Catholics with a conscience

[zita-green]

Which is worse: to abuse a child; to cover it up or to make excuses for the cover-up?

[jno]

to abuse.

[askyourgran]

Abuse, castration for the abuser.

[jackthehat]

They are all betrayals of innocent and vulnerable children.........and on that basis are all equally indefensible.

[Whickerman]

all three are just part of the jigsaw that amounted to one whole horrenduous crime against innocents.

[jno]

I can envisage circumstances in which I would cover up for the actions of a friend, even wicked actions (though it would probably never happen). I can't envisage any circumstances in which I would abuse a child, not ever. That's why I think the first is far worse (and why I'm vastly more fussed about Ian Huntley than about Maxine Carr... and so is the law).

[zita-green]

Thanks for your comments. I don't agree about castration. I have heard that juries will not convict sex offenders if they know the sentence will involve castration. Surely it would be simpler to allow priests to marry?

[jackthehat]

Celebacy in Catholic priests doesn't automatically lead to paedophilia................

[Canary42]

Most paedophiles are married

[askyourgran]

All those evil paedophiles who have been let back into society to do that again, I stand by what I said. Think of the pain and suffering of the victims. As usual the 'human rights' nonsense comes first.

[jackthehat]

Just because I don't agree with the castration of offenders, it doesn't follow that I don't, won't or can't understand the pain of the abused children.

And it has nothing to do with Human Rights, either............

[askyourgran]

What I'm saying is the victim never has closure, those perverts are given counselling, a slap on the wrist, or a short prison sentence nothing that will permanently put a stop to their activities. I can't believe a jury would shy away from sentencing if they knew castration was the result. I'm all for an eye for an eye.

[jackthehat]

^I'd already gathered that, askyourgran.

I happen to disagree, that's all.

[zita-green]

I agree with you, jackthehat. My worry is that the church will use its resources to protect the pope and other senior figures to deny justice to the victims. This is not just about Ireland or the USA; it's many countries.

[modeller]

To address the question " which is worse " seems simple to answer .' The abuser ' but I would say they are all equally at fault, because would be abusers especially within the church know that their actions will be covered up, therefore there was little deterrent.
We know that is what precisely happened time and time again.

[zita-green]

What can be done about it, Modeller?

[bundleone]

Catholic priests do not become peaodophiles, it's the other way round, peaodophiles become priests because it gives them opportunity to commit these crimes with little chance of being caught.

I know the spelling is wrong!

[zita-green]

Bundleone, your spelling does not matter. As a survivor of catholic abuse, I consider spelling mistakes a minor misdemeanour.