Dear runner,

You've raised some valid points. Especially about
protecting the kids in this country.
But this programme wasn't about 'Catholic Bashing.'
It was actually a film made by the victim's
brother on his brother's traumatic experiences with
this one particular priest - when his brother was an
altar boy in Massachusetts (US). The man today is
52 years old - it's taken him 30 years to be able to
talk about what he's gone through. It was so moving.
This man was so calm - and blamed himself for so many
years - never the priest or the Church. That's what made
it all so poignant.

If you're interested go into the ABC's Compass programme
and click onto, 'The Hand of God,' site.
You'll be so taken aback by the way the Church responded
to this man and his family's suffering.

Dear Oliver and Belly,

Yes, these priests are criminals - and the fact that the
Church tries to hide their actions - to me is monstrous.
They are priests - in a position of power and trust -
once they break that trust - they've broken their vows,
and should be excommunicated. Not promoted and given
another Parish - with more children to abuse.

I can't help but wonder - how many priests has Cardinal Pell
moved from Parish to Parish? I want to hope that it's -
none knowingly - but I suspect sadly, that's not the case.

I so want to believe that there are decent priests out there -
(like Father Kennedy in St Mary's - Brisbane - who attracts
over 800 people every Sunday - yet they're getting rid of
him).

It's all so depressing!

It is a sad endictment of the Catholic Church that these sorts of incidents are followed by the inevitable cover-ups. And the constant transferring of priests to other parishes which only shared the horror around.

Foxy I don't know why this was allowed to happen - why do people do evil things?

I have to agree with runner that it is absurd a priest is allowed to continue in that role after allegations have been made, sometimes more than one.

Now that these sorts of behaviours have come more and more into public light it may pressure the Church or indeed any organisation to be more vigilant and act on behalf of the victim in the future.

Not much consolation to the victims of past sexual abuse but maybe some hope for the future.

Dear Pelly,

I'm hoping that this thread will do some good.

I would love to see the Church hierarchy do
something constructive to ensure that children
are safe in Catholic parishes and schools.

Admitting culpability, talking to the victims
and their families - removing these priests
from positions of power within the parishes
and schools - would be a step in the right
direction.

We need to shine a spotlight on the Church -
and force them to look at what is really going
on inside their communities.

As you said it won't help the victims of the past
but it may prevent future disasters.

It's not a question of men doing 'evil things,'
its a question of the Church covering up these
evil acts and not putting a stop to them.

Foxy ,the Catholic Church has used guilt and embarrasment of human sexuality for centuries ,as a tool of control.Why was the immaculate conception of Jesus held up as the pinnacle of everything thing we humans should aspire towards?Satisfying human needs was painted as weakness.Something that should be shunned.They have reaped what they have sewn.
I remember the nuns telling us as 8yr olds not to have impure thoughts.We didn't have a clue what they were talking about.Yes there were many priests totally screwed up,but also there were some really good human beings.

To continue the lie of chasity for nuns or priests will continue the perversions which we witness today.The really unnerving development today is the unshameful lust of paedophiles who seemingly know no boundaries.

I'm beyond the clutches of religion today.It is just a sick,perverted cult obsessed with control.

Ajay,

The Incubi whom visited Medieval parishioners often took the form of the local priest. The Church's position being it was the devil in disguise. But Occam's razor would suggest the priest himself. Another Church cover-up?

In the current situation, secular laws do seem to let the Bishops and cover-up merchants off.

Foxy,

I am certain there are very decent priests. Yet, those priests are like honest cops, who are a aware of instances of Police corruption, yet do and say nothing. Guess not acting comes down to a fear of reprisals.

I'd like to refer to the book by Dr Paul Collins
called, "Believers: Does Australian Catholicism
Have a Future?" in which Dr Collins gives a quote
by former Sydney Auxiliary Bishop Geoffrey
Robinson who stated -
and I quote:

" I believe that the Catholic Church is in a
prison...It constructed the prison for itself,
locked itself in and threw away the key. That
prison is the prison of not being able to be
wrong..."

As Dr Collins points out "Robinson was speaking
within the context of sexual abuse... This
imprisonment in the past has been reinforced by
the doctrine of infallibility ...which also conveys
a sense that the church can never be wrong."

It is clear that sexual abuse has done immeasurable
harm both to the victims and to the reputation of
the Church. The cover-ups and the protection of
abusive clergy are unjustifiable.

The Church must in the future act more responsibly
to regain people's trust and restore its
reputation.

I agree with Dr Collins when he says, " Trust is
going to have to be built from the bottom up by
priests and bishops before their pronouncements on
morality will be taken seriously again..."

Part of the problem that also should be examined
is the sexual problems of the clergy and members of
religious orders. Raising the question of celibacy -
should also come into this. Why is it that pre-dominantly
its the Catholic clergy who are the ones guilty
of the crimes of sexual abuse? Is it because the
Anglican and other religions are allowed to marry?