Comments on: ‘We did not know that child abuse was a crime,’ says retired Catholic archbishop

By: JJC

JJC — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 03:44:59 +0000

As a survivor of catholic school atrocities myself, all I can say is they will be judged by the God they claimed to represent.

By: Michael

Michael — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 22:01:17 +0000

Ditto

By: Michael

Michael — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 22:00:06 +0000

uh yes it does

By: eric

eric — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 07:13:39 +0000

went to catholic lectures adelaide south australia mon aitken regularly playing with zipper in front of everyone i said to women do you see it her reply yes but it's not my job to tell him not too just a small taste of life in the church can not recommend church to anyone

By: farmgirl

farmgirl — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:46:33 +0000

An agnostic in training, I am shocked and saddened by the anger and vitriol contained in the preceding posts. A Christian institution 'survivor' I have little understanding of the anger that is being directed at Christianity. As a counselor of sexual offenders, I wholly understand the revulsion towards the abuse of our children.
However, it is the likely truth that the former Archbishop did not understand that the moral evil he cites was a criminal act as no such understanding existed in law until recently. This is a shameful reflection on society as a whole, and cannot be dumped solely on the front steps of the catholic church or upon xtian institutions.

Canadian law held some protection as early as 1890 for female children under the age of 12, and only in regards to sexual intercourse. Although the protection for female children was strengthened in 1978, it was not until the introduction of Bill C-15, in 1988 that protection was extended to boys and that other forms of sexual exploitation and touching were included. Shameful, yes. Does the blame though lie with the Catholic church, or the aforementioned, disgraced Father?

A history of the more generalized abuse of children, as is referred to above, is no more enlightened.

The following link outlines some of Canada's history in terms of laws protecting children from sexual abuse.:
http://www.parl.gc.ca/informat...../PRBpubs...

For a more general discussion of child abuse history, this article was excellent:
http://members.shaw.ca/pdg/the....._child_a...

By: links for 2009-06-05 « boblog

links for 2009-06-05 « boblog — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 10:03:30 +0000

[...] ‘We did not know that child abuse was a crime,’ says retired Catholic archbishop YESTERDAY it was the damning report on abuse of children by Catholic institutions in Ireland. [...]

By: David McKeegan

David McKeegan — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 12:40:41 +0000

Kelly – do you have any evidence for the above claims?

Let's see it.

By: Kelly

Kelly — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 12:23:32 +0000

Check out the stats on policemen and fireman – it's the same. And you thought that they were such nice guys. Also, there are the lesser published accounts on teachers (much higher percentage rates than in the Catholic Church) abusing children. These teachers have been swapped from school district to school districts by principles and school superintendents fearing lawsuits – thereby giving favorable reviews. Go after them kpd because they're right in your neighborhood!!!!

By: JSutton

JSutton — Thu, 28 May 2009 14:33:56 +0000

"Naive." What a lovely way to portray the mindset of a child abuser.

By: Yvete Doll

Yvete Doll — Wed, 27 May 2009 23:02:52 +0000

"who also failed in their responsibility and didn't want to "rock the boat" by pursuing charges at the time either. "

Same problem today, why can't the 2,000 teachers referred to List 99 in 2005 be named?