This sounds familiar

by Mulan 5 Replies latest watchtower scandals

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  Mulan

  This is part of an article in our local newspaper today. It was eerily familiar. It was a very long article, so this is just a portion of it.
  

  'Code of silence' among priests shields abusers

  Hundreds of clergy victims as children, many experts believe

  Thursday, September 23, 2004

  By MICHELLE NICOLOSI
  SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

  When the Rev. Lawrence Minder told his congregation last month that he had been abused by a priest 30 years ago, the Bothell priest became one of a handful of Roman Catholic priests nationwide to break an unspoken vow: Thou Shalt Not Accuse Fellow Clergy.

  Though parishioners at St. Brendan Catholic Church were startled to hear that their pastor had been abused by a fellow priest, many experts believe Minder is one of hundreds of Catholic clergy who were sexually abused by priests when they were children.

  Afraid of the personal and professional consequences of reporting their abuse, many keep their allegations to themselves -- even though the men who abused them are often still practicing priests dealing with children on a daily basis.

  "There's this code of silence -- you don't criticize another priest. You don't tarnish the image of the church," said the Rev. Gary Hayes, a priest in Kentucky who says he was abused by a priest when he was 15.

  Hayes, 52, was one of the first priests to go public with allegations that he'd been abused by a priest. He said he has met or heard of about 50 priests who say they have been abused by priests, and he suspects there may be "hundreds" more.

  Priests who point fingers at other clergy "don't make any friends in the church, I'll tell you that much," said the Rev. John Bambrick, a New Jersey priest who said he was also abused by a priest when he was 15.

  "I know guys who came forward, and it was disastrous. Priests shun you. It gets to be very, very messy -- I think a lot of guys don't want to get caught up in that mess."
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  Mulan

  Didn't anyone think this was interesting?
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  franklin J

  yes, I did, Mulan.

  However, as someone who has small children; it makes me sick to hear this.

  And although I attended the Family Mass of the local Catholic Church with my Catholic wife and kids ( and had good experiences there to speak of) ; I stopped attending altogether when the pedophile issues hit the press. My children; although baptized Catholic to please my wife ( if it gives her peace of mind) no longer attend; and understand why. They do not miss it.

  Many of the friends my wife grew up with ( she attended Private Catholic schools her entire life) were victims of pedophile abuse. She has put them in touch with friends of ours who write for the local newspapers to expose the situations.

  My wife; raised a very liberal Catholic; is APALLED at the Churchs lack of response to this issue , and does not attend services any longer in protest. She still considers herself Catholic.
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  Scully

  I just read your post now Mulan. You're absolutely right: It is very familiar.

  "There's this code of silence -- you don't criticize another priest. You don't tarnish the image of the church," said the Rev. Gary Hayes, a priest in Kentucky who says he was abused by a priest when he was 15.

  Sounds a lot like "don't Bring Reproach on Jehovah?", doesn't it?

  Priests who point fingers at other clergy "don't make any friends in the church, I'll tell you that much," said the Rev. John Bambrick, a New Jersey priest who said he was also abused by a priest when he was 15.

  "I know guys who came forward, and it was disastrous. Priests shun you. It gets to be very, very messy -- I think a lot of guys don't want to get caught up in that mess."

  Yep, it's really really familiar now.

  I wonder if this article will ever be re-printed or quoted in a Watchtower publication??

  Love, Scully
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  waiting

  Yeah, it sucks.......but many groups have such a code.

  In fact, a lot of companies have the same code.

  lol - in fact, many families have the same code.

  What goes on in these 4 walls stays in these 4 walls.

  Those who speak out are taking a great risk of being isolated, fired (until the "Whistle Blower Law"), shunned, beaten, even killed. At the very least, not being trusted by the group reported ever again.

  Ain't human nature grand?

  waiting

  ps - sorry, been dealing with my 84 yr old mil a LOT lately.
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  Panda

  Mulan that is so sad. I suppose anywhere children are there are also pedophiles. I grew up in Catholic schools and my parents and relatives were involved in the church. I remember 2 priests who would use my aunts cottaage at the shore sometimes and I wasn't allowed to go there when they were there. WHich is amazing since the same parents did nothing about my own abuse...sheeesh. Other than that I liked catholic school.