Christian Brothers Report

[BobHelm]

After a bit of a discussion on another thread by members about the evils of the Christian Brothers and their schools, I was surprised to see this on the BBC website today.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8060442.stm
It would appear that while the evils & injustices are well recorded any justice for the many victims will not be forth-coming..

[laphanphon]

i thought they were a wine maker

[Laan Yaa Mo]

Mr. Helm, this is truly sad reading, with an equally unhappy conclusion (I read the report in Toronto's Globe and Mail).

The nuns and priests were in a position of responsibilty for these troubled youngsters. However, instead of taking the opportunity to perform good acts, they carried out their duties in a deplorable manner.

Instead of working to improve lives they exploited the kids to satisfy their own desires.

The Catholic Church should feel shame and dishonour and try to make what amends they can at this late stage.

By the way, this study seems to have been confined to Ireland, but as we know, members of the Catholic Church took advantage of deprived children in many areas of the globe including Canada, Australia, England and so on.

[jimboLV]

This is indeed a terrible tragedy. It seems to have been widespread in the areas of this report. We have had similar cases in America of sexual abuse covered up by church authorities, but they seem to be isolated. I myself attended Catholic schools in Philadelphia in the forties and fifties and, except for occasional well deserved beatings by a few psychopathic nuns, never observed any pattern of abuse such as outlined in the report. High school was run by an order of Catholic priests and brothers and the only abuse was among the faculty, viz. a few alcoholics. The only effect on us students was to provide a constant source of amusement. I remember one day when our History teacher showed up quite late for class. The good father staggered into the room and proceeded to step into the trash can, resulting in his foot getting stuck, much to the regalement of the class. He was soon extricated and led away by a priest from an adjoining class and we were given a lecture on how this priest was a former track star for the school who had fallen on bad times, and was deserving of our sympathy. He was back in class the next day.

Of course we were not in a resident institution, which would have a bearing on the opportunities of abuse. My heart goes out to the victims.

[wazza]

Hang em high and crucify them .

Wasnt it the Boston RC Church that declared bankruptcy to avoid further payouts ?

The Leaving of Liverpool was a series all about this, and a sad but true event

[konstabel els]

I find it amazing how you expats accept ' lady boys ' , gay bars , sit sown in beer bars = knocking shops , and then critizise the RC Church - I think the expression 'people who live in glass houses'

[jackspratt]

I find it amazing how you expats accept ' lady boys ' , gay bars , sit sown in beer bars = knocking shops , and then critizise the RC Church - I think the expression 'people who live in glass houses'

It's probably because we expats (or the thinking ones at least) can distinguish between activities that occur between consenting adults, and those that have occurred between people in power and juveniles under their care, and the subsequent hushing up by the very powerful organisation that employed those people in power.

In my view, the RC church is the biggest glass house on earth.

[RALPHCUSENS]

I find it amazing how you expats accept ' lady boys ' , gay bars , sit sown in beer bars = knocking shops , and then critizise the RC Church - I think the expression 'people who live in glass houses'

What a load of boll@cks, how can you even consider comparing the above with that covered by this report?

[wazza]

KE

are u serious on what u posted ???

Suggest you watch this series

http://australianscreen.com.au/titles/l ... liverpool/

Hundreds or thousands of kids stolen from their mothers / families and relocated to Australia, sexually abused and lied to by the Christian Brothers.

[konstabel els]

No , I'm deadly serious , you all slag off the Catholics whils't having a girl on your knees who looks like your great grandaughter, you can get away with it in Thailand, - where I come from your known as a 'nonse'

[BobHelm]

So you believe that this report of abuse is 'made up' then KE???
As far as I am aware no-one is 'slagging off' Roman Catholics. I am certainly against the abuse that happened to many children under the guise of 'caring' for them under the system that The Christian Brothers used in Ireland.
If you cannot see the difference between the long term abuse of children from as young as 7 years old, who had nowhere else to go or anyone to complain to and a relationship between two adults then I wonder at you.
Even the leader of the Catholic Church in Ireland, Cardinal Sean Brady said..

he was "profoundly sorry and deeply ashamed that children suffered in such awful ways in these institutions".

and

This report makes it clear that great wrong and hurt were caused to some of the most vulnerable children in our society

So it hardly sounds like an invalid attack on anyone.....

I believe that the term you use to describe forum members "nonse" - is slang for someone who only likes to have sex with children who are under the legal age to have consensual sex. If that is the correct interpretation then I certainly hope that you are going to provide some concrete evidence supporting this claim - or otherwise apologise....

[wazza]

KE,

My Gf and Im sure many other posters on UM would find your comments insulting ! and blatantly discriminatory.

Just because Im a little older than her doesnt make me a person who sexually abuses people.

I actually know a guy from Tasmania, who has been thru all this, and I assure you, his story is not nice !!

He went back to Uni again to study as a social worker to work with the kids who have been sexually abused by these people.

Myself and him years ago broke the law in Tasmania whilst we were working together 1 night shift , and released information to the Police regarding a certain individual and his residence.

That confidential information later lead to a world wide Paedaphile group being arrested and prosecuted. It included members of the clergy as well as judges, policemen and teachers.

All respected positions within the community !!!!

Maybe your one of the perpertraitors trying to hide under your defensive stand on all this.

[konstabel els]

Bob , If I am in the wrong I would apologize , my point is - all these people nowdays - saying ' catholic church this' Catholic church that' , and the very same people seem to relish the company of lady boys, and a girl who should be going out with guys her own age, however I do concede the use of the word 'nonse ' about farangs in Thailand is unacceptable, but before you all jump on your high horses - I can Imagine catholics don't like being tarred with the same brush

[RALPHCUSENS]

No , I'm deadly serious , you all slag off the Catholics whils't having a girl on your knees who looks like your great grandaughter, you can get away with it in Thailand, - where I come from your known as a 'nonse'

If by having a wife 18 years my junior classifies me as a "Nonce", then I plead guilty with pleasure.(She is 48)

The heading of this thread is Christian Brother Report, and that is what is being discussed, as Bob stated, the R.C.s are admitting that this has been happening and are saying how ashamed they are, so for you to compare what happens here in Udon with that which this topic is about is in IMHO is pathetic

[Ter]

KE, having been brought up in a catholic family, an altar boy and sent to a school run by similar catholic brothers, though not in Ireland. Abuse did happen in many places run by the catholic church, it does not mean all catholics are child molesters and I dont think most catholics believe that either.
Though I think some are ashamed, but that is the catholic way.

[BobHelm]

Agreed KE.
The problem is that once the Catholic Church became aware of many of these issues it did nothing. Rather than ridding the church of these offenders it often moved them away somewhere new where they could start (& did start) a whole new chain of abuse again. In many ways the problem is not that they were catholic (because I am sure that many of them had no over-riding religious belief at all)but that the church enabled many paedophiles an opportunity to abuse children with little to no chance of them being discovered & prosecuted.

[aznyron]

Konstable my wife is 40 years younger than I she is 31 what does that make me a ***
Konstable it the women choice who she want to marry we are just on the stage waiting for some cute lady to pick us out of the crowded field so IMO I say to you go
as for the R.C.C they should be ashamed of them selfs when they find a priest who is molesting a child they transfer him instead of exposing him and having the authorities handle the situation this was also rampant in the USA one priest was defrocked and sent to prison were he was murdered in less than 1 year
child molester do not last long in prison

[Ter]

Ron, you old dog Good luck to ya

[wazza]

Just to remind people . how old these cases are going back

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25 ... 77,00.html

The arrest was done today

[konstabel els]

Yes , Az nee whatever, your wife is 40 years younger?, My old man would have kicked you in the balls,