Pedophile priests
Apr. 4th, 2021 09:06 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
whitewriterThe Documentary discussed is linked here
Revelation -
A 3 part documentary by the journalist who used to do the hard hitting Australian documentary style program "Four Corners"; is about the Catholic pedophile rings of the 70s,80s, 90s that occured in Australia.
traces it all back to Irish priests being "sent away" from Ireland when their tendencies were found out - all the way to Australia, where they'd offend again, and be hidden by either other pedophiles or other head leaders that refused to believe that pedophiles was a real thing.
What I found astounding - other than
the inability of pedophiles to see how their actions don't cause their victims pain;
the hidden in plain sight nature of the crimes -
how vulnerable the children are; being completely clueless as to realise that what was happening was abuse, even though it was clearly uncomfortable and painful at times.
-- they interview both the priests and the now adult, once children - alike.
Is that: Pedophile priests are not even extricated from the church. They are still considered priests and can still say mass.
I'm sorry.
I know they are considered holy.-- the documentary states "elevated above ordinary men".
But this is where I draw the line when it comes to religion.
Religion has its place.
It can be extremely useful in times of distress (like death in the family) or joy (like a wedding or birth) and it is really good for people to find other like minded people in the community, often running services for the homeless or the poor, to help teach children who are immigrants and generally fill gaps where government services are lacking.
The general vibe is that, religion means - do good for others -
as an act of service to God.
regardless of whether the person your helping is religious too.
Somehow in that act of kindness, and probably through talking: you might convince the person to join the church (and here comes what I consider the non-altruistic part of the whole deal).
To be fair though; no one ever has to join. There might be some pressure; they might not shut up about Jesus whilst they go through lessons on English and that might be their favourite topic of conversation at the homeless lunch.
But in general, it's not malicious.
If men of God, can hurt children: then what is the purpose of the Catholic church?
I'm not against religion but I don't see how any one religion is any better than any other.
To me, their all just constructs.
Constructs of community beliefs and ideals based on history and some texts that are considered holy (each religion has their own) - and at the end of they day they were all created by man (some more transparently than others).
God might exist, but if a spiritual being like God does exist then they are beyond any religion.
- and these so called "men of God" need to be treated as men. Subjected to law, like the rest of us. After all their feet are on ground just like ours.
Revelation -
A 3 part documentary by the journalist who used to do the hard hitting Australian documentary style program "Four Corners"; is about the Catholic pedophile rings of the 70s,80s, 90s that occured in Australia.
traces it all back to Irish priests being "sent away" from Ireland when their tendencies were found out - all the way to Australia, where they'd offend again, and be hidden by either other pedophiles or other head leaders that refused to believe that pedophiles was a real thing.
What I found astounding - other than
the inability of pedophiles to see how their actions don't cause their victims pain;
the hidden in plain sight nature of the crimes -
how vulnerable the children are; being completely clueless as to realise that what was happening was abuse, even though it was clearly uncomfortable and painful at times.
-- they interview both the priests and the now adult, once children - alike.
Is that: Pedophile priests are not even extricated from the church. They are still considered priests and can still say mass.
I'm sorry.
I know they are considered holy.-- the documentary states "elevated above ordinary men".
But this is where I draw the line when it comes to religion.
Religion has its place.
It can be extremely useful in times of distress (like death in the family) or joy (like a wedding or birth) and it is really good for people to find other like minded people in the community, often running services for the homeless or the poor, to help teach children who are immigrants and generally fill gaps where government services are lacking.
The general vibe is that, religion means - do good for others -
as an act of service to God.
regardless of whether the person your helping is religious too.
Somehow in that act of kindness, and probably through talking: you might convince the person to join the church (and here comes what I consider the non-altruistic part of the whole deal).
To be fair though; no one ever has to join. There might be some pressure; they might not shut up about Jesus whilst they go through lessons on English and that might be their favourite topic of conversation at the homeless lunch.
But in general, it's not malicious.
If men of God, can hurt children: then what is the purpose of the Catholic church?
I'm not against religion but I don't see how any one religion is any better than any other.
To me, their all just constructs.
Constructs of community beliefs and ideals based on history and some texts that are considered holy (each religion has their own) - and at the end of they day they were all created by man (some more transparently than others).
God might exist, but if a spiritual being like God does exist then they are beyond any religion.
- and these so called "men of God" need to be treated as men. Subjected to law, like the rest of us. After all their feet are on ground just like ours.
