--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We're not at a point in time to be taking…" description: "\"We're not at a point in time to be taking chances with children and young people in the church. The Holy Father himself said... there is no room in the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c7/roger-mahony-25696_abused_we-re-not-at-a-point-in-time-to-be-takin_294881.jpg" --- # We're not at a point in time to be taking chances with… ![“We're not at a point in time to be taking chances with children and young people in the church. The Holy Father himself said... there is no room in the priesthood or religious life for someone who has abused a child. I think he's right.” quote by Roger Mahony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c7/roger-mahony-25696_abused_we-re-not-at-a-point-in-time-to-be-takin_294881.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c7/roger-mahony-25696_abused_we-re-not-at-a-point-in-time-to-be-takin_294881.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c7/roger-mahony-25696_abused_we-re-not-at-a-point-in-time-to-be-takin_294881.jpg) > “We're not at a point in time to be taking chances with children and young people in the church. The Holy Father himself said... there is no room in the priesthood or religious life for someone who has abused a child. I think he's right.” [Roger Mahony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-mahony/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote warns against allowing individuals who have harmed children to hold positions of authority in religious institutions, emphasizing protection over opportunity. **In simple terms:** Protect children by barring abusers from church roles. Key Takeaway Prioritize safety over chance. Themes protection ethics leadership accountability Mood concerned serious protective Type ethical warning When to use this quote - church hiring - screening processes - policy making - community vigilance Key Concepts child safety institutional trust abuse prevention Questions to Reflect On - How can institutions balance forgiveness with protection? - What safeguards ensure no future abuse? A Different Perspective It may overlook rehabilitation possibilities for offenders. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Holy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holy/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Priesthood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/priesthood/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) [Religious life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious-life/) [Take a chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/take-a-chance/) [Taking chances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taking-chances/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Young people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-people/) ## Related quotes > [“He loathes what he has left behind him, and it is natural to guess that, in his first years of priesthood, his religious nature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/he-loathes-what-he-has-left-behind-him-and-it-is-natural-to-guess/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [“An abused child never feels safe, growing up. The wrong that this child has gone through can never be seen or easily imagined by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-dsouza/an-abused-child-never-feels-safe-growing-up-the-wrong-that-this-child/) [Patricia Dsouza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-dsouza/) > [Polanski was an abused child. And he flew too near to the sun too quickly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-lipman/polanski-was-an-abused-child-and-he-flew-too-near-to-the-sun-too/) [Maureen Lipman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-lipman/) > [The abused child goes on living within those who have survived such torture, a torture that ended with total repression. They live with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-miller/the-abused-child-goes-on-living-within-those-who-have-survived-such/) [Alice Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-miller/) > [Everyone is an abused child, if you think about what governments do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-roth/everyone-is-an-abused-child-if-you-think-about-what-governments-do/) [Tim Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-roth/) > [Maybe someone was abused as a child. May be they were having a bad day. May be they're running away from something and their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/maybe-someone-was-abused-as-a-child-may-be-they-were-having-a-bad-day/) Senoraroy > [“Imagine Cara caring enough to make a police report about an abused child knowing the information will likely be unwelcome to the police, enraging…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/de-becker-gavin/imagine-cara-caring-enough-to-make-a-police-report-about-an-abused/) de Becker, Gavin > [“When we learn to recognize the unique quality of Memory-Dreams, we are empowered. The abused child within us is using them to talk to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanne-mcelvaney/when-we-learn-to-recognize-the-unique-quality-of-memory-dreams-we-are/) [Jeanne McElvaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanne-mcelvaney/) > [“There are many differing viewpoints on nature versus nurture, and there are those who believe that bad behavior can be excused and understood if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosemary-altea/there-are-many-differing-viewpoints-on-nature-versus-nurture-and/) [Rosemary Altea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosemary-altea/) > [You know all that sympathy that you feel for an abused child who suffers without a good mom or dad to love and care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashly-lorenzana/you-know-all-that-sympathy-that-you-feel-for-an-abused-child-who/) [Ashly Lorenzana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashly-lorenzana/) > [Religious life ought to promote growth in the Church by way of attraction. The Church must be attractive. Wake up the world! Be witnesses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/religious-life-ought-to-promote-growth-in-the-church-by-way-of/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [The test of a man’s religious life and character is not what he does in the exceptional moments of life, but what he does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-test-of-a-man-s-religious-life-and-character-is-not-what-he-does/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [“In the end, ethical interpretation of the Bible means to think critically about how our practices of textual engagement might help us to become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-brueggemann/in-the-end-ethical-interpretation-of-the-bible-means-to-think/) [Walter Brueggemann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-brueggemann/) > [For whatever else the religious life may be, it is the fountain of self-knowledge and disillusion, the safest form of psychoanalysis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cs-lewis/for-whatever-else-the-religious-life-may-be-it-is-the-fountain-of/) [CS Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cs-lewis/) > [“Mother Teresa, when asked about her holiness or saintliness, always answers in a matter-of-fact way that holiness is a necessity of life--and explains that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucinda-vardey/mother-teresa-when-asked-about-her-holiness-or-saintliness-always/) Lucinda Vardey ## More by Roger Mahony > [It appears fashionable these days, and almost politically correct, to blame hard-working immigrants, especially those from Mexico and Central America, for the social and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-mahony/it-appears-fashionable-these-days-and-almost-politically-correct-to/) [Roger Mahony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-mahony/) > [A lot of victims, for example, have become addicted to alcohol and drugs. It seems to me that the church's healing ministry is going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-mahony/a-lot-of-victims-for-example-have-become-addicted-to-alcohol-and/) [Roger Mahony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-mahony/) > [Canon law itself says for one case of guilt, a priest can be dismissed from the clerical state. One.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-mahony/canon-law-itself-says-for-one-case-of-guilt-a-priest-can-be-dismissed/) [Roger Mahony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-mahony/) > [The church also does not condone a broken immigration system in the U.S., one that too easily can lead to the exploitation, abuse and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-mahony/the-church-also-does-not-condone-a-broken-immigration-system-in-the-u/) [Roger Mahony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-mahony/) > [Any society, any nation, is judged on the basis of how it treats its weakest members - the last, the least, the littlest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-mahony/any-society-any-nation-is-judged-on-the-basis-of-how-it-treats-its/) [Roger Mahony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-mahony/) > [By and large the United States has been able to resist the temptation to close its doors to the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-mahony/by-and-large-the-united-states-has-been-able-to-resist-the-temptation/) [Roger Mahony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-mahony/) > [With respect to Holy Communion, it is up to the communicant to decide whether they are in a state of grace and worthy to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-mahony/with-respect-to-holy-communion-it-is-up-to-the-communicant-to-decide/) [Roger Mahony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-mahony/) > [The nature of our two main political parties has changed in the United States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-mahony/the-nature-of-our-two-main-political-parties-has-changed-in-the/) [Roger Mahony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-mahony/) > [I think that together the church has learned a lot, and as we know from our own oversight board, the involvement of our wonderful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-mahony/i-think-that-together-the-church-has-learned-a-lot-and-as-we-know/) [Roger Mahony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-mahony/) > [It's hard to determine where lies culpability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-mahony/it-s-hard-to-determine-where-lies-culpability/) [Roger Mahony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-mahony/) > [Our country stands at a critical point in its history. Our heritage as a nation of immigrants is at stake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-mahony/our-country-stands-at-a-critical-point-in-its-history-our-heritage-as/) [Roger Mahony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-mahony/) > [I personally believe, as church law sets out, that sanctions are an absolute last resort, particularly penal sanctions of depriving people of the sacraments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-mahony/i-personally-believe-as-church-law-sets-out-that-sanctions-are-an/) [Roger Mahony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-mahony/) > [Most analysts would agree that if all the undocumented immigrants in California were deported in one day, our state would experience a severe economic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-mahony/most-analysts-would-agree-that-if-all-the-undocumented-immigrants-in/) [Roger Mahony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-mahony/) > [I find it inconceivable that we're meeting for five and a half days, and there isn't one moment on the agenda to deal with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-mahony/i-find-it-inconceivable-that-we-re-meeting-for-five-and-a-half-days/) [Roger Mahony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-mahony/) > [We should embrace our immigrant roots and recognize that newcomers to our land are not part of the problem, they are part of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-mahony/we-should-embrace-our-immigrant-roots-and-recognize-that-newcomers-to/) [Roger Mahony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-mahony/) [Explore all 22 Roger Mahony quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-mahony/) ## More Abused quotes > [One of the most abused country on earth is Mexico. The marketing spills over the border, and people are persuaded to eat food that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raj-patel/one-of-the-most-abused-country-on-earth-is-mexico-the-marketing/) [Raj Patel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raj-patel/) > [“Too many cases thrown out of court, too much pop-psycho crap, satanic bullshit... if you FEEL you've been abused, you HAVE been!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kellerman/too-many-cases-thrown-out-of-court-too-much-pop-psycho-crap-satanic/) [Jonathan Kellerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kellerman/) > [“Rather than being incensed by the nature of the bruise, maybe we should be inspired by the possibilities in the bruise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/rather-than-being-incensed-by-the-nature-of-the-bruise-maybe-we/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“I used to teach at an abused children's home. I told the kids, "You all have a manure pile of memories. Nothing you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-o-donnell/i-used-to-teach-at-an-abused-children-s-home-i-told-the-kids-you-all/) [Rebecca O'Donnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-o-donnell/) > [Early on in my life, I had a broken soul. I was abused by my father, abandoned by my mother and ended up in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/early-on-in-my-life-i-had-a-broken-soul-i-was-abused-by-my-father/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [“I'm 80% done with The Darker Side of Trey : "It was a pitiful truth. That people seemed unwilling to see the abused, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-spears/i-m-80-done-with-the-darker-side-of-trey-it-was-a-pitiful-truth-that/) Tara Spears > [Praise makes me humble, but when I am abused, I know that I have touched the stars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gyles-brandreth/praise-makes-me-humble-but-when-i-am-abused-i-know-that-i-have/) [Gyles Brandreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gyles-brandreth/) > [I’ve abused myself a lot over the years. But my voice is still intact – really, it’s better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-cliff/i-ve-abused-myself-a-lot-over-the-years-but-my-voice-is-still-intact/) [Jimmy Cliff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-cliff/) > [I've been chased. I've been pushed. I've been screamed at. I've been verbally abused. I've been afraid for my safety. But I did it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howie-mandel/i-ve-been-chased-i-ve-been-pushed-i-ve-been-screamed-at-i-ve-been/) [Howie Mandel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howie-mandel/) > [“The book is open, spine cracked, abused in a way no one with respect for paper should ever do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erika-swyler/the-book-is-open-spine-cracked-abused-in-a-way-no-one-with-respect/) [Erika Swyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erika-swyler/) > [I ask my friend -what is your story?- because I want to give the answer of mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-ask-my-friend-what-is-your-story-because-i-want-to-give-the-answer/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Some people have never been loved, they've only been disrespected, used, cheated on, abused and hurt that's why they don't trust anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/some-people-have-never-been-loved-they-ve-only-been-disrespected-used/) [SONYA PARKER](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [The term 'doctor' has been so abused lately! I didn't live in a hospital for 10 years so that term could be bastardized.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-pinsky/the-term-doctor-has-been-so-abused-lately-i-didn-t-live-in-a-hospital/) [Drew Pinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-pinsky/) > [“Abuse ambushed my life, I could not love myself truly and could never have a healthy relationship, they were either abused or completely impaired.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-dsouza/abuse-ambushed-my-life-i-could-not-love-myself-truly-and-could-never/) [Patricia Dsouza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-dsouza/) > [Books are the best of things, well used; abused, among the worst...They are for nothing but to inspire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/books-are-the-best-of-things-well-used-abused-among-the-worst-they/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) Browse all 293 Abused quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We're not at a point in time to be taking chances with children and young people in the church. 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