Australian RCC thinks investigation into abuse is unneeded

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Borrowed from atheistforums.com:

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-n ... 6106928687

AN inquiry into suicides among victims of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and brothers in Victoria would achieve little, a Catholic bishop says.

Police investigating the case of convicted pedophile Brother Robert Best believe at least 26 victims of sexual abuse at schools in which he taught have committed suicide.

One of the investigating officers wants a parliamentary inquiry to investigate the deaths.

"If it helps the victims I'd be more than happy for it to go ahead," Bishop of Ballarat Peter Connors told AAP.

"I don't think they'll learn very much more ... I'm convinced we've done the best we can in more recent years."

Best, who taught at schools throughout Victoria, including Ballarat, will be sentenced on Monday after pleading guilty to 27 charges of abusing 11 boys between 1969 and 1988.

Best was principal at St Alipius primary school in Ballarat at the same time convicted serial pedophile and priest Gerald Ridsdale was the school chaplain.

But Bishop Connors on Tuesday said not even revelations from Detective Sergeant Kevin Carson that 26 young men had killed themselves after being abused by priests and brothers in Ballarat convinced him that more would be learnt from an inquiry.

"I think we've learnt a lot of things about what is appropriate behaviour and what's not appropriate behaviour," Bishop Connors said.

"I think people are very well informed nowadays as to what's inappropriate approaches from a male."

While conceding the abuse of children was wrong, he said that in the past it had not always been clear to everyone what was appropriate and inappropriate behaviour.

"In the past a lot of ignorance was there on the part of lots of people. Parents didn't understand, sometimes bishops didn't understand. We have no excuse now."

As to whether there was an excuse when Ridsdale and Best were abusing boys, Bishop Connors said he did not know.

Among the charges laid against Best in Victoria's County Court last month were details of him raping a nine-year-old boy in his office.

The court heard that after Best raped him, the boy thought he was going to die and blacked out.

Bishop Connors said in the past 14 years he had spoken to more than 30 victims of Ridsdale and other priests in the Ballarat diocese.

But he said none had told him they were also abused by Best.

"I can't remember them saying they were victims of Brother Best as well," he said.

The bishop said he had no reason to meet Best's victims "because he being a Christian Brother, I'm not responsible for him."

Yet he conceded that some of Ridsdale's victims he had met could also have been abused by Best, because they were both there at the same time.

Bishop Connors says the church has paid some victims far more than the $70,000 the Archdiocese of Melbourne says should be paid for the worst cases of child assault.

Others have been paid less but overall victims had received "a considerable amount".

He is now waiting to see if any of those victims will come forward in two civil compensation cases set to be mounted against Best and whether the Catholic Diocese of Ballarat will be named in the actions.

26 deaths... no biggie.

[Geoff]

As Rum said, elsewhere, they just don't get it, do they?

[Cormac]

What the Archdiocese considers should be paid? Another cunt who confuses "Canon Law" with real life, instead of the bullshit charter or treason that it actually is. When will they realise that the RCC is just another organisation and as subject to the law of the land as any other.

The courts decide what appropriate compensation and aggravated damages might be, not some treacherous prick in a scarlet dress with lace trimming.

[JimC]

Yes, I read that this morning. Other people, catholic teachers at my school, were also appalled, although somewhat fatalistic...

Bastards, the hierarchy, absolute bastards...

[Robert_S]

Sorry Seth, but the RCC is the Ultimate Grandmaster Zen Troll collective.

I have thoughts of violence and destruction as I keep reading these statements. I won't behave violently and won't burn down their buildings, but I can't help but think someone out there feels like I do and lacks my self restraint.

[Pappa]

What the Archdiocese considers should be paid? Another cunt who confuses "Canon Law" with real life, instead of the bullshit charter or treason that it actually is. When will they realise that the RCC is just another organisation and as subject to the law of the land as any other.

The courts decide what appropriate compensation and aggravated damages might be, not some treacherous prick in a scarlet dress with lace trimming.

Every time I hear about the Cannon Law issues I go back to the same thought of a hypothetical chess club for kids that has its own internal rules for dealing with accusations of child abuse and rape.

[JimC]

At least it is a different world now; the media exposures of the abuses in the past have made current abuse much less likely...

Not that the hierarchy would see it that way...

[redunderthebed]

Whilst all instituted organisations have rules and laws to deal with problems and issues and how things are run internally its should NEVER EVER EVER go above the law of the land.

Call me old fashioned but a institution that has millions of followers should set a good example and follow the law especially one that has as much influence as the catholic church.

[Cormac]

At least it is a different world now; the media exposures of the abuses in the past have made current abuse much less likely...

Not that the hierarchy would see it that way...

Unfortunately, I beg to differ - see the Cloyne Report for recent behaviour.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

It's edging closer to the time when we can hit the RC in the US with the RICO Act, IMHO.

[JimC]

At least it is a different world now; the media exposures of the abuses in the past have made current abuse much less likely...

Not that the hierarchy would see it that way...

Unfortunately, I beg to differ - see the Cloyne Report for recent behaviour.

I was speaking of Oz, and really implying that the unquestioned trust of parents to priests is well and truly a thing of the past...

It was that naive trust that allowed much of the evil to occur...

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Is there a country where the RCC is not being assailed for their policy on pedophiles? Or lack there of, rather.

[redunderthebed]

At least it is a different world now; the media exposures of the abuses in the past have made current abuse much less likely...

Not that the hierarchy would see it that way...

Unfortunately, I beg to differ - see the Cloyne Report for recent behaviour.

I think paedophilia in society in general wont go away much like other crimes the best we can hope for is that institutions are shamed into not letting things be covered up and that the victims are adequately compensated and the best treatment possible is given.

I have a horrible feeling that the catholic church are merely batting down the hatches and waiting till the victims give up and things go back to normal.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

I have a horrible feeling that the catholic church are merely batting down the hatches and waiting till the victims give up and things go back to normal.

Considering that it's a haven for pedos, and many of them are, ahem, very very high in the organization, that's pretty much what I picture. I think they think that if you are genuinely sorry after raping a child that you can start with a clean slate each time. And, of course, the ones who aren't genuinely sorry use this system to stay out of trouble with the Church until they get "bullet proof" by having done their time and worked up the ranks.

[Geoff]

Is there a country where the RCC is not being assailed for their policy on pedophiles? Or lack there of, rather.

Iraq?