Greco-Buddhism, or Graeco-Buddhism, is the Hellenized version of Buddhism which developed over approximately 500 years in areas corresponding to modern-day Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan between the 4th century BCE and the 2th century CE. Greco-Buddhism influenced the conceptual development of Mahayana (Great Vehicle) Buddhism before it spread into China, Korea and Japan. Christianity borrowed heavily from this school of thought (and the Zoroastrians from whom the Judaists borrowed monotheism). There is enough room in the big boat (Vehicle) for everyone.

Rome replaced her old gods (e.g. Jupiter, Minerva) with new ones (e.g. St. Peter, Mary). The old Roman Empire was replaced with the new Roman Catholic Empire.

The Chi-Rho of the Ptolemy family became the Christogram of the new Roman hierarchy.

From these humble (and stolen) beginnings, we fast forward to August 2018.

Pope Francis acknowledged the “atrocities” committed by pedophile priests and the church hierarchy that systematically covered up their crimes. More than one priest was relocated to another archdiocese thereby compelled to leave his altar boys behind.

The pontiff suggested dropping Rome’s long-standing opposition to allowing decades-old cases of rape and molestation by priests to be subject to prosecution and lawsuits. However, there is institutional resistance among Cardinals in the Vatican and Archbishops worldwide to block victims from seeking justice and recompense.

Throughout the United States, top church officials routinely press state lawmakers not to extend the time frame for prosecutors to bring charges against abusive priests or for victims to file civil suits.

There has been no significant reduction in the church’s opposition to extending the statutes of limitations — certainly not since the 2002 revelations of pervasive abuse in Massachusetts, nor after similar exposés in other cities, dioceses, and countries world-wide.

The publication of an exhaustive grand jury report in Pennsylvania provided stunning detail on at least 1,000 children raped or abused by more than 300 priests. That report alone should serve as the conclusion that the institution itself is irredeemable.

The church has spent millions of dollars fighting changes in statutes of limitations to give victims, who often cannot speak for decades about the abuse they suffered as children, more time to bring civil lawsuits.