By Sinead O’Connor musician
The Vatican persists in treating us all like half-wits. Do we really believe that the senior priest who made the foolish remark about the Jewish people during a Papal mass did so without the sanction of the pope or Vatican hierarchs? The pope sat through the speech and did not stand up to object. The only reason the Vatican/pope distanced themselves from this remark was because it provoked such righteous outrage from the Jewish community. It also is most sinister that the sacrament of mass is being used as a political platform, all over the world, including Ireland. It is disrespectful to use the mass as a platform for anything other than scriptures. If the Pope/Vatican had a case to make in their defence, they should discuss all of these matters directly with the world’s media and allow themselves to be questioned. Instead they refuse to put themselves in any situation where they can be questioned, and prefer to make statements, then slither back into silence. This craven behaviour is because their case is utterly indefensible and they know it.
Their statements display a staggering, arrogant, and uncaring, and cowardly attitude toward the thousands of people who were sexually abused, and who had their abuse systematically covered up all over the world by employees of the pope. In his letter to the Irish church, the pope said the hierarchs had a “well intentioned” desire to protect the church when they covered up abuse and endangered thousands of children. But there have been five reports published to the contrary: The Boston Report, The Philadelphia Report, The Ferns Report, The Ryan Report, and The Murphy Report. ANYONE, including the Pope/Vatican, who can suggest there is a “vile media campaign” against the Church must not have read those reports. All five reports conclude, independently, that employees of the Vatican acted, without exception, all over the world in the same disgraceful manner when handling complaints of abuse. They transferred but didn’t defrock priests who committed acts of abuse, as in the case of a brutal Irish priest who was sent the U.S, where he violently raped six children, threatening that he would murder them if they told anyone. They lied to psychologists who were trying to determine whether abusive priests were fit to continue ministry. They encouraged parents and victims not to go to the police. It is simply unbelievable that such uniform behaviour was not the result of instructions from central command.
The Vatican and pope are relying on the fact that it is not commonly known that there was enough concern about abuse within the church that explicit instructions were issued to every bishop in the world in 1922 and again in 1962 to keep complete secrecy on abuse complaints. In Crimen Sollicitationis or “Crime of Solicitation,” all complainants, who were in fact described in the instructions as “penitents”, as well as all clergy receiving complaints, were to swear an oath of secrecy and be “restrained by perpetual silence.” And having done so, the complainants were to be “dismissed”. The text of the oath is as follows…
“I will never, directly or indirectly, by gesture, word, writing, or in any other way and under any pretext, EVEN THAT OF A GREATER GOOD OR OF A HIGHLY SERIOUS REASON, do anything against this fidelity to secrecy, unless special permission or dispensation is expressly granted to me by The Supreme Pontiff”.
In 2001, Pope John Paul II placed Cardinal Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict) in charge of all abuse complaints and sent a letter of instructions to all bishops of the world, which confirms that Crimen Sollicitationis was the rule until May 2001. This letter, entitled “De delictis gravioribus,” states that matters of abuse are to be dealt with “exclusively” within the church and are subject to “the pontifical secret”, which means one can be excommunicated for discussing the matters outside of the church. The letter does say “co-operate with civil authorities,” but the language suggests only if they come to you. It categorically does NOT say GO to the police. In their defense, Church leaders also have argued — insanely — that clergy and others didn’t know the extent or damage of child sex abuse, in or out of the church, in decades past. They also make the case that they weren’t legally obliged to report such abuse back then. Regardless, they were morally obliged to report even just one case of child abuse. Wonder what they would have done if their own nieces and nephews were the ones being abused?
It seems to me, the pope should fire every living cleric who was involved either directly or indirectly in efforts to cover-up abuse. Not doing that send a very bad signal. It suggests that either he approves of what these people did, or that he cares more about the institution than the children, or that he fears what fired clergy might say about his role in all of this. The Pope/ Vatican could restore his/their reputation by firing those clergy. As long as he doesn’t, the cover-up continues. And the house of The Holy Spirit remains a haven for moral criminals.
Sinead O’Connor is a singer, musician and mother of four. She was ordained as a priest by a Catholic splinter group called the Latin Tridentine Church, taking the clerical name Mother Bernadette Maria.
By Sinead O’Connor | April 8, 2010; 8:40 AM ET
Martin
You are welcome to post your personal story in Introductions and Personal stories.
You can use this link or the link on the right hand side of this page marked “discussion forum”.
http://babyshoesremember.proboards.com/index.cgi
Well said Martin!..my God it’s common sense!..who needs religion when your actions speak louder than the preachers!!!!
It is so embarrassing watching the Pope and his defenders trying so desperately to swerve all the chaos in their “little world they live in”..
should they not go back to college or something to do a course in compassion, humanism, honesty and truth?!?!?
If any fans of the Pope are reading this I’m sorry but you have serious issues if you cannot understand what has happened to thousand of children that suffered horrific child abuse. Especially if you have children yourself.
Anne O’Flaherty
Will the “””WOUNDED HEALER”””, Ireland`s under siege cardinal, Sean Brady, be offering any advice this weekend.? Will Sean be giving out ANOTHER dose on the “HEALING PROCESS”, asking survivors to pray for HIM, for forgiveness, for reconciliation, and a RENEWED faith and vigour in his church.?
It`s like this Sean, what you are asking is to circumvent normal criminal procedure in such matter`s, I`m sure you have no wish in setting precedent`s which would enable other`s, in a position similar to yourself, disavowing “responsibility” retrospectively, to CRIME`S arising as a DIRECT result of their in-action, which they could have prevented. A SIMPLE call to the RELEVANT AUTHORITIES, in your case Sean, the Police, could have SAVED countless innocent defenceless children from the ravage`s of brutal and savage sexual assault`s by the beast Brendan Smyth. Setting such precedent`s Sean could only be ANTAGONISTIC to the many THOUSAND`S who went (unwillingly) through the GULAG system of Ireland`s religious institution`s of ill-repute.
I`m sure Sean that if OSAMA BIN LADEN were to make a similar plea to the American people and Families of the 9/11 Atrocity, for HIM to be viewed as a “WOUNDED HEALER”, in that HE TOO wished to recognise HIS CRIME`S retrospectively, and ask the American people to PRAY FOR HIM, TO FORGIVE HIM, TO INDULGE IN RECONCILIATION FOR HIM, AND FOR HIM TO GO FORWARD IN A “”HEALING PROCESS””, how many of the reputed 400 MILLION GUNS HELD BY AMERICANS WOULD LIE IDLE Sean.?? It would Sean, become the TURKEY SHOOT, TO BEAT ALL TURKEY SHOOT`S.
Your “street cred” has long gone Sean, you`re just another toss-pot failing to show ANY humanity to the MANY victim`s of CLERICAL SEXUAL TERRORISM by this facile indulgent CLING-ON mentality you presently adhere to. YOUR PRESENCE CAN ONLY LEAD TO FURTHER UNDUE DAMAGE TO THIS CHURCH YOU SAY YOU ARE A MEMBER OF, WHICH YOU HAVE DISGRACED BY PLACING IT ABOVE THE CARE AND PROTECTION OF CHILDREN, BY YOUR PAST ACTION BEING SOLELY TO AVOID “”SCANDAL TO YOUR CHURCH”” AT ALL COST`S, AND THESE “”COST`S”” AS YOU NOW KNOW TO YOUR COST, WERE CHILDREN, CHILDREN INCAPABLE OF DEFENDING THEMSELVES AGAINST A PREDATORY BEAST OF STAGGERING PROPORTION`S, A BEAST YOU PROTECTED, AND SAW FIT TO “INDULGE” YOUR bishop IN MENACING TWO YOUNG CHILDREN BY ILLEGALLY OBTAINED “OATH`S OF SECRECY” WHICH FACILITATED THIS BEAST FOR A FURTHER NINETEEN YEAR`S OF SEXUAL DEPRAVITY .
The calumny of you seeking to set precedent`s in allowing you to CLING-ON to your “beloved” office has myself reaching for the puke bucket.
At least Sean, YOU WON`T BE ALONE, as YOU and I know, THERE`S ABOUT ANOTHER SEVEN bishops TO GO. PERHAPS MORE IF THE TRUTH COME`S OUT.?
THE VATICAN TO ISSUE GUIDE ON PRIESTLY PAEDOPHILES ?????. This is reported in the Independent On-Line.
What do they mean.? Are we to avoid SOME PAEDOPHILES, but APPROVE OF OTHER`S.?
HOW TO LOSE VOTES.! WHO was it who said that it will be a “”JOYOUS OCCASION” when Ratzo land`s in the UK in September.? Sorry Gordon, I`m now a Nick Clegg man.
Will HENRY the EIGHT be stirring in his tomb when Ratzo set`s foot in this Country.?
Can we find two World War Two Aces, and two working SPITFIRE`S to give Ratzo a “”buzz”” when he enter`s UK airspace in September.? Preferably with their Vicker`s 40/40s still in good working order.?
As ROWAN WILLIAM`S honestly and bluntly stated, “””THE CATHOLIC CHURCH HAS LOST ALL CREDIBILITY””, so why inflict this geezer on the Country.?
The Internationally reknowned Jurist and Eminent QC, Geoffrey Robertson, has called for the ARREST of Ratzinger to face his CRIME`S of omission in a CRIMINAL COURT. This ARREST is scheduled for September, when Ratzo visit`s the UK.
It`s stated that Richard Dawkin`s is PREPARING THE BRIEF for this long called for action. Presently, it make`s for interesting reading, and some prominent name`s are involved.
Will we see the Irish Minister for Justice add HIS name to this growing list of notable LEGAL EAGLE`S calling for ACTION against Ratzinger and his henchmen.?
Recent add in the Jerusalem Bugle. “”EXPERIENCED RABBI REQUIRED TO CLEAN UP VATICAN CHURCH””.
The search is under-way in the BULLRUSH`S of the HOLY LAND to find Moses`s. A parting of the waves, (or ways), is being sought by Ratzo to get through TSUNAMI
The latest crap issuing from the “”PETTY GOSSIP””” man at the Vatican, FEDERICO LOMBARDI is to the effect that the VICTIMS OF CLERICAL SEXUAL TERRORISM are NOT interested in FINANCIAL RESTITUTION FOR THESE CRIME`S, but are MORE INTERESTED IN MORAL HEALING.?
Where in the name a` jasus do they dig up these IMBECILE`S from . And JUST WHAT would LOMBARDI know about MORAL`S.?
Perhaps this geezer SHOULD come and talk to some of us, he`d be left UNDER NO ILLUSION of what we seek, AND BRING YOUR CHEQUEBOOK Mr Lombardi. AND WHEN Mr Lombardi, are you going to issue Sean Brady HIS MARCHING ORDER`S.
I am sick to the back teeth of constantly saying “I told you so” – in so many ways. How many articles have I responded to over the years. For God’s sake, the truth is there, even I have written documentation in the form of my Detention Order as to the extent of the abuse perpetrated by the Church and it’s followers, Nuns, Priests, Judges etc etc. However no one is actually listening to those very people who were abused, in whatever way, by these self serving deviants.
I have my Bible, and I read it, but I will not attend a Catholic Church again in my lifetime.
Just to put it all into perspective, and maybe, embarrass the church. My Wife, who, by her own admission, does not believe in religion, however, in her actions toward her fellow human and her compassion for all people, to me at least, she is nearer to God than the Pope himself.
“HAVE WE FORGOTTEN HOW THE CHURCH BETRAYED JOAN OF ARC IN THE 15th CENTURY?”
For whatever reason the letter with Herr Ratzingers signature did not make the six one main evening news on RTE1 tonight.
Last night on Prime Time it detalied how they’ve gotten their claws into the new VEC schools which were suppsed to provide an alternative to Rome dominated education.
Will anybody be protesting in London when Herr Ratzinger is on parade next September?
this kind of social control by fear of the collar needs to end now. and written in every history book under the title of torture of the innocent. with naming its leaders as its culprits. all this bishop has done is put his name upfront.
( there is no pope bishop priest mentioned in the epistles or gospels theres a thought
the only way to defeat religion is to question their beliefs and see where they come from as most of what they believe is from dead traditions as Babylon rather from the bible.
the actions of these abusers (people in black and red) are from the demon of the vatican
yes hell is on earth get rid of these satanic laws that only support the filth of that hell called the vatican.
did jesus christ not say to the religious of the time in a parable
the outside of the cup is sparkling clean yet the inside is filthy?
use what they preach and show how they are way off their mark that they know nothing they all.
they strive for promotion in the hell they serve rather than serve the people.
if this so called church is to survive it will have to admit the filth they have neglected to clean up and get rid of the rubbish that has been packed into every corner of the vatican/hell
what i do not understand is how this idiot will not resign as he strives to be recognized as the high-priest of hell for his name will only be remembered as an icon of how the roman catholic church abused and were found out at last.
and how stubborn they are to do nothing to put things right by the people for the people
Old men, wearing frock`s and funny hat`s, muttering MUMBO JUMBO, mixing plonk and bread, and hey presto, if we are to believe them, transubstantation has taken place, and we have some poor geezer trapped in a “chalice”. This poor geezer is then butchered into little bit`s and fed to the unwary, the unsuspecting “faithful” who are effectively being introduced to a very private form of CANNABALISM.? WHAT ELSE CAN IT BE.? THE TRIBAL ELDER`S IN ROME HAVE NO IDEA OF THE DAMAGE DONE TO ONE`S PALATE BY SUCH AN UNSAVOURY PRACTICE.
The other form of LITERARY CANNIBALISM is now taking place, Ratzo and his pal`s are having, presently, to eat their own word`s. A new letter has surfaced in America linking Ratzo to personal involvement in maintaining a PERVERT PAEDOPHILE PRIEST in “ministry” for the “”BETTER OF THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH””, as opposed to de-frocking him. No sooner was this new found evidence published yesterday, than we had Ratzo making the claim that he was “prepared” to meet with VICTIMS OF CLERICAL SEXUAL TERRORISM. As usual, “vatican timing”, far from being impeccable, was the usual norm, pathetic, not to mention being wholly insulting.
The MARCIAL pervert scandal is now taking on a life of it`s own and further alienating the faithful as they read of this PERVERT, LAVISHING MONEY AND EXPENSIVE GIFTS TO BENT cardinal`s AT THE VATICAN WHICH ENSURED HIS PREDATORY VOCATION OF FATHERING CHILDREN, ABUSING CHILDREN, ABUSING WOMEN, ABUSING PRIEST`S, AND ABUSING SEMINARIANS COULD CONTINUE UNHINDERED. WITH FUND`S OF SOME THIRTY FIVE BILLION TO PLAY WITH, MARCIAL HAD THE cardinal`s IN HIS POCKET, ALL EXCEPT RATZO, THE REPORT STATE`S.?? IS THERE “HOPE” THEN FOR RATZO.?
There is as much “hope” for Ratzo, as there is for this cardinal Brady guy holding onto “office”, NONE. Everyday now, bring`s the world closer to understanding the DEVASTATION which CLERICAL SEXUAL TERRORISM wreaks, and has wreaked on countless live`s of children, a whole lifetime of ruin and pain because , pope`s, cardinal`s, archbishop`s, bishop`s, and all the other irresponsible mumpers and associated reprobate`s, politican`s, “social worker`s”, and other riff-raff with vested interest WOULD NOT LIFT A PHONE TO INFORM THE POLICE OF THESE CRIME`S.
Do forgive me if I inadvertently at times feel inclined , more so with this particular cardinal Brady guy, to tell him to take his “”healing process”” and work it up his ***************** arse. And the same applie`s likewise to these “”survivor`s”” who meet with this guy.
TO BARRY CLIFORD
WHEN DO WE GET OUR LEGAL ACTION BARRY????
CHRISTY
I remember getting in fierce trouble when I said she was right back in 1992 to exhort everyone to fight the real enemy.
I said recently at home that Sinead O’Connor was one of the bravest of Irish people to do what she did on a huge stage. I also said she is owed a serious apology from the church owned knackers who heaped vitriol on her at the time.
Everything this lady has said and continues to say about the catholic church is right on the money.
I’m proud of Sinead O’Connor.
I wonder when will people cotton on to the fact that Ratzinger was probably elected by his fellow clerics as a reward for spending the preceeding years covering up for their child rape and torture. He’s not hiding Cardinal Bernard Law in the Vatican for no reason.
Is the vatican busy lately, or what. Perhap`s Ratzo or Bertone could find the time to inform the bishop`s in Ireland who have handed in their “resignation`s” that those “resignation`s” have been ACCEPTED. And it`s a BIG , ON YER BIKE`S TO THEM.
COMISKEY started the present trend, LONG MAY IT CONTINUE.?
The “”WOUNDED HEALER””, Sean CLING-ON Brady looks set to continue in “office”. What cover-up, Sean bray`s.? I was a “humble teaching curate” in 1975 when my bishop instructed me to participate in “diocesan matter`s” of importance.
Brady, ordained in 1964 in Ireland, appear`s he was immediately dispatched to Rome where after three year`s of studying ” canon law” he returned to Cavan in 1967.
Eight years later, the “humble teaching curate” was plucked from his classroom, by order of his bishop, and sat in on a procedure , a CRIMINAL procedure, to silence two young children who had been savagely assaulted, sexually, by Ireland`s PREMIER LEAGUE PAEDOPHILE, Brendan Smyth.
As a “”canon lawyer”, and at THIRTY FIVE YEAR`S OF AGE, Sean tells us he was more of an observer than an active participant. However, he did “interview” one of these two children in private, and without “supervision”, a truly heavy burden for a “humble teaching curate”, but on the plus side, obviously his bishop had “confidence” in him.? And this “confidence” was duly rewarded, Sean got the OATHS OF SECRECY his bishop craved.
Sean , at his then tender age of THIRTY FIVE, has publicly declared that it was a “mistake” to have secured these OATH`S OF SECRECY. Thirty five year`s down the line at SEVENTY YEAR`S OF AGE, he is STILL making “mistake`s”.
Going to Rome with his cabal of brother bishop`s to meet Ratzo was ANOTHER mistake, as poor aul Sean was “unaware” that his name was about to come up in the high court in relation to these SECRET OATH`S, which he thought were STILL secret.
It`s now plain that poor aul Sean wished he had never heard of the word OAT`S, and became a QUAKER.
This guy`s position is untenable. The outing of his involvement in suppressing criminal act`s of negligence earmak`s him as a danger to the welfare of children within his church. The secondary aspect of his failure to do the “right thing” has created a divisive split within the hierarchy. There is now a long stretch of clear water between Sean Brady and Diarmuid Martin. Brady, by his irresponsible stance in not stepping down has created a NEW North, South divide. Diarmuid Martin can no longer function effectively to address the changes necessary within the church structure to introduce meaningful change where it`s desired. And the first step, is that bishop`s complicit in COVER-UPS must go, and that include`s Brady. Daly, Connell and Brady, Ireland`s THREE cardinals have ALL been involved in suppressing act`s of CLERICAL SEXUAL TERRORISM. ALL THREE OF THEM. But Brady, in Sylvester fashion, clinging-on and dragging his nails down the blackboard is presently not a pretty sight, as he forcefully “court`s” the media to see him as a “WOUNDED HEALER”. But Media report`s are to the opinion that Brady is not WOUNDED ENOUGH. And he NEVER will be until such time as this guy UNDERSTAND`S WHAT IT IS TO BE RAPED, BUGGERED, AND SODOMIZED, the fate he CONSCIOUSLY abandoned INNOCENT CHILDREN to when he decided to KEEP QUIET abut BRENDAN SMYTH, report`s indicating that Smyth savagely desecrated hundred`s of children AFTER Brady had “interviewed” these two children . Maybe Sean, it`s yourself who need`s a little “”HEALING””.
It would be a TRAVESTY of MONUMENTAL PROPORTION`S for this Brady to continue in “office”, and if Ireland was to lose Diarmuid Martin to this unthinkable act of defiance by Brady not to RECOGNISE HIS CRIMINAL COMPLICITY WHICH LEAD TO THE ABUSE OF INNOCENT CHILDREN. STEP DOWN, AND STAND ASIDE Mr Brady, and let those CAPABLE of “healing” your church make the required start.
I wonder, often, how the “politician`s” and other “noteworthie`s” who rushed to Rome to observe Brady get his little red skullbasher now feel.????