Priest played Elvis music to drown child's screams

Just watched the UTV Insight special "The Ressurection of Brendan Smyth" I am disgusted, ashamed, embarrassed as an Irish Catholic that a man with evidently no personal conscience feels he can still remain as a Cardinal Prince of the Church when it has been shown that he was found to be negligent in the protection of children. He is on record as saying that he would resign if he found he was in any way culpable. He was culpable, and he hasnt resigned. SHAME ON HIM; SHAME ON OUR CHURCH!!!!

that bum should be hung from a poll right in the middle of town so everyone can see what he did,what a scum back 16 yrs. what a joke he should be killed,whats wrong with irish people there a joke,there so damn liberal it make you sick,they put priest above anything or anyone else ,please wake up irish before its to late

@Towngate - On Thursday of this week, Ulster Television will broadcast an hour long program from their "Insight" Current Affairs program (21:00 GMT) It is entitled "The Ressurection of Brendan Smyth" and is a follow-up on a previous program on the activities of this Pedophile Priest. I gather it will attempt to evaulate the actual consequences of the those members of the Irish Hierarchy who knew about Smyth, having chosen to cover up his activities. If you dont have access to UTV you will be able to view it on the Channel website (just search for Ulster Television - UTV) and use the media player. I rather suspect it may address some of the points you have raised in your last post!!!

"notorious" is the word that sends chills...people knew about him and did nothing. What we ALLOW in this society is despicable and we are all accountable-

when will the bishops be tried???

This is awful and it seems to continue. These people of the church are just as guilty as the man causing the abuse. Once you are aware and you allow it to continue, shame on you. 1 Corinthians 6:9 "What! Do you not know that unrighteous persons will not inherit GOD's kingdom ? Do not be misled. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men kept for unnatural purpose, nor men who lie with men.....Acts 7:24 And when he caught sight of a certain one being unjustly treated, he defended him and executed vengeance for the one being abused by striking the egyptian down........there is a verse referring to men of GOD using there position to take advantage of others which is greatly frowned upon and not accepted by GOD. I just can't seem to find it right now. This sickens me what these priests and other men of GOD do to abuse children for their own sexual pleasure. I did appreciate what the judge stated, "Walsh a “serial offender” who had inflicted a “life sentence” on one of his victims". These boys are damaged for life. Walsh took their childhood away, their innocense, their sane minds. This is something they will deal with forever and will never forget. Men like walsh give a bad name to the Catholic church and every one else who allowed it to continue. I pray that those children that were abused can find peace and some how find a way to soften the blow to allow them to live as much of a normal life that they possibly can. May GOD give them the strength to do this. I know of a man who was sexually abused. This was over 30 years ago and he still is troubled by it. He has received many years of therapy. Once he was wrestling with a close relative and lost his cool because the man he was wrestling with held him from behind and he had a flash back of the abuse. It can happen at any time. I feel for them all deeply.

The photo caption reads... "Ex-priest Tony Walsh is sentenced to 16 years". HOW DO YOU GET SENTENCED TO ONLY 16 YEARS? Why not a life sentence? Something is WRONG with this!

People what are you talking about!? We survived the Inquisition. What horrors those? Satan and his minions tried to destroy us from within then. We must root out the evil absolutely - but for God's sake we must not let them destroy us. Can we let what our people went through to allow us to be who we are be for nothing? I don't believe that I am so naive. My grandmother used to say "one rotten apple spoils the barrel." Stop them! Encourage good young men and women in vocations. Raise our children to love their faith as we do - but understand that a priest and a sister are ONLY HUMAN BEINGS with VERY IMPORTANT JOBS and they are not the ultimate authority. Where you will spend your afterlife is between you and Our Heavenly Father.

Now it is We the SHEEPle who have been sentenced! It is we who have already spent tens-of-thousands of our tax-dollars for the investigative work, trial, Etc., etc., who are sentenced to pay for his EVERYthing for many years to come! Why? What is the benefit to our society. What do we gain for our investment? And now, because we 'like', (sic), this CrimeScumBag so well, we get to pay for his EVERYthing? From his legal work to his TP and electricity; His water bill and TV. We'll pay for his medical, eye-care, housing, security. We'll buy his clothes, do his laundry; Buy his food and prepare it for him, Etc., etc., etc.

Barneyjo: Fair enough. I understand your point.Is it really possible that every single priest in the history of the Church KNEW? Surely there must be some innocent ones. But even if 'good' priests did know we can't assume they didn't try to prevent it and failing to do so, decided to carry on trying to do good as best they could - working from within. ....Other members of my family,dedicated to the African Missions became disillusioned with the financial and political element and left. ..............Some take the view that the entire church should be dis-established and charges against all clergy should be brought,church property and holdings seized and administered as compensation to the victims of these crimes.........@murphy66 cites the root (and route) of the evil: Celibacy: A condition imposed on priests in addition to the ban on Marriage - purely to protect Church property being passed to their Widows and children. Perhaps it is 'too big an ask' as they say. .....You did not comment on my 'agonising temptation' some priests must have endured - as dealt with in the British Film set in Ireland: "Conspiracy of Silence" by John Deery (available Stateside on DVD)but which focuses on the private agony suffered but offers no solutions. Big subject!

@ariagirl - what should frighten you even more that within the terms of Catholic dogma, the sacramental celebrations of a priest abuser are as totally valid as those of a "good" priest. Its a horrific thought to think of a priest on the altar celebrating the Eucharist, having sexually violated a young body within a short time of the consecration isnt it!! However, according to the Church, that consecration is still valid.

@Towngate - I agree with your sentiments in many respects, but only up to a point. Consider this; "people of evil intent can only thrive, when people of good intent stand by and let this happen" It genuinely pains me to say this but even the good and saintly men you speak of were and are to varying degrees equaly culpable because in many cases THEY KNEW about the unhealthy activities of many of their Brother Priests, and chose to keep silent, either by choice or under authority of the Church Hierarchy. How can a Cardinal Prince of the Church in Ireland live with himself now, when as a young priest, in 1975 he browbeat two young children into silence under Papal Authority, by telling them they would be condemned to hell if they revealed their experiences at the hands of one of the most infamous predatory priest abusers (Brendan Smyth)?? No, although as you say many good men have lived exemplary lives of faith, in many cases they are tainted by silence, or by their sense of duty and obedience to the Church. I know this because my late uncle was one such priest who had to have known of the activities of priest abusers, but who to some extent was complicit in covering up their activities.

@Sullivansgirl - em I think you would benefit from a short lesson in Irish History, considering some of the remarks in your post. One in particular "They revolted openly to be Catholic" (your quote) I'm sure that the many Presbyterians who committed themselves to the 1798 Rebellion would be disappointed in that statement. Also, I'm sure it has occurred to you already, that the colours in the Irish Flag (Green and Orange with white in the middle) are meant to symbolise the aspiration and goal to unite all communities in Ireland, then as now, be they Catholic, Protestant or dissenter. So, no, Irish men and women through the ages didnt for the most part give up their lives to be Catholic; they gave up their lives to be IRISH!!!!!!

I agree with DanOLoingsigh; I would add, however, that were he imprisoned in the US, he would get a little Old Testament justice from other inmates.

As a devout young Catholic Altar-boy in Ireland in the 50's, I would run a mile to serve two Masses before School. Sometimes the priest would oversleep and I would have to wake him up to say the early mass. In all the times I entered his living quarters,or any other time, I never felt in any danger whatsoever. He was always courteous and kind. He was a saintly man and although I believed in God I was certain I could never believe as much as he did. He inspired me to aim for the Priesthood. He,and thousands more like him who followed a true calling and resisted the agonising temptation that others succumbed to, are equally abused as their pious saintly mission and good works are devalued and dis-graced by the fallen priests and those who protected them. ......Remember: " Good people who live in Peace and Joy: Breathe a Prayer - shed a tear for ..." the Faithful Priests who remained true to their Vows as well as those poor unfortunate children.