[aldo_14]

Allegations that the present Pope assisted the Vatican in covering up sex crimes and sheltering the perpetrators.

Panorama story; http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/panorama/5389684.stm
Follow up article with link to TV programme; http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5397346.stm

A secret document which sets out a procedure for dealing with child sex abuse scandals within the Catholic Church is examined by Panorama.

Crimen Sollicitationis was enforced for 20 years by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger before he became the Pope.  It instructs bishops on how to deal with allegations of child abuse against priests and has been seen by few outsiders.

Critics say the document has been used to evade prosecution for sex crimes.

Crimen Sollicitationis was written in 1962 in Latin and given to Catholic bishops worldwide who are ordered to keep it locked away in the church safe.  It instructs them how to deal with priests who solicit sex from the confessional. It also deals with "any obscene external act ... with youths of either sex."  It imposes an oath of secrecy on the child victim, the priest dealing with the allegation and any witnesses.  Breaking that oath means excommunication from the Catholic Church.

Reporting for Panorama, Colm O'Gorman finds seven priests with child abuse allegations made against them living in and around the Vatican City.

One of the priests, Father Joseph Henn, has been indicted on 13 molestation charges brought by a grand jury in the United States.  During filming for Sex Crimes and the Vatican, Colm finds Father Henn is fighting extradition orders from inside the headquarters of this religious order in the Vatican.  The Vatican has not compelled him to return to America to face the charges against him.

After filming, Father Henn lost his fight against extradition but fled the headquarters and is believed to be hiding in Italy while there is an international warrant for his arrest.  Colm O'Gorman was raped by a Catholic priest in the diocese of Ferns in County Wexford in Ireland when he was 14 years old.  Father Fortune was charged with 66 counts of sexual, indecent assault and another serious sexual offence relating to eight boys but he committed suicide on the eve of his trial.

Colm started an investigation with the BBC in March 2002 which led to the resignation of Dr Brendan Comiskey, the bishop leading the Ferns Diocese.  Colm then pushed for a government inquiry which led to the Ferns Report.  It was published in October 2005 and found: "A culture of secrecy and fear of scandal that led bishops to place the interests of the Catholic Church ahead of the safety of children."

The Catholic Church has 50 million children in its worldwide congregation and no universal child protection policy although in the UK there is the Catholic Office for the Protection of Children & Vulnerable Adults.  In some countries this means that the Crimen Sollicitationis is the only policy followed.

The Vatican has refused repeated requests from Panorama to respond to any of the cases shown in the film.

The document; http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/28_09_06_Crimen_english.pdf

EDIt; see also http://www.bishop-accountability.org/reports/2005_10_Ferns/ferns_8_0_conclusions.pdf - conclusion of the Ferns report (http://www.bishop-accountability.org/ferns/)

[Nuke]

why am i not supprised?

[karajorma]

So in other words the current pope speaks out against homosexuality unless it's between a priest and a child.

[Prophet]

Remember that the Church is an ancient organization, big and cumbersome. These guidelines were written back in 62. They couldn't burn the freaks as heretics anymore, so they thought it's better to hide them. All to protect the church, and the church is to protect us from ourselves. It seems the church cant protect us from itself. And now it seems that the church can't protect itself from us.

The Catholic church is a big target for flaming. And it is desperatley trying to protect itself in a time when people don't believe, bomb each other, or turn in to scientology. One should never combine passion and religion.

This only goes to show that the once mystic and mighty Vatican has been polluted by western capitalism and corruption. And then these things happen. I should convert to eastern orthodox and move to russia. I would get to sniff incense all the time.

[aldo_14]

The Catholic Church exists, and only ever has existed, solely for the purpose of protecting the Catholic Churchs' interests.

It is the same for all churches.

[NGTM-1R]

See, that's the problem; it isn't that way. At least 60% of the Catholic Church buys into the public statement they exist to do good works, lead the flock, etc.

It's the other 40% who cause problems.

[Mobius]

I would say 75% and 25%...

[aldo_14]

You're making the mistake of confusing the Church entity with the believers of whatever that entity chooses to spout, methinks.

[Getter Robo G]

And this is new? (checks Mayan Calender)... Nope 

Well now that we got some Female Priests getting into it I can't wait for some mature woman/young boy stories, (long as they are as hot as that Debra Lafave)   

Are they still called Father? For some reason I can't keep a straight face saying "Forgive me Mother, for I have sinned!"   

Freud where are you???

[redsniper]

They have female priests now?

[BlackDove]

See, that's the problem; it isn't that way. At least 60% of the Catholic Church buys into the public statement they exist to do good works, lead the flock, etc.

It's the other 40% who cause problems.

Dear God, which ass do you pull these sixth grade elementary school conclusions from?

[Ford Prefect]

See, kids, that is what we in the internets call...

[Flipside]

[Scooby_Doo]

  "lock-monkey"

[Prophet]

 

[Descenterace]

Flipside wins.

Pic archived for future use!

[aldo_14]

Well now that we got some Female Priests getting into it I can't wait for some mature woman/young boy stories, (long as they are as hot as that Debra Lafave)   

You like stories of female-male child abuse?

[Prophet]

Isn't it a dream of any teenager to be raped by his (hot) big sister?
BTW I don't have a sister so I woudn't know.

[aldo_14]

I'm now deeply worried about the mental health of this forum......

[Scooby_Doo]

Hahahah... want some hot bleach to clean yourself? LOL  too bad it doesn't work for mental imagery.