The problem is that the hierarchy actively protects and covers up those who are, to the extent of moving them to different parishes if people get suspicious. And to be clear, this isn’t because popes are necessarily in favour of paedophilia (though I’m not saying none are…), it’s because the clergy are more concerned with the prestige and survival of the institution than they are with the well-being of lay believers.
It’s been a trope since at least the 1500s that clergy are pedos, “Julius Excluded from Heaven” by Erasmus contains this exchange between Saint Peter and the recently deceased pope Julius:
PETER: [… ] I hope it won’t be too tiresome for you to answer a few clumsy questions about the details. Who, for example, are these little curly-headed striplings?
JULIUS: I brought them up for my diversion.
The problem with the catholic church isn’t just that a lot of preists are predators, it’s that the church covered up these crimes and moved preists to new places where they could continue being predators
Also the seal of confession. Paedo priests would confess their abuse to all of their colleagues using it. Thus they can’t do anything or they’d be accused of breaking said seal
Same with teachers and other child oriented careers. They all attract pedos at more or less the same rates but churches are generally better about covering it up than schools.
How do you even apply for a job like that? If it’s like any other interview, surely there’s some sort of psychological assessment or a background check. Maybe you just need to wear a fanatic facade, and you’re hired… I just have no idea how Catholics roll.
Basically, you need to go to Catholic university to get a degree in theology. There is a while process of attending courses and getting additional qualifications to get higher ranks. Freemasonry was partly modelled on this.
It’s been over four decades. I think healing started this year when I was able to finally put it into words.
The secondary abuse from everyone else protecting the predators and blaming the victim also leaves deep scars. The Epstein stuff made me realize how extensive that network really is.
My partner’s ex abused his little sister for years when they were young (when my partner found out she divorced him). His family ostracized her for making the family look bad.
I’m so glad that you’re finally able to start healing, comrade.
Indeed. Never leave your kid alone with a priest. I was that kid.
I’m sure there are some preists who are good people, but enough of them are predators that it ain’t worth the risk
Most priests aren’t paedophiles.
The problem is that the hierarchy actively protects and covers up those who are, to the extent of moving them to different parishes if people get suspicious. And to be clear, this isn’t because popes are necessarily in favour of paedophilia (though I’m not saying none are…), it’s because the clergy are more concerned with the prestige and survival of the institution than they are with the well-being of lay believers.
It’s been a trope since at least the 1500s that clergy are pedos, “Julius Excluded from Heaven” by Erasmus contains this exchange between Saint Peter and the recently deceased pope Julius:
https://web.archive.org/web/20090326073147/www.history.ucsb.edu/faculty/lansing/classes/hist4b/materials/Week7.pdf
Yes but statistics indicate priests are not more likely to be pedophiles than any other profession that works regularly with children.
The problem with the catholic church isn’t just that a lot of preists are predators, it’s that the church covered up these crimes and moved preists to new places where they could continue being predators
You’re right, my comment didn’t address how the church protects predators compared to other professions that work with kids.
Statistics need someone to report them, and someone to record them.
If you haven’t experienced it you don’t know how tightly faith communities protect the people they worship.
Also the seal of confession. Paedo priests would confess their abuse to all of their colleagues using it. Thus they can’t do anything or they’d be accused of breaking said seal
The position just attracts too many pedos to give any one of them the benefit of the doubt
plus they get access to children in other means, like boy scouts potentially, christian/summer camps, “charter schools”
Same with teachers and other child oriented careers. They all attract pedos at more or less the same rates but churches are generally better about covering it up than schools.
How do you even apply for a job like that? If it’s like any other interview, surely there’s some sort of psychological assessment or a background check. Maybe you just need to wear a fanatic facade, and you’re hired… I just have no idea how Catholics roll.
Basically, you need to go to Catholic university to get a degree in theology. There is a while process of attending courses and getting additional qualifications to get higher ranks. Freemasonry was partly modelled on this.
Oh. All you need is patience and a degree. No wonder why twisted people are able to exploit that system.
Not a priest, but a southern baptist youth minister, I was also that kid.
I don’t know anybody, myself included certainly, who doesn’t have a story about a youth pastor.
I’m so sorry, and I hope that you’re okay now.
It’s been over four decades. I think healing started this year when I was able to finally put it into words.
The secondary abuse from everyone else protecting the predators and blaming the victim also leaves deep scars. The Epstein stuff made me realize how extensive that network really is.
Victim blaming is some fucking shit.
My partner’s ex abused his little sister for years when they were young (when my partner found out she divorced him). His family ostracized her for making the family look bad.
I’m so glad that you’re finally able to start healing, comrade.
husband family disowned her? or her own family. i think that family was complicit and knew about the abuse.
The son abused his little sister for years.
The family of the children (including grandparents and uncles and aunts and cousins) disowned the sister for making the family look bad.
One cousin cut the family off afterwards because of the injustice, and still maintains contact with the abused woman.