Sex Crimes and the Vatican
cor
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [NYTr] Sex Crimes and the Vatican
Date: 2 Oct 2006 11:03:29 -0500
From: nytr
[There is a Panorama video link at the end of this article - NYTr]
sent by Simon McGuinness
This was another shocking investigation into the inner workings of the
Catholic Church, and we in Ireland are becoming immune to shock in
relation to the global paedophile enterprise that the Vatican sees fit
to protect. We were told that the rape of children by priests was all
ancient history, that it resulted from an innocent failure to understand
the nature of the issue and that there was a new policy in place that
would protect children. Some believed it. But even that was shown to
be a lie when Panorama interviewed a grandmother who's grandson had been
raped by a known sex offender who had been moved into a parish in Brazil
as recently as 2002. At least 6 priests are currently holed up in the
Vatican State fighting extradition requests on foot of court proceedings
for paedophile offences.
The US investigator who apologised for comparing the Vatican to the
Mafia had it right; he apologised to the Mafia. -SMcG]
BBC News - Sep 29, 2006
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/panorama/5389684.stm
Sex crimes and the Vatican
A secret document which sets out a procedure for dealing with child sex
abuse scandals within the Catholic Church is examined by Panorama.
"Crimen Sollicitationis" was enforced for 20 years by Cardinal Joseph
Ratzinger before he became the Pope.
It instructs bishops on how to deal with allegations of child abuse
against priests and has been seen by few outsiders.
Critics say the document has been used to evade prosecution for sex
crimes.
It instructs them how to deal with priests who solicit sex from the
confessional. It also deals with "any obscene external act ... with
youths of either sex."
It imposes an oath of secrecy on the child victim, the priest dealing
with the allegation and any witnesses.
Breaking that oath means excommunication from the Catholic Church.
Reporting for Panorama, Colm O'Gorman finds seven priests with child
abuse allegations made against them living in and around the Vatican
City.
One of the priests, Father Joseph Henn, has been indicted on 13
molestation charges brought by a grand jury in the United States.
During filming for Sex Crimes and the Vatican, Colm finds Father Henn is
fighting extradition orders from inside the headquarters of this
religious order in the Vatican.
The Vatican has not compelled him to return to America to face the
charges against him.
After filming, Father Henn lost his fight against extradition but fled
the headquarters and is believed to be hiding in Italy while there is an
international warrant for his arrest.
Colm O'Gorman was raped by a Catholic priest in the diocese of Ferns in
County Wexford in Ireland when he was 14 years old.
Father Fortune was charged with 66 counts of sexual, indecent assault
and another serious sexual offence relating to eight boys but he
committed suicide on the eve of his trial.
Colm started an investigation with the BBC in March 2002 which led to
the resignation of Dr Brendan Comiskey, the bishop leading the Ferns
Diocese.
Colm then pushed for a government inquiry which led to the Ferns Report.
It was published in October 2005 and found: "A culture of secrecy and
fear of scandal that led bishops to place the interests of the Catholic
Church ahead of the safety of children."
The Catholic Church has 50 million children in its worldwide
congregation and no universal child protection policy although in the UK
there is the Catholic Office for the Protection of Children & Vulnerable
Adults.
In some countries this means that the Crimen Sollicitationis is the only
policy followed.
The Vatican has refused repeated requests from Panorama to respond to
any of the cases shown in the film.
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sent by Tim Murphy (activ-l)
Watch The BBC TV Panorma Program about Sex crimes and the Vatican
"Sex crimes and the Vatican"
The Global Dimension and the Pope's role fully explained
The Panorama Program is here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/programmes/panorama/default.stm
Just click on watch now
"Crimen Sollicitationis was enforced for 20 years by Cardinal Joseph
Ratzinger before he became the Pope. It instructs bishops on how to
deal with allegations of child abuse against priests and has been seen
by few outsiders."
"It imposes an oath of secrecy on the child victim, the priest dealing
with the allegation and any witnesses. Breaking that oath means
excommunication from the Catholic Church."
*
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