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Periscope by Niall O'Dowd

Pope Benedict has rewarded Irish child sex abuse coverup

Posted on Thursday, August 12, 2010 at 06:46 AM
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READ MORE: Pope Benedict rejects Irish bishop's resignation


RELATED STORY(s): (1) Irish Church relocated a known pedophile to California - (2) If abuse won't cost your job in the Church, what will?

So just imagine that corporation X has a problem. According to an independent report, two of its senior management have been involved in a cover up of child sex abuse within the company.

While the two have not been directly involved in abuse themselves, there is certainly the knowledge that they took part in meetings where the issue was discussed and covered-up , yet they did nothing to prevent that cover-up.

Headquarters in Rome sends over one of their top men to investigate this scandal about an issue so toxic that it beggars belief that it has not been exposed long before.

After lengthy deliberation the new man states that it is time to clean house, have anyone suspected of any malfeasance on this issue step aside and clean out the filthy stable for once and for all.

This is done, and two of the senior executives, after much sound and fury deliver their resignations to Rome. At last a sordid scandal appears to have been dealt with in a professional manner.

But now comes the news that the Big Boss back in Rome will not accept the resignations, that after all he doesn't think the child sex abuse cover-up charges were sufficiently damaging to warrant resignations. The two executives are reinstated. The man from headquarters sees his authority utterly undermined.

Imagine the outcry and imagine the renewed pain and suffering of the now adult children who were abused by members of this corporation in their childhood.

Imagine the public outrage at the amoral behavior of this corporation that clearly puts its own members' concerns way ahead that of the children.

Imagine and weep.

That is what has happened in Ireland this past twenty four hours with the news that two bishops who had handed in their resignations have now been reinstated.

It is a devastating blow not just to the victims but to the notion of transparency and accountability within the church.

We saw this before when Bernard Cardinal Law was promoted by the last pope despite overseeing an horrific series of cover ups of pedophile priests.

We are seeing it again now.

There is something deeply wrong with a system that sees Law promoted and Archbishop Diarmuid Martin essentially cast aside and his actions in trying to impose accountability destroyed.

It is an utter and complete disgrace.



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46 Comments

15 - 46 | See all comments

jacersisityourself | Aug 21, 2010, 07:51 AM EDT
I agree with wiz except for his pointed reference solely to the Catholic Church, its leaders and its people who actually form the Church. Everything evil act he writes of is carried out by a small minority within every church and society at large, even within our own neighbourhoods. International sociologists have established that, on average, 2% of all people behave this way, in every community, in every country. That is to say, ‘evil bunches of criminals’ exist everywhere. Finally, I rebut wiz’s twisting of truth once again: I did not call wiz Satan. What I said was that he and people like him are being used as tools and mouthpieces of the devil in unjustifiably attacking the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. Attack its human wrongs by all means, I do too - but don’t refer to the Body of the Church as being of Satan. That is Satan at work within you. Satan is so powerful he can use anybody to undermine the Church of Christ. Cardinals of Rome have even stated that it acknowledges there are Satanic forces at work within the Vatican and need to be expelled.

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jamieLM | Aug 16, 2010, 10:08 PM EDT
My diocese went bankrupt because several priests had made a long-time career out of sexually molesting kids. The many victims were successful in their lawsuit and were awarded big $. It was proved that there had been an elaborate cover-up from the top - down. Now the diocese wants the PARISHONERS to bail out the diocese financially. Not happening. There's the religion and then there's the male hierarchy that was more concerned about protecting known pedophile priests than they were about protecting helpless children - 2 different things.

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fredsalmon | Aug 16, 2010, 06:43 PM EDT
Unbelieveable! They have no idea what they are dealing with. But why punish the Irish bishops after all? They did not do the same to the American, or other bishops? So maybe they're just trying to be equally ineffective - which they have done very nicely.

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Sungold | Aug 16, 2010, 03:58 AM EDT
I will never understand this. This is just so wrong. I am disgusted and angry.

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jacersisityourself | Aug 15, 2010, 04:44 PM EDT
Wiz shows just how much he is capable of distorting truth (a hallmark of some misguided journalists and ordinary folks and, most certainly above all, of the devil) in commenting on my reference to people who have made mistakes in their lives, got over them and yet have a positive talent to be re-used in some way. I mentioned a few names but I’m sure others can name many more. The stink wiz smells is that of the devil. Padre Pio, a noted Italian monk who lived most of his life with the stigmata and died in our living memory in 1968 (‘google’ or bing for info about him) experienced smells – those of heaven and of the devil - the first was of sweet smelling roses, the other indescribably horrid. I wish and pray that wiz and wiz’s kind discovers the roses. You won’t wanna be in hell for eternity and I wouldn't wish it on my own worst enemy.

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jacersisityourself | Aug 15, 2010, 04:07 PM EDT
‘Tis great to see wiz back on form – wiz always gives me great chuckles with his invective. People like wiz who stoop so low are actually on the defensive, have no truths to speak, nothing positive to say and are mouthpieces for the devil against the RCC. With his use of ‘auld’ he shows himself to be either of Scottish or Nth Ireland Protestant origin, which has a history of unjustified hatred of Catholicism. For the record, I have never once defended abominable behaviour by some people in the Catholic Church. Not once, ever. In fact I’ve written strongly against such behaviour and have called for imprisonment of those who commit evil acts and have said that on their release from prison that they should be incarcerated in a lonely isolated monastery for the rest of their lives to reflect on the huge harm and damage that they’ve caused to children and even adults. Furthermore, I am not a priest, just an ordinary guy in the street who believes, without shame in saying so, that the RCC is the one true holy catholic and apostolic Church founded by Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and guided by the Holy Spirit. It is most certainly not a business, as Niall would have us believe in his article above.

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Carroll09 | Aug 14, 2010, 04:21 PM EDT
Specksmom - if you think that Catholics are "giving their hard earned money to [the Church] so that they can continue these crimes", I guess you'll just have to stop paying your taxes because in the same way they are enabling teachers, policemen, doctors, social workers, etc. etc. to commit crimes of sexual abuse and more besides. Indeed, you will have to refrain from donating money to charity since abuses can occur within that context too. When Catholics contribute to their parishes, they are supporting their priests - the majority of whom are doing their best to live out their vocation (in the same way as the majority of teachers, policemen, doctors, social workers, etc.); when they send money to the Vatican by way of "Peter's Pence" collections, they can be satisfied they are serving the Lord well as it is these donations that have made the Catholic Church the single biggest charitable organisation in the world.

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jacersisityourself | Aug 14, 2010, 11:23 AM EDT
Specksmom, I believe in and support the Catholic Church because almost uniquely of the Christian churches Christ is truly present in the midst of it. That is not to say that Satan isn’t either – the devil will try anything to undermine the Catholic Church, including planting ‘moles’ inside it. And he’s planting your head with diatribe against it. You and others who attack the RCC are facilitating the work of the devil with such comments. Think about that and think very hard. The Church has changed many times since its foundation and it will change more in the future. But it will never change its basic tenets and will always be in place.

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specksmom | Aug 14, 2010, 10:15 AM EDT
People need to walk away from this sick organization they call "church". Why do they continue to support it? They keep giving their hard earned money to them so they can continue these crimes. Who is to blame? Stop supporting this behavior!

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lilacbp | Aug 14, 2010, 08:23 AM EDT
How disappointing and sad but really not shocking or unpredictable actions for the final days of the Catholic Church. How can it be anything but over soon?

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jacersisityourself | Aug 14, 2010, 08:19 AM EDT
(Contd) Niall’s reference to Cardinal Law in the context that he writes of is totally unjustified. Cardinal Law was not promoted and ensconced in Roman luxury. While he retains the title Cardinal, he has actually been demoted to the post of Archpriest, not even bishop, of a parish in one of Rome’s toughest criminal neighbourhoods, in charge of a church that is built on the site of one of the earliest Christian churches in Rome. I’ve been to the parish and church that he now works in as a priest; there’s no luxury in his new job. Bernard Cardinal Law is a proven brilliant administrator, hence his re-assignment in a difficult parish of the world. Removal to Rome from a job in Boston is a form of punishment. Now, can you tell me of brilliant business corporation administrators who’ve made mistakes (who doesn’t make them? – Niall has made a big one with this rubbish) and been removed from their positions, who were not re-employed in a different capacity elsewhere where their known abilities were re-utilised? I’m sure a few well known names from business corporations, politics etc will come to mind. Willie Walsh, Tony Blair, Bill Clinton, G. Bush and his daddy, Martin McGuinness et al.

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jacersisityourself | Aug 14, 2010, 08:13 AM EDT
This must certainly be one of the worst pieces that I’ve read. Comparing the Roman Church with a Business Corporation (or, for that matter, any of the Orthodox Churches or the Coptic Church amongst most other Christian churches) is so far out that I’d be worried about any judgements you’d make for yourself, staff and business, never mind the exhortations you may make in trying to forge Ireland’s future (which we know he’s been involved in). This article of Niall’s makes me worry about his sense of and ability for weighing up things these days. He must surely know that the vast majority of Christian Churches are not businesses. They are based on the mission that Christ gave to His Apostles - to go tell everyone to Love God, to Love your neighbour and to “Do this in memory of Me” i.e. Communion with God His Father. In other words, all Christian Churches’ mission statements include these objectives (where do you think the ‘Mission Statement’ idea for today’s Business Plans comes from?) Real Christian ‘business’ objectives are solely spiritual; whatever about what anybody thinks (especially people where money is big on their minds). The Christian Churches are solely based on Theocracy, not Meritocracy, certainly not Democracy and most definitely not Dictatorship, which many Owners and Boards of Management of Business Corporations including media organisations often manage to become. No man pushed himself like an ambitious politician or business person does for the top job of Pope. Each one of the Cardinals voting in Conclave are thinking “Oh God! Not me, but if it’s Your will, I’ll do it.” The position of Pope must be the worst to take on... no one wants it, yet someone in the world will always be picked, like it or lump it. (More)

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Carroll09 | Aug 14, 2010, 07:06 AM EDT
Jacersisityourself- I would just add on the issue of infallibility other dogmas that just because they were defined only perhaps a century ago does not mean that they were not always taught by the Church: the Early Church Fathers clearly taught as the Church does now on issues such as the Eucharist, the primacy of Peter/Rome, Confession, Purgatory. Doctrines are specifically defined when they need to be - when they are being questioned or where there is confusion. Doctrines are not "invented" (the history of the Church proves this) but they can be developed. There is a very good article on what exactly infallibility is at http://www.staycatholic.com/papal_infalibillity.htm. It is important to realise, above all, that infallibility does not mean that the pope as a person cannot err; God doesnt' force him to teach anything, he is PREVENTED from teaching error when teaching the universal Church on faith and morals, but he cannot teach anything if he has not first done his "homework".

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Aliciarose | Aug 14, 2010, 12:47 AM EDT
PLEASE, don't come here to Australia for another visit. We don't want to pick up the tab again.

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jacersisityourself | Aug 13, 2010, 11:49 PM EDT
wiz is back! - sputin' his Nth Ireland hatred of Catholics as usual. Whateer happened to the Peace Process?

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