Catholic church in Ireland covered up child abuse, says report

The victims are now feeling that this has been the right thing that happened to them, the report. The victims may not be compensated but, I think the church must now compensate for it's reputation

"shows clearly that a systemic, calculated perversion of power and trust was visited on helpless and innocent children in the archdiocese"

Power and trust - That is what these victims are suffering - sexually abusing children - is the ultimate abuse of trust and then the cover up.

The Roman Catholic church in Dublin covered up decades of child abuse committed by priests because bishops wanted to protect the church's reputation at the expense of victims, an expert commission reported today after a three-year inquiry into previously secret church records.

Abuse victims said they welcomed publication of the investigation into the mishandling of child abuse cases from 1975 to 2004 in the Dublin archdiocese, home to a quarter of Ireland's 4 million Catholics. But they said government and church leaders had not compensated for past wrongs.

Source: www.guardian.co.uk...

[edit on 26-11-2009 by sunny_2008ny]

If any of these organizations were sorry, they would open up their records.

You'll notice that they don't.

Which should clearly show you that they are "admitting" now only because they have no choice. Not because they have abandonned their pursuit of covering their own butt about screwing other people's butts.

Even their associated groups don't open their records. The Christian Brothers are still protecting their perverts.

This report is a mea culpa with no culpa.

[edit on 2009/11/26 by Aeons]

And why is this not surprising to me at all?

Catholics in Ireland? You don't say!
Catholic clergymen performing acts of sexual abuse? You don't say!

This is going to be one of those issues that will keep sprouting up forever and one of the reason I no longer practice, plus Catholic services are a real bear to deal with on a weekly basis. Some men with "temptations" that are outside of the what the Christian code dictates will join the Church in hopes that their training and vocation will allow a closer relationship with God and prevent them from acting on there wants and desire. All it does is supply a steady supply of trusting people and a perceived power over them.

[edit on 26-11-2009 by badmoviefan]

Originally posted by badmoviefan
. . .
Some men with "temptations" that are outside of the what the Christian code dictates will join the Church in hopes that their training and vocation will allow a closer relationship with God and prevent them from acting on there wants and desire. . . . .

LOL.
Much more likely they saw what priests were able to get away with and joined up for the opportunities.

The rapes of children didn't just happen in a weak moment. Read the victims stories. These priests were patient and cunning. They planned their molestations carefully.

There's been a a cover-up based on self-interest going back decades. It's not some distant past era...mid-90s is part of this process. That means that kids that are still in their teens have experienced this. The Catholic Church hasn't 'endorsed' child-abuse or abuse of authority...it's guilty of putting it's own reputation above the welfare of children under it's care.

It's gotta be a good thing that the spotlight is leaving them with very few avenues of manoeuvre. They have to 'confess,' and take responsibility. Maybe then, the serial offenders won't have the opportunity to commit the abuses that have become associated with the Church.

Some good questions would be: Are the number of abusers disproportionate to the general population? If so, why? What does the Church need to do protect children and vulnerable adults from the abuse of power?

Given the Pope has recently been in South Africa encouraging unprotected sex to a society with a HIV problem...moral reasoning still comes second to self-interest.

Chief Scout or Bishop?

If I was (for example) a Scoutmaster, and I sexually abused children, should I be arrested and tried by a court of law for committing such acts, especially grave as my being responsible for, and in a possession of authority over children? And if the Chief Scout knew about this for many years, and undertook nothing, is he also obliged to answer before a court of law?
If for you, the answer is a definite 'Yes' to both questions, what do you say if I swopped the names Priest for Scoutmaster, and Bishop for Chief Scout - does the answer 'Yes' no longer apply?

Bewildered!

Don't you worry. Other groups have done it too - the Catholic Church just did something it does real well, and made it INSTITUTIONAL. Then hid it. Then continued to feed lamb to the wolves. And blamed the lambs, and forgave the wolves.

They are FAR from the only group to do so. Rabbis, Mullahs, Ministers, Monks, Nuns, Shamans, have all done this.

Much of the abuse was systemic, and its systemic in other groups too.

Not all the abusers were priests. Some were Nuns. Some were the lay people who interfaced with the workhouses, orphanages, etc. But when these men "of charity" were found to be commiting crimes against children it was these men who were protected, and the children and the pooor who were blamed and beaten.

You want to know were the next bad group that these people are floating towards are going? Secular and religious charities. Now they run orphanages and the like in failing states, where there is little oversight. And their works will tarnish the good works of many with their evil.

Good points Aeons.

I posted the following response in another thread about sexual abuse within the Catholic church (it's appropriate here as well)...

Since many members of ATS like to spend part (a large part?) of their pastime criticizing the Catholic church and blaming it for most of the world's ills - or in this thread all of the world's sexually abused children - I thought that a little 'reality' might be in order.

THIS keeps track of all the Jewish clergy (Rabbi's) that are tied to child sexual abuse cases.

AND

THIS website keeps track of ministers from all Protestant denominations that are tied to child sexual abuse cases.

AND

THIS article talking about Jehovah's Witnesses and their problems with child sexual abuse.

Notice how the above 3 links have nothing to do with Catholicism - or more importantly show that child sexual abuse isn't confined to one religion or Christian denomination.

Child sexual abuse took place before the Catholic church and, unfortunately, will probably take place after the Catholic church is gone (or greatly reduced).

Child sexual abuse also takes place away from religious organizations - notice the prevalence of online child pornography and the resulting accusations and arrests.

There are also the stories, from Asia and Africa, of marriages with under age girls that make it into the MSM once in a while - and I'm confident that it happens a lot more than reported.

And the stories of grown men kidnapping and raping underage girls, and having children with them - US and Germany are examples of countries where this has recently taken place.

After Thought: I wasn't even aware of the proliferation of sexual abuse within Judaism until I looked into sexual abuse and how it relates to non-Catholic religious organizations. And, in the spirit of conspiracies, I think that it helps support the idea/argument of a Jewish controlled and manipulated media (unfortunately).

[edit on 27-11-2009 by SneakyB]

[edit on 27-11-2009 by SneakyB]

What is it with the catholics and raping little children? hmmm, lets see.. maybe it's because it's a false religion, and opens one up to demon possesion??? yeah that's about it.