Boston Church: 162 Priests Accused

[dArKeR]

The Boston Archdiocese, the epicenter of the clergy sex abuse crisis that has shaken the Roman Catholic Church, released a report Thursday showing that 162 of its priests have been accused of molesting 815 minors since 1950.

The number of priests alleged to have molested people is equivalent to about 7 percent of the 2324 ordained priests who served in the archdiocese during that time, according to statistics released by church officials.

The statistics were compiled as part of a nationwide survey of clergy sex abuse conducted by the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York.

The national report, scheduled to be released to the public on Friday, was overseen by the National Review Board, a lay watchdog panel formed by American bishops after the abuse scandal exploded in Boston in January 2002.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/02/26/national/main602477.shtml

Again I call for an investigation for Overseas missionaries, ministers and priest. Oveseas in the poorer countries there is absolutely no recourse for a victim. No one would listen to them. No media would publish the report. No police station would even accept a report of a crime. And if too much noise was made the victim would be killed.

THE PHILLIPINES, AWOL'S MODEL FOR ALL COUNTIRIES TO FOLLOW!
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/19/international/asia/19PREX.html?ex=10...

[Dookus]

1. 7% have been accused

how many got away with it?

Disgusting.

[9215]

2. What's the percentage of secular molesters to the

total population? I'll bet it is alot less.

Suggestion: Stop child sex abuse, ban religion.

[Exultant Democracy]

3. I wonder if the Catholics with their chaste clergy

have a higher rate of abuse then other religious groups that don't have a chaste clergy.

[Malva Zebrina]

4. what does it matter?

are you slipping into the fallacy of Ad populum? Seeking to excuse or justify this behavior because "others" do it on the same level?

This is truly very sad. Children are niave and innocent. They believe in adults, especially adults in authority. They are abused by the ]same and their entire lives are ruined by this egregious behavior.

Further, the egregious behavior was covered up by the same institution--the Catholic Church and it's hierarchy. This organisation is not a democratic organisation and never has been. It can do what it likes according to it's current dictator. The people have no say in the matter at all--all are bound, at least in theory, to support or at the least not "disobey" the great leader, in the whitel robes who sits on the throne in the Vatican.

[Exultant Democracy]

6. Well you managed to take my value natural question and add a meaning

that wasn't there and most defiantly not intended. My own personal bias leads me to assume that a "chaste" clergy probably leads to far more sexual abuse because it would attract people with abnormal sexual urges. While the use of "native logic" can sometimes lead to the correct solution, I personally find its use unpalatable, hence my previous question (framed in a neutral manner in order not to offend.)

[Malva Zebrina]

8. Sorry

:hi:

[Exultant Democracy]

10. Don't worry I have a short fuse during midterms

so sorry if I was a little harsh.

[reprobate]

5. Priestly chastity actively selects for abnormal psychologies.

If you limit your selection of applicants to a segment that can obey a rule that directly opposes normal human needs, you automaticly will select those whose behavior is by definition abnormal.

You don't hire the fox to guard the henhouse.

[Yavin4]

7. Sexual Celebacy Is A Sexual Dysfunction

just like anorexia is a eating dysfunction. IOW, a normal healthy adult human should be engaging in regular sexual activity.

[Malva Zebrina]

9. Just for the hell of it

[Yavin4]

11. Not Just for the Hell of It

Are you a lawyer? Do I have to define everything single word or phrase that I use? What I'm saying is that sex is a normal, healthy part of being an adult human being. To purposefully deny yourself this activity is to engage in a sexual dysfunction.

The Catholic Church's insistence on sexual chastity is inviting people with sexual dysfunctions into your organization. The proof of which is the high percentage of child molestations by Catholic priests.

[Malva Zebrina]

13. no, I agree with you

I have not expressed myself clearly I am afraid. I am on your side. and it is not "my" organisation. I was brought up Catholic and went through the entire Catholic school system through high school (girls only). When I was twenty, I suddenly discovered my own hypocrisy and did not like it.

[papau]

12. 7 out of the 162 account for half the accusations

But Boston appears to be at twice the average for the nation

where does the Roman church go from here?