Irish Catholic culture to blame for pedophilia scandal, says New York Times writer

Why is it always the Church's fault for this? Most of the pedophiles whether priests or not, are homosexuals. The focus should be on homosexuals not the Vatican and the Church. The Church isn't out there actively recruiting gay pedophiles. But let's be politically correct and not question homosexuality as the root ...problem, instead let's accuse religion and the Church for this.

The Irish are responsible for all the world's ills. That planting of those Jesuits in Maynooth by god's gifted British Empire mavens had nothing to do with what befell humanity. The tradition laid down by Mother is being kept alive and Cousin this side of the pond. Overlording all of the above is an entity (whom aware folks know) that has humankind ensnared. Serving their every need.

I merely make the point that there is an Historical context to this issue which has to be considered. I do not seek to indulge in "Catholic Bashing" as some people describe it. I am a practicing Irish Catholic, I will continue to be a practicing catholic, as are all of my five children (which is a miracle in itself in the present climate). No, I seek to understand, what could have gone so terribly wrong that would allow paedophiles to infiltrate the Church body for their own sordid ends. My late uncle was a member of a Missionary order which provided one of the priests named in the Murphy Report, to the Dublin Arch-Diocese. He was a good genuine, holy man who gave his life totally to his ministry for over seven decades. I am glad he did not live to see the shame this has brought to his brother priests who continue to do good work all over the world, but who also have been dragged into the controversey through no fault of their own. Catholic bashing aside, the question still has to be asked "how was this allowed to happen" because what was done to keep this all quiet was not done in my name, nore in the name of decency or humanity.

What has been exposed in the Catholic church in Ireland is appalling. I must however remind people that a small percentage of priests, nuns and brothers are involved. I attended Catholic school until I was 18, having served as an altar boy when younger and had nothing but good experiences. The majority were/are decent caring, people. Some of them weren't good at teaching, but that is the same with lay teachers also. There is a priest who I served mass for as a kid that I have remained in contact with. He is deeply ashamed (on behalf of the church) at what has been revealed. I feel sorry for him and the many other 'good' religious people.

Blame the Cath of culture of Ireland for paedophilia?? --This is the level to which this insane "BLAME ONLY THE CATH CHURCH!!" has sunk ---barneyjoe says: >>Bear in mind that all these things have been done in the name of "Mother Church" in our name<< -- Really?? Where exactly do you have anything other than supposition, speculation or hear-say to claim such stupidity? -- Do you have video/audio, or sworn written evidence from any credible visual witness or source to say that, as this despicable conduct by a small minority of men is taking place, the perpetrator seduces or rapes the victim claiming to do it "in the name of the Church"? And has the Church itself publicly justified the conduct of any of the perpetrators?--- This is rampant idiocy! Yes, there may have been plain stupid or overly zealous bishops who rather than think straight sought to contain scandal, protect the Church and deal with the derelicts within the clerical structure, very unwisely, granted. But to imply there was malice and forethought in every case goes beyond the bounds of reason. --- I would be loath to excuse either any of these vile men who cannot even be called Christians, nor those who tried to shield -not the very sinners who were undermining the Church from the inside, but the whole structure- however, to blanket-condemn the whole organization for the sins of a few (and there are statistics to compare their numbers, as a part of a universal pandemic of paedophilia that affects every organization) reeks of virulent hatred rather than desire to know and accept the truth. -- ENOUGH of blatant Cath bashing by columnists, and anti-Catholic bloggers on these boards! -- When, and if you decide to investigate and blame other religious and state organizations in the same way you do the CC singly, you do nothing more than propitiate, vent, blather and rant. Furthermore, you provoke the rage of those of us who actually know history and the good that the Church has done for some 2000 years.

It is a characteristic of the Irish to 'turn a blind eye'. They collectively suffer from what I refer to as 'snowdrops and daffodil syndrome'. They tell themselves that if the pretend something didn't happen, it will go away. They did it with peed priests, brothers, nuns etc, 'ah shur fadder Murphy wud never do tings like dat', their police force wouldn't listen to complaints etc. etc. It continues today when blatant crooks like Charlie Haughey are exposed, Paddy continues to see the good side, 'ah shur he was a dacint man all de same'. When it was revealed that Bertie was accepting payments/digouts from various people the Irish dismissed it 'ah shur he was having martil diffikultees'. Of course he was, by his own admission he was involved with his wife's best friend. The Irish are for the most part a 'simple' race' and their tolerance of behavior such as I have highligthed underscores this reality.

That is the most ignorant thought. What does pedophelia have to do with ones nationality, or religion? There have been Ministers and Rabbis who have been arrested for child molesting. There was a Catholic priest in NYC who was arrested for touching underage boys years ago who was of Italian descent. Shame on you Ross Douthat.

For anyone who is really interested in this subject, you might want to google "Jannesinsm" a 16th century theological view that came out of France/Belgium and was exported to Ireland. Also suggest you read around the life and times of 19th Century Irish Cardinal Paul Cullen who is generally credited with taking a Rag-tag peripheral European Church and shaping it into the Evangalising structure it became. If you put the two together and..... well I would rather people draw their own conclusions. I will say that for most people, it will make disturbing reading!!

Hello, I being a victim and SURVIVING of a Catholic Priest of Irish Heritage in NYC have something to say of this. I think in all Christian Denominations there is a complete cluelessness as to the nature of human sexuality. I do think the Irish Clergy have been way too restrictive in the normal sexual developing of the human bein0g..i.e. no teenage dancing or contraception for the married poor. I do not think the "greatest cases" of sex abuse are in Ireland or American Irish Communities as compared to Latin America, Poland, or Asia. These countries may not have the western tradition of investigative journalism. WE REALLY DO NOT KNOW HOW BAD IT IS IN THESE OTHER CATHOLIC NATIONS. They should all be taking a look at what we have been finding these past 60 years and start uncovering some shrouds of secrecy. I am sure the pedophile problem is as bad in Africa, Phillipinnes, Australia, England, Spain, Austria, Mexico and Canada. It is true that ARchbishops once given such a high respectable rank can become tyrannical with unchecked power , if you don't politically get on board. How this is not power mongering in the face of outside Denominational religous resistance over showing the World how to use your power as a High Christian Leader by respecting your "sheep" is one question I still have.

Other 'Catholic' countries such as Spain, Portugal, Italy, Mexico and South America do not have this detour in theology that gripped Ireland--Jansenism. A premise that Life is penance, purgatorial and pilgrimage with any semblance of joy erased or suspect. I worked on a cruiseship world-wide. Saw many places. Other Catholic cultures. It was a wake-up call. The Virgin Mary was honoured in a procession. So too was the human body in this world. Spirituality and sex were not at logger-heads. A more healthy Catholicism than I had known growing up in Ireland.

I think we are putting the cart before the horse.Its not Irish Catholic culture.Its the values of the entertainment media movies ,music etc that have invaded and put under siege rural Catholic Ireland.As a Protestant Scotch Presbyterean friend of mine once said about the rise of non-political murders in Ireland,rapes etc. Right away he shot out"America is exporting its sh-t". Little Ireland has lost the Gaelic Now its suppossed to loose its religion to please who?

More BS! Actions without consequences are the root of this problem and many others!~

The unbiased NY Times, that's a laugh. So I consider the source first before I put any credit to what is written. How would this writer defend all those teachers who commit acts of pedophilia and in worse numbers than those of the Catholic Church? Sorry that's the Irish Catholic Church not to be confused with the Italian or Polish or etc. Catholic Church.

I couldn't even read this to the end -- blaming Irish Catholic culture and carrying over to the US. How can you blame someone's heritage with the fact that these priests are PEDOPHILES!!! It's wrong, those same religious taught us that, they preached it practically every Sunday!!!!!! When will people and those organizations (including the Catholic church) take that responsibility???? I'm so tired of reasons given for this and that ..... TAKE RESPONSIBILITY DAMN IT AND TAKE CARE OF THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN ABUSED AND GET RID OF THE PERPETRATORS ONCE AND FOR ALL.

I agree somewhat with 'trishreilly's" assessment, however, being a retired military soldier, currently working in Iraq and previously working in Afghanistan for almost 3 years, please do not compare the military to pedophilia. I do not agree with the New York Times Writer, that claims the abuse expereienced in the United States is a result of the Irish Catholic Clergy. Pedophilia is a sickness and yes, it is definitly a sickness of power and control. But, let's not limit the US, or fact that matter, Irish soil as being the only countries to have victims of this awful crime. It is a global disease. My heart goes out to all those victimized by this terror.