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Irish child sex abuse victims groups slam Pope Benedict letter

JANE WALSHE,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Sunday, March 21, 2010, 7:28 AM

Updated Sunday, March 21, 2010, 11:51 AM

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Victims groups in Ireland slammed Pope Benedict's letter

Victims groups in Ireland have been quick to criticize Pope Benedict's pastoral letter on child abuse, which was released yesterday.

Maeve Lewis, head of 'One in Four' victims group, stated that the Pope "passed up a glorious opportunity to address the core issue in the scandal, the deliberate policy of the Catholic Church at the highest levels to protect sex offenders, thereby endangering children.

"The Pope speaks only of failures in the Irish church and neglects the role of the Vatican. If the church cannot acknowledge this fundamental truth, it is still in denial, “she told the Sunday Independent

She said she was "astounded" at the Pope's previous assertion that the roots of clerical sexual abuse lie in the secularization of Irish society, the falling off of religious devotion, and failures to adhere to canon law.

"This shows a complete misunderstanding of the dynamics of sexual violence and creates little hope that the church will ever respond effectively to the problem."

Author and survivor Andrew Madden said issues highlighted by him and others in a letter to the Pope had been ignored

"There has been no owning up of the Catholic Church's part in causing the sexual abuse of so many children by protecting pedophile priests.

"Instead Pope Benedict has repeated his apology for the hurt caused to those abused but the church's role is referred to only as failing to deal with criminal and sinful acts.

"The Catholic Church did not fail to act -- it acted very clearly to protect itself and leave other children to pay the price," he said.

Another survivor, Marie Collins said she welcomed the order that church leaders should co-operate with police, but she said there had been "no mention of Vatican directives that may have led to the problem."

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kickstar | Mar 26, 2010, 10:00 PM EDT

'Mollyanne' Well said this is the truth we are Be-littled now from being a Leading prosperous European Nation to being a broken down begging bowl out Third world Candidate Nation with a population to prove it. And all the world hears day and Daily (Pun if you like) is the Progress of the Filthy Reprobates in Dresses known as Roman Catholic Pedophilic Clergy of abusers. Shame is Right..

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Mollyanne | Mar 23, 2010, 11:55 AM EDT

They have shamed us as a Nation these filty evil men How dare they between the Government,Banks and the Bishops how are we supposed to be accepted around the world we are a disgrace.

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KathyCallahan | Mar 23, 2010, 01:33 AM EDT

The leader of the Roman Catholic Church is now a prima facie suspect in organized ceime syndicate of the most unconscionable and appalling sort—and in the attempt to obstruct justice that has been part and parcel of that enterprise. The pope is also the political head of a state—the Vatican—that not at all surprisingly has given asylum to wanted men like Cardinal Bernard Law of Boston. What, then, is the position when the pope decides to travel—as, for example, he intends to do on a visit to Britain later this year? Does he have immunity? Does he claim it? Should he have it? Meanwhile, we should fully apprehend the fact that the church can find ample room in its confessionals, scjhools and its palaces for those who commit the most evil and heinous offense of all. Whether prosecuted or not, they stand condemned. But formal national and internation prosecution must follow, or else we irish utterly disrespect ourselves and those who came before us and admit that there are xo called religious men and institutions that are above and beyond our laws while operating and rapong children under the rader.

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McNamara31 | Mar 22, 2010, 06:25 PM EDT

mollymguire,KathyCallahan.. I'm with you 100%. People must finally know how long this abuse was allowed to go on, as documented by Fr. Tom Doyle at the time a canon lawyer sent to document the cases in Louisiana. I wonder how the people who feel stating truth is in some way "anti-catholic" would feel if it were their child.

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KathyCallahan | Mar 22, 2010, 02:31 PM EDT

When my mind invariably wanders to the children in Thailand, Haiti I pray for grace to minimize being all at once overwhelmed that sets in: i shift gears and the locus of my focus back onto Ireland, 'Law Less' Boston, NYC and Hudson and Bergen Counties in NJ because that is all that I can take and work on and t rough.

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mollymguire | Mar 22, 2010, 02:14 PM EDT

I wholeheartedly believe the children of 3 world countries are at risk and are being subjected to physical and sexual abuse by Catholic priests. Too many pedophile priests have been moved to locations such as Thialand and Africa, where there is not the oversight or the education available to protect them. In 20 - 30 years time, you will hear of outrage in those countries directed at the Catholic Church. Our church heirarchy is rampant with deviants and despicable enablers.

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mollymguire | Mar 22, 2010, 02:08 PM EDT

I am so very sorry to hear this. I never thought John Paul was in any way a candidate for sainthood, and this devious demom is not worthy of being Pope. I live in Louisiana, 20 miles from where the first diabolical abuse was carried out by Gilbert Gauthe. The Catholic church here, and the Vatican, scrambled to hide themselves from liability. Only when funds are withheld from the Catholic church, by way of the Sunday collection or BIG money contributors, only then has it been willing to move or remove, as is the case. I pray the Irish can accomplish more than we in the States have been able. I applaud the noise Irish Catholics are making!You do not need the church to know God and no amount of THEIR sin can rob you of your religion, if that is what you want.

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KathyCallahan | Mar 22, 2010, 12:47 PM EDT

K McSinger at that time irish society chiose to blame the victims. Authority at all levels did not acknowledge at all that their were child Victims of the religious. Religious authorities had total control over the kids, obviously. Scoffed off parents. The Vatican spinned every single pedophile abuse incident and hint of concern. Pedophile perpetrators, concealors and enablers took over and ruled the state and institutions. The toughest middle schooler and da were no match for the bishop, garda and all the way up.

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KathyCallahan | Mar 22, 2010, 12:44 PM EDT

K McSinger at that time irish society chiose to blame the victims. Authority at all levels did not acknowledge at all that their were child Victims of the religious. Religious authorities had total control over the kids, obviously. Scoffed off parents and Vatican spinned every single pedophile abuse incident and hint of concern. Pedophile perpetrators, concealors and enablers ruled the state and the institutions. The err toughest middle schooler and da was not match for them.

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KMcSinger | Mar 22, 2010, 12:36 PM EDT

I just read Pope Benedict's letter and I thought that it was admirable. Unfortunately, it is too little and too late. We, as Irish society have to shoulder the blame for this shameful chapter of our history. There was horrendous abuse in church institutions and government run institutions. It's easy to blame the church and the government, but it was no huge secret. People knew that there were certain priests one didn't want to be alone with and that the Magdalene laundries were evil places. Yet at the time irish society chose to blame the victims and to put up with this evil. People talk of the good old days but I applaud the "new Ireland" which is shining a light on the injustices of the past and trying to make sure that this never happens again!

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KathyCallahan | Mar 22, 2010, 11:19 AM EDT

Note worthy commentary in every major Irish...newspapers all concur the criminal past must be fully and completely addressed and examined before we can move forward with confidence and implement systemic changes. But only if we set our past straight but not under the rug. There is so much to discover and the Vatican Trials Must Must happen like at Nurenberg. Where a full and befiting discovery will begin and justice will be served for the victims and bless our future.

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joma5004 | Mar 22, 2010, 10:02 AM EDT

The church as well as its leader are both morally bankrupt. It is time to dig deep into the past of the "pope" to see what lies hidden that he does not want brought out. I understand clergy abuses were rampant when he was in charge in Germany.

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adfloatj23 | Mar 22, 2010, 09:51 AM EDT

I still don`t understand what the Irish police are doing about this,Or are they just as bad as the church, Why have they not arrested some of these bishops and the big one in the dress Brady, By their own admittance they have said they had covered up for the the Pedophiles, Is that not a crime in it self, Aiding and abetting in a crime, I guess the cops have the same excuse they have their heads up their asses as usual.

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Godscre | Mar 22, 2010, 09:18 AM EDT

I wonder who voted in the Pope? If it wasn't for the abusers coming forward and the laity, these crimes of obstruction of justice and grave child abuse would still be 'secret'. God knows all and everything hidden will be judged by God who is just. St. James said "Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you realize that we will be judged more strictly, for we all fall short in many respects." James 3:1 No one is above the law of the land as stated in Romans 13:1-6. "Therefore, whoever resists authority opposes what God has appointed, and those who oppose it will bring judgment upon themselves." Romans 13:2 Everyone involved should cooperate with the law of the land. In March 21, 2010 The Record (NJ, USA paper) "The Vatican refused to cooperate with those 2001-09 probes into the Dublin Archdiocese, the rural Ferns diocese and Ireland's defunct network of workhouse-style domitory schools for the Irish poor"..and..."While a cardinal at the Vatican, Joseph Ratzinger, now the pope, wrote a 2001 letter instructing bishops worldwide to report all cases of abuse to his office and keep church investigations secret under threat of excommunication". A 'new evangelization' isn't about listening, but by being a leader and doing the right thing - submitting to the legal system, and not blaming others, but looking at the truth within themselves. The truth will always come out. Hebrews 4:13 Jan

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KathyCallahan | Mar 21, 2010, 07:54 PM EDT

Usurp Usurping Usurped by religious Usurpers of Irish freedom, soveriegn state; self expression, free will and determination; parental authority and undermining their ability to first and foremost protect their children from religious and the leaders who touted and imposed 'all or nothing brand' of totalatarian rule on a long suffering, beaten back and dislocated people on a small island in the middle of nowhere or so they thought

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