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Irish Bishop criticizes media for being "unfair and unjust" over child sex abuse cover-up

By
DONAL THORNTON,
IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Thursday, March 11, 2010, 7:38 AM
Updated Thursday, March 11, 2010, 9:53 AM

 

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Bishop Christopher Jones

The Bishop of Elphin, Christopher Jones, has branded the media’s treatment of the Catholic Church as "unfair and unjust."

He made the comments at a press conference in Maynooth, County Kildare, where he was attending a meeting of the Bishops’ Liaison Committee for Child Protection.

Jones said that the sex abuse "cover up" was not just confined to the church and added that society and local communities played a part in the cover up for centuries.

“Could I just say with all this emphasis on cover-up, the cover-up has gone on for centuries, not just in the church… It’s going on today in families, in communities, in societies. Why are you singling out the church?

"I object to the way the church is being isolated and the focus on the church. We know we’ve made mistakes. Of course we’ve made mistakes but why this huge isolation of the church and this huge focus on cover-up in the church when it has been going on for centuries?

“It’s only now, for the first time ever, that victims have been given a voice to publicly express their pain and their suffering. And, before that, for centuries, no one spoke.

"I think you are unfair and unjust to the church,” said Jones.

Bishop of Galway Martin Drennan has invited all parish representatives in his diocese to a reparation service at Galway Cathedral on Palm Sunday, March 28th.

Drennan has asked each parish representative to place a sprig of palm on the altar, "to express the penitential mood of the day". Speaking to the Irish Catholic newspaper Drennan said they would ask for God's "forgiveness for crimes of physical, sexual and emotional abuse that brought shame on all of us."
 

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Posted by on Mar 19, 2010, 10:49 AM EDT
To jacersisityourself, so you are telling me that Scotchmen wander around talking to imaginary father figures. Not any of the Scotch I know. You are drawing a parallel between a big burly Scotchmen in a kilt to a effeminate man in a long black dress. Put that one on a Scottish web site and see what it gets you.
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Posted by kickstar on Mar 12, 2010, 08:40 PM EST
We do not want anymore bishops to Resign We want to see them Fired, p/s my last post Structurally should of course read Scriptural
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Posted by orbis2009 on Mar 12, 2010, 08:30 PM EST
He's right and it is even more egregious considering the hypocrisy of other organizations from which is expected high moral standards. It's bad: See http://stephen-hand.blogspot.com/2010/02/jews-above-law-shocking-sexual-abuse.html
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Posted by kickstar on Mar 12, 2010, 04:46 PM EST
The Roman Church Inc is a very Big Business that pays no tax in any way so it is not going to go without a fight as you see and will see even more as more filth comes to light, But a lifetime of Brainwashing is hard to overcome 99% of what this church preaches can not be verified Structurally and what other source is there for proof other than the Holy Bible, Then they come up with well the Pope is infallible in matters of the faith, So God speaks to him directly...What a Joke...I think Oral Roberts had the same direct line to Heaven. God said to the Roman church Build the biggest most expensive buildings on Earth Hoarde as much wealth as you can and Abuse as many Children as possible my Princes.Right..NO It's all Lies ..If it's not in the Holy Bible it never Happened. Preferably the King James Version.
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Posted by kickstar on Mar 12, 2010, 04:25 PM EST
'RoryTrup' There is only one thing worse than these Abusers and that is the idiots who defend them. So,A normal law abiding Citizen Criticizing these Filthy Child abusing Clergy Are Not Bigots..ie No LOG..OK. 1) I don't normally ask Plumbers, Carpenters, Senators,salesmen,Welders, Bus drivers, or monkeys in the zoo to be a Religious leader and educator in Godly matters to my Children. 2)Also my children get very little direction from, Rabbi's Protestant Pastors or Middle Eastern Madi's. 3)In America Pedophiles and Sex offenders from whence flavor they come when discovered are Jailed not moved to another Parish. And do you think a million dollars is a lot of compensation to give to a child who has endured the hell of Sodomy at 8 years of age or a little Girl Raped at 6 or 7 years of age. You Psycho, These Catholic Clergy who have abused need to spend a lot of time behind bars and the Greedy Lice of cardinals and bishops who covered up for them.
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Posted by BishopSean on Mar 12, 2010, 04:09 PM EST
However when we Christians, above all Christian leaders, offend and are not Salt and Light, the world has the right to judge us, according to Our Lord's own statement. We clergy (paedophiles and non-paedophiles) now get to walk through the fire of our own preaching--may we all rise to the occasion.
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Posted by jacersisityourself on Mar 12, 2010, 03:43 PM EST
For a little light-hearted thinking from a bishop, have a read here: http://www.theonion.com/content/node/30533 It's a few yrs old but I'm sure it will ring true even today for many bishops and priests! He's an American bishop as you'll see.
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Posted by RoryTrup on Mar 12, 2010, 02:43 PM EST
All of you bigots that hate the catholic church so much need to open your closed minds. Stop condemning catholics for a twig in their eye when you have a log in yours. What do I mean? I'm glad you asked. Now read this very carefully so you can learn and grow up. 1) Secular professions have 2-3 times higher percentage of sexual abusers (doctors, teachers, senators, plumbers, contractors, psychologists, chefs, administrators, drivers, carpenters, welders, salesmen, fathers, mothers, etc.) 2) Protestant pastors and Jewish Rabis have equal percentage of offenders compared to Priests. 3) In America 82% of the offenses (since 1940)were men abusing teenage boys (ie. homosexual addicts that NAMBLA activists promote). In Holland the age of consent is 12, England 16). In America the church pays $1,000,000 to each victim under 18 years old. San Diego Ca 150 victims awarded $198,000,000 @2007-8. 4)Abusers, most often, are master manipulators and have slick social manners. Everybody adores them until the truth comes out. In California we have 60,000 sex offenders and they are not all catholic priests. Maybe a couple dozen or so. 5) Homosexuals chose to become priests and they seemed to have a way of finding the rogue "gay friendly" seminaries. I believe few became gay after joining the seminary (just my opinion on the last sentence). Therefore, reread my opening sentence and be fair in your judgements. I rest my case.
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Posted by irishathens on Mar 12, 2010, 12:16 PM EST
What level will they stoop to...It's official they are now accusing the devil www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article7056689.ece
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Posted by Catherine90 on Mar 12, 2010, 10:02 AM EST
Bishop Jones proves that church officials' "MO" remains the same--bishops want to have their cake and eat it too. Just another trip to to the confessional as their escape from accountability; And pointing the finger of shame and blame at ANYONE who dare expose or question their crimes. I hope survivors in Ireland take care of themselves first because seeking to meet with the Pope and church officials as an instrument of healing could only cause more pain and disappointment. It also gives church officials another opportunity to use survivors as PR pawns and to get more information to cover-up more crimes. That only continues the cycle of abuse. Options? Survivors could seek therapy, talk with other survivors, report the crimes to police, expose their abusers and protect others. Why go back to your rapists and those who enable their crimes for help? Most likely another rape will happen. History has proven that.
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Posted by Catherine90 on Mar 12, 2010, 09:27 AM EST
Don't like the message kill the messenger.
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Posted by murphy666 on Mar 11, 2010, 09:32 PM EST
I expect Jones to be arrested next.
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Posted by ceciliag on Mar 11, 2010, 07:56 PM EST
The reporting by the Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press concerning the Rape, Sodomy, Beatings and Torture of Catholic Children is NOT unfair. The only thing worse than the crimes themselves is the fact that the Roman Catholic priest, brother, deacon, nun and bishop perpetrators committed these horrors with GOD On Their Lips. The blood of the Innocent Children of the, "Living Body of Christ" (a.k.a.: The Roman Catholic Church) is on the hands of the Leaders of the Catholic hierarchy, up to and including Pope Ratzinger.
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Posted by glorybe1929 on Mar 11, 2010, 07:39 PM EST
The Lord Jesus has allowed all of this to come out so that the people that still support the RCC can NOW KNOW what the RCC has been doing to them for millenniums. No Apostle in the Bible ever said the things this [church?] says. You have all been hood-winked by their generational brainwashing.Starting with the children and re-enforced by the BRAIN WASHED PARENTS. What a sad stae of affairs they've been led into by the evil one.
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Posted by 2TelltheTRUTH on Mar 11, 2010, 05:50 PM EST
Since clergy abuse revelations began rocking the church in the US in 2002 I have heard countless ignorant, hurtful and shameful comments from American bishops, which only inflamed, infuriated and was akin to "pouring salt in the wound" of survivors. One would think AT SOME POINT, our Church leaders would begin to "GET IT". Did Christ ever, at any point bemoan his own suffering or unfair treatment, of course not....and this coming from the very institution which, by it's own sins of commission and omission, have allowed the victimization of countless children destroying lives, tearing apart families and extinguishing faith for generations to come. After all that has gone on in Ireland which has only now been revealed in great light, one must ask, has this bishop been living in a cave, in darkness, with no clue as to what is happening in our world? Has he been blinded the glaring light of the truth which has recently been revealed? It is a very sad statement to see that still far too many of our Church Leadership are so far removed from reality, they cannot comprehend the harm they have done...unrepentant, unashamed, too proud..."to turn the other cheek". Archbishop Martin has not gone far enough...there is much more house cleaning to be done. I congratulate the people of Ireland for demanding the whole ugly unflattering truth. American Catholics still cannot stomach the whole truth and as yet, have failed to demand a full accounting. Mark Crawford, clergy abuse survivor..New Jersey Director of SNAP; Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests USA
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Posted by jacersisityourself on Mar 11, 2010, 04:49 PM EST
Thanks to Bishop Christopher for at last showing leadership to those of us ordinary Catholic people fighting from the corners against the unjustified attacks on the whole of the Catholic Church. The fight-back has begun. It'll be bloody merciful, I'll tell ya. That's right - I said merciful.
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Posted by jacersisityourself on Mar 11, 2010, 04:40 PM EST
No, in fact, I think I'll re-post them myself on a Scottish Catholic or Protestant website. And give this website's address (hee-hee, rubbing me hands against the cold blasts coming from Sco'land!)
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Posted by jacersisityourself on Mar 11, 2010, 04:36 PM EST
freethinker might like to utter the same words on a Scottish website...
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Posted by jacersisityourself on Mar 11, 2010, 04:15 PM EST
What would you expect from grown men who traipse around in dresses while muttering incoherently to an invisible father figure and blame all wrongdoing on a mythological beast that lives in the center of the earth?
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Posted by PaddyCork on Mar 11, 2010, 01:01 PM EST
You are flippin kiddin me? They think they are being treated unfairly? The Arrogance of the Church is apparently boundless, they want the parishioners to pay the costs and know they are being treated unfairly. God Preserve us.
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Posted by CitizenWhy on Mar 11, 2010, 08:21 AM EST
Narcissists and sociopaths think they are the victim instead of those they victimized.
 


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