Over 1,000 Children Targeted By ‘Predator Priests’

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Cardinal Donald Wuerl, archbishop of Washington, with Pope Francis following a Mass outside the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, 2015

The US Pennsylvania Supreme Court last night released a grand jury investigation into child sexual abuse by Catholic priests in six state dioceses.

The 884-page document is being called “the most comprehensive report on clergy sex abusers by a US state“.

The findings include:

301 Catholic priests identified as “predator priests” who sexually abused children while serving in active ministry in the church.

Detailed accounts of over 1,000 children victimized sexually by “predator priests”, with the grand jury noting it believed the real number of victims was in the “thousands.”

Senior church officials, including bishops, monsignors and others, knew about the abuse committed by priests, but routinely covered it up to avoid scandal, criminal charges against priests, and monetary damages to the dioceses.

Priests committed acts of sexual abuse upon children, and were routinely shuttled to other parishes — while parishioners were left unaware of sexual predators in their midst.

The report faults Cardinal Donald Wuerl, former long-time bishop of Pittsburgh now head of the church in Washington DC, over his handling of abusive priests.

The report says Wuerl approved transfers for priests instead of removing them from ministry, oversaw inadequate church investigations and concealed information when priests were reported to law enforcement.

The report also says he advised parishes not to publicly announce or acknowledge complaints, and offered financial support to priests who were accused and later resigned.

Meanwhile in Dublin…

Wuerl is scheduled to speak at the World Meeting of Families in Dublin this month during Pope Francis’s visit to Ireland.

He is listed as a keynote speaker and will give a speech entitled ‘The welfare of the family is decisive for the future of the world’ on Wednesday, August 22, at 2.30pm in Dublin’s RDS.

His speech will be followed by “testimonies of young people on their hopes and dreams for marriage and the family in the third millennium”.

Here’s the Alarming Pa. Catholic Church Child Sex Abuse Report (Philadelphia Magazine)

Yesterday: Worship Like It’s 1979

Previously: Falling Like Dominoes

Couldn’t Happen Here

Update:

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Couldn’t Happen Here Falling Like Dominoes Nothing To See Here A Place For Eva

43 thoughts on “Over 1,000 Children Targeted By ‘Predator Priests’”

    1. John

      I was at the Pope’s mass in the Phoenix Park in 1979. I was just a little boy.
      I got lost as well coming back from the toilets.
      There was absolutely no inkling on my or my families part of what some of these creeps were up to. No scandals had broken by then.

      1. Anomanomanom

        Well apparently a legal case was taking against Pope JP, He knew of a priest who was molesting children. And I mean 100% evidence directly proven and shown to him. Because he’s a “head of state” he had immunity. The case was thrown out. All high level members of the church knew. Why do we not class the Catholic church like we do any other cult.

  3. Pat-the-barker

    It’s a fine line, if you hear your imagery friend’s voice they lock you up, but if he speaks to you then that’s ok…

    1. mexican

      I’d say you could actually copy and paste that report for every diocese across the world. Just change the names to the relevant Bishops and Priests.

        1. Frilly Keane

          Got to page 4
          n’ this

          despite a priest’s admission to assaulting at least a dozen
          young boys, the bishop wrote to thank him for “all that you have done for God’s people…. The
          Lord, who sees in private, will reward.”

          and there’s over 1300 more pages

          How da’ púc is this visit being allowed go ahead at all
          like, bagsie’ing 1000s of No Show tickets
          laughing at the lollipops and cardboard chairs
          cribbing about the spend on security
          is not far off us turning the blind eye ourselves

          so someone please

          How is this whole World Congress shyt sh1ttery being allowed at all?
          like if my taxes are in arrears I’m not allowed work
          so why. even on the basis that they haven’t satisfied the compensation agreements
          are they being giving so much access and opportunity?

          Like, Leo must be in awe at their ability to self promote and spin they’re way out’ve their criminality

          1. Starina

            Surely the Pope, as God’s messenger, is like a walking communion wafer. It’s BBQ season. that’s all I’m saying.

  5. Christopher

    I’m watching The Keepers on Netflix at the moment- same scale of abuse in Baltimore, probably across the entire world and these crooks are still allowed to operate. Depressing that this country hasn’t rid ourselves of them yet.

  6. Janet, I ate my avatar

    2 He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. 3 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. 6 “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.

      1. Brother Barnabas

        you’re taking the whole millstone / depths of the sea thing too literally

        what they actually meant was you need to take yourself off somewhere quiet and reflect gravely on your unfortunate peccadilloes

    2. Cú Chulainn

      The only time in all the comments by Jesus that he suggested harm to another. It’s been going on a long time..

    1. Brother Barnabas

      except most criminal organisations confine themselves to dealing in stolen goods, laundering money and things like that

      the orchestrated and systematic rape of children is on a very different level

      they deserve their own category

  8. Liam Deliverance

    Was the model for abusing, covering up, deflecting and denying something they perfected here in Ireland and then replicated in other dioceses?

    In what locations is the Roman Catholic Church currently sexually/physically/mentally abusing children?

      1. Janet, I ate my avatar

        Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! For your love is better than wine;

        ~ Song of Solomon 1:2

      2. Janet, I ate my avatar

        or indeed
        To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single, as I am. But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion. 1 Corinthians 7:8-9

      3. Cupofteaanyone

        Although many went into the priesthood for religious reasons many others went in because they were gay and that wasn’t acceptable and some because they had access to kids.

        Now that religion is on the decline, being gay is ok there is a decline in people going into the priesthood. I know a priest who is in his 70’s and is not allowed to retire just yet.

        So now we are seeing an influx of foreign priests. But are they here because they believe or because they wanted to get out of their poorer countries and come live somewhere better.

  10. Not on your Nelly Too

    Shussh!!! You will upset the pope. Don’t you know the protocol? Irish media don’t mention the war. Please, get in line.

    “My granny is a Catholic and she’s a like you woman…” etc

    1. Janet, I ate my Avatar

      Here’s a little poem about parasites I found appropriate

      Mark but this flea, and mark in this,

      How little that which thou deniest me is;

      Me it sucked first, and now sucks thee,

      And in this flea our two bloods mingled be;

      Thou know’st that this cannot be said

      A sin, or shame, or loss of maidenhead,

      Yet this enjoys before it woo,

      And pampered swells with one blood made of two,

      And this, alas, is more than we would do.

      Oh stay, three lives in one flea spare,

      Where we almost, nay more than married are.

      This flea is you and I, and this

      Our marriage bed and marriage temple is;

      Though parents grudge, and you, we are met,

      And cloisterd in these living walls of jet.

      Though use make you apt to kill me,

      Let not to that, self-murder added be,

      And sacrilege, three sins in killing three.

      Cruel and sudden, hast thou since

      Purpled thy nail in blood of innocence?

      Wherein could this flea guilty be,

      Except in that drop which it sucked from thee?

      Yet thou triumph’st, and say’st that thou

      Find’st not thy self, nor me the weaker now;

      ’Tis true; then learn how false, fears be:

      Just so much honour, when thou yield’st to me,

      Will waste, as this flea’s death took life from thee.

  11. Formerly known as @ireland.com

    How anyone in Ireland could think of going to see the chief protector of pedos, I don’t know. The Aussie Cardinal who protected the church is now charged with his own cases of sexual abuse. I hope that justice is done.

  14. Ann.

    The church calls LGBT people “intrinsically disordered”…It is this church that is is “intrinsically disordered.”

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