The BBC Documentary the Catholic Church Doesn't Want Seen

[Ian David]

Run time: 09:55 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-J7iFTrT1U   Posted on YouTube: May 31, 2007 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: July 19, 2007 By DU Member: Ian David Views on DU: 1544

 
A culture of secrecy that led bishops to place the interest of the Catholic Church ahead of the safety of the children. Sound familiar? That was one of the conclusions of The Ferns Report, which was a study that found 24 priests in a tiny enclave in Ireland that was responsible for the sexual abuse of over 100 boys and girls.

Another conclusion was that the Catholic Church knew of their dirty little secret as far back as 1962 and instead of fixing the problem, created a proceedure to cover it up.

Here in Los Angeles some are alleging that our very own Cardinal Mahoney acted very similarly to the way things were handled in Ireland in that he moved abusive perverts from one church to another when they were discovered diddling the young. Instead of removing the sexual predators from their positions of power, or having them arrested for breaking the law, Mahoney re-established that culture of secrecy, protecting the evil-doers, at the expense of the unsuspecting parishioners who literally handed over their kids to the church for summer camps, Sunday school trips, and other situations where they would be alone with men who the Catholic Church knew were child molesters.

The Daily News' Chris Weinkopf spoke on the phone with the Cardinal Monday regarding the $600+ million payoff and he posted his notes on the DN opinion blog, Friendly Fire. Here's one snippet:

On why he didn't call the police when he learned of abuses:

More:
http://laist.com/2007/07/18/the_bbc_vid_the.php

[Warpy]

1. There were several things at work here, not least of which is

the fact that the Church still exists in the Middle Ages, when it was the first estate and the supreme law over all earthly kingdoms. Keeping the mere state out of investigations into the conduct of its officials has always been its policy, and it's not likely to change. Only when enough victims break that "seal of confession" and speak out do any of its priests start to face civil law. Its Bishops and above get promoted away from the grubby business of earthly parishes, just as Cardinal Law was promoted away from prosecution and into the Vatican.

A secondary factor since the last mid century was the shortage of priests, making it even more important for Rome to protect itself and its officials from any whisper of scandal from its victims.

I just wish there would be more documentaries about Ratzinger's role in all these efforts. That man needs exposure desperately.

[LibDemAlways]

2. The priesthood is the ultimate old-boys network.

They reflexively close ranks to protect their own.

History's judgment of Mahoney isn't going to be kind. He built a $187 million dollar monument to himself not far from skid row in LA, where the money might have done some good. Now he's implicated in the cover up of a scandal that has ruined lives, done irreparable damage to the church as an institution, and cost hundreds of millions. What a shameful legacy.

[hedgehog]

3. Recommended

It amazes me and enreages me that while the British couldn't seperate the Irish from the Church in 4 centuries, it took the bishops less than 1!