Awake! 11/8/89
CHURCH SEX SCANDAL
For years, Roman Catholic priests and other church workers in Newfoundland parishes had repeatedly abused dozens of children, most of them young boys, many of them orphans in the care of their attackers, reports Canadas newsmagazine Macleans. Nor is the scandal limited to Newfoundland: at least six more cases of sexual abuse of children by Catholic churchmen have turned up elsewhere in Canada, and more than 20 in the United States. With reports of sexual abuse mounting each montha total of 17 priests and others affiliated with the church have already been chargedfaith and trust of many Catholics in their priests have been shaken. Most disturbing is the accusation that sexual abuse in the church not only has been long-standing but has usually been covered up and the offending priest simply moved to another parish where new offenses were sometimes committed. Parents have reacted by refusing to allow their sons to become altar boys or even to permit their children to enter a confessional. The Roman collar, once worn with pride, has become a source of embarrassment and suspicion, says Paul Stapleton, vice-chairman of the St. Johns Catholic school board. The recent events put all priests under a cloud of spoken or silent suspicion. The message seems to be: You cannot trust anyone but yourself and God.
Dear Governing body,
Your printed works are coming back to haunt you.
73's
de zev
Edited by - zev on 25 July 2002 22:15:47