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One of the things that I take away from reading the multitude of articles and papers on this topic is that it seems as though the media have done their jobs in regards with the Catholic priests' abuses and yet have been almost willfully negligent about abuses at the hands of other professionals.
There have been countless studies done, articles and papers written about this subject by biased and unbiased sources. It never pays to put all your eggs in one basket. As in all things, one must research everywhere not just the sources with one agrees.
I suspect the number of priests who sexually abused children are much higher than known. Therefore, I don't believe accurate statistics exist. The reasons for not knowing the extent of this problem are:
1) No one wanted to accept that a priest would prey on children thus denial was rampant.
2)The bishops covered up by paying off families contingent on complying with a gag order.
3)When a priest was suspected, the bishop quickly relocated the priest.
4)Priests had exceptional, and ongoing opportunity, to abuse children, i.e. unquestioning trust, access to children.
5)Secrecy of abuse is an integral component. Thus many priests would not admit to such and the abused feel too much shame to come forward.
Can you think of any other professions that would protect, cover-up, and relocate the professionals who sexually abused children?
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church and family members had been informed about the abuse two years earlier, but failed to report the crime to the police. Instead, they decided that the best response was to simply pray for the offender and hope for the best. Tragically, this response to child sexual abuse by those within the church is not uncommon. Equally as tragic is that such responses fuel perpetrators to continue destroying the bodies and souls of untold numbers of children
The movie, "Spotlight," which won the best picture award, brought my attention to the extent of this abuse. I am guessing the numbers we know of, are just the tip of the iceberg! My question is: why were these priest not reported to the law and charged???
The Catholic decree, updated in 1962, if I understand it correctly, actually orders relocation of priests known to have committed sexual abuse, to another region!
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68. If a priest convicted of the crime of solicitation, or even merely admonished, should transfer his residence to another territory, the Ordinary a quo should immediately warn the Ordinary ad quem of the priest's record and his legal status.
69. If a priest who has been suspended in a cause of solicitation from hearing sacramental confessions, but not from sacred preaching, should go to another territory to preach, the Ordinary of that territory should be informed by his Superior, whether secular or religious, that he cannot be employed for the hearing of sacramental confessions.
70. All these official communications shall always be made under the secret of the Holy Office; and, since they are of the utmost importance for the common good of the Church, the precept to make them is binding under pain of grave [sin].
Stories of priests or other clergymen molesting children are much more common, and always involve boys. Never one time have I heard a dissimilar story about them. Why has no priest ever molested a nun or some more "normal" crime?
Alegations against teachers are more diverse, and less common.
Clergymen have a specific pattern that they all seem to follow. What's going on?
Better question: Why aren't Bishops who moved them around in jail under RICO, as this was a conspiracy that rose to the highest levels?
Bernie Law who hid dozens in Boston got PROMOTED to the Vatican. Egan who was front and center part of Bridgeport, Ct coverup was promoted over the Archdiocese of NYC.
I found this concerning the catholic sex abuse scandal and RICO.
Catholic sex abuse cases
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In some jurisdictions, RICO suits have been filed against Catholic dioceses, using anti-racketeering laws to prosecute the highers-up in the episcopacy for abuses committed by those under their authority. A Cleveland grand jury cleared two bishops of racketeering charges, finding that their mishandling of sex abuse claims did not amount to criminal racketeering. Certain lawyers and abuse advocates[who?] have openly wondered why a similar suit was not filed against archbishop Bernard Law prior to his getting reassigned to Vatican City.
Why haven't criminal charges been filed against him? What Law has done goes far beyond "not reporting" suspected child abusers. This was no crime of omission. It is now clear that Law affirmatively engaged in a pattern of shielding child rapists and recklessly allowing them unfettered access to yet more victims. A high-school principal or the CEO of any company in America would have been indicted months ago.
I suspect the number of priests who sexually abused children are much higher than known. Therefore, I don't believe accurate statistics exist. The reasons for not knowing the extent of this problem are:
1) No one wanted to accept that a priest would prey on children thus denial was rampant.
2)The bishops covered up by paying off families contingent on complying with a gag order.
3)When a priest was suspected, the bishop quickly relocated the priest.
4)Priests had exceptional, and ongoing opportunity, to abuse children, i.e. unquestioning trust, access to children.
5)Secrecy of abuse is an integral component. Thus many priests would not admit to such and the abused feel too much shame to come forward.
They include a lack of screening of teacher applicants, ignorance about the signs of sexual abuse, a traditional culture of silence in schools, administrators and teacher union officials who allow offenders to quietly resign and move to other schools, and the rise of modern communication devices that allow teachers much more personal access to students.
If so, why the silence? For one, teachers unions don’t want the truth to complicate contract talks and tarnish teachers’ carefully cultivated image with the public. Administrators say it’s almost impossible to fire a teacher.
For another, based on news coverage and opinion polls, the media believe public teachers are saints — and religion is bad. So while a church sex-abuse scandal gets covered, a school scandal gets covered up.
They include a lack of screening of teacher applicants, ignorance about the signs of sexual abuse, a traditional culture of silence in schools, administrators and teacher union officials who allow offenders to quietly resign and move to other schools, and the rise of modern communication devices that allow teachers much more personal access to students.
All I get is a blank area where the response is. However, I can't imagine any defense for sexually abusing children and covering it up.
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