85 priests accused of abuse...

[Geoff]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-15960621

Six reports published by the Catholic Church in Ireland have revealed there were child abuse allegations against 85 priests across the dioceses...

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Bishop Boyce said the clergy were "truly sorry for the terrible deeds inflicted on so many by a small minority of priests".

"Insufficient emphasis was placed on the needs of victims, often in the misguided attempt to protect the reputation of the Church", he said.

"This review has concluded that the diocese now has a robust safeguarding policy and procedure in place for safeguarding children."

And why should we believe you THIS TIME, shithead?

[Schneibster]

... [Maeve Lewis, of the abuse victims' group One in Four,] expressed concern "regarding the number of priests against whom allegations have been made who are still in ministry."

My first concern. Maybe when all the child abusing priests aren't priests any more, I'll be more impressed.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Just published research indicates that distrust is the leading motivator for anti-atheism.

[Bella Fortuna]

If there were any more small minorities they'd add up to a pretty sizable number... of course I think one is too many...

[Drewish]

85, just in Ireland? Holy fucking children!

[Schneibster]

Just published research indicates that distrust is the leading motivator for anti-atheism.

You have heard me say that one of the hooks religious memeplexes use is trust; that sharing a religion gives people who don't know each other a way to evaluate one anothers' trustworthiness, particularly important to the developing middle class in Medieval Europe.

[JimC]

Just published research indicates that distrust is the leading motivator for anti-atheism.

You have heard me say that one of the hooks religious memeplexes use is trust; that sharing a religion gives people who don't know each other a way to evaluate one anothers' trustworthiness, particularly important to the developing middle class in Medieval Europe.

Agreed, but it rides on the back of an in-built hominid tribalism. The us/them thing is written deep within the genes...

However, it is only a strong tendency, not an automatic given. It can be over-ridden by other memeplexes...

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Just published research indicates that distrust is the leading motivator for anti-atheism.

You have heard me say that one of the hooks religious memeplexes use is trust; that sharing a religion gives people who don't know each other a way to evaluate one anothers' trustworthiness, particularly important to the developing middle class in Medieval Europe.

Agreed, but it rides on the back of an in-built hominid tribalism. The us/them thing is written deep within the genes...

However, it is only a strong tendency, not an automatic given. It can be over-ridden by other memeplexes...

We used to have a tradition of finding brides in other tribes, which was actually a way of making peace, because you'd wind up making war on your cousins, nieces and nephews. When people settled down, however, they started to get more insular. I read a theory that the farmers actively hunted and killed the nomads in their area as a means of protecting their crops and villages. The static lifestyle enabled them to accumulate more things than the nomads could and the nomads considered this a legit target for raiding. I wasn't there, of course, but the author's theory was well done and the only challenges came from people who weren't there either.

[Schneibster]

Just published research indicates that distrust is the leading motivator for anti-atheism.

You have heard me say that one of the hooks religious memeplexes use is trust; that sharing a religion gives people who don't know each other a way to evaluate one anothers' trustworthiness, particularly important to the developing middle class in Medieval Europe.

Agreed, but it rides on the back of an in-built hominid tribalism. The us/them thing is written deep within the genes...

That's what makes it a "hook."

However, it is only a strong tendency, not an automatic given. It can be over-ridden by other memeplexes...

Atheism for example.

Most people hear me talk about religion in terms that could be used to describe the Alien and call me biased. Rarely do they realize i speak of atheism in the same manner. If you're going to be a meme machine, then you'd better pick your memes. And know their warts and claws as well as their big, cute eyes and soft, cuddly head.

[klr]

85, just in Ireland? Holy fucking children!

If only there were just 85 .... in the last 20 years, there have been many times that number of accused priests in Ireland. This is just the latest round.

[Schneibster]

Just published research indicates that distrust is the leading motivator for anti-atheism.

You have heard me say that one of the hooks religious memeplexes use is trust; that sharing a religion gives people who don't know each other a way to evaluate one anothers' trustworthiness, particularly important to the developing middle class in Medieval Europe.

Agreed, but it rides on the back of an in-built hominid tribalism. The us/them thing is written deep within the genes...

However, it is only a strong tendency, not an automatic given. It can be over-ridden by other memeplexes...

We used to have a tradition of finding brides in other tribes, which was actually a way of making peace, because you'd wind up making war on your cousins, nieces and nephews.

Not to mention a slap instead of a cuddle, and cold bare rice for supper, when you get back. But don't forget that there are, or were up until a decade ago, societies that make ritual war upon one another, still extant in Africa and South America.

When people settled down, however, they started to get more insular. I read a theory that the farmers actively hunted and killed the nomads in their area as a means of protecting their crops and villages. The static lifestyle enabled them to accumulate more things than the nomads could and the nomads considered this a legit target for raiding. I wasn't there, of course, but the author's theory was well done and the only challenges came from people who weren't there either.

Interesting. A link?

[tattuchu]

I went to a Catholic church when I was little and I was never molested

[Gawdzilla Sama]

I went to a Catholic church when I was little and I was never molested

I guess they have standards.

[Seth]

All six reports have been conducted by the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church.

In a summary of the findings, the Board for Safeguarding Children said a "marked improvement" had taken place in two key areas.

"Firstly, reporting allegations to the statutory authorities occurs promptly and comprehensively," it said.

"Secondly, the need to create and maintain a safe environment for children in the Church is comprehensively accepted and implemented."

The board helps to protect children in the Catholic Church from being abused by priests or anyone else. It was set up in the wake of various child abuse scandals.

The board is now reviewing every diocese in the country, examining what was done wrong in the past.

85 out of how many priests total, over 35 years I wonder.