Irish priests say they will disobey new confession box law on child abuse

(…more) He continues “For Catholics all over the world, we listen to the FUNDAMENTAL message of Christ to "Love one's neighbour as oneself." This spurs us on to serve the people of our communities and the most marginalised in society. It inspires us to reach out to the impoverished and poor (St Vincent de Paul), to care for the sick (Sisters of Mercy, Sisters of Charity, Knights of Malta), to educate the poor (the Christian Brothers, the La Salle Brothers) to serve the cause of social justice (Society of Jesus). The billion Catholics on the planet realise that as an institution (made up of (many good but also) some imperfect men and women) of the Catholic Church is not Christ itself and serves merely to perpetuate the ideals and commands of Christ which call us to a life of service. It has a larger, more potent message that does not deserve to be destroyed by the actions of a minority of its religious. >>> Being catholic does not mean that "I support the swearing of abused children to secrecy in order to protect rapists." It means so much more than you have an awareness of. Jesus did not come to heal the perfect; he came for the imperfect and the sinners. I am imperfect, I am a sinner...but I will do my best while I have the chance to. The physician does not come to heal the healthy man but the sick one. I am only one man but my gift is the gift of healing...and maybe I can alleviate the suffering caused by those who wrongly ministered in Christ's name but also to heal those who have suffered at the hands of their own flesh and blood. Christ, His message and ideals, brought to me by His Church is what motivates me to work and not to claim the overtime, because the work has a higher ideal and importance greater than any material wealth” (… more)

This is what Irish man wrote (I'll assume it's a man, solely for posting purposes): “I am a doctor of psychiatry. I am by no means naive to the ways of the world. Day in, day out I see poor people who are suffering from terrible mental health problems. Day in, day out I see patients who have suffered child sexual abuse and neglect at the hands of their parents, teachers, siblings, grand-parents, cousins, uncles, aunts, carers, and neighbours. In a limited and I mean very limited case (maybe 2-5%max) I meet poor people who may have suffered at the hands of a religious person, and not just Catholic religious. >>> I am "fully aware of the atrocities it has committed and attempted to cover up," … but I am also fully aware of nearly every person in society covering up in some way the atrocities that are going on in their own families. I know of other professionals, social workers, teachers and in general... "society" who are continuing to remain silent and to capitulate in the covering up of the scandals that go on in their families, school etc in the way of the abuse of children. I understand that it is the nature of individuals to conceal scandal and as such I am not so blind as to attribute all sexual abuse to the church…. The statement is deplorable and narrow minded. The church "has" and "is" acknowledging their contribution to the problem... granted it was a forced acknowledgement...but it much easier to "dig the dirt" on a large body of individuals and to collectively blame them than to target individual families or paedophile rings. When families conceal sexual abuse within their families can one really be incredulous when a large institution does it. Hypocrisy is all around us and as usual in Ireland; in many ways we continue to have our heads in the sand.” (More…)

Given the twisting away from the topic of Patrick Counihan’s article above by a few people obsessed with clerical paedophilia, the last comment by sirpeter Apr 28, 07.17pm in response to cuddlybuddly’s crassly stupid comment reminds me of a post in the public domain by an Irish person that I read a few days ago. It mirrors what I have often written and drawn attention to here on Irish Central. It’s kinda long so I’m gonna split it in the following posts. It’s worth the long read so I hope you will all please bear with it…

"I absolve you of all your sins pedophile but don't worry your secret is safe with me now go out unto the world and be a good pedophile".Priests setting themselves above the laws that protect children.

Gee! sirpeter you sure don't pull any punches,straight to the solar plexus. hard hitting and truthful,maybe that's what it takes to get a simple point through to some people.

jacersagain your spot on. It's the best grooming facility there is. Forget the Jews and the Koran, this is a catholic issue, and a well worn one to boot. I stand with Minister Shatter.

cuddlybuddly.Don't be so stupid.Women harbour more pedophiles in marriage than any institution.Yeah!!That right ye put up with all sorts of crap from everyone.20% of American women have experienced rape.30% of men have smacked their bi*ch up at some stage.Women are payed 25% less than men for the same job.Women die all the time in war.What are ye doing about it? Nothing!!And that's in peace time with laws.The only people exposed one way or another is women and kids.Putting it bluntly women have more to worry about than the Catholic church.Young women are never more abused and exploited than they are now and ye don't even know it.Men make all the laws.There's a hint.The churches all over the world are run by.....?

Considering that the priests themselves harbour a number of practising and/or dormant pedophiles in their ranks it seems strange to have them policing themselves. However, this quaint idea that anyone can forgive any sins other than JC or the Big Yin himself is, as so much of the Christian religion, a load of houie dreamed up by a load of unscrupulous gits in Rome. Everyone should stand up as good citizens of their state and report the evil criminals that break the law. The law should be applied to all who break it. ANd for those who say that it is OK to rise up against repression just remember that JC said that you should obey the laws of the land. He was a Jew and never delegated anything to the none Jew Paul who usurped JC's brother to take control of the movement that JC had started. The current church hierarchy has no legitimacy and acts like a boys' club encouraging cannibalism, (Transubstantiation of JC's body and blood), weird unnatural sexual mores and outright theft of poor peoples money.

Try and imagine a Jew interfering with the Koran! Are there any fundamentalist catholics left in Ireland? I should think so. If I was Alan Shattner I would be looking under my car every morning from now on for the rest of my life. Look at what happened the Titanic Alan and that was just because a catholic woman threw an egg as it left Belfast. Don't mess with the puissogs Alan. If the curse is on you, then there is nothing can be done, Jesus on the cross is testimony to that. As Bella Lugosi said " BEVARE ".

The church has no control or common sense obviously dealing with the priests, that anyone in a democratic society would hesitate to expose someone hurting children should be tossed from the religion and the country if not jailed as a accessory. To me this is like harboring a traitor to democracy, it causes people to be unnecessarily put in danger or hurt, children in this case, while allowing someone who knows a felony is being committed to go free! The Catholics here need to be reminded why all countries dislike groups that form states within states, sure they obey the laws they like, while enforcing laws that are exclusivity aimed at their religions illegally in a democracy. Like women being second class citizens, they can not be priests right! That in spite of the historical evidence that were many women deacons in the church in the beginning, when their were two popes, one in Roman the other in Antioch. Do not look to church look for the factual sources with evidence, physical evidence that was empirically evaluated, as trust in religions these days is counter productive.

If there was ever a haven for paedophiles it's in the arms of the Catholic Bishops and priests...they will be exposed one way or another, it's a pity they wouldn't co-operate with the law however...this further damns the Catholic Church

THERE CAN BE NO CREATIVITY WITHOUT SECRECY. ALBERT CAMUS.

The seal of the confessional is not as anonymous as one might think, especially in small local parishes where the priests would know almost everyone and by their voices too. Little Johnny Kelly went to confession “Father, I’ve sinned... I’ve messed around with a girl.” The priest says “That’s you, Little Johnny Kelly, isn’t it?” “Yes, Father.” The priest asks “Was the girl by any chance Mary O’Brien?” “No, Father.” “Was it Siobhan Murphy?” “No, Father.” “Was it Bridie Gallagher?” “No, Father.” “Tell me boy! Who was it??” “I can’t tell you Father, her dad will kill me!” “Ok”, says the priest “Say three Hail Marys and be off with yourself and behave in future”. Little Johnny leaves the Church and meets his friend Mickey. He tells Mickey that he didn’t give the name of the girl he “messed” with. Mickey asks “Did’ya get lots of Penance?” “No,” says Johnny “But I got a few names…”

Polling booths are designed to protect the voter from being exposed. So, Mr Shattner, lets get rid of the secret ballot, force the AA to remove Anonymity and finally, ban whispering. If I was Mr Shattner, I would apply for a foreskin transplant and then he might have some hope of getting this legislation passed.

First of all, it's ridiculous to think that they can even enforce this. Secondly, if priests were to give in on this then the state can make force them to tell about anything and everything else that priests are told during confession. There's a reason for anonymoty!