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THERE HAS BEEN criticism again today of the pope’s comments about clerical abuse in his Knock Shrine speech.
Pope Francis addressed the crowd at the shrine earlier today, telling them that in his silent prayer to the statue of the Virgin Mary, he presented to her all of the victims of abuse committed by members of the Church in Ireland.
“None of us can fail to be moved by the stories of young people who suffered abuse, were robbed of their innocence and left scarred by painful memories. This open wound challenges us to be firm and decisive in the pursuit of truth and justice,” he said.
I beg the lord’s forgiveness for these sins and for the scandal and betrayal felt by so many others in God’s family. I ask our blessed mother to intercede for the healing of the survivors and to confirm every member of our Christian family in the resolve never again to permit these situations to occur.
Yesterday the pontiff met with eight survivors of clerical, religious and institutional abuse, including Paul Redmond of the Coalition of Mother and Baby Home Survivors.
He said the pope had apologised for what happened in the Church-run homes and condemned the corruption and cover-up as “caca”, translated as “filth one sees in a toilet”.
The pontiff also addressed the issue of clerical abuse in his keynote speech at Dublin Castle yesterday, commenting that be could not fail to “acknowledge” the scandal. Abuse survivors pointed out he did not apologise to them publicly and he did not mention the overall responsibility of the Church in relation to this abuse.
There was similar criticism of the pope’s address this morning, including his choice of the word “sins” in referring to acts of child sexual abuse.
Abuse survivor Colm O’Gorman pointed out that, again, the pope did not mention accountability “or the Vatican’s responsibility for directing the cover up of these crimes”.
“The ‘firm and decisive’ language is of note. Yesterday, [Pope Francis] described Pope Benedict action as recognising the gravity of the situation and demanding ‘just & effective’ measures. How did that go?”
O’Gorman has organised an event at the Garden of Remembrance to support abuse survivors. It will coincide with this afternoon’s mass in the Phoenix Park at 2.30pm. Artists including Hozier, Roisin O from Thanks Brother and Liam O’Maonlai who will perform on stage.
The people gathered will walk silently to Sean McDermott Street to the last remaining Magdalene Laundry in the possession of the State.
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Enough is enough. Empty words and ZERO genuine guilt.
3pm today, Garden of rememberance. Time to stand with the victims of clerical abuse, time to #Stand4Truth
Heres info for anyone who is thinking of heading in by bus…
http://www.dublinbus.ie/DublinBus-Mobile/News/?depth=1&srcid=7343
@The Risen: the #tag generation and their bandwagon.
@The Risen: You’re 100% correct. We should stand with the victims and demand justice. Words and remorse are one thing. We need to see a concerted transparent effort to bring those guilty of child abuse, or covering it up, to answer before a court of law. (I would however question your use of Padraig Pearse as an avatar though. You should look up his poem ” little lad of the tricks” – unsettling to put it mildly.)
@Sayitlikeitis: it’s easy to be cynical from the sidelines.
@Paul McSherry:the people grass root people who have been working hard for years, should take credit. These false #tag generation are just bandwagoners.
@Ian Walsh: sorry, its just my opinion.
@Sayitlikeitis: you’re clearly not very bright. Everyone is a “bandwagoner” except for the victims. Is it a bad thing to be opposed to crimes once you find out they’ve been committed? How is it possible to call for justice for a harm you don’t know has been done.
@Dave O Keeffe: why are you being insulting? Dave. these #tag moments are created by the far left, who tíme and time again dodge mentioning issues with Islam! It’s kind of like it was when the chruch had a strangle hold of the country, no one could speak. So I’ve a huge issue with the contradictions within these moments.
@The Risen: Abuse and cover up by church is exactly the same as what the Provisional movement has done #SFHypocrisy
@Sayitlikeitis: who cares at what point ppl became enlightened to the abuses and hyprocracy of the church as long as ppl assemble and show solidarity. You sound like the type to just sit on the couch for everything.
@Bruce van der Gutschmitzer: not at all, I don’t sit on the couch for everything , but keep on assuming and asking no questions
@Clifford Brennan: The jury is out regarding our rebel Padraig. His poetry was very “obscure”.
@Stephen Kearon: Stephen, if you stop using the issue of child abuse to score disgusting little political points, you might get more than 57 votes next time you run for office
https://electionsireland.org/result.cfm?election=1999T&cons=639
(Stephen is a fianna fail man by the way)
@Sayitlikeitis: well why describe this as a bandwagon exercise? This isn’t you going to the barge to see ireland getting hammered by Germany in the euros. This is a show of solidarity with survivors of the worst type of crime, an opportunity for Irish ppl to stand up to the bs we’ve been dealt for decades if not centuries. If u sit on the couch for this and comment so flippantly on an issue the public are outraged by then you probably sit on the couch for most stuff.
@Bruce van der Gutschmitzer: it’s just suspicious how a majority of the people going are also supporters of other left wing #tag movements we have seen the last few years . I just think a majority a. Can’t think for them self’s b. Will jump on anything that’s popular (vegan ism, feminism etc..) C. They are not genuine. Because as I mentioned, they would be pointing and protesting about Islam, but sadly they defend them, which has all sorts of consequences, the same way that helped the chruch abuse many. Silence, its too little too late now. But solidarity is just empty. But when all is said and done, the grass roots people will be left, struggling on as usual.
@Bruce van der Gutschmitzer: look ill be at the protest today, come and say hello if you want.
@The Risen: give it a rest you ass.
@Sayitlikeitis: #PopeInIreland and #PhoenixPark are both trending, more far left people? No, hashtags are a common thing used by people across all divides. No one can speak? Yet here everyone is, expressing their opinions. You’re the one trying to silence people you don’t agree with by throwing stupid labels at them.
Enough is enough. Trial these offenders and put them in jail. Where is the justice in this country?
Just so very very weird when you see an organization that has been responsible for some of the most horrendous abuses of children around the world now celebrating families.
It is so strange to see children being displayed in front of this organizations leader like a prize.
If this was an illegal cult we would be horrified.
@James Rhatigan: one more copy and paste of that comment would be weirder!
@Don Juan: not sure about that Don
@Don Juan: not sure about that Done
This whole episode has been a disaster for the church. It’s being shown up for what it really is. Pr exercise to solidify the remaining flock while kicking the can of responsibility down the road some more. Now that the ex us ambassador to the Vatican has said he should resign for knowledge of cover ups, he has changed his language again from the abuses of the church as ‘crimes’ back to send again. He’s running scared!
@Bruce van der Gutschmitzer: back to ‘sins’
@Bruce van der Gutschmitzer: actually I think Leo is adequately deflecting any responsibility from the state to prosecute and punish. There are still offenders not held accountable. Shouldn’t we be issuing warrants, extradition warrants and subponeas? Lets not forget, the guards were informend for years and apparently did nothing?
@Pajo Mata: The physical abusers were priests and nuns. You can try to deflect all you want. The church is morally bankrupt and filthy Francis couldn’t give a flying fk about what has happened. It’s clear from his empty rhetoric both yesterday and today.
@Pajo Mata: btw not blaming the guards. Am blaming the Irish justice system and I think it’s a bit rich to blame the pope. He seems like a very decent spiritual and loving man. I think we need to ask our own government what they did to protect the Irish citizens in time if need. Leo has some neck standing up demanding an apology from the church. People on glass houses….
@Pajo Mata: the pope is sitting on all the information, if he wanted to do something about it he would start there. He keeps talking like he’s a victim. The cover-up starts at the top
@Pajo Mata: very well put , there was corruption in all ranks from the chruch, to communities (were abuse happened too) to the Garda. Another thing to question how many people in the chruch actually believe in god?
@Dave O Keeffe: what info? We have witnesses, victims and hard evidence. There is no reason we can’t investigate, file evidence and send on to DPP.
@Dave O Keeffe: what info? We have witnesses, victims and hard evidence. There is no reason we can’t investigate, file evidence and send on to DPP.
We dont need the Pope. We even have confessions. Its this useless country cant do anything right. Leo has a neck like a river damn.
@Pajo Mata: absolutely. He doesn’t want to tackle it head on. He’s being ‘diplomatic’ and being praised for it. In reality he’s scared of upsetting the Vatican or it’s supporters/voters and his chances in the next election. If he really cared about this Ireland 2040 plan then he’d go after them for restitution and then take full control of hospitals and schools because future generations and ourselves will look back and wonder why we were so soft on them.
@Dave O Keeffe: dave we know the pope is sitting on information you seem like your up to date on a lot of things. But I can not understand why you and others can not see what is happening. When Bertie was in office he locked away Evidence, the government have enough to go after the church if they want why not. My thinking is that they know that the people will see their fingerprints all over the cover up. You and others are playing into their hands keep the Focus on the church and away from government and the cops, judges. The pope is only one person and if your honest he can’t release them it’s not that simple. He comes across like he wants to help but as I said our government has the evidence to start the ball rolling and won’t.
@David Clarke: about time some said it, great points
Sure what’s this pope got to do with all of that wasn’t it all done under pope John Paul and the Irish government ignored the hole thing at the time too.
Colm o’Gorman reminds me of Jan from the brady bunch, looks in mirrior I thinks pope, pope ,pope what about Colm. Sad really. Attention seekers.
O get over it. Sooner this visit over the better.. what do you expect it’s like any organisation… no sense of reality
Didnt the Irish people send their Girls to these home out of their own free will. Lots of people to blame bar the church
@Kevin Spencer: stop telling the truth for the love of god. Someone will be along soon to tell you they had no choice. 99 percent of abuse on kids and women is by family members but how dare anyone to highlight that. If u do your accused of supporting what the church did. Society needs someone to take all the blame to ease their own Conscience
It’s an old boys club, plain and simple. I have not seen one female holding any position of authority. Claiming to represent all catholics, but no females need apply for positions at the top. Its a bit creepy to be honest.
He comes across as a good man will he make the changes that need done know. It’s a pity he’s over 80 the church needs a pope with his thinking that young enough to see it from start to finish. No point a man in their 70s becoming pope need someone in their 50s early 60s to make real change.
Like I said yesterday pure ignorance. Really unbelievable and goes to show nothing will change
So it’s business as usual and it is a business nothing more.
He’s leaving behind another catastrophe like he did in Chile.
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