Fifty years ago, I sent a large box of Minnesota maple “airplanes” to my brother in Oak Park, Illinois, just so he could have the pleasure of watching them take flight from his third-story window. I hope some of them found a home among all those majestic oaks and are still delighting children each Spring with their simple twirling dance.
Two things that don’t mix; catholic church and children. LISBON, Feb 13 (Reuters) – At least 4,815 children were sexually abused by members of the Portuguese Catholic Church – mostly priests – over the past 70 years, the commission investigating the issue said in a report on Monday, adding the findings are the “tip of the iceberg”.
“(We want) to pay a sincere tribute to those who were abuse victims during their childhood and dared to give a voice to silence,” said child psychiatrist Pedro Strecht, who headed the commission. “They are much more than a statistic.”
Strecht said the 4,815 cases were the “absolute minimum” number of victims of sexual abuse by clergy members in Portugal since 1950. “These numbers are just the tip of the iceberg,” he said.
Most perpetrators (77%) were priests and 57% of the victims were men, Strecht said, adding that they were abused in Catholic schools, churches, priests’ homes, confessionals, among other locations.
The majority of the sexual abuses took place when the children were aged 10-14, with the youngest victim being just two-years-old.
Maryland’s top prosecutor accused Catholic Church officials in Baltimore on Wednesday of engaging in a yearslong cover-up of the sexual abuse of 600-plus children, some of whom were “preyed upon by multiple abusers over decades."
State Attorney General Anthony Brown chronicled the abuse in a 463-page report that named several priests and described what they are alleged to have done.
“Time and again, members of the Church’s hierarchy resolutely refused to acknowledge allegations of child sexual abuse for as long as possible,” according to the report.
“When denial became impossible, Church leadership would remove abusers from the parish or school, sometimes with promises that they would have no further contact with children. Church documents reveal with disturbing clarity that the Archdiocese was more concerned with avoiding scandal and negative publicity than it was with protecting children.”
Sweet Jesus! How did this discussion wander off the path and become a tirade on child abuse? Bro. Leo is helping the children to have respect for Mother Earth and learn how to be good stewards and take care of Mother Earth! Bro. Leo would never abuse children. God bless Bro. Leo!!!
morningglory73 Premium Member over 1 year ago
Yes, plant trees.
ladykat over 1 year ago
Plant trees and flowers.
Maregirl over 1 year ago
Fifty years ago, I sent a large box of Minnesota maple “airplanes” to my brother in Oak Park, Illinois, just so he could have the pleasure of watching them take flight from his third-story window. I hope some of them found a home among all those majestic oaks and are still delighting children each Spring with their simple twirling dance.
Hammurabi.Wolfe over 1 year ago
Two things that don’t mix; catholic church and children. LISBON, Feb 13 (Reuters) – At least 4,815 children were sexually abused by members of the Portuguese Catholic Church – mostly priests – over the past 70 years, the commission investigating the issue said in a report on Monday, adding the findings are the “tip of the iceberg”.
“(We want) to pay a sincere tribute to those who were abuse victims during their childhood and dared to give a voice to silence,” said child psychiatrist Pedro Strecht, who headed the commission. “They are much more than a statistic.”
Strecht said the 4,815 cases were the “absolute minimum” number of victims of sexual abuse by clergy members in Portugal since 1950. “These numbers are just the tip of the iceberg,” he said.
Most perpetrators (77%) were priests and 57% of the victims were men, Strecht said, adding that they were abused in Catholic schools, churches, priests’ homes, confessionals, among other locations.
The majority of the sexual abuses took place when the children were aged 10-14, with the youngest victim being just two-years-old.
Hammurabi.Wolfe over 1 year ago
Maryland’s top prosecutor accused Catholic Church officials in Baltimore on Wednesday of engaging in a yearslong cover-up of the sexual abuse of 600-plus children, some of whom were “preyed upon by multiple abusers over decades."
State Attorney General Anthony Brown chronicled the abuse in a 463-page report that named several priests and described what they are alleged to have done.
“Time and again, members of the Church’s hierarchy resolutely refused to acknowledge allegations of child sexual abuse for as long as possible,” according to the report.
“When denial became impossible, Church leadership would remove abusers from the parish or school, sometimes with promises that they would have no further contact with children. Church documents reveal with disturbing clarity that the Archdiocese was more concerned with avoiding scandal and negative publicity than it was with protecting children.”
prrdh over 1 year ago
In Latin, arborvitae.
FreyjaRN Premium Member over 1 year ago
I hope this is happening. We need trees in the world.
Curtis Mathews over 1 year ago
Sweet Jesus! How did this discussion wander off the path and become a tirade on child abuse? Bro. Leo is helping the children to have respect for Mother Earth and learn how to be good stewards and take care of Mother Earth! Bro. Leo would never abuse children. God bless Bro. Leo!!!
MuddyUSA Premium Member over 1 year ago
Positive things teen agers could do instead of attacking marines………….
Out of the Past over 1 year ago
I grew up Catholic and loved it. No complaints about nuns and priests hitting, abusing or looking real mean and scaring me.