NEW YORK BOSTON |#Popular: Irish Celebrity Gossip Irish in US Politics Irish Festivals Irish Roots Irish Entertainment Offbeat Irish

Home Page > Blogs > News blogs > People and Politics > Of course the Pope covered up Catholic child sex-abuse cases

People and Politics by Patrick Roberts

Of course the Pope covered up Catholic child sex-abuse cases

Posted on Saturday, April 10, 2010 at 10:21 PM

Larger Text

E-mail

18 Comments

RSS

Archives

Of course the Pope knew about child sex abuse and how rampant it was in the Church.

The ridiculous discussion going on about whether not he did reminds me of the arguments over whether Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams was in the IRA or not.

The question should always have been, if he wasn't in the the IRA then why wasn't he?

He grew up in West Belfast at the beginning of The Troubles in Northern Ireland, when every kid in the neighborhood joined.

Do you think for a moment he would have gained such a position of influence with the IRA in later years if he hadn't once been part of them?

It is the same with the Pope. He would never have become Pope if he wasn't prepared to keep some dark secrets. The Vatican loves it secrets and he has to keep his share of them.

Pope Benedict didn't get where he is today by not being totally aware of what was going on with child abuse cases in the Vatican.

In his previous life he was in charge of overseeing all the allegations or and acting or not acting on them. He preferred not to act unless absolutely necessary.

All big institutions, especially those that lack any sense of real democracy, do the same. The Russians are just admitting that Stalin killed thousands of Polish soldiers during the Second World War after decades of blaming the Germans. Each institution like that protects itself at all costs until it can protect no more.

Under all the trappings of power and pomp are deeply fallible human beings who pay attention to ensuring their mistakes are never uncovered. They have no special powers and are just as riven with problems as any ordinary group of people. We cannot expect them to be any different.

Covering up pedophilia or Polish mass graves It is like discovering that your septic tank doesn't work. You persist in ignoring it until the smell becomes too trenchant. Then you apologize and try to clean it up.

It is clear that both Cardinal Ratzinger and his predecessor, Pope John Paul, and Cardinal Brady in Ireland swept the entire matter under the carpet as much as possible until the media pressure forced them to go public and repent on it.

The wonder is so many people are expressing such surprise over what was a perfectly straightforward reality. The Church covered up child abuse, and in many cases, such as with Cardinal Bernard Law in Boston, promoted those who covered it up too even after they had been disgraced.

E-mail

18 Comments

See all comments

JOHNTOBIN | Apr 13, 2010, 04:58 AM EDT

Where is the complete proof that the Pope covered up child sex abuse cases?

Report abuse

knowthyself | Apr 13, 2010, 12:52 AM EDT

OH What a Visous web the Vatican weaves When it wishes to Decieve. They call themself Men of God ! They are nothing but Sons of Satan. Wake up my Fellow Catholics. There is no place for Gay or Pedophile Priests, Bishops, Cardinals . In the House of God. The Buck stops at Pope.hes as bad for covering up the Crimes of the Criminals, the vatican is crying Foul it only shows they cant stand to hear the truth or the pressure. I say if they can't stand the heat in the kitchen,LET THEM GET OUT !!

Report abuse

killowen | Apr 12, 2010, 06:52 PM EDT

It's his job. Like the lies and cover up by American presidents since the founding.

Report abuse

missspook1994 | Apr 12, 2010, 04:42 PM EDT

Catholic Church needs a good house cleaning. It has failed in all its policies to protect itself and to keep people in the dark ages. Now it is time rethink the idea of Pope and join the rest of the world with women having their say in church policies and removing all the intolerances which have been practiced for too many years.

Report abuse

double11 | Apr 12, 2010, 03:57 PM EDT

dump the pope he knew and covered up is all scum

Report abuse

LouGuyt | Apr 12, 2010, 12:13 PM EDT

Rome has a lot to answer for now and through the centuries. I'm glad my faith doesn't depend on these men. My faith is grounded in Abraham, Moses, the prophets, Jesus, the apostles, and others, men and women, who have tried to teach us how to live according to a just and loving God.

Report abuse

Ms.Gail | Apr 12, 2010, 11:57 AM EDT

It is all so sad. As compasionate followers of the Christ we should advocate for the treatment and help to those who have been harmed. Throwing money at the problem is probably not the answer, it is just the easiest way. Yet reaching out to the harmed and shunning and isolating the deviants seems a goal.

Report abuse

GrayGhost | Apr 12, 2010, 11:35 AM EDT

So katieherk if other religions do it, its OK?? This isn't about statistics, one child is too many. and as a (former) Catholic, I am less concerned about other religions. We need confession, apology and atonement from the Vatican - that simple, isn't that whatwe were all taught by these self same priests?

Report abuse

RosemaryKelly | Apr 12, 2010, 11:31 AM EDT

I think it is outrageous - the Pope should resign!!!!

Report abuse

katieherk | Apr 12, 2010, 10:24 AM EDT

Aren't we all sick of this "Catholic Bashing"? A good read is http://thetablet.co.uk/article/14543. It gives stastistics on pedophilia in other religions. Only Catholics are in the news - go figure with the slanted media!!

Report abuse

mandokeith | Apr 12, 2010, 10:07 AM EDT

Do not let ANY man lead you astray, all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God. There is none righteous, no not one. Christ came to save us from false teachers and prophets, and He will judge the world. To who much is given, then much is required.

Report abuse

cometoshannon | Apr 12, 2010, 09:15 AM EDT

And what about the exposure of Fr. Marciel seen on RTE I last night - how did he become so powerful??

Report abuse

mollymguire | Apr 12, 2010, 08:50 AM EDT

So true! How eloquent! When I hear talk of making the dead pope a saint, I lose my mind! The protector of pedophiles - a saint!!!! Are there saints in hell???

Report abuse

Rebelforce | Apr 11, 2010, 02:55 PM EDT

"Thou Shalt not bear false witness against Thy neighbor".

Report abuse

TonydeNewYork | Apr 11, 2010, 02:29 PM EDT

Patrick Roberts u lie, shows no proof. This is another ANTI CATHOLIC writer venting his hate against the church founded by CHRIST.

Report abuse