Sound familiar? Caldey Abbey

[PurpleSparkledPixie]

How depressing. How familiar. Those poor children (my bold)

In April, an independent review was launched after several people came forward to report allegations of historic sex abuse, dating back more than 60 years.

The review found that monks, and men with criminal records who claimed to be monks, were able to join the monastery without checks.

They hid behind their 'chosen' religious names to carry out the horrific attacks, which took place while children were on summer holidays with their parents, often paid for by the Catholic church, or during visits with Catholic schools or youth groups, between 1960 and 1992.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14175289/Monks-living-holy-island-dodged-justice-sex-abuse.html

That's awful. Those poor children

It is so horrific. The denial also must have been very hard for the victims and their families.

Predators go where their prey is. This should never be forgotten.

Yet more horror. What can be said?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy9qjvg3eweo

It's classic predator behaviour exploiting a veneer of goodness. If they seem like good community minded people parents are far more likely to give them access to their DC

How shocking. I've visited the island twice back in the 70s, just as tourist, and it seemed such a magical peaceful pace, with a great sense of history. Lovely walks and little bays. The monastery is a beautiful building, how dreadful to think what went on there. It feels,besmirched now. Those poor children.

And yet concerns and even eye-witness accounts of abuse were repeatedly raised and ignored.

The (main) reason i think i posted were the parallels to the slipping on a habit instead of a dress, and using Father newname instead of girlname, just to abuse those who are vulnerable. The fact the victims were shut down, dismissed, told nothing to see here. And yet we are told repeatedly that abusive men don't need to infiltrate or dress up to abuse. It just doesn't happen, and yet time and time again it does happen.

Father Jan said improvements had already been made, including safeguarding training for all on the island as well as mandatory DBS checks.

Mandatory DBS checks. Now there's an idea! 🙄Mind you, who knows how effective they are now, when it's so easy to assume another identity.