kimilseung

There has been a long running cover-uo, so we do not know the number of kiddie-fiddling priests.
The stats you refer to could just be evidence of the success of the cover-up.

CelticRover

Could it be merely the tip of the iceberg?

http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2010/0...rnational.html

rugbymatt

Absolutely and I do accept that the nature of a cover up means that things have been covered up, I just ask if the frenzy over this is more to do with the way its been covered up rather than the actual amount of children involved.

(Disclaimer, I am not now, nor ever have defending anything the Catholic faith has ever done, I never have, I am simply asking a question!)

jackytoo

I read this week the the "lovable" Cyril Smith was accused various time of fumbling and a fondness for smacking young boys. Despite this not one of the national papers mentioned it at the time Seems to me this world is ruled by perverts and despots. The Popes vist should have read...

"A 77 year old man who likes wearing long frocks today said the UK was like the third world. His Boss, the leader of the largest pedeophile ring in the world and also wears long frocks decided to go ahead with the visit as he thinks there are a lot of like minded nazis in the UK"

kimilseung

If they would have gotten their house in good order after the earlier stories, and gone in to rehab, then your probably right, that it would not have angered people as much as it has. Its partly the drip, drip, one country and one diocese after another. It just communicated the message that, at best, they did not really care. They should have spoken to a PR expert.

bil

I accept that there are paedo priests in all religions.

The fact is that those wrto catholic priests are frighteningly prevalent. It's not just the priests, the monks and nuns have previous for serious abuse, physical, sexual and mental against vulnerable children in their care. In addition, the church's attitude to all this has been dismissive, hostile to the victims and they have done their utmost to drag their feet and ignore the recommendations of the Nolan report.

In addition, the current pope wrote the papal bull that states that anyone who grasses a paedo priest will be excommunicated.

Not the priest, mark you, but the person who tries to bring it to the authorities. This is a completely cynical abuse of power.

As I have always said, if you know someone is a kiddy fiddler, and you do nothing, you are guilty of a serious offence, plus in my eyes you are then 100% to blame for ever offence they commit afterwards, as guilty as tho you had held the child down while the paedo raped it.

The pope knows it goes on, and has done nothing that will realistically even discourage priests from abusing children.

HBG

It’s incredibly sad that this has gone on for so long, hundreds of years, with millions of broken people being ignored, even now. Our law enforcers have failed, because they fall on their knees in the same places of worship where such a disproportionate number of paedos prevail.

I don’t know the answer, but I don’t frequent those places where evil masquerades as religion. Surely the leaders of those religions could simply come out and state publically that all of their priests or whatever will face criminal courts if they dare to interfere with a child?

Half apologies, many years too late, aren’t good enough.

bil

You are so right. It is a deeply disgusting affront to civilised peoples that a major religion should act in such a hypocritical fashion.

Mind you, the church has always been about oppression, power and the control of people at any price.

rugbymatt

Oh don't get me wrong, this is brilliant, its what they needed, what they have done in the last couple of thousand years is reprehensible, we could open a whole new thread on the Catholic Church and the damage they have done to society............ but as many on here know, I am definitely not an atheist, religion has a place in many places and many people and I have seen first hand what its done to people and for the good, but this whole mess is only going to be good for a few groups of people... extremists in particular.

bil

As I always say tho, when you compare the goosd it does against the bad, there is the perfect biblical quote.


'Weighed, measured, and found wanting.'

whitelinen

Unfortunately it is not just the Roman Catholic Church.

The Church of England has and has had perverts in the clergy. Its just dealt with differently.

rugbymatt

.... as has the teaching profession, doctors, care assistants, nursery workers, scouts.... you name it, they are there. My point is, why are we so fixated on Christianity?

kimilseung

Its Institutional.....I think that is the difference

a teacher might fiddle about, but the profession (as a rule) tries to boot them out and get the police involved. The perp is shunned.

CelticRover

When any large organization chooses coverup versus openness and correction in a scandal, the story usually takes on a life of its own, and this is what actually has happened today with many religions including catholic, over the past 100 years or more.

Example:

http://christianchildabuse.blogspot....logize-to.html

bil

Because they are in a position of trust. Becuase they tell you how you should behave. Because they tell you you will go to hell if you so much as have a knuckle shuffle. Because their actions are so at odds with the message of their faith. Because they don't apologise. Because they don't do anything for the victims. Because they don't address the problem. Because they are in denial.