2006-10-01 20:58:32 · 15 answers · asked by JOHN jen 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
if you did not watch the programme it was about the cover up by bishops in the catholic church after priests have sexualy abused young children all over the world
2006-10-01 21:25:38 · update #1
Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger-now Pope Benedict XVI - was instrumental in enforcing a church law threatening victims of clerical abuse with excommunication if they broke their silence.
The incidence of clerical abuse is widespread: In the small Co Wicklow diocese of ferns alone, 26 priests have been accused of abusing 100 girls and boys.
In poor countires like Brazil the families of victims are made even more vulnerable by their poverty, and in America more than 4,000 priests have come under suspicion... the Vatican itself acting as a refuge for priests driven from their parishes by abuse scandal.
The Vatican still refuses to assist civil authorities in their enquiries into abuse cases , in fact it does all in it's power to hinder and block them in an attempt to keep knowledge of clerical abuse getting out displaying only self-interest in protecting the reputation of the church and contempt for the victims of this abuse.
2006-10-01 21:24:39 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
OMG, I was horrified watching this program.......I knew this sort of thing went on as I have read alot of books about Ireland years ago and the church institution there involving nuns and priests, but I did not know that it was covered up by higher priests and bishops etc.
Then again, although we are not practising Catholics ( our kids go to catholic schools, make communion etc but we don't go to church regularly ) all my family are Catholic...my brother years ago was an alter boy in a well known church...years later my mum was contacted by an official stating that a number of kids (boys) had made allegations of sexual abuse dating to when my brother was there, my mum confronted my brother who denied anything had happened and he hadn't seen anything going on.....so ye it is closer to home than we think.........shocking!!!!
2006-10-01 21:36:49 · answer #2 · answered by EMA 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I had to attend catholic schools growing up and although I wasn't abused I was unhappy as I felt that they were messing with my head. I am pregnant with my first child and my fiance knows how i feel about the church. I will not have the baby christened, hey i am a Pagan now so I won't put money in the churches pocket.
2006-10-02 08:55:57 · answer #3 · answered by Serenity 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's always happened.
Remember the old joke:
How can you tell choirboys from queerboys?
Answer: The queerboys sing "Ah Men!
Seriously though., it's a rare phenomenon. Don't forget the number of priests and nuns in the world, and the number of schoolboys/girls. The percentage is probably not much more than in any other school. It's just a better hunting ground for a witchhunt.
2006-10-01 22:21:32 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Attending any school, whether religious or not, is only as safe as its weakest link.
Those who molest children are in a tiny minority, but give the majority a bad name.
If 1 in 10,000 is a molester of young children, is that to say the other 9,999 should be tarred with the same brush.
I feel there is a hidden agenda in the media behind these 'exposures'.
I am not Catholic.
2006-10-02 03:25:15 · answer #5 · answered by lordofthetarot 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
yes I'll still send my kids to a catholic church, (well I'm a protestant but, same difference) See there are millions of catholic priests and only a few paeodophiles, for goodness sake sending my kids on a bus is just as dangerous, school teachers, doctors, strangers in the street, there are dirty old men wherever you go, and the only thing you can do is keep a close eye on your kids and pray that they'll be safe.
2006-10-01 23:29:54 · answer #6 · answered by floppity 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Its not a modern day phenonemon for the Catholic church schools and choirboy sessions...... its been done for centuries and been allowed to happen by using what is in effect fear tactics. And it will continue (it really IS continuing) whilst the church thinks its something special and oh-so-innocent.
Its always those that sit high on a pedestal of perfection that are the worst offenders of the rules that they set.
2006-10-01 21:30:07 · answer #7 · answered by Jon H 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Can you elaborate for anyone who didn't see it? Why would a Catholic church be any more dangerous than any other church or establishment? If you are a responsible parent, why are you sending your kids anywhere without supervision of any kind on your part?
2006-10-01 21:15:49 · answer #8 · answered by Cinnamon 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sending you child to any church should not be a problem.
Letting you child spend time alone with a priest is where the problem is.
2006-10-02 00:01:36 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i,m not a great lover of religon even though my daughter goes to a catholic school but it is not as bad now as it used to be.
as long as you let the priest,s know that they are not the be all and end all they are okay.
i actually told our parish priest where to stick himself a couple of years ago and we now get on fine.
i,m not to sure about all this shaking hands buisness in church though.
2006-10-01 21:18:23 · answer #10 · answered by shay 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋