Irish Catholic Reform School report released

[Nivek]

This is heartbreaking, but given Church Scandals, not that shocking...

A fiercely debated, nine-year investigation into Ireland's Roman Catholic-run institutions says priests and nuns terrorized thousands of boys and girls in workhouse-style schools for decades _ and government inspectors failed to stop the chronic beatings, rapes and humiliation. High Court Justice Sean Ryan on Wednesday unveiled the 2,600-page final report of Ireland's Commission to Inquire Into Child Abuse, which is based on testimony from thousands of former students and officials from more than 250 church-run institutions.

Irish probe: Abuse ‘endemic’ in Catholic schools

 

[voyzovrezon]

Victims of the system have long demanded that the truth of their experiences be documented and made public, so that children in Ireland never endure such suffering again. But most leaders of religious orders have rejected the allegations as exaggerations and lies, and testified to the commission that any abuses were the responsibility of often long-dead individuals.

Typical. Pass the collection plate, eh, I mean buck.

On a related note, here's a man who reported on such abuses and ended up becoming an atheist.

William Lobdell: Losing My Religion

 

[Matt]

I'm not quite sure how this is related to politics, but 'kay.

 

[Nivek]

Well, Catholics made a pretty big deal over Obama going to Notre Dame,and then this is finally released a couple days later, giving the church another knee to the groin.

My name is Kevin James Murphy, I grew up in NY, and my Dad's side of the family was beaten with the Irish Catholic stick. Why do they do this to themselves, I will never know.

 

[Matt]

Fair enough. To your point, I believe religion is faulty because man is faulty. Not because God or his teachings are faulty. Besides, not all of us Catholics are bad though. I'm Roman Catholic (granted, non-practicing, but still) and I don't believe in corporal punishment, or outlawing gay marriage. I find abortion to be a disgusting act but I also don't like the slippery slope of our government legislating it so I suppose you could call me pro-choice. I support priests being allowed to marry. I oppose the death penalty, and believe clergy who molest or harm children should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. I for the most part oppose the death penalty to boot.

This report proves nothing to me but people who work for the church have harmed children. Just as lawyers, and doctors, and cops, and firefighters have harmed children, but you don't see news stories about that, or reports condemning a police department or National Bar Association.. Blame the person, not the organization they work for.