or place to deal with issues of clerical abuse. Let the youth of the world enjoy what they came to Sydney for, as heaven knows there is enough ugliness in the world.

erin, Canberra, Australia

The impartial BBC never reports that the paedophile rate amoung catholic priests is lower than among the fathers of children. Paedophilia is not a Catholic problem: but the brainwashing attampts of the media surely is a serious problem when clergyman now wear civilian clothes to avoid being punched.

Greg Lorriman, Leatherhead, UK

I, as a Catholic in the very Catholic Philippines, am very worried about all that negative energy and news coming from Australia. Is it not that Catholics are the majority of Christians down under? If not then what happened? So negative, so uncelebrating, the festive spirit is gone, downtrodden.

Aaron Lecciones, Pasig, Philippines

How right that the media is biased. Strange how they seldom (if ever) mention the abuse by school teachers. I wonder how many school districts have had to pay millions to students who have been sexually abused by their teachers. I don't hear anyone apologizing for that abuse!

Cora, Saratoga, NY, USA

"Surprise surprise surprise!" The media is filled with the good and the bad, mostly controlled by the Hollywood and Eastern part of the US. It's no surprise to me that they ignore our Holy Father Benedict; they would have been the same one promoting the crucifixion of Our Lord Jesus Christ!

Mary, USA,

The impartial BBC never reports that the paedophile rate amoung catholic priests is lower than among the fathers of children. Paedophilia is not a Catholic problem: but the brainwashing attampts of the media surely is a serious problem when clergyman now wear civilian clothes to avoid being punched.

Greg Lorriman, Leatherhead, UK

The media in Australia, hate what they can not control and influence.

Media, the world over, know the press gives power. That is why the rich own papers and T.V stations.

The press lose control when the faityhful gather at events like WYD. They press don't set the adenda, and so they attack

Paul Hickey, Albury, Australia

Jim,

you're right.

Generally the media is quite anti-Christianity, particularly re: Catholics or Evangelicals. I don't know if its secular institutional bias or market forces: sex sells!

I mean who cares about the thousands in Burma, Zimbabwe or Iraq surviving on church provision?

Nathan, Maputo, Mozambique

And true to form, the world-wide media have ignored this event. My Internet home page, Google, had one, only one entry on this event, and it led with the BBC lead line abour clerical abuse.

Seems no one wants to hear "good news" these days. Maybe because the "Good News" is counter-cultural.

Jim Stagg, Atmore, AL, USA