Pope Says 'We Abandoned the Little Ones', in Response to Child Abuse Findings

SeaBreeze

SeaBreeze

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So many cases of child abuse by Roman Catholic priests just in Pennsylvania over time is very disturbing. Bishops and others involved helped to keep the abuse hidden from the public. Hopefully there will be more investigations in all states and serious action taken to stop this treatment of young children. I was raised in the Catholic faith, although I no longer practice any particular religion. Thankfully I never experienced anything bad from the priests or nuns, and don't personally know of anyone who did. More here.

Rome (CNN)Pope Francis has acknowledged "with shame and repentance" the Catholic Church's failure to act over sexual abuse by clerics against minors going back decades, writing "we showed no care for the little ones; we abandoned them."

In an unusually blunt letter released by the Vatican on Monday, the Pope wrote, "I acknowledge once more the suffering endured by many minors due to sexual abuse, the abuse of power and the abuse of conscience perpetrated by a significant number of clerics and consecrated persons.

"Looking back to the past, no effort to beg pardon and to seek to repair the harm done will ever be sufficient. Looking ahead to the future, no effort must be spared to create a culture able to prevent such situations from happening, but also to prevent the possibility of their being covered up and perpetuated."

His letter comes in the wake of a Pennsylvania grand jury report that detailed decades of sexual abuses by priests and cover-ups by bishops.

The report said internal documents from six Catholic dioceses in Pennsylvania -- some held in a secret archive to which only the bishop had a key -- show that more than 300 "predator priests" have been credibly accused of sexually abusing more than 1,000 child victims.

The lengthy catalog of clergy sexual abuses in the report makes for difficult reading. As the grand jurors noted, priests and other Catholic leaders targeted boys, girls and teens.

Some victims were plied with alcohol and groped or molested, the report says. Others were orally, ******lly or anally raped, according to the grand jurors.
Francis' conversations with victims over the years shaped the letter, which points out the need for urgent accountability both for those who committed the abuse and for those who covered it up -- bishops, in many cases, said Vatican spokesman Greg Burke.

"This is about Ireland, this is about the United States and this is about Chile -- but not only. Pope Francis has written to the people of God and that means everyone," Burke said in an audio statement. "It's significant that the Pope calls abuse a crime, not only a sin, and that he asks for forgiveness but he acknowledges that no effort to repair the damage done will ever be sufficient for victims and survivors."

Pope Francis's letter directly referred to the Pennsylvania report, which "detailed the experiences of at least 1,000 survivors, victims of sexual abuse, the abuse of power and of conscience at the hands of priests over a period of approximately 70 years."
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Tragic situation.

IMO it is particularly scary for children in the third world/developing nations where the parish priest is in a position to wield so much power over every aspect of day to day life for many families.

In fairness, it's not just an issue in the Catholic church it is an issue in all areas of our society.

I don't know how to fix it but I believe that one possible precaution is to include at least one mother or grandmother in every event/meeting and never allow a child to be left alone with an individual person in a position of authority over them.
 
The catholic church needs to move forward out of the Middle Ages.

For starters I believe these reforms are overdue in 21st century:

Do away with the robes and other clerical dress that sets the priesthood apart from ordinary people.
Embrace ordination of women. Allow clergy to marry and give the laity a voice in all church councils.

That's not all, but demystification of the priesthood would go along way to making sure such crimes do not continue to be hidden.
 
I'm always surprised at the level of shock that these cases evoke. Horror yes, but shock and surprise? Really? Especially these days, what with a couple of decades worth of "outing" of these predators cloaking themselves in vestments and hiding behind the cross.

Although I wasn't raised a Roman Catholic, I grew up in a heavily RC area. There were always "jokes" in the schoolyard as well as among adults about homosexual, pedophile, or perverted priests/nuns as well as hanky-panky going on between the priests and nuns. Then there were the stories of cruel, sadistic nuns who taught in Catholic schools. The kids were absolutely terrified of some of them.

As it happens over the past 25 years I've had a close business association with a RC school and came to know a couple of lovely, lovely nuns. They were kind, gentle and much beloved by the student body. Please don't think I'm spreading hate about the Roman Catholic church. I'm merely saying that anyone whose eyes and ears were open during the 60s had to know that this was happening.

Puritan history being a notable exception, no similar tales made the rounds about Protestant or Jewish clergy. There were undoubtedly some instances of the same types of sexual activity and cruelties among those groups, but it was not widespread to the point of generating the "open secrets" that surrounded RC priests and nuns.
 
It does happen in other religions, StarSong, but certainly not to the extent that it does in the Roman Catholic church. Probably a large part of the reason is the refusal to allow priests to marry, or to be women. Incredible that in this day and age, the church is still holding fast. The Pope says:

"Looking back to the past, no effort to beg pardon and to seek to repair the harm done will ever be sufficient. Looking ahead to the future, no effort must be spared to create a culture able to prevent such situations from happening, but also to prevent the possibility of their being covered up and perpetuated."
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So, how about starting with a Papal edict that says priests may marry, and they may be women, as the clergy are in nearly every other religion?
 
Sunny;876966[B said:
]It does happen in other religions, StarSong, but certainly not to the extent that it does in the Roman Catholic church.[/B] Probably a large part of the reason is the refusal to allow priests to marry, or to be women. Incredible that in this day and age, the church is still holding fast. The Pope says:

So, how about starting with a Papal edict that says priests may marry, and they may be women, as the clergy are in nearly every other religion?
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That was exactly my point. Other churches have Isolated incidents, to be sure, but aren't built on a hierarchical foundation that (intentionally or unintentionally) sets the stage, entices the players, and nourishes these activities and perversions. These same people are in a position of trust and typically know their victims' deepest secrets through the confessional booth, so the power tilt is extreme. Talk about a perfect opportunity to exploit.
 
StarSong said:
I'm always surprised at the level of shock that these cases evoke. Horror yes, but shock and surprise? Really? Especially these days, what with a couple of decades worth of "outing" of these predators cloaking themselves in vestments and hiding behind the cross.

There were always "jokes" in the schoolyard as well as among adults about homosexual, pedophile, or perverted priests/nuns as well as hanky-panky going on between the priests and nuns. Then there were the stories of cruel, sadistic nuns who taught in Catholic schools. The kids were absolutely terrified of some of them.

Please don't think I'm spreading hate about the Roman Catholic church. I'm merely saying that anyone whose eyes and ears were open during the 60s had to know that this was happening.

Puritan history being a notable exception, no similar tales made the rounds about Protestant or Jewish clergy. There were undoubtedly some instances of the same types of sexual activity and cruelties among those groups, but it was not widespread to the point of generating the "open secrets" that surrounded RC priests and nuns.
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I'm not shocked at all, but seeing the numbers in the report is a reality check, and I'm glad this is at least out in the open, although there may be no complete resolution to the problem. When I was very young, I did hear the older kids talking about hanky-panky going on with nuns and priests, although there was no mention at the time of child abuse. Even as a child I had an open-mind, and although I thought it might just be rumor, speculation and exaggeration, there may very well be truth in it. And that was in the early 60s.

Priests (and nuns) having to remain celebate was always hard to imagine for me, and I can see where there would be some mental and emotional turmoil when denied the right to have a close relationship with another person, as in marriage. Some more about it here.

Studies have linked sexual repression to greater aggression, though they do not distinguish between involuntary repression and voluntary abstinence. A person on whom celibacy is imposed, like a frustrated guy who can't get a date, is likely to react very differently than someone who chooses it, like a seminarian who voluntarily decides to follow a celibacy rule.

Most studies on how priests and nuns deal with the celibacy rule are affiliated with the Vatican itself, so one might detect a bias. In a 2011 survey of 2,500 priests, Monsignor Stephen Rossetti found that priests are among the happiest members of American society- most of the priests attributed their contentment to their strong inner peace and spiritual relationship with God.

Despite the official stance on the celibacy rule, some current and former priests have been outspoken about the challenges of living a chaste life.

In an essay from 2010, psychotherapist and former Benedictine priest A.W. Richard Sipe noted the great loneliness, depression, and emotional distress that can come from struggling with prolonged celibacy.

Another former priest notes that taking an explicit oath of celibacy might increase the likelihood of someone acting on preexisting sexual inclinations, or at least intensify the urge- the forbidden becomes more tempting.

As the New York Times reported, some priests find support for following the celibacy rule in therapy groups that allow them to discuss the spiritual and emotional struggles about their vows.
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I know as a young child in a very "orthodox"roman Catholic immigrant,Irish-Scottish family,it was a HUGE honor to be able to serve as an altar boy or in some capacity as an assistant to the clergy.
This puts young boys in very close proximity to the priests and no one would dare question anything.
I agree 100% priests and nuns should be able to wed.
I was also taught in elementary school by nuns,1 in particular was fond of weilding a brass ruler on your knuckles and tossing erasers at our heads.
 
I grew up north of Boston. My mother's family was Protestant, my father's Catholic. I had only one sibling that embraced the Catholic church when she married a man from a strict Catholic family. Her children were raised Catholic. They have been very hurt by these revelations. It's disgusting that this not only occurred but was covered up by the church. I feel so bad for the families affected. The families of the victims and the families of the clergy.
 
They have effectively "shot themselves in the foot" with their cover up attempts,its now no longer possible who is actual a victim and who just joined the bandwagon for the financial payoffs.
Not sure if there is a statute of limitations on this filth.
 
I never was fond of clergy people and still give them a wide berth. They don't scare me.

They simply live off their followers and don't really have jobs. ANYBODY can don a robe and collect a bunch of loyal followers.
 
Been going on for years...

If they think they have a little power or are held on a pedestal, they will abuse it.

Not just priest, it's teachers, preachers, police, etc.

Not all, but a whole lot of them will, and as long as they get away with it they will continue.

Makes me sick to my stomach that so many prey on the little children.
 
Seeker said:
Been going on for years...

If they think they have a little power or are held on a pedestal, they will abuse it.

Not just priest, it's teachers, preachers, police, etc.

Not all, but a whole lot of them will, and as long as they get away with it they will continue.

Makes me sick to my stomach that so many prey on the little children.
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Also parents, older siblings, other relatives, and neighbors.
 
A local church had a priest until 2011ish whose name came up in many investigations and lawsuits in the 1980s and 90s. In any job if you are getting a different assignments at a much greater rate than the rest of the employees that means the bosses are trying to hide you or trying to get you to quit. This is exactly what happened with this guy-he was all over the place if you looked at his history.

One must wonder how much their underlings were groomed, influenced or enabled in this kind of behavior. This is why the problem won't go away anytime soon. It may be reduced but not even close to eliminated.
 
.

I grew up in a strict moral Protestant Southern society.

In my family and with my friends there was no ugly talk about sex, rumor or otherwise and definitely no talk about perversion.

I didn't know what a homosexual was until I was in college.
 
The Pope was long on talk of the anguish of the victims but had little to say about retribution and punishment of the offenders. His universal apologies for past offenders (most dead) is not enough. What is needed is personal public acknowledgements and apologies from living offenders as soon as the offense is known.
 
Well, in the middle ages only firstborn sons were allowed to inherit, the younger sons were on their own and many became popes and high priests. They were in it for a livelihood, not as a ''servant of God''. I wonder how many nowadays do it for Jesus/God.
 
PVC said:
Well, in the middle ages only firstborn sons were allowed to inherit, the younger sons were on their own and many became popes and high priests. They were in it for a livelihood, not as a ''servant of God''. I wonder how many nowadays do it for Jesus/God.
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Most probably start off with the best of intentions but repressing and subverting human sexual drives is a whole lot easier said than done. It's long past time for RC priests and nuns to be able to marry.
 
StarSong said:
Most probably start off with the best of intentions but repressing and subverting human sexual drives is a whole lot easier said than done. It's long past time for RC priests and nuns to be able to marry.
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I partially agree with you. BUT, being married doesn't stop people from cheating and molesting and pedophilia. If sexual release were the only factor, masturbation would easily take care of needs.
 

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