The Catholic Church and their Paedophiles

[Radio Mad]

It’s Saturday night and I’ve just finished watching The Late Late Show. My feelings having done so are that of searing bloody rage. I am so, so fucking angry!

The discussion I have just watched was about the abuse meted out by clergy in the Roman Catholic Church over the years. The hundreds, if not thousands, of children whose lives have been utterly ruined by the perverted paedophiles who were (and in some cases still are) allowed continue unabated with their disgusting criminal activities despite senior members of that same discredited organisation knowing exactly what was/is happening. It just makes my blood boil!

If anyone saw tonight’s show, I think you will concur with my conclusion that the Catholic Church remains steadfast in their belief that they are above the law. There were two of their representatives in the audience who were permitted to speak. To be perfectly honest – while they voiced their condemnation of what has gone on – they just prevaricated about the level of knowledge the church had and when they had it; the same old ambivalent shite that we are so used to hearing.

Sure, how could it be any other way? One of that organisation's highest-ranking representatives in this country, Cardinal Desmond Connell, has shown himself consistently indifferent to those who came to him over the years furnishing evidence of repeated abuse at the hands of members of his church. This contemptuous man – he proved it by refusing to appear on last Thursday’s Prime Time programme to answer allegations of abuse against his clerics - has revealed is total disregard and disrespect for these people and the truly awful crimes visited on them. He makes me sick!

What is wrong with this country? Last week the Criminal Assets Bureau raided Ray Burke’s house (quite rightly) seeking evidence to back up their case against this corrupt individual. Yet, Connell who has openly acknowledged that if he did know more about these crimes – which are inherently worse than anything Burke ever did or is alleged to have done - he would be precluded under his own church’s law from divulging details. This, along with the multiplicity of evidence already stacked up against the church, is good enough reason for the police to raid church owned premises with a view to confiscating anything that could lead to the conviction of paedophiles. Why is it not done? Are we still living back in the dark ages when people wearing frocks and collars are to be obeyed without question?

It’s time fuckers who abuse children are brought to book. That means ALL abusers, not just those outside the church, but ALL. Everything should - and must be done - to ensure that the perpetrators of these vile crimes are brought through the judicial system in as expeditious way as possible. The victims of these crimes have suffered much too much for far too long. The wrong must be put right!

I know this subject has nothing to do with radio, but it’s one that I have felt so, so bloody angry about for some time know, and tonight’s show only served to fuel that anger. I’m sorry for going on but having watched the show, I deemed it necessary to give vent to my overpowering feelings of pure bloody rage.

[Dane Bowers]

I didn't see the show on Thursday night, or the late late show last night. but I heard a lot about it. From what I've heard it made a lot of people angry, however, It's also important to remember that the majority of priests etcetera are ok, and there are the same percentage of paedofile priests as there are paedofile regular people.

Last night I was out for a meal and my school chaplin was in the restaurant, and he is possibly one of the nicest, most genuine people I have ever met. After speaking to him, he said that since that programme was shown he's recieved nothing but abuse from people on the streets, and filthy degrading looks from people. And yet he's not ashamed to wear the collar.

I know you have a very valid point radio mad, but the documenatry shown on Thursday night, and obviously the late late show coverage last night, are going to make it very hard for the majority of priests, who are ok. I'm not a particularly religious person, to say the least. But I really hope this media coverage doesn't drag down the ok priests in soicety, who are genuinly very good people.

I spose if I hadn't spoken to that priest last night my views would have been the same as yours.

[Billy Dane]

I disagree with your point that there are the same percentage of paedophiles in the Priesthood, as there is in other walks of life.

Their way of life must, in part at least, be held accountable for creating the problem. Catholic priests do not get married, and as far as I know, they abstain from sex altogether. Strange that their god has given them this gift which they refuse to partake in but that's another issue.

Why does all the fuss surround Catholic priests and not ministers of other religions, who do get married and engage in sexual relations?

Another place where there's a much higher level of male on male action is in prisons, again an unnatural situation where men are abstinent from sex.

[clubhappy]

Christ Billy , are you not aware of the problems the catholic church have caused this country .
For years they have mislead the people with their narrowminded and bigitous teachings which include , discrimination towards gay's, lesbines, unmarried mothers, illigitimate children & single parents .
This organisation is getting what's coming to them , and i anxiously await the day that it's destroyed from it's roots and banned as a terriorist group would be , because thats what they done to the people of Ireland right through the 60's 70's &80's .
Yes , terriorised a nation of insecure idiots who couldn't tell the difference between right and wrong , just like the them .

As for the Pope , he's a leader of a religious cult and probably dosent even know his own name at this stage .
Funny , a leader of a religious organisation who cant tell if it's day or night or even if he's male or female .

To hell with the catholic church , lets hope they are exposed for what they really are , which is , an organisation full of pre historic teachings and ideas .

[Radio Mad]

Hello Dane,

Whilst I fully respect your point of view and would fully agree with your assertion that: “the majority of priests etcetera are ok”, I am, to be quite blunt about it, simply not interested in how the Catholic Church or its clerics feel. Why should I? When I hear victims recanting story after graphic story about how priests repeatedly stripped, raped and violated them, I have nothing but contempt for the church and people from within who turned a blind eye over the years. You see the welfare of the victims of abuse is my only consideration. The church is just not deserving of any forgiveness, particularly, as an institution, it ceaselessly refuses to accept unequivocal responsibility for these dastardly deeds.

If, for instance, I belonged or worked for an organisation that was linked in anyway to such abhorrent acts of depravity, my first inclination would be to sever all ties immediately. It’s plainly beyond belief that people such as your Chaplin friend can continue to be employees of a disgusting and disgraceful outfit that is the Catholic Church. So, what if a few people abuse him? What about the thousands who have suffered real abuse at the hands of some his colleagues? I’m sorry, but I have no sympathy for your friend. If he doesn’t like it, he should resign his position forthwith.

In fact if more of the so called decent people within the church, whom we are forever being reminded of every time this subject rears its ugly head, decided to do the decent thing by leaving, the church would soon begin to lose the corrupted power base that it is so reluctant to let go of. You see part of the problem is the church and its arrogance – an arrogance borne out of knowing that it can get away with whatever it likes.

I don’t advocate a systematic witch-hunt against the doubtless decent, upstanding people within that organisation, but what I do expect – and demand – is a stop to the equivocation. Those who profess to do God’s work need to stand up to the evil, manipulating bastards within their ranks. Failure to act now will only serve to aid the hurt and sense of injustice currently felt by the many, many victims of these unspeakable crimes.

I wait in hope that change will come. However, I won’t hold my breath.

[Turiel]

You have to remember that many of these priests have been in the organisation their whole life - its just not something you can "leave". Also there's probably some religious reason they couldn't, like sticking through things through the good and bad times (I dunno, im just guessing). Having said that, I know 2 priests who have actually left because of recent events.

You have a rather uhh.. strong.. viewpoint clubhappy :). While I'm the last person who'd defend the church, classing them as a terrorist group is just a bit much! I certainly agree though that they have, and have had, way too much input into the way society works in Ireland. We all know what's right and whats wrong. We don't need the church to dictate ANYTHING to us (ie abortion, divorce, etc).

[smiley joe]

abstinence doesnt cause the problem. the problem is always there. It's the nature of the priesthood which attracted a certain type of individual. While most are there for legitimate reasons, like feeling a need to help others and to spread peace or whatever there were a few that entered the priesthood because of the access to children it gave. Its the same situation with ordinary homosexuals. to hide their sexuality they entered the priesthood so that they wouldnt be ostricised for their sexual preference.

I have two uncles who were both priests. One is now left, married and has a five year old son. he was expelled from 4 different schools as a child but "found god" and joined the priesthood. he worked for 10 years in brazil as a missionaryand recieved a commendation from the brazillian government for his good work. He then moved to the us where he worked in a parish for almost 20 years and when he chose to leave, to get married, two of his parishioners got together and wrote a book and had it published about the good work he had done. My other uncle moved to england, worked in the same parish for 40 years and retired early this year after a quiet life as an ordinary decent person who just happened to be a priest.

both of these people are disgusted at what went on in the church, neither knew of anything that went on among a select few scumbags in their profession until it came out in the media, but neither chose to leave their vocation for this reason because they felt they could do more good as a priest than as a lay person and i think it shows great courage on the part of the good priests out there that they have remained in the church even though some people have been nothing but abusive to them.

And all because a few scumbag paedophiles decided to take their pleasure out of the destruction of other peoples lives

[Arnold]

Paedophilia is a vile crime against those least able to defend themselves and is indefensable.
To be complicitous in covering up such a vile crime and in so doing allow it to continue is every bit as bad.
I know that the sanctity of the confessional is supposed to be maintained but this is not what happened in this case.
For an Archbishop to cite cannon law as a basis for not reporting something to the authorities is a defense of very dubious moral standing.
To use such a defence and then not only do nothing but actually lie to cover up is beyond comprehension and in any court of civil law would lead to a conviction for aiding and abetting.
The only way that the Roman Catholic Church can redeem itself is for the honest members of the hierarchy to ruthlessly expose those guilty of both the acts and the complicity, only then would they have any hope of claiming a right to respect.
For those many undoubtedly good people within the Roman Catholic Church now is the time to stand up and do something or be condemed as guilty by association for your inaction.