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BLACKROCK COLLEGE ABUSE – HOLY GHOST (SPIRITAN) ORDER

https://www.rte.ie/radio/doconone/1333550-blackrock-boys

Story Notes

From the ages of 12 to 17, siblings Mark and David Ryan were repeatedly sexually abused both in and on the grounds of Blackrock College in South County Dublin. Their abusers were from the community of the Holy Ghost Order, now known as the Spiritans and who run Blackrock College in cooperation with lay personnel.

During the 1970s and early 1980s David and Mark were repeatedly abused at various locations on the grounds of Blackrock College, including in the college library, swimming pools, and other buildings.

For many years neither Mark or David spoke of their abuse, until early 2002 when clerical child sex abuse filled the news headlines. This led the brothers to reveal their abuse, first to their parents, and then to one another. They made statements to An Garda Síochána which led to multiple charges being brought against their abuser. Several court cases ensued as David and Mark fought for justice.

Mark, David and their friend Maura Harmon are the first people to openly speak about child sex abuse at Blackrock College.

The number of children who were sexually abused on the grounds of Blackrock College is unknown.

Responding to questions arising out of this documentary Fr Martin Kelly, the current Provincial of the Spiritans, stated:

  • Spiritan records now indicate that 233 people have made allegations of abuse against 77 Irish Spiritans in ministries throughout Ireland and overseas.
  • In relation to Blackrock College, 57 people have alleged they were abused on the Blackrock campus.
  • The Spiritans have made multiple monetary contributions to people who have alleged abuse at the hands of Spiritan community members – and since 2004 the total amount paid by the Spiritans, in settlement of claims of abuse, and towards support services, amounts to over €5 million.
  • The Spiritans have made settlements with 12 individuals relating to abuse at Blackrock.
  • All settlements have been funded from Spiritan congregation resources.
  • It has been the practice of the Spiritan Congregation to cover legal fees incurred by its members in connection with their legal representation in criminal cases. This practice arose in circumstances where members did not have the personal money to do so.

114 replies on “BLACKROCK COLLEGE ABUSE – HOLY GHOST (SPIRITAN) ORDER”

I listened to Liveline these past two days and am absolutely disgusted by what I’ve heard. It is unimaginable what survivors have gone through and are still suffering. I recall my experience over a two year period in the late 60’s when a neighbour abused me. When i went to boarding school in 1970, I found safety from him, strangely, and thank God that for four years I never witnessed nor experienced anything untoward by any brother or lay teacher. These years were my happiest school days. I often wonder if after all these years that subconsciously the experience affected me in some way. I think I survived well but never told anyone, ever. Today some survivors recalled their experience of monstrous abuse and brutality inflicted on them. Their stories are very distressing. But – we must hear them. The statistics are horrendous and I wonder how any Order can survive this awful legacy.

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12:15 Demonstrating the violence the cult is famed for.
Remember folks they’re only pro life till you’re born, then they want you dead unless you submit and give generously.

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Prime real estate. Close this terrible school, ghost it, sell the land and compensate the survivors. Prime Time RTE should investigate.

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I think the abuse at Blackrock College started in the early 1960’s.I attended Blackrock 1962-1963 as a day pupil. After starting some older boys advised us to watch out for Father/ Brother X who looked after the boarders. Apparently he only liked younger boys.

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Patsy McGarry’s article in The Irish Times is an excellent portrayal of class, perception and silence. The Blackrock motto is “fearless and bold” and the Apology to Victims of Abuse on the College website says it all – for example, “we are appalled at the recent revelations of abuse at Blackrock College”. When are the well-known names of former alumni going to speak out? People such as Ruari Quinn (former minister for education), the Andrews, Ryan Turbridy, Bob Geldolf, Dr. Maurice Nelligan, and Brian O’Driscoll. As a parent, I would immediately take my children out of this insipid, corrupt and self-serving environment. Money always speaks louder. Do not collude with the rock.

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Well done to Barry Andrews for being honest about this horrendous criminality, masked through religious institution and class.

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Courageous. Mark and David Ryan are to be admired for their courage in exposing the crimes of priests and the coverup at Blackrock College.

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Pat, I am shocked with the news about Blackrock College and disappointed that you are not focusing on this terrible tragedy

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Horrible experience for all those young boys. Derek Coyle spoke very well on tv. Awful for him having to relive it

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I hope Ryan Tubridy gives time on the Late Late Show to speak about the sexual abuse at Blackrock College. Ryan emphatically engaged the country by interviewing Vicky Phelan, Charlie Bird, and Catherine Corless. His coverage of Aishling Murphy and the Ukraine crisis was deeply moving.

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The statistics do not add up! The Holy Ghost Order, which manages Blackrock College in Dublin, known officially as the Spiritans, faces 233 allegations of abuse against 77 Irish Spiritans in Ireland and overseas. The average number of victims of non-incestuous paedophilia is 4.4%. Based on 77 sex abusers who were priests with the Spritians, we estimate that at least 338 children were abused.

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Just reading about this horrific abuse. Senior investigators with An Garda Síochána should be appointed immediately to investigate these crimes. Remove with immediate effect all priests and brothers until the investigation is concluded.

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Pat, why aren’t you covering this significant news story? I am not interested in Vatican auditors or married bishops. The “Rock” is an institution enmeshed by church and state, McQuaid and de Valera. The silence and complicity of the Holy Ghost Order with elitism with the brand requires urgent attention.

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Bishop, what do you think John Charles McQuaid would make of it all? You used to visit him in a pastoral capacity in later life.

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Were there not some accusations made against McQuaid ? Nothing seems to have come of them. I wonder if any action would have been taken against him if that same accusations were made today and he were alive ? Have you got any detail, + Pat, on what those accusations were ?

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In his book, John Cooney talks of an incident in a Drumcondra pub with a 15 year old boy. I think it highly unlikely.

There were two Garda files concerning Mc Quaid that disappeared forever.
???

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By Post Author

@ 10:24am
The false accusation about Dr Mcquaid came from his nemesis Noel Browne who had never forgiven him for the Mother & Child debacle. The hack Cooney was only too pleased to mention it. His dislike of his subject can be detected in every page.

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The allegation of direct abuse made by the drunk Cooney (whom Dick Spring punched when he got too much) in his very hateful biography, and originates in some pen sketch fiction in the papers of Noel Browne. However, +McQuaid did, for example, receive a clear report of a priest abusing a little girl in a hospital taking perverted pictures (it was reported by a photo lab) and put it down to curiosity over the female body. That priest did not leave behind his deviance and committed more crimes. No to McQuaid as an abuser (no real evidence), but yes for covering up. Standard stuff sadly.
History Ireland does have an article where his efficiency over emigration services is noted. Single mothers who departed Ireland got efficient welfare services from the Oblates at the Irish Centre, and they certainly weren’t pushed to the English versions of the laundries (England did have some Magdalene Laundries or county homes).
McQuaid was efficient even though he covered up. Presentday bishops aren’t, and they still coverup. It seems to be a balance of risk of coverup v legal payouts. Business.

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McQuaid used to regularly visit my mothers cousins home. The young children had to leave the room as he was known to enjoy having a young boy or girl to sit on his knee. Enough was known by the children that he made them very uncomfortable. He was too powerful to say anything to him so the temptation was taken out of his hands.

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agree with @3.33pm. Pat, you need to cover this story in detail. This story is the Spotlight for Irish survivors of religious institutional sexual abuse. It is time for Irish journalism to expose the relationships between class and system, church and state. Silverstream and Gerry Carey are not important in relation to this terrible story that Mark and David Ryan exposed on RTE radio.

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10:42 Yeah lucky the SSPX is completely untouched by child abuse cover up scandals. 🫣

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No wonder, he started the SSPX

1)
Breakaway Catholic order ‘hides priests accused of sexual …https://www.rt.com › UK news
6 Apr 2017 —d Williamson’s SSPX Resistance

2)SSPX Scandal Goes Global – Church Militanthttps://www.churchmilitant.com › news › article › sspx-…
2 Apr 2022

3)SSPX accused of intimidating would-be whistleblowers amid …https://www.catholicnewsagency.com › news › sspx-acc…
6 Aug 2020

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@ 8:45am

Instead of always blaming Pope Pius XII, why don’t you blame Roosevelt and Churchill who knew a lot more than the Pope. They could have done something, such as bombing the camps or at least the rail lines leading to them, but they did nothing. Neither Hitler or Mussolini would have listened to anything the Pope said anyway.

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Are there any studies comparing the incidence of sexual abuse in the RCC and other religious denominations, Christian and elsewhere?
If any such studies exist, what conclusions could be drawn?

I ask wondering if the level of RCC abuse is related to RCC’s supposed “clerical celibacy” with all the duplicity it involves. Another relevant factor perhaps common to all religions is the power and control relationships between often vulnerable/dependent individuals and the perceived pastoral role of religious leaders.
Perhaps comparison with the CoE might be the most relevant?
MMM

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It’s very tricky because of course abuse is virtually impossible to quantify accurately. As far as I know estimates for all sectors of society indicate abuse is evenly spread out which would suggest neither religion nor celibacy are necessarily implicated.
I have a profound dissatisfaction with the way abuse has so far been investigated and reported. Legal approaches, national reviews, and anecdotal accounts all pay attention to the part they’re interested in. For example Richard Scorer’s book on abuse is a completely devastating flat account of what happened from the point of view of a lawyer: but then compared to Jonathan West’s blog about Ealing Abbey you realize that Scorer only talks about the legally provable high points.
As for the C of E I’m kinda impressed with the way they’ve fallen on their own sword and published all the allegations they missed originally, even though they have a terrible record of insurer-driven denial as well.
https://www.churchofengland.org/safeguarding/safeguarding-news-releases/national-report-church-englands-second-past-cases-review

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Thank you @ 10.19. I’ll check out your link.
I do agree that studies, however diligent, can only deal with reported abuse, either publicly or in private to the researchers. And even that latter invites questions about the ‘catchment net’ being evaluated.
It’s regularly said that most abuse is inter familial, and sadly some shallow minds wave that banner in defence of their cherished beliefs.
MMM

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MMM at 11:16
‘It’s regularly said that most abuse is inter familial, and sadly some shallow minds wave that banner in defence of their cherished beliefs.’
Quite. And that casts a very chilling light on this:
‘the Church has always taught the importance of the family as the basic unit of the social fabric of society itself:’
https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20060707_levada-valencia_en.html
It’s striking how quick they are to make out abuse is mainly located in the family, while their cult is all out for the family!
I think when we talk about abuse it is safer to say that it is mostly carried out by someone the victim knows because if you say the family specifically it takes people’s suspicion off teachers, clergy, and so on.
However you still shouldn’t let your kids anywhere near a Catholic priest because their safeguarding is nowhere near up to scratch.

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Anon@ 1.17. Your penultimate paragraph makes a very valid point.
Your last paragraph is even more relevant.
Thanks.
MMM

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Thank you @ 3:12 for that informative link. It’s very revealing in indicating both the scale, and the difficulties inherent in any assessment: definitions, under reporting, cover- ups et al.
The concluding question posed and answered best sums up nowadays common knowledge.
“Are Catholic clergy more likely to be protected from prosecution for sex crimes, and moved to another location of opportunity, by a huge wealthy international organisation claiming to be the one true moral compass for the world than the general public?
To which the answer is a resounding YES THEY ARE”
MMM

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10.27: Seanie, there may be some truth in your assessment of Liveline and other forms of journalism. However, its disingenuous, selfish, immoral, ungodly and ugly to be so arrogant in your assertions. You are ignorant. Simply an ignoramus.

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Robert Nugent is utterly obsessed with young fit men masturbating, but why? Did he not express self love when he was young, fit and handsome?

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That’s all the man talks about on his channel, him and Paddy Devlin should get their own Podcast and show us how they would treat young addicts of masturbation

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Didn’t that psychologist guy at Oscott have a thing about seminarians’ masturbatory fantasies ? I think he was shown the door from there and other seminaries. Let’s hope he’s not being allowed to get his rocks off peering in to seminarians’ minds in some other institutions. Great isn’t it, when your work and your warped fantasies and predilections coincide ?!

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10:36 And him talking about masturbation is all you talk about.
I’d call you creepy.

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The truth that RN speaks is difficult for some people. They prefer to stick their heads in the sand.
If we don’t identify our sin, there is no incentive to seek repentance. If there is no incentive to seek repentance, there is no need for forgiveness.
The crimes written of in today’s blog are horrifying. Absolutely vile creatures committed such horrific abuses.

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Great few days for the aul liveline bollox. Nothing better than a bit a catholic church bashing and of course the sighs an the aul empathy. Where would be without liberal lefty church bashing RTE.

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A strikingly honest comment, thank you, Seanie. It takes real guts to come out with it and admit that child abuse is what the church is about, not the pretend religion bit. if only other Roman Catholics had your honesty. 👍

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9.59: I think you completely misunderstand Seanie’s contemptible remark…he is minimising ABUSE of all kind. Read it again.

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I have every sympathy and compassion for anyone who has been abused by clergy. I dont think there is much to be gained by talking about it on national radio to Joe (half a million a year ) Duffy. I think professional care is the answer and try an avoid the bastard abusers destroying the life of the victim forever.

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Seanie, you THINK you do. The whole point of what people are saying to you is you don’t understand it and thus don’t have every sympathy and compassion. You only have those for your cult. Unless, more likely, you’re a troll, because it’s a bit difficult to conceive anyone would be stupid enough to believe the tripe you’ve posted the past couple of days.

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https://www.dublinlive.ie/news/dublin-news/alleged-blackrock-college-sex-abuse-25469107
Alleged Blackrock College Sex Abuse Victims Claim Paedophile Ring Operated There.
By Sean Murphy.
” Alleged sex abuse victims at one of the country’s most exclusive schools have claimed a paedophile ring operated there.
The claims were made after two past pupils, Mark Ryan, 61, and his brother David, 58, revealed their nightmare ordeals on RTE radio.”
“Alleged victims recalled their experiences on RTE’s Liveline show, with some claiming that a paedophile ring operated within the religious Holy Ghost Order that founded the school. David said: “They knew what was going on, but they brushed it under the carpet.”

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Mention of a paedophile ring in the context of child abuse at Blackrock College is greatly concerning. Academics in Australia are mapping “mafia-like” code of silence among “dark networks” within the Catholic Church.
It is a world-first project mapping Australian clerical paedophile networks. Researchers have not put a timeline on the mapping project but say once finished in Australia they intend to move their research offshore. Below is a link to more information on the project.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-05/paedophiles-mapped-like-organised-crime/13122320

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Excellent article. Very much like the Kildare network which has been operating. A network is an excellent description as a ring tends to presume each person knows everyone else which is not exactly true all the time. Thanks for sharing.

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12.01 they network like the Mafia and the masons. A secret society, deadly and dangerous.

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I reckon there are a lot of bishops who are sitting somewhat worried and anxious about the spotlight that is now going to fall on them after 11 French bishops in living memory have been accused of abuse. Many probably thought that it was all conveniently contained and hidden away. I doubt if any abusing bishop can have that assurance now that this news has come out. Similarly with many religious orders. I’ve heard religious boast about the fact that the abuse business seems to have passed them and their particular order by and there have been no allegations. Best not to count the chickens before they hatch.

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Yes I’ve been wondering about that. It’s not possible that the bishops’ activities would be limited to covering up crime when they are drawn from the ranks.

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Oh you poor sad haters of the Roman Catholic Church. These distressing cases are vile and despicable things that no child should ever have been subjected to, and those who perpetrated the abuse should face exposure and justice. But really, to characterize the whole clergy as corrupt abusers is something that no reasonable person would accept. You see priests and religious come from the people – good people – and many gave the one life they have in the true selfless service of others. Yes there were, and likely are, rotten apples who used their ‘status’ as a camouflage to access the innocent and the vulnerable, but the percentage of these is no greater than among the general population. So while the likes of Pat the rebel may use every case as a weapon to demonize the church, people are far too discerning to swallow that line. The fact that it emanates from such a personally disordered individual is enough!
So Pat, as Maureen Potter used to say ‘Save your breath to cool your porridge’. We all know good and dedicated individual in the ranks of the clergy doing the Lord’s work, and no amount of hate fueled invective from you and your small incestuous band of warped blogging personalities will have the slightest effect. The Church will go on long after the oratory is returned to it’s rightful owners, the Roman Catholic people of Larne. I will then travel to your graveside to pray for your soul.
Within a few years you will be forgotten!

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Does doing the Lords work include covering up by bishops and religious superiors of criminal behaviour of ‘bad apples’? A spotlight needs to be placed on bishops.

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12.41 Too right Jim, it stinks to high heaven. Rotten to the core from top to bottom of their secretive barrels of inequity.

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The live mikesays:
Nov 10, 2022 at 12:05 pm
You are missing the point completely.
“Which came first the chicken or the egg”?
I believe the law of averages dictates there are good men in the Roman Catholic priesthood, however common sense, is thrown to the wind.
Would or did those same “good” men turn a blind eye, cover up for the sexual abuser, disbelieved a child trying to get support by telling another priest?
We know the Roman Catholic church put the institution of the Roman Catholic church’s reputation above all else (now in tatters) even, above the care of its Roman Catholic children, ponder on that for a few minutes.
Your statement; “Pat the rebel may use every case as a weapon to demonize the church” do you caste the same aspersions on every journalists in Ireland who has written about that cesspit Roman Catholic College?
It’s obvious the exposé of yet another Roman Catholic “religious” order’s sexually abusive clerics, is stuck in your craw, and with good reason, the problem with you “good” Roman Catholic priests is, you can’t bear the truth even when it’s staring you in the face.
Thank God for people like Pat, the more the world knows of the deceitful, criminal activities in the Roman Catholic church the better.
What bloody arrogance! You will go to Pat’s grave after his death and, pray for him!! I am sure Pat will have enough praying for him without your intrusion.
If I were you, I would pray for myself now, to develop tolerance of others, for insight into the effects the crime sexual abuse has on children, and for insight into those in the Roman Catholic hierarchy, Bishops, and Popes one a “saint “now, unbelievable! You couldn’t make it up, could you?
Those who felt it was acceptable to cover up child sexual, those responsible for transferring sexually abusive priests to very vulnerable people in far flung countries and, continents, throughout the world, enabling those criminals to continue to exploit the most unprotected, unguarded, deferential children imaginable. That crime (not to mention sin) compounds child sexual abuse. Maybe you ought to pray for them while your at it, the surely need it.
I wonder how many will remember you when you croak your last breath.
Who will pay at your grave?

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12.05: That’s a most unkind comment. Pat has his flaws, sins and propensity to hurt many but he also gives time for all of us to KNOW the reality of ABUSE, cover ups, duplicitous behaviour and corruption within the clerical ranks. God will be his judge, ultimately and yours and mine.

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I’ve edited the original comment, leaving the parts I agree with:
These distressing cases are vile and despicable things that no child should ever have been subjected to, and those who perpetrated the abuse should face exposure and justice. But really, to characterize the whole clergy as corrupt abusers is something that no reasonable person would accept. You see priests and religious come from the people – good people – and many gave the one life they have in the true selfless service of others. Yes there were, and likely are, rotten apples who used their ‘status’ as a camouflage to access the innocent and the vulnerable, but the percentage of these is no greater than among the general population. Some people are far too discerning to swallow that line.
We all know good and dedicated individuals in the ranks of the clergy doing the Lord’s work.
Pax.

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EVERY Diocese and Religious Order on the island of Ireland needs to be investigated.
Safeguarding MUST be completely independent of the RCC.

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What RCC run establishment is the next CSA scandal/cover up to emerge from?

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1:48 Judging by today there may still be orders in Europe that are covering it up, but I’ve been thinking that the developing countries have been remarkably quiet so far, given that abusive priests have often been hidden ‘on the missions ‘. Given that church going is still more common in those parts of the world it may take a loss of deference for this to happen. This scandal could run for decades yet.

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2.32 You are barking up the wrong tree again lol. If you have so much free time on your hands, then why don’t you collect your painting? If you don’t want it, let us know. I know exactly where to put it.

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12:25
There are two reasons you should continue to say this.
1. It’s true.
2. It drives the faithful mad because it’s their ultimate fear. I wonder what they’re frightened of!

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I hate to burst your bubble but someone who follows the blog regularly clearly knows I use ‘darling’ sarcastically and trying to copy me. Someone is shit stirring.

Won’t take me long to figure out who either.

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@3:15
Wait until there’s an overarching independent investigation going back
to at least part of the past century in the Italian church.

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Pat, when do you get your Ukrainians? How many are you getting? I’m getting 5 next week and I can not wait to meet them all.

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Be careful – the vetting process is not great. I got a family and the middle child was an arsonist, and I had to put them out in the street

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It’s important to highlight the negative experiences we have had, I found Mother Ukrainian in bed with my husband, and because my name is not on the deeds of the house, he threw me out for her.

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1:46 Well you obviously weren’t satisfying him! (And we can all tell what your like from the moaning tone of your comment) 😂

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Well done Pat! I was hoping you would highlight the Roman Catholic sexual abuser Holy Ghost Fathers aka the Spiritans today.
Dirty conniving sexual abuser bas—ds. It makes my blood boil thinking how the escaped for so long.
My God!!! Those beasts, each year must have felt like children in a sweet shop, another new batch of “sweets” to consume and, ravage.
Those vile men are some ghosts that are not going to disappear.
I hope the others who have also been violated by those paedophiles and, ephebophilia will have the strength to name and shame their sexual abusers.
It’s never to late to name a sexual abuser,
no matter how old they are,
no matter how frail they are,
no matter how apologetic they are,
no matter how long they have being dead.
no matter how much money they offer in lieu of your abuse.
Expose them for what the are, as lawyer Mitchell Garabedian stated, take the collar off and, what have you got? Filthy, sexually abusive, perverted dirty old men, who used their enormous power to damage children, young boys in their care.
There are no words strong enough, to describe my enormous loathing of them.

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Well said QP. I particularly agree that it’s never too late to name and shame abusers regardless of their position, frailty or otherwise.
“Sleeping dogs”?
Such dogs should never be let lie. They’ve lied far too long.
MMM

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Black Rock whether it be college in Dublin or Fr Jerry Carey’s beach antics in Galway, the word will now always be synonymous with school abuse & sexual scandal clergy, is Carey still on girls school website in Ennis? Apparently they left his name on there although he was awaiting trial for exposing himself, such arrogance from piano man.

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2.50: It’s Margaret Thatcher Britain needs: someone of stature, conviction and ideas who outclassed the male hierarchy of her day. She surpassed all with her intellect and persuasive oratory and steely determination.

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@4.45pm See how long you last with that (up your own ass) argument in the coal mining areas in the Welsh valleys, Yorkshire and elsewhere. . Towns and communities decimated by you and Thatcher’s warped ideologies.

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The reason abuse in the Roman Catholic church is worse than abuse in, say, a swimming team, is no swimming team pretends to have been founded and still inspired by almighty God.
It’s the way two dishonesties are used to try to cancel each other out.

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3.06: ABUSE IS ABUSE IS ABUSE, irrespective of who the perpetrator is. There are higher moral expectations on clerics by the nature of their “religious vocation” and the vows they make. BUT, please do not minimise ANY abuse and argue by implication that ABUSE is less damaging and wounding and destructive if committed by a swimming coach, a parent or a neighbour. ALL AND EVERY ABUSE IS MORALLY REPREHENSIBLE AND DISGUSTINGLY INEXCUSABLE. If you’ve been ABUSED, you might understand. Having had that horrible experience, I find it offensive when ghouls like you minimise abuse.

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6.26: Sir, the unions in Britian pre Margaret Thatcher had your country in the gutter under A Labour government whose leaders apart from Tony Blair were in the hands of the aggressive, militant union leaders. She raised the stature of Britain. Margaret Thatcher was acknowledged as a powerful world leader who, with Ronald Reagan made a great contribution to world history. She stood her ground. Her relationship with Gorbachev was a defining moment. Britain’s leaders today are useless.

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Reply to;
MournemanMichaelsays:
Nov 10, 2022 at 10:37 am
It is all too easy too state that most child sexual abuse occurs in the family, no surprises there, of course it does, there are far more families than Roman Catholic clergy.
Like with like, difficult to compared, the figures are so enormously different.
Even if Roman Catholic family incest is compared to Roman Catholic clergy sex abuse the same problem arises.
The crux of the matter is, Roman Catholic priests by their very calling/ profession/ status, know categorically, (or should know ,they are the confessors) morally, what is right and wrong, what is sin, also a civil crime, unless, completely stupid, similar to, Roman Catholic Archbishop Robert Carlson, who denied knowing child sex abuse was a civil crime, giving a risible reason, why, he did not report sexual abuser Roman Catholic priests on his watch.
1)
St. Louis Archbishop Didn’t Know Sex With Children Was a …https://www.nbcnews.com › news › religion › st-louis-a…
10 Jun 2014 —

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Yes. This pretence that they don’t know shows exactly what moral cowards they are. Incidentally in most jurisdictions not knowing the law is no defence as regards your own actions yet bizarrely in most jurisdictions it isn’t a crime not to report a crime. 😤

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Paedophiles are very clever manipulative and can fool peole by their friendships and at times charismatic ways. I thought the world of rolf harris and the wonderful charismatic priest who gave wonderful sermons during knock vigils about 45 years ago. Imagine my shock when in later years he was convicted of paedophilia. I believe paedophiles are were attracted to thr RCC as it gave them the enviroment to abuse their victims.

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Time and again on this blog it’s apparent that people don’t feel confident to identify the signs and go to the extreme of suspecting it everywhere.
This is why it’s important to read about how paedophiles behave because what they do doesn’t differ much and then you’ll feel more confident when to suspect.
This isn’t different from any other risk assessment of human behaviour, for example, car insurance is expensive for young men because they’re most likely to have an accident. It’s one of the reasons Christian churches are particularly vulnerable to abuse because rather than recognizing the signs Christians tend to hope people will be redeemed and not do things.
There are some pointers here:
https://www.news.com.au/national/could-you-spot-a-paedophile-here-are-the-warning-signs/news-story/a0502e8c3edd265972204ce6fb435982

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The news: yet another priestly paedophile ring.
Seanie: This is anti Catholic.
You couldn’t make it up!

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https://www.staffordshire-live.co.uk/news/burton-news/sexual-abuse-inquiry-involving-burton-7759416
Sexual Abuse Inquiry Involving Burton Priest Says ‘Time and Time Again’ Allegations Were Ignored
“The case of Father Samuel Penney who admitted in court 10 offences of abusing children in the 1970s when he was priest at St Mary and St Modwen Church in Guild Street, in the town, was looked into. The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA), which used Penney’s case in its inquiry, described the sexual abuse of children as an “epidemic that leaves tens of thousands of victims in its poisonous wake”. “Professor Alexis Jay, chairwoman of the inquiry, said: “Across our investigations … we heard time and time again how allegations of abuse were ignored, victims were blamed and institutions prioritised their reputations over the protection of children.”‘The nature and scale of the abuse we encountered were horrifying and deeply disturbing.”
By Helen Kreft Senior reporter.
7 NOV 2022.

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Sam Penney was allowed to get away with his abuse for years. He was dynamic, personable, characterful and highly manipulative. He fooled bishops over decades. People make a lot of fun of Couve de Murville, but it was finally Couve that stopped him, and his prosecution went from there. In prison Penney found religion. After prison he was involved in some work of the newly redeemed, some evangelistic nonsense. Not sure where he is now ? Is he even alive ? I wouldn’t believe a word that Penney might say. He was / is a plausible arch manipulator and liar. That’s why he was able to get away with things for so long. Another one was Bede Walsh, who is still in prison and still has some time to do, because he won’t accept his guilt or do any of the rehabilitation courses he is required to do for parole. Stubborn, arrogant, evil fuck he most surely is, and if and when he does get out I hope the authorities keep a close eye on him. I am sure he will try to inveigle his way back in to church circles, the world he knows best. And, I guess out of naivety and faux charity, some church people will welcome him back thinking that he has changed. Well, he will not have changed. His pathology is so deeply rooted that he may be able to do a convincing cover up, but changed he will not be ! Remember that !

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It was the Canon Lawyers in Brum at that time who forced through Penney’s departure. Couve took the credit.

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Or as we call it here, BirmingSTAN. Just a matter of time and St Chad’s will be a mosque. And we will be talking about abusing Imams. Of which there are a lot around already. But we are not supposed to talk about that. Like their mini cab drivers.

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This blog is peopled by bitter and twisted individuals who sing the same old song to various tunes. Intelligent folk without an axe to grind make their own minds up without the venom of hatred that poisons the mind. I am 74 years of aga and a proud practicing Catholic I salute the many fine priests who I have had the privilege to know. The abusers I leave to God and the PSNI. When my cousin age 12 accused an uncle in the 1960’s my cousin was ostracised from the family until the early 80’s. That’s how it was within and without of the church. God will deal with all.

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So according to Seamus, those who highlight abuse corruption and crime within the Catholic Church are bitter and twisted individuals. Seamus forgets between God and the Police there are bishops, religious superiors and clerical colleagues of abusers who protect, cover up and facilitate in obstructing the course of justice thereby enabling abusers to continue their abuse. United Nations Special Rapporteurs say the Catholic Church is still obstructing justice and must step up its measures to take on this scourge. Would Jesus condone child rape, Seamus? Take your head out of the sand.

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@9.03pm You mean Cousins the poodle of Couve and then Vinny. He has lived with dear Barbara, his housekeeper for years. The old Oscott/Cotton nickname is noddy as he nods the head everytime to an Arch.

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The Roman church is multi-speed and there are some good priests and (fewer) good bishops. We each have to choose our own timing to adjust (if we wish) our attitude to organisational sacraments and this is more difficult for those whose livelihood it has been.

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The Archdiocese of Dublin has received a €10m windfall, thanks to a Covid-19 insurance payout, according to the front page of the latest “Irish Catholic”. This compensation for lost donations apparently paves the way for further payments to the archdiocese and to other Irish dioceses.

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8:54 There are payments outstanding to abuse victims, these should be deducted by insurance company & distributed to victims beforehand.

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