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Sexual abuse by clergy and Church coverups

A couple of months back I watched the confronting US Doco "Deliver us from Evil" ( http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/deliver-us-from-evil/ ) which documents the sexual abuse committed by one Catholic priest in particular, and the Church hierarchy's lack of action over decades, allowing the priest to constantly re-offend as they transferred him between parishes, despite their knowledge of his actions on each occasion.

Amazingly, over 100,000 children in the US alone have now made accusations of sexual abuse by clergy. To this day the Church refuse to release information to the Police citing confidentiality, while the Police have over 500 investigations underway into sexual abuse by clergy in California alone.

Even more amazingly, the Church will soon begin paying the former priest (who is now a free man living in Ireland) a pension.

Only in America?

Unfortunately, no. Last night's 4 Corners, entitled "Unholy Silence" ( http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/stories/2012/06/28/3535079.htm ) documented a remarkably similar case in Australia.

A former priest, (known only as Father F for legal reasons) has been allegedly abusing young boys since the 1980s. The Church became aware of allegations in 1983, but refused to speak to other potential victims and instead employed Australia's top QC to defend the priest against new charges, then transferred him to another parish where he allegedly reoffended. In 1992 he admitted to the charges in an interview with 3 other clergy, but the Church did not pass this information to Police.

In writing a report about the interview, one of the clergy made no mention of the effect on the victims but lamented the bad publicity that the events would have on the Church, should the victim(s) go public! Several of those victims are now dead, having committed suicide.

The former priest is a free man to this day, living in Armidale and working with children.

4 corners also documented other cases where Australian priests accused of sexual abuse have been relocated to overseas posts and refused to return to Australia on the direction of the church hierarchy.

The state of Victoria has begun an enquiry into sexual abuse by Churches/religious groups. That's not enough. There needs to be a Commonwealth Royal Commission to investigate this issue, with full powers to get past the coverups.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Rory Donnellan on July 3, 2012 at 8:13pm

While Cardinal Pell has done well to combat climate change, in other areas his leadership has been dismal. There can be no denying that the Catholic Church has been in one horrible mess for several decades. While scandal is nothing new, the current crisis in the Catholic Church is remarkable for the prevalence of unnatural vice. Unfortunately this is not a problem confined to America or Australia - it's worldwide and extends even to the Vatican. Even in much better times for the Church, the great St John Chrysostom famously remarked that the "floors of hell were paved with the skulls of rotten bishops". The fact the Catholic Church has survived so many scandals and corrupt leaders (including popes) is further proof of Divine guidance. Napoleon once threatened a French Cardinal that he would soon destroy the Catholic Church to which the Cardinal responded "No you won't - not even us Cardinals have been able to destroy the Church!"

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Permalink Reply by Dr Caroline Wright on July 3, 2012 at 8:15pm

Indeed I have tried Dennis and told him that it was not his fault...but he has carried this for so long I do not think he is able to let go. But I do very much appreciate your honesty and advise.

Kind regards

Caroline

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Permalink Reply by Phillip Watson on July 3, 2012 at 8:36pm

It's also not confined to the Catholic Church. A relation-by-marriage of mine recently discovered his own children had been abused by his father, a Pentecostal minister. Tragically, the man subsequently committed suicide, and later the minister received just a ~3 year sentence for his crimes.

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Permalink Reply by Barbara lee on July 4, 2012 at 3:15pm

Hello Phill, I feel as I've known you all my life, as I have a phill with 2 Ls at home as well.

It’s not natural for a priest to live a life of celibacy, would do better if allowed to be married. Unfortunately the Catholic Church became a great hiding ground for these so called creatures to hide, as they were well look after fed and clothed and access to children all they can handle. Also have given the good prist a bad name. I feel the church hasn’t handled it well at all, trying to harsh it all up as fast as they come out. But had scared many for life. Must be so horrible to cope with especial when very valuable and little and always had to do what you were told to do. You have to wonder what rock did they crawl out from under, and what made them how they were, what sort of upbringing or was it inbuilt in the gens handed down to them. To have such a horrible affect of tormenting another life and scaring a young boys life is just awful.

I had a different fate nowhere near as bad as that, but I was a Sacred Heart girl, and I was so scared of this one particular nun, as my half brother and sister were really monsters at school, so when I started I was tarred with the same brush. We had this head Nun her name said it all, Sister Columkill. I was so frighten to learn, and was made to stand in front of her every now and then for nothing. But she wanted to make sure I wasn’t about to start anything either, I was so shy and timid, but they thought I was going to be like my half brother and sister. And so cope it, even a cain or a strap across the knuckles, I was litterly too frighten to go to school and it did impaired me in not wanting to learn, too dam frighten too.

Its so not like that now thank goodness.

Often wonder what the different ones that were going backwards and forwards to the convent or the house where the priest lived what for did they have to go. Hmm. My school was a fairly big one and the convent was double story. If those walls could talk . The catholic heads tried to cover it up quickly but there’s too many, I call them scum bags. I have a brilliant Priest so down to earth you can talk to him about anything. It’s a shame there were’t 30 more like him. I get so mad when hearing of the scum bags damage their caused to many. When I go off to mass now on Sunday Phil often says are you going to visit the pedophiles again. It actual gets me so mad that these creatures have given the Micks a bad name.

Barb

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Permalink Reply by Dr Caroline Wright on July 4, 2012 at 5:05pm

As sexual abuse of young children is a crime it should be handled by the Justice System. To have the Church in charge is wrong because they have a conflict of interest. This is my opinion anyway.

Kind regards

Caroline

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Permalink Reply by Barbara lee on July 5, 2012 at 8:24am

Hello Girls, The law would have to be involved, with all the different back lashing coming out, and millions that had be awarded to that said person, and I think one or two have been jailed in the ex stream cases, but kept under wrap as much as possible, and publicity kept low keyed at all times, the ones that have been affected would have to at one stage, signed some sort of statement saying its all been true and that alone would carry a jail sentence if found untrue. So the law would have to be involved in the really bad cases surly. And with the ones coming forward, wouldn't they've approach the police first up to file the complaint, I know they do deal with their own kind, but when it crosses the line, doesn't that then become a police matter anyway.

Barb

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Permalink Reply by Rory Donnellan on July 5, 2012 at 1:51pm

Reporting the matter to the police doesn't always solve the problem. When Vatican banker Roberto Calvi was murdered in a masonic ritual under Blackfriars Bridge, the Italian police issued a warrant for the arrest of Archbishop Paul Marcinkus. The Vatican hid the likely perpetrator, and then pleaded diplomatic immunity so the case never came to trial.

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Permalink Reply by Dr Caroline Wright on July 5, 2012 at 2:36pm

If one goes back 25 to 30+ years before all this abuse came to light, a young person who was abused would suffer from feelings of guilt because they would know that it was wrong. They would also be conflicted because the person who abused them was in a position of authority and would probably be of the same faith. Would not that young person wonder if it was wrong then why was the adult doing such 'bad things' to him/her?

This conflict would either result in them remaining silent or telling a parent. History tells us that many of the abused children remained silent and had to live with the hate and guilt they were feeling. If the parent was of a strong faith in those days would the parent believe the child? Would the parent take action?

I think that today it would be different because of all the publicity. Today it would be reported, hopefully, to the Police.

Kind regards

Caroline

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Permalink Reply by Phillip Watson on July 5, 2012 at 4:12pm

That's a bit Scary Denise! Did he say this out loud, or under his breath? I think I'd be keeping a very close eye on him.

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Permalink Reply by Rory Donnellan on July 5, 2012 at 10:11pm

When Bernard Cardinal Law of Boston was wanted for questioning by US police with regard to hundreds of sodomy charges by priests of his archdiocese, he was promptly pulled from Boston and promoted to a more senior position at the Vatican by Pope John Paul 2 - where he too could enjoy diplomatic immunity. Naturally, diplomatic immunity does not apply when facing the Just Judge on Judgement Day - the only Court where perfect justice is assured. Let's hope all disordered clergy avail themselves of every opportunity for a sincere confession and penance beforehand. Of course, if Cardinal Pell was told any information during Confession, he would be bound by the seal of Confession, and could never divulge the details to ANYONE. In such a case (hypothetical as that may be) Cardinal Pell could be defended to the hilt.

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Permalink Reply by Phillip Watson on July 5, 2012 at 11:23pm

The fact such information was received in confession is not (or should not be) an "out" for failing to take action against such heinous crimes against children. If any member of the clergy has such crimes admitted to them, in any place or fashion, they have an obligation to report those crimes and ensure they are investigated and the perpetrators brought to justice. This is particularly the case should the crimes be ongoing.

Can you imagine a person (clergy or not) confessing such sins while continuing to perpetrate them again and again? How would the receiver of such a confession feel, should the same person come to him month after month to confess additional, ongoing crimes?

The obligation of the receiver of such confessions is not to the confessor, but to the protection of current and future innocent victims, whose lives will most likely be destroyed should he fail to report the crimes he has been advised of.

Whether the perpetrators will eventually be brought to justice by a higher power (if such is your belief) is totally irrelevant, and does nothing to help the victims.

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Permalink Reply by Rory Donnellan on July 6, 2012 at 7:43am

Phillip,

You are wrong on this point. The seal of Confession takes precedence over the obligation to report crimes to the State.

Phillip Watson said:

If any member of the clergy has such crimes admitted to them, in any place or fashion, they have an obligation to report those crimes and ensure they are investigated and the perpetrators brought to justice. This is particularly the case should the crimes be ongoing.