Friday, July 17, 2009

Irish blasphemy, begorrah.

Do you suppose the following stories would get one introduced to the Bloody Mary if published in Ireland? They do speak ill of the clergy, after all.

Back in May, the Irish Commision published random uncurdable substance-curling stories of abuse suffered by Irish children that were wards of the state by the (I just took a break to encase my Irony Meter in lead) Catholic priests "Christian Brothers" and the Catholic nuns "Sisters of Mercy."

General conclusions:
There were 474 reports of physical abuse involving 26 Schools given in evidence by 403 male witnesses (98%), some of whom were admitted to more than one School. While many witnesses reported that the abuse was pervasive, they particularly wished to report extraordinary incidents from their experience. Other witnesses reported multiple episodes of physical abuse. Witnesses reported being physically abused by religious and lay staff and others including: visiting clergy, members of the general public and men in work and holiday placements. Witnesses also reported being physically abused by co-residents.


There were 383 reports of physical abuse given in evidence to the Committee by 374 witnesses (99%) involving 39 Schools. Witnesses reported being physically abused by religious and lay staff and other adults who were associated with the Schools. Witnesses also reported being physically abused by co-residents. The number of witness reports heard in relation to physical abuse in different Schools diverged widely:


The Catholic Church horribly and harshly abused the minors in its care. I'm not even going to quote specific instances, they're too horrible. Do you suppose this report counts as blasphemy? I suspect so. OK. One story concerns a girl who befriended a kitten. She got found out. Kitten + pot on stove = I leave it to the reader to look away.

If you dare, the full report can be read here.

1 comment:

kerfuffler said...

I went to Catholic school for one year------Our Lady Of Perpetual Discomfort or something like that-----but never experienced anything horrific. But then I wasn't a ward of the state. Absolute power and all that.....