Unchristian Abuse both Catholic and Protestant

IN-CELIBACY WITHIN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

One reads that The Pope has issued an apology for ‘Heinous’ Abuse within the Catholic Church, It seems a regrettable omission that the apology was exclusive of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, for abuse happened here too. One reads of past financial settlements made, and of cases that when last heard of were still pending. Having myself suffered mild abuse when under the auspices of the Catholic Church near seventy years ago, my inclination is to believe that there may well be substance to complainants’ claims. Others though are doubtful, such persons enquiring why the delay in reportage, and which the motivation for telling of it now? Good points but an equally good point to make, is why if a Pope is prepared to acknowledge the matter now, the Catholic Church had for so long conspired to hush matters up, so failed before now to apologise for its involvement

What though counts as child abuse, and was its occurrence solely within the Catholic Church ? Was not caning the most prevalent form of abuse, especially when gleefully administered. There was a man who was reputed to have cut a swathe through Shrewsbury, Bradfield, Eton and Fettes , with scarcely an eyebrow raised for such was the custom of the time at many another Preparatory or Public School.

In retrospect boys so punished may recognise canings to a bared backside, as but an expression of the perpetrator’s libido, being inclined to inform others

‘Never did me any harm, made me the man I am’

And of course all too frequently it did!

Maybe the abuse taken exception to, relates only to the Institutional violence and oppressive subjection, such was alleged to occur in The Magdalene Laundries, or through the transportation of ‘Orphans’ to the Colonies. Both States and Church were complicit in these matters, and all have recently expressed their regrets.

Maybe the abuse referred to, is some level of sexual concupiscence ? When an adult or older adolescent by preference acts inappropriately with a pre-pubescent child, the offence is termed paedophilia. May one thus deduce that similarly inappropriate behaviour solely between an adult and an older adolescent is not covered by the term paedophilia ? From all the reports one reads , more often than not, it is the young adolescent who is the prey of the predator rather more than any child. Is it to this grouping Catholicism is apologetic?

Gross indecency apart, the physicality of any assault is inconsequential, when contrasted with the psychological harm occasioned to those who suffer such predations, for it oft involves them in deceit, and complicity saddles them with what is known as ‘The Stockholm Syndrome’.

Abuse isn’t restricted to the Catholic Church , for history relates that it has been of equal endemnicity in Anglican Communities, as too in the populous at large. However those Clergy who adopt a holier than thou attitude, lay themselves open to greater condemnation than others. The supposed Celibacy of the Catholic Clergy is a nonsense, and always was so. Surely it is past time to acknowledge the situation by legitimising all quasi marital relationships within its ranks.