why did the Catholic church cover up Brendan Smyth's systematic abuse for FORTY years......?

Question

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brendan_Smyth_%28priest%29

"During a period of over 40 years, Smyth systematically raped hundreds of children in parishes in Belfast, Dublin and the United States."

Only the Devil: The story of Fr Brendan Smyth
http://www.rte.ie/tv/scannal/BrendanSmyth.html

"Only the Devil" tells the shocking story of Fr. Brendan Smyth, whose abuse of children was known to his superiors in the Catholic church as far back as the late 1940's. The programme recalls how he was sheltered in his abbey in Co. Cavan - even when he was wanted by the RUC.

Answer 1

There were no cover-ups.The story is pure sensationalism and Anti-Catholicism.

Criminals find themselves in positions of trust and power in all walks of life and the Catholic Church isnt exempt.

However,the entire Church cannot be responsible for the actions of an extremely small minority.Of course,the church or any other institution shouldnt be hiding such activities.The question is,was the church aware to the extent that the story suggests.The answer is,there is no evidence whatsoever to suggest thwere was a cover up.

The questioners post is clearly using emotive speech relating to abohorrent abuse to provoke anger in the hope of lending weight to his argument.



Indeed if we want to vent anger against a particular religion,there is a religion that involves its subjects in kidnaps,tortures,beats,blackmails and murders and indescriminately bombs in the name of their god.Not to mention marries and rapes children.

Answer 2

Indeed the whole affair was shocking and it rocked faithful Catholics who were stunned when the sordid details emerged.

Not only did this mans sins inflict terrible trauma and harm on these young people but he also managed to cause a wave of sickening revulsion throughout Catholic Ireland and imbue decent people with a shame that cut to the very heart.

Another and third aspect is the damage in moral to decent and good clergy who felt betrayed and have suffered too because of the scandals.

The blame must also lie with Smyths own order who we now know did the worst thing possible, trying to keep this quiet hoping it would simply go away.

I hope and pray that the day is very near when the church will be rid of such predators and justice will be seen to have been served.

Clerical sexual deviancy allegations have been made against a variety of religious groups including but not exclusively Roman Catholic priests, monks, and nuns. An estimated 0.2% of Roman Catholic priests have been proven to be abusers, it really needs to be 0% and there must be no hiding place for anyone who molests the young.

Pope Benedict has pledged that paedophiles would not be priests in the Catholic Church, and I trust he will be the one to purge us of those who have betrayed their sacred position as did Judas.

God bless.

Edit: I would not expect Atheists to appreciate this scripture but I do expect other Christians to do so,in the Gospel of Matthew(13:24-43) Jesus spells it out clearly about the `Darnel`(weeds) among the `Wheat`

Those who preport to be Christian should re-read this scripture before condemning the whole Catholic church, and desist from pointing the finger.

The fact is that in all organisations or institutes there will be Darnel among the good wheat, sex offences are not limited to the Catholic church but happen in many walks of life, and no church or organisation is free of Darnel.



http://www.reformation.com/

http://stopbaptistpredators.org/index.htm

http://www.kidshield.co.uk/eu_sex_offenders.htm

http://www.mako.org.au/factsstats.html

Answer 3

Every Church, every faith and every organisation religious or secular has its rogues who will do everything in their power to prevent being found out or exposed. Even public bodies specifically set up to protect children are not exempt - witness the Orkney "Satanic Abuse" mass abduction scandal or that Children's Care Home in Jersey. The Catholic Church is no exception.



It was the correct move to move this priest into a monastery, where his sins could be addressed and dealt with, if necessary by keeping him for life in a closed order.



The problem the Catholic Church has is that it believes in the redemption of sinners through Confession, Penance and Absolution. It does not always work, especially when there are political forces at work. Yet the Confessional is sacrosanct, and has to be. If confessors believed they would be turned over to the police for every crime they admitted in the Confessional, they would no longer trust the Sacrament, and the crime would then be kept secret with no-one in a position to do anything about it.



It is the duty of the police to prove a crime in their own way, and to apply to the court for the immediate arrest of the man the minute he set foot outside the monastery.



The mistake of Brendan Smyth's Confessor was that the Penance was inadequate. Repeated abuse of his power as parish priest should have been met with indefinite suspension of pastoral duties, with the option of either facing the civil authorities or taking sanctuary indefinitely within a closed order. Excommunication (and therefore withdrawal of the possibility of absolution) should have been considered and kept as an option.



Rape of a child I would have thought constitutes a denial of the oath of Celibacy, and is sufficient grounds to remove him from the priesthood.

Answer 4

Hi Craig, just came across your Question!

I agree it is the work of Satan! No question about that!

Also I am a Catholic,and I believe in the teaching of the Catholic Faith.

But the fact is that there are Mason's and Satanists inside the Church! Why would anyone stay knowing this?

Here's how I see it. Satan has set up his own in God's house to reek Havoc and destroy it from within!

The link you gave shows that there was a drop from 68% to 48% in over a decade and is still droping.

I cannot walk away from the Church because of a Few Satanic Priests, pretending to be men of God!

That is the whole purpose of the inner attack, to empty the church.

God knows I am sick to the stomach at what these men did.

I am a father of 3 children and my blood runs cold at the thought of this,But I believe that the Church is trying hard to weed them out!

I hope that you and everyone can find it in your hearts to forgive these men,I hope that this never ever happens again.

The best way to make sure of this is to have the people of the church demand that they be held accoutable and brought to law for these herendous crimes.

Smyth in perticuler was a very evil predator who knew he could get access to young children in a highly trusted position, and set about doing just that! The men that covered it up, well they will answer before God for that.

Let us Pray for those innocent Children that have to live with this all their lives,and ask God to bring healing to them.

Once again I can't tell you how much we as Catholics hurt and the betrayed feelings we have,But with God's Grace we can build a new Day where only Holy ministers will fill the role of Priest and Bishop.

God Bless, and lets work together to change the Future for a better world. Yours in Christ,A sorrowfull Sinner.

Answer 5

From the link you posted is says the "order knew" but did not inform the Bishop. So your statement that the Catholic Church covered it up is untrue. If the Church didn't know...then they couldn't cover it up.



It amounts to some friends knowing who never reported him. Much like policemen do in their precincts. We hear all the time of corrupt police in which other police knew but never reported them.



The Catholic Church is a large, global Church. It would be impossible for the Vatican to know what is going on at the local level if they are never told. Just like the President of the US doesn't have a clue what the local government officials might be doing unless someone brings it to his attention.

Answer 6

people tend to conceal issues up whilst it hits on the brink of abode. whether it is Atheist, catholic and the different faith, faith or loss of it. i think of for the main area it is the shame of it. although how can one ever quite ask for repentance or forgiveness and therapeutic to start if the violation is in no way extensive-unfold in public? One can't! as a result it is obvious that the self maintenance of ideals is generally a determining element to conceal the shame constantly contained in the proverbial locker container of a darkened heart and soul till each and each individual difficulty will become a great one which impacts the entire of the team. it is constantly extra appropriate to deal with an contaminated decrease on the finger earlier gangrene gadgets in and takes the arm and finally the entire physique.

Answer 7

Any group where secrecy is allowed to flourish will also be a fertile ground for child abuse, a crime which relies on the shame and fear of the abused to protect the abuser. This secrecy can be found in children's homes and religious groups. It's not just Catholics btw, because the Jehovas literally interpret a passage in Deuteronomy that says a crime needs to be witnessed by TWO others, (and it's usually impossible to find two witnesses to sexual crimes) - it's likely there is a huge group of JW's who have been abused and have been 'encouraged' not to go to the Police.



With Catholicism, it's a case of power corrupting. Even when the scale of paedophilia in the church came to light - way back in the early sixties, the current Pope who was then a Cardinal, came up with a document which he wrote in Latin, ordering all those who suspected anyone of abusing a child to keep it within the church. And that anyone who took a complaint to the police would be likely to be excommunicated. It was called Crimen Sollicitationis was written in 1962. This is the man who now is apoligising for abuse within the church was PERSONALLY responsible for writing this document which acknowledged the abuse but threatened those who tried to report it. It came to light during an investiagtion by the BBC programme Panorama.



For more info see: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/panorama/5389684.stm



Also, the Catholic church decided that the assault or rape of a child was a crime against chastity instead of an abuse of power. As for chastity, if you can control someone's sexuality, you can control them. Priests being chaste is a way of keeping property within the church - another reason why the Catholic Church is so rich.



The Church systematically covered up abuse all over the world, and in doing so have lost all moral authority. By not intervening early, compensating the victims and punishing the priests they have ruined themselves and the good work of the good priests and nuns. But deeper than that, they've shown how wrong it is to suppress human sexuality and the terrible damage it can wreak.

Answer 8

the Vatican makes its rules up as it See's fit and will do anything to protect its wealth and power unfortunately its not going to let the pain humiliation and abuse, its ordained priests or nuns inflict on Innocent children rock its foundations. isn't the Catholic faith based on fear and obedience anyway . it could be said it's the catholics own fault for forcing their offspring into the priesthood and expecting celibacy from them all,. they aren't allowed normal adult relation ships and children are so vulnerable, told by their family their priest is someone they can trust. i feel as more evidence emerges of the brutality of some parts of the catholic church true catholics will question their faith. anyone i know who who had nuns as teachers all say there was at least one nun who was feared for their brutality and they obeyed without question any instruction given to them for fear of beatings

Answer 9

Because the Roman Catholic Church is the biggest abuser of them all. Let him who understands this have knowledge. And let him who does not, remain in his ignorance.

Answer 10

this will prob get pulled ,masive cover up from el papa down to parish weirdo or priest

their church is to blame,for banning them getting married,this was to stop offspring claiming some of the churches vast wealth

they want us to have as many kids as possible,banned contraception

in fact they were evn going to offer michael jackson a parish of his own

as he would fit in no problem

Answer 11

We know the Catholic Church is not right and has not been since it was started by the emperor Constantine but what about the abuse that took place in catholic schools the beatings and humiliations I recommend that you read Founded on fear by peter Terrell for an account that will shock you.

Answer 12

Fear - face saving - trying to keep the lid on it - why are all the reasons we fail victims of abuse over and over ?



One of my abusers was a policeman - I think we sacrifice the 'few' to keep up the fantasy of professionals being trustworthy individuals.

Answer 13

I don't know why the Catholic Church covered up the paedophiles abuse - all I can say is i Hope it died in pain

Answer 14

Big Jock knew

Answer 15

They're into the childish cover up blessed of two sorts of blessed compared in Psalms 32:1,2 which Paul repeats in Romans 4:7,8 and notes David secondly spoke of the (better)"blessedness of man": blessed the "man" to whom the Lord will not impute sin; Point being God did not say let us make child, but rather let us make "man"; And a man puts away childish things (laws), to be perfect and also merciful.

Answer 16

it's funny how not one Catholic has answered this question. they are sick in the head every last one of them. they are so worried about what people think and not one catholic who has answered has defended the children. at least not one that i have seen. but i could be wrong. this is completely disgusting and if i was catholic i wouldn't be now. i mean how can you stand by a church where so many priests have been proven pedophiles and all the while knowing that the main catholic "the pope" was covering it all up? they have the nerve to call all other faiths cults, when in fact, they are the biggest cult in the history of the world!

IMHO

Answer 17

Blatant hypocrisy. Organised religions are very good at that.

Answer 18

Because their #1 purpose is self-preservation. Sexual abuse has run rampant for years, with the churches full knowledge.



And someone will point out that abuse occurs in schools and elsewhere to which I answer yeah, but it's not institutionalized nor is it covered up to the extent it has been by the Holy Roman Church.

Answer 19

The Catholic Church is messed up. Not all Catholics are, but as a whole the church is.



Why is everyone talking about bad priests tonight though?

Answer 20

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

The Devil wears Pradda(Red Shoes)

Answer 21

The Catholic Church knows what it's teaching is wrong, but is making billions out of it. They will keep going until the fall of Babylon the Great the Empire Of False Religeon. They covered this up because they wanted to keep member and not speaking of it seems easy. So while you can as the bible says "Get out of her my people" Get out of False Religeon while you can.

Answer 22

don't know but it makes me sick. I suppose the Catholic church didnt want anyone to think they did anything wrong by having a rapist in their churches

Answer 23

Because catholics are a waste of time.!



Just convert to protestantism.!!!



:D

Answer 24

The Catholic Church is foundet by Peadophiles.

The whole System is peadophile from the Beginning.

Why?

It is based on FREEMASONRY.

ALL RELIGION is controled by the Freemasons.

And they are Aliens.

Proof?



http://www.flickr.com/photos/28388779@N02/



That is why they get away with everything.

Brendan Smyth is a Freemason and they protect each other.



The "Freemasons" The "Brotherhood of Death"

It is a secret society, because you do not know who members are and what they plan to do. They do not give much to charity because their charity is their own members.

They look after their own, any child needs life saving surgery the fraternity pays for it.



It is corrupt they own the federal bank and the bank of England, they print money out of nothing and it is not regulated. They include the Rothschild’s, Morgan’s and the Rockefellers. Blair and bush are high ranking masons; Blair is a 7th degree mason. There are two factions of the free masons originating in the UK the York right and the Scottish right. Masons from York went and build major buildings in New York including the statue of Liberty, the moved from York England and build a city in America and called it the New York. Washington including the Whitehouse was build by freemasons from Edinburgh Scotland.



The free masons control the economic order of the world and it is they who are creating the economic fall at present. Money means nothing to them as they have too much; it’s about power for them and the games they play with us. We are their monopoly board and we are expendable. Their plan is to reduce the population by 85% through war disease and ill health



Dr Gallo (Go to you tube and type in his name) was funded in the 1960's by the US government to produce a deadly virus to reduce the black population in America. All the vaccines for Aids contain the aids virus and mercury. All vaccines for children and the flu bug contain the 2d most deadly poison on earth MERCURY. They put fluoride in our water which destroys the thyroid gland and leads to cancer. They put cancerous chemicals in our processed foods and poison the air over our cities. There is a cure for cancer but they will not tell you because the pharmaceutical companies are owned by them, they and cancer are the biggest money making rackets after war and oil. All cancer is, is a vitamin deficiency of B17 and vitamin D which creates a strong immune system fighting cancer.



The Rothschild’s were the largest and richest land owners in the UK during the Napoleonic war. When Britain defeated France at Waterloo Rothschild was the first person to be informed. So he went to the stock market and sold all his property. Other wealthy owns watched Rothschild selling all that he owned so the quickly followed suit thinking that they had lost the war to France. When they did Rothschild bought everything back and more and huge discounts. Forget the wealthy Arab prince's the Rockefellers and Rothschild’s have far more wealth and one time they owned two thirds of the world!



Masonic Entered Apprentice Oath. Entered Apprentice is the first of the three basic degrees of Masonry.



To all of which I do solemnly and sincerely promise and swear, without any hesitation, mental reservation, or secret evasion of mind in me whatsoever; binding myself under no less a penalty than that of having my throat cut across, my tongue torn out, and with my body buried in the sands of the sea at low-water mark, where the tide ebbs and flows twice in twenty-four hours, should I ever knowingly or willfully violate this, my solemn Obligation of an Entered Apprentice. So help me God and make me steadfast to keep and perform the same.



Masonic FellowCraft Oath. FellowCraft is the second of the three basic degrees of Masonry.



To all of which I do solemnly and sincerely promise and swear, without any hesitation, mental reservation, or secret evasion of mind in me whatsoever; binding myself under no less a penalty than that of having my left breast torn open, my heart and vitals taken thence, and with my body given as a prey to the vultures of the air, should I ever knowingly or willfully violate this, my solemn Obligation of a Fellow Craft. So help me God and make me steadfast to keep and perform the same.



Masonic Master Mason’s Oath. Master Mason is the third of the three basic degrees of Masonry.



To all of which I do solemnly and sincerely promise and swear, without any hesitation, mental reservation, or secret evasion of mind in me whatsoever; binding myself under no less a penalty than that of having my body severed in twain, my bowels taken thence, and with my body burned to ashes, and the ashes thereof scattered to the four winds of Heaven, that there might remain neither track, trace nor remembrance among man or Masons of so vile and perjured a wretch as I should be, should I ever knowingly or willfully violate this, my solemn Obligation of a Master Mason. So help me God and make me steadfast to keep and perform the same.



NOBODY WHO MAKES AN OATH LIKE THAT IS FIT TO SERVE THE PUBLIC!

Answer 25

the catholic church is evil...............



God hangs his head and either cries or pukes when he looks down on the institution...........



This is not to say he hates the sincere members........only the institution..........