Grand Jury reports 300 accused priests, 1,000+ child victims, 70-year coverup by the Catholic Church

[Anonymous]

So who here on DCUM still has their child serve as an Altar Boy or Girl?

They should ban those positions. Make them adult-only volunteers if they are truly needed. They could just leave the Eucharist and wine goblet at the front of the church on a side table.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Put an end to clerical celibacy for crying out loud.

This is not about celibacy. Being celibate does not lead to people raping and abusing children. And covering up the rape and abuse of children is not a result of celibacy. Men did this, because the institution provided a platform and organization for them to carry out their crimes, with a powerful and secretive hand.

I completely agree that priests should be allowed to marry (at their choice), and that women should be included at ever level equal to men, including priesthood. And full transparency. That's not going to happen until the current church is brought down brick by brick, however.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lifelong Catholic here. And I think I’ve now reached my breaking point. I feel like it’s a betrayal of my family and culture and history to leave my faith but... I am so disgusted every time this happens. I’m not sure I can reconcile this all in my mind “one more time”. Heartbreaking for these children ...

I reached my limit about two years ago - when my son was in first grade and realized I just didn't feel safe or comfortable sending him to CCD. What kind of religion/faith is it if you can't trust them to help you teach your children the faith?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I grew up in the Pittsburgh Diocese. I left Catholicism over 20 years ago for other reasons.

Scrolling through this list of over 300 names of priests either directly abusing victims, passing around pornography or covering up the abuse is so overwhelming. I honestly do not ever want to enter a Catholic Church again, but know I must when my elderly father dies.

Here is the list of names:

https://www.ydr.com/story/news/2018/08/14/grand-jury-report-list-catholic-church-clergy-abuse-priest-pennsylvania/913738002/

Archdiocese of Philadelphia isn't on the list. Anyone know why?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So who here on DCUM still has their child serve as an Altar Boy or Girl?

They should ban those positions. Make them adult-only volunteers if they are truly needed. They could just leave the Eucharist and wine goblet at the front of the church on a side table.

In our parish the Altar Servers are never alone with the priest. The only interaction they have is on the altar in front of the entire church. So, yes my children have been and will continue to be Altar Servers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are there now clear cut rules for priest/altar boy or altar girl interactions? I know that abuse did not solely happen in the back church rooms, but anyone out there have children who currently serve in these positions? What are the rules for being alone with a priest? Are there clear rules for priests not to be alone with minors?

Safety is not going to be improved until the Catholic Church allows women in positions of equal power and transparency. Until then, the men will always find a way to abuse a situation.

+1. Any organization in which all the power is in the hands of men (Catholic Church, Penn State football, Hollywood movie studios, restaurant kitchens) will lead to harassment and abuse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So who here on DCUM still has their child serve as an Altar Boy or Girl?

They should ban those positions. Make them adult-only volunteers if they are truly needed. They could just leave the Eucharist and wine goblet at the front of the church on a side table.

In our parish the Altar Servers are never alone with the priest. The only interaction they have is on the altar in front of the entire church. So, yes my children have been and will continue to be Altar Servers.

I don't know how you can ensure that Altar Servers are never alone with a priest. There are ceremonial gowns and artifacts to organize in back rooms. Robes to hang up and put away. Do the Altar Servers have completely separate dressing quarters? Is there another adult required to be with them in the back rooms?

Also, is this a church-wide official policy? I know the Boy Scouts mandated new policies and abuse training to ensure that no Scout leader would be alone with a scout.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are there now clear cut rules for priest/altar boy or altar girl interactions? I know that abuse did not solely happen in the back church rooms, but anyone out there have children who currently serve in these positions? What are the rules for being alone with a priest? Are there clear rules for priests not to be alone with minors?

Safety is not going to be improved until the Catholic Church allows women in positions of equal power and transparency. Until then, the men will always find a way to abuse a situation.

Yes, women in positions of power over children never abuse them sexually...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lifelong Catholic here. And I think I’ve now reached my breaking point. I feel like it’s a betrayal of my family and culture and history to leave my faith but... I am so disgusted every time this happens. I’m not sure I can reconcile this all in my mind “one more time”. Heartbreaking for these children ...

I reached my limit about two years ago - when my son was in first grade and realized I just didn't feel safe or comfortable sending him to CCD. What kind of religion/faith is it if you can't trust them to help you teach your children the faith?

CCD does not seem risky. It is a volunteer teacher - mostly moms - who is not a priest. It is a classroom full of kids and the teacher is never alone with any individual child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I grew up in the Pittsburgh Diocese. I left Catholicism over 20 years ago for other reasons.

Scrolling through this list of over 300 names of priests either directly abusing victims, passing around pornography or covering up the abuse is so overwhelming. I honestly do not ever want to enter a Catholic Church again, but know I must when my elderly father dies.

Here is the list of names:

https://www.ydr.com/story/news/2018/08/14/grand-jury-report-list-catholic-church-clergy-abuse-priest-pennsylvania/913738002/

Archdiocese of Philadelphia isn't on the list. Anyone know why?

The Philadelphia report was already released. The link only contains the information that was just released.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lifelong Catholic here. And I think I’ve now reached my breaking point. I feel like it’s a betrayal of my family and culture and history to leave my faith but... I am so disgusted every time this happens. I’m not sure I can reconcile this all in my mind “one more time”. Heartbreaking for these children ...

I reached my limit about two years ago - when my son was in first grade and realized I just didn't feel safe or comfortable sending him to CCD. What kind of religion/faith is it if you can't trust them to help you teach your children the faith?

CCD does not seem risky. It is a volunteer teacher - mostly moms - who is not a priest. It is a classroom full of kids and the teacher is never alone with any individual child.

Right - I wasn't specifically worried about abuse happening in the middle of that CCD class, but it was the first time I would be sending him to church alone, and it gave me pause. And I started thinking about his future religious ed - would I let him be an alter boy? Would I let him go on the middle school retreat? Would I interview every CCD teacher he has? Would I let him join the choir? And then it dawned on me - why in the universe would I be raising my child in a religious community that has repeatedly demonstrated that I can't trust them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I grew up in the Pittsburgh Diocese. I left Catholicism over 20 years ago for other reasons.

Scrolling through this list of over 300 names of priests either directly abusing victims, passing around pornography or covering up the abuse is so overwhelming. I honestly do not ever want to enter a Catholic Church again, but know I must when my elderly father dies.

Here is the list of names:

https://www.ydr.com/story/news/2018/08/14/grand-jury-report-list-catholic-church-clergy-abuse-priest-pennsylvania/913738002/

Archdiocese of Philadelphia isn't on the list. Anyone know why?

The Philadelphia report was already released. The link only contains the information that was just released.

thanks - off to google that document. (Also, that makes then numbers even more staggering since Philly is the largest archdiocese in the state and not included in these numbers)

[Anonymous]

I am originally from Scranton and know some of the priests. (Not well. Neighboring parishes). My aunt has a work friend who is close with one of the accused priest. She chooses (the friend, not my aunt) he is innocent. They often have dinner parties and he is invited. It makes me so disgusted! How can you welcome him to your home?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I grew up in the Pittsburgh Diocese. I left Catholicism over 20 years ago for other reasons.

Scrolling through this list of over 300 names of priests either directly abusing victims, passing around pornography or covering up the abuse is so overwhelming. I honestly do not ever want to enter a Catholic Church again, but know I must when my elderly father dies.

Here is the list of names:

https://www.ydr.com/story/news/2018/08/14/grand-jury-report-list-catholic-church-clergy-abuse-priest-pennsylvania/913738002/

Archdiocese of Philadelphia isn't on the list. Anyone know why?

The dioceses not included in this investigation had already been investigated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Catholic church has a problem with sex, that's clear. If the Church wants to be around in a few generations, they need to end their bizarre emphasis on celibacy. It's not healthy. Have married clergy with a normal, healthy, realistic attitude towards sexuality instead of the deviants they have been attracting.

OK. Question for men - how long would you have to go without sex before you'd molest a child?

My answer, like the vast majority of men would be "I would go my whole life, and would set myself on fire before doing that".

Celibacy is not the cause of the abuse here. Child molesting and celibacy are two entirely different things and should not be conflated.

Marriage will not even cure it. Most child molesters are married men who molest their own children.