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Related: About this forumA new Catholic clergy sex-abuse scandal comes into the spotlight
Like many longtime reporters, I celebrated the Oscar victory for Spotlight and the fearless journalism that exposed the Catholic Churchs clergy sex abuse scandal.
I would soon see the story, and the scandal, from a very different perspective.
Two days after the Oscar ceremony, news broke about another widespread church coverup. I found myself poring over a grand jury report outlining in sickening detail the abuse of hundreds of children by at least 50 priests and religious leaders in western Pennsylvanias Altoona-Johnstown Diocese in my hometown.
I moved away long ago, but I still have family there. I visit regularly, and my mom was a devoted parish volunteer during her lifetime. I figured I might recognize a few of the accused or some of the churches. I quickly realized things stretched far beyond that.
The names of priests and parishes from my childhood appeared, one after another, all familiar. My grade school priest. Not one but two pastors from my neighborhood parish, a half block from my childhood home. The principal, vice principal and music director from my high school. A priest I once met with to consider officiating my wedding. The priest at the church my four nieces and nephews attended. The chaplain of the nearby Catholic hospital, where my mom volunteered.
I couldnt believe what I was reading. Two of the priests, leaders at Bishop McCort High School, where my parents sent me and my three brothers in the 1970s to receive a quality religious education, were sexual partner[s] who worked together to molest a 13-year-old boy, the report said. They coordinated visits to his house. Once one priest had satisfied himself, the report said, the other took advantage of a victim he believed to be compliant.
One had been my religion teacher.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/a-new-sex-abuse-scandal-in-the-spotlight/2016/04/01/4a1747fa-f76e-11e5-8b23-538270a1ca31_story.html
I would soon see the story, and the scandal, from a very different perspective.
Two days after the Oscar ceremony, news broke about another widespread church coverup. I found myself poring over a grand jury report outlining in sickening detail the abuse of hundreds of children by at least 50 priests and religious leaders in western Pennsylvanias Altoona-Johnstown Diocese in my hometown.
I moved away long ago, but I still have family there. I visit regularly, and my mom was a devoted parish volunteer during her lifetime. I figured I might recognize a few of the accused or some of the churches. I quickly realized things stretched far beyond that.
The names of priests and parishes from my childhood appeared, one after another, all familiar. My grade school priest. Not one but two pastors from my neighborhood parish, a half block from my childhood home. The principal, vice principal and music director from my high school. A priest I once met with to consider officiating my wedding. The priest at the church my four nieces and nephews attended. The chaplain of the nearby Catholic hospital, where my mom volunteered.
I couldnt believe what I was reading. Two of the priests, leaders at Bishop McCort High School, where my parents sent me and my three brothers in the 1970s to receive a quality religious education, were sexual partner[s] who worked together to molest a 13-year-old boy, the report said. They coordinated visits to his house. Once one priest had satisfied himself, the report said, the other took advantage of a victim he believed to be compliant.
One had been my religion teacher.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/a-new-sex-abuse-scandal-in-the-spotlight/2016/04/01/4a1747fa-f76e-11e5-8b23-538270a1ca31_story.html
I'm sure this will be ignored by our Catholic friends because some atheist somewhere wrote something, or Dawkins.
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A new Catholic clergy sex-abuse scandal comes into the spotlight (Original Post)
cleanhippie
Apr 2016
OP
Cartoonist
(7,323 posts)1. Quote
There is a way to discuss, address and oppose misogyny, homophobia and child rape intelligently.
I would welcome it in here.
Having said that, this poster never discusses this issue.
edhopper
(33,635 posts)2. thought better of it,
feels like an ad hominen.
Cartoonist
(7,323 posts)3. or: Religion has nothing to do with it
And Sam Harris is a bigot.
rug
(82,333 posts)4. Or, the posts are both unintelligent and bigoted.
mr blur
(7,753 posts)5. But...Dawkins said something uncomplimentary about Islam!
Checkmate, atheists!
trotsky
(49,533 posts)6. "A new Catholic clergy sex-abuse scandal comes into the spotlight"
Seems like you could post that title just about every day.