Talulah

The idea of just removing the priests from positions with contact with children bothers me immensely.

If my next door neighbor sexually abused a child, I wouldn't be happy if he was just told he couldn't continue say, being a coach of a basball team of young boys. Even if he was the top scientist in the country, or in some other highly needed and respected job, I would STILL want him in jail, where he belongs.

Besides, I want more than him being told he can't be around children, I want to know he WON'T be. Like in jail. They can still go to parks, school, etc. If they are removed from a job with access to children, is there going to be some warning about what they are, or is the Catholic Church just going to sweep it under the rug like they are so fond of doing.

I think we have seen enough to know we can't trust the Catholic Church to police themselves. Open them up to secular authority and let society be the judge of the priests actions.

Still, after all this, I see parents sending their children to Catholic schools to be taught by priests and nuns. I wonder how far the denail runs.

Gemma Therese

You mean sisters. All nuns are cloistered.

And please, you don't think there's sick people in the public school system? Does Mary Kay Letourneau ring a bell???

Gemma Therese

Sephiroth

What a ridiculous argument. Just because some public school teachers molest kids doesn't mean that we should let priests who molest kids off the hook.

Gemma Therese

Sephiroth,

You missed the point.

There is no more or less danger in Catholic schools than in public schools.

Gemma Therese

Sephiroth

I never claimed otherwise. But I see no reason why priests who molest kids should be treated differently from other people who do but yet you seem to think otherwise as you said, "If a priest is charged, there should be a thorough investigation, and if he is found guilty he should be stripped of his rights to work in a parish, but he could still do other things for the Church (NOT in contact with children)." May I ask why?

Debbie T

There is more danger for a child in situations where priests are protected by the church. The many years the church covered up what was going on instead of turning the pedophiles over to the police meant many more children were victimized not only by the priests that committed these crimes but by the church.

I didn't see the school covering for Mary Kay and moving her to another school where she could abuse another child. She is being held accountable for her actions and sitting in jail. No ifs, ands, or buts - anyone in that school she taught in would be prosecuted if they knew what was going on and covered up for the crime. Unfortunately the law has not caught up with what is going on in the church. I can only hope for the children's sake that the law makers get a wake up call and do something to protect children from monsters protected by the church (any church).

Bree

:notworthy

Amos

. . . or any institution including the police force.

Debbie T

Hi Lee, Same in Washington state there are laws similiar about reporting abuse. I am much surprised that there are other states without child protection laws in place. Especially since there has been so much coming out about child abuse that many states have moved quickly to help children.

I too have had people be angry with me when I reported a neighbor who was beating up his wife and kids and for reporting a child abuse case after a friend came to me shaking and crying while confiding in me what her daughter's baby sitter had done. The mother I helped get into therapy about her own abuse and the daughter help. She was heavy in denial and didn't want to do anything about it, but is doing much better. But other neighbors and friends of the baby sitter's family won't even speak to me because of the situation. It is a small price to pay in order to protect other children. I am one that can not turn my back on anyone who is being abused, even if it means others turn on me either on this thread or in real life.

Yes it does make me ill too, but it isn't surprising some of the reactions here, since you work with it too I am sure you have seen this before as have I. I for one am grateful to hear you are one that protects others.

Amie

There is a high school out here where a male teacher named Dave Dangleis married a female student of his (once she turned 18) and he was transferred to another school in the same district.
so fast forward a few years. He became sexually involved with another student and this time her dad found out. He was also a teacher at the school. He was then fired and lost his credential along with a year and a half of jail...
This problem happens in public school too Debbie.
The school district knew he married a student but they kept him in the district and moved him to another school.
The family got a hefty settlement out of that one.

I am not trying to make excuses for the church, I think those priests belong in jail however this thing does happen outside religious venues...