Church Failed to Inform Irish Police About Abuse. Made victims swear to silence

[RainDog]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/mar/14/irish-catholic-church-cardinal-brady

The head of the Catholic church in Ireland should consider standing down over revelations that he knew about an alleged cover-up involving the country's most notorious paedophile priest, child abuse victims said today.

Cardinal Sean Brady said today that he had been present at a closed canonical tribunal into the activities of the late Father Brendan Smyth. During the meeting, two of Smyth's child victims were made to sign an oath to the Catholic church that they would not talk about their claims with anybody other than a priest.

It was not until the broadcast of an Ulster Television documentary in 1994 on Smyth's history of serial child sex abuse that the church admitted it had known about his paedophilia and had moved him around Ireland, Britain and the US, where he was able to continue to abuse other children.

Smyth died in jail 13 years ago while serving 12 years for 74 sexual assaults on children.

The Irish Survivors of Child Abuse co-founder Patrick Walsh said: "This is an extraordinary turn of events where the most senior Catholic man in Ireland knew about allegations of child abuse more than 30 years ago. These revelations confirm there was a systemic problem within the Roman Catholic church in Ireland over a great number of years. It went to the very top.

[Sultana]

1. Throw these pedos all in jail

and then castrate them.

[RainDog]

3. I'd be content to bankrupt the organization

open the vatican as a museum, use the proceeds to feed, clothe and house the poor of the world.

those who were called to the ministry to help the poor and sick will still have their calling.

those who are bureaucrats who exist to replicate abuse are not needed.

those who abused children and those who covered up for and thus propagated this abuse should be in prison.

[Sultana]

7. ok, that's a better plan

[cliffordu]

8. No - just jail will be enough.. No one lower on the food chain that those scumsuckers

[Maccagirl]

2. Despicable and indefensible

How the church hierarchy can live with itself is beyond my comprehension. I will retch when they offer their "We're sorry-so, so sorry. Please forgive us." No. you should never be forgiven.

[RainDog]

4. they failed to report the crimes.

AND put the kids in a horrific situation in which the abusers continued to hold power over them. this is the classic set up for PTSD for abuse victims.

[Poll_Blind]

5. The most astounding thing to me is that abuse of children is universally repellant. And yet...

...even this, I guess you could call it the "gold standard" of odious behavior, is covered up.

Although this sort of thing is not limited to them by any means, this is far more sickening an aspect of the Catholic church than even the practice of indulgences. Obviously, by leaps and bounds more destructive.

This is why I believe deeply in spirituality but am repelled by the thought of organized religion as much as hereditary rule.

PB

[loudsue]

6. Totally agree. n/t

K & R

:kick:

[Rageneau]

9. Was it not prophesized that the Catholic Church would fall one day?

Many think the following verse of prophecy applies to the Holy Roman Catholic Church, the largest and most powerful Christian religion in the world -- long thought incapable of ever "falling."

REV 18:2


With a mighty voice he shouted:
"Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!
She has become a home for demons
and a haunt for every evil spirit,
a haunt for every unclean and detestable bird.
For all the nations have drunk
the maddening wine of her adulteries.
The kings of the earth committed adultery with her,
and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries."

As Father O'Malley said, "Going my way?"