Stop unfair criticism of child molesting clergy
May 29, 2009 at 11:22 p.m. by Luke Graybill
Why is it that we can't talk about nuns and priests physically and sexually abusing children without also recognizing the supposed "good" that those clergy members have done? This is exactly what Vincent Nichols, the newly installed archbishop of Westminster said during a television interview recently when confronted about the results of a commission regarding sexual abuse and terrorism perpetrated upon thousands of children by Catholic priests and nuns in the Irish Republic.
Nichols said: "It's very distressing and very disturbing. And my heart goes out today, first of all to those people who will find that their stories are now told in public.
"Second, I think of those in religious orders and some of the clergy in Dublin who have to face these facts from their past, which instinctively and quite naturally they'd rather not look at.
"That takes courage. And also we shouldn't forget that this account today will also overshadow all of the good that they also did."
So Mr. Nichols thinks that child molesters are courageous? Oh, and let us not forget all the good that they did; while they were touching little boy penises, the priests were extolling the virtues of a life dedicated to mindless worship of God. And of course, always pay your tithing!
No, let us not be distracted from what really happened here: a number of people used their positions of authority to enable them to act upon their sexual desires for young children. The "good" that they did was accidental at best. Every child that they came into inappropriate contact with is going to carry lifelong mental scarring as a result of this.
Punishments must be meted out.
Comments
Comment from Alex, May 30, 2009 at 11 p.m.
Comment from Alex, May 30, 2009 at 11 p.m.
After going to Catholic school for the better part of my life I can honestly say that is a horrible experience, I am angry that a Archbishop would call these Men and Women "brave" and also asks that we not forget all the good that they do; to me its like saying Hitler was bad but lets not forget all the medical and technological ideas that came out of it! come on people these are children that were hurt in Ireland, however it still goes on in other countries that are heavily Christian, we must do something to stop this.
When I was younger and I would complain about the abuse give to me or my friends for asking questions like "why must we pray", "Why is there only one God" and "why did mother Mary have to be a virgin? did she have love with God" we were beaten horribly and belittled in front of the other children, its not just brain washing into believing in a God but also it beats away any courage and turns it into fear, questing the actions of Nun or a Father are never acceptable and speaking badly of them results in shame, punishment and ridicule; the victim's of these acts that are doing something about it are brave! not the child fucking clergymen.
Killarny I agree with you that any good that might have done its accidental, the years of fear, physical and psychological scaring out weight any "good works" these people may have done.
Comment from Michael Martin, July 3, 2009 at 4:08 a.m.
Comment from Michael Martin, July 3, 2009 at 4:08 a.m.
The Irish Commission to Inquire into child Abuse in state run institutions in Ireland almost all run by Catholic religious orders, was totally scathing of these religious run institutions. The report can be read here: http://www.childabusecommission.com/rpt/ It details what was endemic and systamatic abuse of thousands children from as young as 2-3 years of age up to 16 years old. This abuse was exetnsive and included the rape and buggery of these children, to systamic battering and starvation. The damage to 10's of thousands of there innocient children by these "religious followers of Christ" stayed with them throughout their Adult life continued to torture them in their sleep. That this can be described in any way as the actions of "courageous" men is to me the best indication and conformation that the catholic church is but a man made organisation, run by men for men. The Irish State deffered to these "religious" men totally and the state and its servents were in gross neglect of their responsililities to these children. It is an important lesson to learn that where the State defers to religious belief over the rights of people that this will lead to abuse in the most vile way.