Why are those implicated in church scandal not arrested and charged?

oneintotwo

I've been trying to find a decent to this question for some time. We all now know the extent of abuse in the Catholic church, and that besides the abusers themselves, there were many who sought to pervert the course of justice and are essentially accessories to the crimes.

So why is it that these people have not faced charges? Why is the government pushing for a voluntary increase in compensation from the church instead of treating them like any other institution? Are priests above the law? Does the church still have more influence in the government than is apparent?

miec

Hi Op

I agree that they should be punished and I am not sure why they have not, the only guess I can make is that when Ireland became a free state the church were very powerful and instrumental and as such priests, the clergy in general were feared, venerated and elevated all in one until very recently, probably in the last ten to fifteen years.

As the government is all of that generation who feared priests and saw them as above law etc I think that is the only logical explanation. It could also be that behind the scenes the church is still very powerful, the church is still in charge of education and health to a large degree and they appear to be on every major committee as well. It is unfair and it fails those who have been abused. In essence it covertly says that certain sections of Irish society are above the law.

Outrage

oneintotwo wrote: »

I've been trying to find a decent to this question for some time. We all now know the extent of abuse in the Catholic church, and that besides the abusers themselves, there were many who sought to pervert the course of justice and are essentially accessories to the crimes.

So why is it that these people have not faced charges? Why is the government pushing for a voluntary increase in compensation from the church instead of treating them like any other institution? Are priests above the law? Does the church still have more influence in the government than is apparent?

Do you claim that the Oireachtas and the judiciary have absolute moral authority on these matters? Do you claim their record is squeaky clean? The judge Curtin saga wasn't all that long ago. If you're going to hold Cardinals to one standard, and allow Taoisigh and Supreme Court judges off scott free, you're nothing more than a hypocrite.

Ickle Magoo

miec wrote: »

Hi Op

I agree that they should be punished and I am not sure why they have not, the only guess I can make is that when Ireland became a free state the church were very powerful and instrumental and as such priests, the clergy in general were feared, venerated and elevated all in one until very recently, probably in the last ten to fifteen years.

As the government is all of that generation who feared priests and saw them as above law etc I think that is the only logical explanation. It could also be that behind the scenes the church is still very powerful, the church is still in charge of education and health to a large degree and they appear to be on every major committee as well. It is unfair and it fails those who have been abused. In essence it covertly says that certain sections of Irish society are above the law.

+1

These are the people who brought in blasphemy laws and have done nothing to rectify the education system despite international condemnation. I don't think they have the guts to take on the church and make those responsible pay for their actions. The only positive is that I suspect the lack of appropriate action will be as damaging to the current government as it will be to the church and just add to the mountain of anger and disgust the majority of the population already has for both.

Outrage

Ickle Magoo wrote: »

+1

These are the people who brought in blasphemy laws and have done nothing to rectify the education system despite international condemnation. I don't think they have the guts to take on the church and make those responsible pay for their actions. The only positive is that I suspect the lack of appropriate action will be as damaging to the current government as it will be to the church and just add to the mountain of anger and disgust the majority of the population already has for both.

This is a democracy. Go vote for a party you believe in. Better yet: run for election seeing as you feel so strongly. The fact remains, that a large percentage of the Oireachtas are practising Catholics or practising Protestants who share a godly outlook on life.

Ickle Magoo

Outrage wrote: »

This is a democracy. Go vote for a party you believe in.

Oh I do, thanks for stating the blindingly obvious though..

Outrage wrote: »

Better yet: run for election seeing as you feel so strongly.

I can't stand, since I'm not Irish but our very good friend was just 17 votes off being voted into the county council elections as a first time candidate with a secular agenda - watch this space. :cool:

Outrage wrote: »

The fact remains, that a large percentage of the Oireachtas are practising Catholics or practising Protestants who share a godly outlook on life.

The times they are a-changing, see above. :cool::cool:

oneintotwo

Outrage wrote: »

Do you claim that the Oireachtas and the judiciary have absolute moral authority on these matters? Do you claim their record is squeaky clean? The judge Curtin saga wasn't all that long ago. If you're going to hold Cardinals to one standard, and allow Taoisigh and Supreme Court judges off scott free, you're nothing more than a hypocrite.

I don't see what you're getting at, I never suggested that politicians should not be held to the same standards, nor do I believe it.