Javno
May 23, 2009
http://www.javno.com/en-world/irish-horror--priests-mostly-abused-boys_260111
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A report on abuse cases in Ireland has shocked the world and the victims testify from all corners of the world.
Priests and nuns physically and sexually abused thousands of children at orphanages and homes for troubled children in Ireland from 1939 until 1990, the government`s Commission announced on Wednesday in the first official report which entirely encompassed the scandal that has shocked this Catholic nation, Washington Post writes.
Some defenders of the Church believe the victims exaggerate things in their accusations, however, many Irish commentators described the report as a disruptive accusation of the Church and the state. The Irish government has paid damages to 12,000 abused victims, while new charges are expected.
In the 2,600-pages long report, which is a result of a 9-year investigation, it is stated that rape and sexual abuse was an “endemic appearance” in institutions for boys which are financed by the state, but governed by the Church.
Over 300 persons who live abroad now, including the USA, returned to Ireland in order to testify at 166 hearings about what occurred in schools and care homes. Over 1,000 persons, today in their 50s or older, described rape, beating, burning and other types of abuse.
Priests: Reports will shock everyone
For decades, Ireland has educated dozens of thousands of orphans and small children up to the age of 16, including the disabled or minor offenders in over 200 over-crowded, 19 ct institutions which were mostly closed down by 1990. Although the government financed these institutions, they were run by church orders.
The Irish government stated the Commissions. Worried in advanced about the believers who started avoiding mass, many priests warned their parishes that the report would “shock everyone”, as Dublin Archbishop Diarmuid Martin said.
- I am profoundly sorry and deeply ashamed that children suffered in such awful ways in these institutions. Children deserved better and especially from those caring for them in the name of Jesus Christ - Cardinal Sean Brady said when the report was published on Wednesday.
Commissions found that severe physical and sexual abuse mostly occurred at schools for boys, as well as those for girls. Still, “emotional abuse” was recorded, as well as ritual beating where “girls were beaten with instruments designed to increase pain in all body parts”.
Commissions report that documents found in the Vatican showed that church orders were aware of countless abuse reports, but covered them up due to fear of scandal.
No abuser has been named
The Order of the Christian brothers headed many residential homes in Ireland. More reports complaints against his order have been made than against all orders put together. The Christian brothers successfully sued the Commission in 2004, successfully banning the publification of the defendants based on the fact that many brothers are now dead and cannot defend themselves.
In the end, no priest or nun has been named in the report, which affected the victims who cannot use the report in their lawsuits.
John Kelly, co-ordinator of the Survivors of Child Abuse group said that the report was incomplete and full of mistakes.
John Walsh, one of the abuse victims, told the Irish papers that he was “extremely mad and embittered” that no priest has been named. He feels cheated and played. He would never have opened up his wounds if he had known the case would end this way, he said.
The report severely criticises the Irish education department for lack of control and claim that state inspectors were responsible for abuse in at least 50 schools, because they announced their visits in advance and did not talk to the children.
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