catholic bishop concerned about "abused" children

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/drunk-teens-sexually-abused-bishop-2264973.html

A LEADING Catholic churchman has warned that many under-18s in Ireland are being sexually exploited each weekend by drunken adults.

Addressing the Pioneer Total Abstinence national pilgrimage to Knock, Co Mayo, Bishop Donal McKeown said Ireland has the highest percentage of heavy underage drinking in Europe. Bishop McKeown said one in four 15- to 16-year-olds in this country get drunk at least three times a month, and it is estimated that 50,000 children get drunk every weekend.

Actions

"The actions of intoxicated adults and some young people's own inability to have control of themselves would imply that many children are being physically, emotionally and sexually abused across this country on a daily basis -- and especially at weekends," he added.

"I am not scaremongering when I suggest that frightening numbers of children are being physically abused because of addiction and that many under-18s are being sexually exploited each weekend -- often in the name of harmless freedom and craic."

But Bishop McKeown insisted that an abused child was an abused child whether they are in care or in a pub.

"That is a national disgrace and we seem unable to acknowledge it," he said.

I'll give them this, they have some nerve...

ScumLord

Catholic priest reads the daily mail, is now worried about under age sex and immigrants giving his pension aids.

What a legend.. Trolling real life Ftw.

Nijmegen

"That is a national disgrace and we seem unable to acknowledge it," he said.

Not unlike.....

Sanjuro

Put your own house in order before you start passing judgement on society on a whole.

ninja 12

bluewolf wrote: »

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/drunk-teens-sexually-abused-bishop-2264973.html


A LEADING Catholic churchman has warned that many under-18s in Ireland are being sexually exploited each weekend by catholic priests .

"That is a national disgrace and we seem unable to acknowledge it," he said.

What the article should have said .

Hasmunch

People in glasshouses.........

Sinfonia

bluewolf wrote: »

"...and especially at weekends," he added.

Sunday mornings in particular :pac:

cson

Hasmunch wrote: »

People in glasshouses.........

should get the hell out of there because it's roasting?

The Davestator

I think he raises a serious issue that maybe partents dont understand.
remember when you were 16 and drinking in fields and what went on - well its probably worse now.

Just because he is a bishop does not mean he cant make a valid point.

Dravokivich

I am not scaremongering when I suggest that frightening numbers of children are being physically abused

Nope.. we all know too well that they were...

ScumLord

The Davestator wrote: »

I think he raises a serious issue that maybe partents dont understand.
remember when you were 16 and drinking in fields and what went on - well its probably worse now.

Just because he is a bishop does not mean he cant make a valid point.

Now they're drinking in fields, while they're being ploughed! It's sear and utter madness, someone will end up furrowed.

Sinfonia

The Davestator wrote: »

Just because he is a bishop does not mean he cant make a valid point.

True, but it does take away from his credibility as a voice of reason.

AnonoBoy

Sanjuro wrote: »

Put your own house in order before you start passing judgement on society on a whole.

I'll do no such thing. :mad:

Everyone is wrong except me. Everyone else's house needs hoovering - mine is supposed to look like a dust museum. That's how I like it.

Dravokivich

ScumLord wrote: »

Now they're drinking in fields, while they're being ploughed! It's sear and utter madness, someone will end up furrowed.

Just wait till the next crop of Antos / Decos / Jacintas is due...

Edit:

just thinking now... we are well overdue for a bout of John Paul's... haven't seen them in a while...

K-9

Touching!

AudreyHepburn

The Davestator wrote: »

I think he raises a serious issue that maybe partents dont understand.
remember when you were 16 and drinking in fields and what went on - well its probably worse now.

Just because he is a bishop does not mean he cant make a valid point.

I agree. He does raise an important issue but sadly because he is a clergyman people will either laugh, refuse to listen or start hurling accusations and innuendo at him.

People will assume that as a Bishop he either knew about the abuse or is a paedophile himself and is thus in no position to comment on....well anything really.

It's sad but that's what happens when a few bad apples are allowed to spoil the barrel.

I can easily see this thread turning into yet another Catholic-Church bashing free-for-all.

George Orwell 1982

AudreyHepburn wrote: »

I can easily see this thread turning into yet another Catholic-Church bashing free-for-all.

Careful now...

ScumLord

AudreyHepburn wrote: »

I agree. He does raise an important issue but sadly because he is a clergyman people will either laugh, refuse to listen or start hurling accusations and innuendo at him.

People will assume that as a Bishop he either knew about the abuse or is a paedophile himself and is thus in no position to comment on....well anything really.

It's sad but that's what happens when a few bad apples are allowed to spoil the barrel.

I can easily see this thread turning into yet another Catholic-Church bashing free-for-all.

I'm just assuming his probably no better than any other old woman sitting at home listening to Joe Duffy petrified of the world outside. Also that this probably isn't the first time him or his ilk have cried wolf over the dangers of books, tv, film, games, any form of fun and butterflies.

IvySlayer

Teenagers get drunk - it's what every teen does.

The Church is nothing but a stain, it has done far worse things to this country.

Morlar

IvySlayer wrote: »

The Church is nothing but a stain, it has done far worse things to this country.

Yep. So have black people. Oh wait, did you mean ALL OF THE CHURCH or elements ? Or should maybe we not be generalising like that ?

In any event the article was not about alcohol, it was about sexual exploitation of young people.

Sinfonia

Morlar wrote: »

Yep. So have black people. Oh wait, did you mean ALL OF THE CHURCH or elements ? Or should maybe we not be generalising like that ?

I didn't know that black people were an organised institution with a shared agenda..!

The Catholic Church and black people are incomparable.
Maybe we should stop drawing ridiculous comparisons when trying to make a point.

Morlar

Sinfonia wrote: »

I didn't know that black people were an organised institution with a shared agenda..!

The Catholic Church and black people are incomparable.
Maybe we should stop drawing ridiculous comparisons when trying to make a point.

It illustrates the point quite well.

Maybe we can get over the ridiculous generalisations to begin with.

plein de force

catholic bishop in passing judgement when in no fit state to do so shocker

but in response to what someone else said "a few bad apples"? yes a few bad apples abused children, but the institiution as a whole conspired to cover it up and they'd still be keeping the secrets to this day if they hadn't been exposed by outside parties

geeky

First time in yonks I've read the words of a Bishop and said 'fair play'. The number of times I've seen teenagers off their proverbials with distinctly older (and sober-er) people hanging on their arms is quite extraordinary.

Surfsmurf

plein de force wrote: »

catholic bishop in passing judgement when in no fit state to do so shocker

but in response to what someone else said "a few bad apples"? yes a few bad apples abused children, but the institiution as a whole conspired to cover it up and they'd still be keeping the secrets to this day if they hadn't been exposed by outside parties

Theresbad apples and bad barrels, if you get bad apples in bad barrels then there will be something rotten in the state of denmark;)

Morlar

geeky wrote: »

First time in yonks I've read the words of a Bishop and said 'fair play'. The number of times I've seen teenagers off their proverbials with distinctly older (and sober-er) people hanging on their arms is quite extraordinary.

I have actually seen that too in the past, 35+ yr old junikie looking scumbags buying hard alcohol for 15/16 yr olds then going off to fields with them to get plastered.

geeky

Surfsmurf wrote: »

Theresbad apples and bad barrels, if you get bad apples in bad barrels then there will be something rotten in the state of denmark;)

Too many clichés... head... exploding....

Pace2008

What is this new devilry? Teens getting drunk, we're going to hell in a handbasket.

Banned Account

I think you'd do well to consider how old ugly drunk people would be affected if this practice were to be banned. We're not all blessed with the good looks of Fitzy!:cool:

AudreyHepburn

George Orwell 1982 wrote: »

Careful now...

It's the truth though

Prof.Badass

In 1980 (or some year way back) a quarter of teenagers had not been drunk before their 18th birthday, nowadays the figure is so small as to "not be accurately measureable" :cool:.

The bishop is clearly from a more prudish generation and feels threatened by our superior partying skillz :pac:.

mikemac

Prof.Badass wrote: »

In 1980 (or some year way back) a quarter of teenagers had not been drunk before their 18th birthday, nowadays the figure is so small as to "not be accurately measureable" :cool:.

A of students on boards.
Do people still take the pioneer pledge in 6th class and promise to abstain until 18? And get a pioneer badge

Come on, I'm not that old and we did this, so did every class before us and after us.

I stuck to it anyway, not saying I'm holier then thou. I just remember it was a big deal in 6th class in primary school, does it still happen?

ixoy

feelingstressed wrote: »

Do people still take the pioneer pledge in 6th class and promise to abstain until 18? And get a pioneer badge

I waited until I was 18 and didn't get a badge