Royal Commission Australia

[cappie]

I don't know whether anyone here has heard of a Royal Commission in Australia to enquire into Institutional Response to Child Abuse.

The following article offers a perspective on the statistics used and the bias experienced. 

The Royal Commission into Child Abuse has begun its evisceration of the churches. Having started with the Roman Catholic Church on Monday, the Commission will spend the next two months demanding obeisance, forcing confessions, inviting self-flagellation and encouraging repentance for a catalogue of abuses which the churches will themselves have been required to document, categorise and analyse.

The torture of the churchmen is not in a dungeon but on live television and the rack of public opinion, the fire gleefully held to their feet by such as the atheists of the ABC. The scene was set in the opening address by Senior Counsel Assisting Gail Furness SC. Throughout the four years since its first hearing in April, 2013, she has shown herself the indomitable interrogator, prosecutor and examiner, determined to maximise every abuse while minimising every doubt.

https://quadrant.org.au/opinion/qed/2017/02/royal-commissions-sin-omission/

This appeared on the American site Crux noting the opinions of experts

https://cruxnow.com/global-church/2017/02/07/experts-tell-australian-abuse-panel-church-must-look-clerical-culture/

[Guest]

The scandal is a terrible matter and a source of deep shame and even confusion to Australian Catholics as it should be in my book.  Innocent children were victims of shocking crimes and crimes committed by priests.  I have not followed The Royal Commission - no stomach for it at all.  It must go even harder on our priests.

We have to remember that by far in the majority are our hardworking and faithful, committed even very holy priests.  It is no easy life.......again in my book.  One priest commented to me that loving what you do makes a difficult life not so difficult at all.

"My yoke is sweet and my burden light".

[CatherineM]

The news blip here said that 7% of the clergy there had been accused. If that's true, and they're guilty, not just accused, there needs to be lots of prayers for all involved. 

[Anomaly]

Though I suspect, like here in a he US, the extent of the abuse and number of bad priests will be exaggerated. The Church in turn will cry foul, and point out the sensational exaggeration.  Meanwhile the persistent corrupted presence of the few will still be remain in active positions, both high and low. Some protected as misguided loyalty to the Church, others in sheer hypocrisy.  Same as yesterday.  It's traditional for the Church, good people, bad people, Church bashers, Church lovers, the media, etc.   

[Spem in alium]

On ‎10‎/‎02‎/‎2017 at 1:57 AM, CatherineM said:

The news blip here said that 7% of the clergy there had been accused. If that's true, and they're guilty, not just accused, there needs to be lots of prayers for all involved. 

This is something that has been reported here too. One priest I know (left the priesthood, married and had a child) was charged on such accounts and jailed, but knowing his character it's very hard to believe he could be capable. Another priest I know is serving with the commission due to his academic expertise. They all need prayers. This has caused suffering to people from every area.