Pope admits nuns kept as sex slaves

[NutellaEllaElla]

www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-47134033.amp?s=09

And in some cases aborted priests children.

HYPOCRISY.

Those poor subjugated, enslaved women. I've got to say, i'm not one bit surprised.

[RickiTarr]

Awful but why are you posting it now? Not that you shouldn’t, but are we expecting developments?

[IAmAWomanNotACis]

This is awful, really upsetting.

[BewareTheBeardedDragon]

The way many men talk about nuns, it doesn't surprise me at all. It's sickening, and they clearly don't give a crap about anything other than the 'scandal'. Horrifying.

[Tibtom]

@NutellaEllaElla

"He said the Church was attempting to address the problem but said it was "still going on"

Where's the next bit of the sentence? "and so they are fully collaborating with the police in investigating these crimes"!!!!!

Fucking fuming. I hate the church.

The police must be involved but more than that there must be a change of culture that allows this to happen and go unpunished. The proportion of priests that offend is apparently the same as sex offenders in the general population (Unfortunately can't find the reference). But the problem is the response to offences by the church when the church should hold its priests to a much higher standard and crack down harder/involve police sooner because they are in positions of trust. There should also be considerations of safeguarding as in other professions.

But corruption and the vatican have a long history - it was partly the sale of indulgences that prompted Martin Luther to action. And to quote Chaucer (the only Chaucer quote I know) :
"if gold rust, what then will iron do?
For if a priest be foul in whom we trust
No wonder that a common man should rust."

[boysinblue]

the church, like all religions, has done more harm to the world than any other organisation. The abuse is so endemic that I don't believe there is anyone who will be able to make any difference. The quicker people stop believing and investing the better for humanity in general and females in particular.

[Tibtom]

@boysinblue

the church, like all religions, has done more harm to the world than any other organisation. The abuse is so endemic that I don't believe there is anyone who will be able to make any difference. The quicker people stop believing and investing the better for humanity in general and females in particular.

I think the church, and other religions, reflect humanity. There are many non religious ideologies which have been as harmful as religion.

[hoodathunkit]

It happens to Buddhist nuns too

archive.is/VHynT

[freckles20]

@boysinblue

the church, like all religions, has done more harm to the world than any other organisation. The abuse is so endemic that I don't believe there is anyone who will be able to make any difference. The quicker people stop believing and investing the better for humanity in general and females in particular.

I agree.

I can't understand how this is allowed to persist.

There is an endemic problem. The Church have proven that they cannot take appropriate action- or anything even close to appropriate action.

Anything other than drastic measures from external authorities is complicit in letting the abuse continue.

I despair and I am baffled by people who allow themselves to be associated in any way with the church. Yes, not everyone is an abuser, but it is common, deliberately hidden and tolerated when it should be rigorously and doggedly investigated and guarded against.

I would be ashamed to be associated with the church.

[SmokedDuck]

If the group was dissolved, it doesn't mean the nuns are no longer nuns.

Likely the group had become so compromised by the situation they were no longer able to function. Whether that's because they were too emotionally and psychologically damaged, or their leadership was compromised, etc.

The nuns have probably been moved into groups with stronger leadership that are more functional. Quite possibly several different ones.

[BlackAlys]

@powershowerforanhour

The congregation of nuns was dissolved, rather than the priests being removed from the priesthood and the women supported?

That (and the lack of police involvement in criminal investigation) was what stuck out to me.

In Chile, reports of abuse of nuns carried out by priests led the Vatican to launch an investigation last year. The women were reportedly removed from the order after highlighting the abuse.

Yep easy knowing where their priorities lie.

Where are these women now?

[Tibtom]

Yes, not everyone is an abuser, but it is common,

Abuse is no more common in the church than in other institutions. The issue is that they are in positions of trust, set themselve as being to a higher standard, and mostly because when priests have been found to be abusive they have not responded appropriately.

[midgemagneto]

Do you know that for sure ?

It seems to me that an institution like that might attract people who see the opportunity that position of trust provides

[MrsBunHat]

The Catholic Church and organised religion in general are about power structures and in most religions, men being in positions of power over women and children. Combined with that there’s the “cloak” of moral rectitude and cloistered situations hidden from public view and checks. Abuse is common in the world in general but in religious situations when someone abusive gets power, they can often get away with it for a long time. You see the same thing in smaller cults and guru worship.

Also historically and probably still now in some contexts, being a priest, monk or nun doesn’t just attract those who feel a strong vocation, but also others, people who are vulnerable and seek a sense of family, and people who don’t fit in in wider society in some way. It’s a perfect storm for abusers to access vulnerable victims under cover IMO.

[NorthernIrishFeminist]

This is the latest report I could find www.theguardian.com/world/2019/may/09/pope-issues-law-to-force-priests-and-nuns-to-report-sexual-abuse It has mealy mouthed reasoning as to why the church isn’t mandating reporting to the police in all cases

[NorthernIrishFeminist]

A interesting article - apologies for the guardian link

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/may/08/vatican-editor-sexual-abuse-lucetta-scaraffia-nuns-misogyny

[Beowulfa]

From the title I thought this would be an apology for historical wrongs, in the Middle Ages or something, like how they eventually had to half-heartedly acknowledge that maybe that Galileo chap had a point.

Power without responsibility.

[freckles20]

@Tibtom

Yes, not everyone is an abuser, but it is common,

Abuse is no more common in the church than in other institutions. The issue is that they are in positions of trust, set themselve as being to a higher standard, and mostly because when priests have been found to be abusive they have not responded appropriately.

That is impossible to claim, as abusers are not identified or dealt with in the church. Plus even the non abusers are complicit by not insisting appropriate action is taken.

It is an enormous issue and we are just touching the tip of the iceberg.

In my opinion anyone defending the church, trying to minimise this issue, or offering excuses should be ashamed of themselves.

If there is a god he would not want anything to do with this so called religion.

[Pellewsmate]

the pontiff admitted that the Church had an issue, and the roots lay in society "seeing women as second class".
A view that the catholic church has been teaching and spreading around the world since it was founded.

[JellySlice]

@SmokedDuck

If the group was dissolved, it doesn't mean the nuns are no longer nuns.

Likely the group had become so compromised by the situation they were no longer able to function. Whether that's because they were too emotionally and psychologically damaged, or their leadership was compromised, etc.

The nuns have probably been moved into groups with stronger leadership that are more functional. Quite possibly several different ones.

Which may also mean that they are separated and unable to organise as a group or realise the extent to which they have been abused, that they were not the only ones. It may be supportive in allowing them to remain in their vocation, but itmay also be divisive.

[Naunet]

Every day men manage to make me just a little more horrified by them.

[PearPickingPorky]

It has mealy mouthed reasoning as to why the church isn’t mandating reporting to the police in all cases

They'd be better off reporting it to the police if they want the priest to get off with it. Given that 99% of rapists reported to the police get away with it completely.
.
Then the priest would need to be professionally impacted at all.

[PearPickingPorky]

The priest wouldn't need to be professionally impacted, I meant.

[NiceGerbil]

Just catching up a bit.

'Likely the group had become so compromised by the situation they were no longer able to function. Whether that's because they were too emotionally and psychologically damaged, or their leadership was compromised, etc.

The nuns have probably been moved into groups with stronger leadership that are more functional. Quite possibly several different ones.'

I would hope that they would have been moved somewhere together where they could get psychological support, medical support for any health issues related to what was done to them, and spiritual support to process it.

These will be very very religiously devout women who have taken a vow to devote their lives to God through the RC faith.

They have been subjected to appalling abuse. By men who were supposed to be equally devoted to God, and had taken a vow of chastity. The nuns at their hands were no longer 'chaste' and the ones forced to have abortions, that goes hugely against the teachings of the church. It's seen as murder, essentially. And God let this happen, and it was done by those of the church.

The women will surely be in turmoil. Their vows and beliefs, obviously fundamental to them, have been trampled on. They should have been incredibly safe and were not. They have been horrifically sexually abused. Some may feel guilty of murder.

Putting them on other orders is not what I hope happened. But proper long term support. And I think if I were one of them I'd want to stay with the others as they understand. Try and recover together.

I'd also worry about how they would be treated in other groups if they realise their new member is one of the nuns from this group.

[Pumperthepumper]

@PearPickingPorky

It has mealy mouthed reasoning as to why the church isn’t mandating reporting to the police in all cases

They'd be better off reporting it to the police if they want the priest to get off with it. Given that 99% of rapists reported to the police get away with it completely.
.
Then the priest would need to be professionally impacted at all.

It’s just so hopeless isn’t it? How can it be fixed when there are so many people prepared to cover it up?

[Alternista]

That’s beyond disgraceful