The State Government of Victoria is about to introduce a bill to parliament to rid the protection of the confessional in churches and make reporting of child abuse to authorities mandatory by everyone, including priests.
Melbourne's Catholic Archbishop, Peter Cominsole has said that he would rather go to gaol than breach the Catholic Church's long time confessional policy of five hail Marys and the sinner repenting.
Can you believe that in 2019, after all the child sexual abuse revelations by religions and institutions we have learnt of, the Archbishop will not report child abuse told to him in the confessional to the authorities. While I expect the Archbishop would take some kind of action, who knows?
May I just press the point? If someone confesses to Catholic Archbishop Peter Cominsole that he, or even she, has abused a child or even raped a child, he would not report it to the authorities.
I saw that story, and thought as you do. It really shows the value he places on the abused children. Hiss and spit.
ReplyDeleteDearest EC. Of course we would think alike.
DeleteThey answer to Rome; not to Victoria. There are more vile secrets in the Vatican than we could ever imagine. The Catholic church is responsible for more death and suffering than any other institution in history.
ReplyDeleteCro, the Catholic Church does seem to be the worst.
DeleteYes it's unbelievable after everything that has happened. I say deregister the Catholic Church as a charitable organisation and let them forego tax free status in Australia. Maybe that might change their minds, and encourage them to agree to mandatory reporting of abuse.
ReplyDeleteCheryl, you are so right Yes, the institution should pay tax/.
DeleteThe old Archbishop of Melbourne has spent a lot of time in gaol for child sexual abuse, yet it took years and years before the Vatican let him be extradicted back to Australia. Eventually the Vatican will realise that its child abusing priests and nuns have to be tried in open court.
ReplyDeleteHels, not only the Catholic Church. The Jewish escapee in Israel is a disgrace too.
DeleteWas Pell ever extradited back to Australia? I'm pretty sure he returned of his own accord.
DeleteAs I remember it Marcellous, he did return of his own accord.
DeleteMight I also add that if someone is comfortable confessing such an act to a priest, why not go the whole hog and confess to a police officer...he/she obviously wants others to know what has been done...(*~*)
ReplyDeleteRiver, well you know what would happen if they confessed to police. Actually in the past if they did, maybe nothing would have happened.
DeleteTrue, Andrew
ReplyDeleteBut there is no expectation of confidentiality, as there is in the confessional. Leifer is being hidden in a psychiatric institution. Shame on the psychiatrists :(
Hels, and I read one politician too.
Deletevery interesting
ReplyDelete:-)
DeleteDon't get me started :) I can't even enjoy the buildings, thinking about how they were paid for in the first place!
ReplyDeleteJenny, I had not thought of that and it is well worth considering.
DeleteDisgusting.
ReplyDeleteJackie, what is the situation in Canada.
DeleteAndrew, google "Mount Cashel Ophanage" for starters.
DeleteJenny, as bad there. I wondered specifically about the confessional and whether there is mandatory reporting.
DeleteI am just sick about this. What is wrong with people? No wonder people have stopped going to church! I mean what's to believe in? Is there any goodness in organized religion?
ReplyDeleteMaribeth, while there are good people in religions, even they seemed overwhelmed by the revelations of the last decade.
DeleteIt's not a religion or anything like it, it's a vast political organization designed to get loot and keep loot all the while keeping their grubby fingers in everyone's business. I go with the saying I'm the daughter of a witch you didn't burn. They did't burn them for witches they burned women for their intelligence. Now it's coming out that the Nunneries were their private whore houses. So why are we surprised they want to keep their evil confessionals.
ReplyDeleteJah Teh, you are on the money.
DeleteHypocrites...I have little or no time for them...
ReplyDeleteLee, but they must not be ignored.
DeleteUnbloodybelievable!
ReplyDeleteGrace, my brain could barely cope with what the archbishop said.
DeleteSounds about right for church people, that they wouldn't report crimes. After all, the CAtholic church is the church of protected pedophiles. Many other churches blame victims. I have no use for churches and the crap they pull and preach.
ReplyDeleteStrayer, well put.
DeleteI daresay that His Eminence has no thought of anyone actually sending his sorry ass to jail. If there is a hell, may he rot in it.
ReplyDeleteSnowy, it would be very interesting to see what would happen if he was caught not reporting abuse.
DeleteWith an atheistic prime minister and the highest ranking Catholic abuser that has yet been sentenced to prison, I should think Australia would jail him.
DeleteI wish our PM was atheistic. He is a Pentecostal church attender and I guess a believer.
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