tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post5338045282844321003..comments2023-12-16T16:17:43.886+00:00Comments on Fr Ray Blake's Blog: Things were different thenFr Ray Blakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05584140126211527252noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-86328012593705372112016-03-05T18:58:29.659+00:002016-03-05T18:58:29.659+00:00Yes, attitudes have changed completely and this is...Yes, attitudes have changed completely and this is the big challenge for the Church.<br /><br />The secular media accuse the Church of hypocrisy and being a den of iniquity but I clearly remember tabloid articles in the 1980s about choirboys being abused by a CofE cleric where the whole tone of the coverage was jocular. Today there would be outrage. Back then, the incidents were portrayed as if they were a Frankie Howerd joke. "Parish shocked by vicar's naughty romps with choirboys" was the tenor of the reporting.<br /><br />Would the media ever admit that there is a log in their own eye? Silly question!Francishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13769697942265014482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-63106397174000507222016-03-05T07:59:47.371+00:002016-03-05T07:59:47.371+00:00The swing of the pendulum.
I have commented elsew...The swing of the pendulum.<br /><br />I have commented elsewhere how, in my experience and that of my Catholic friends, child abuse was just so rare, pre-60s. I am not surprised that Pell was so slow to react. The Church has now gone to the opposite extreme in its anxiety to be Politically Correct. The number of wrongly abused priests far outweighs the number of claimed abused, certainly in the USA where good stats are available.<br />The 50s were not abusive. Yes I got my fair share of the belt, and was told many times what a stupid boy I was. Can't say it ever worried me. But when I look at the present generation, including my own family, I despair at their psychological fragility, - all as a result of being “protected”.Jacobihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04743062941733814176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-52175013069768821482016-03-05T03:53:17.875+00:002016-03-05T03:53:17.875+00:00My point was simply that we treated children diffe...My point was simply that we treated children differently then. However I am not entirely sure physical and sexual abuse are that far apart.Fr Ray Blakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05584140126211527252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-70594967405393021962016-03-04T20:57:27.110+00:002016-03-04T20:57:27.110+00:00This won't wash and is in fact contemptible. T...This won't wash and is in fact contemptible. There is no parallel between being caned and being sexually abused. There were specific canon laws requiring priests who sexually abused to be give severe punishments. These laws were deliberately broken by bishops and religious superiors. Compare the treatment of priests who insisted on saying the traditional mass after 1970.John Lhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12689601844788629693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-27345891688190472722016-03-04T18:42:26.234+00:002016-03-04T18:42:26.234+00:00The media coverage of +++Pell's interrogation ...The media coverage of +++Pell's interrogation all but ignores the fact that the Australian Commission is to look at all 'offending' institutions - one is given the impression that Mother Church, alone, is under scrutiny.<br /><br />A balanced analysis Father. Sixupmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12486627001579821658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-23735287327864523612016-03-04T15:39:55.215+00:002016-03-04T15:39:55.215+00:00Yes, Father, you are right. But the thing that is ...Yes, Father, you are right. But the thing that is shocking to me is not that the abuse went on or that it was covered up but that no one in hierarchy from the top down could see that times were changing. The same culture existed in my university in the US during the late 1970s. Tutors and other faculty tampered with students just as they did in the UK, where I took another degree. Except, in the US the president of the institution began quietly to root this out. No one understood at that time. But he saved the university millions of dollars in law suits. Now this is a secular institution, why in the entire hierarchy was there not leadership of similar calibre at the time? Indeed, in the parish of the US university was a priest who publicly solicited same-sex encounters. He is now a bishop. Its not the sin that shocks me but the weakness of spiritual power to root it out—the appeal to secular science. But most of all what surprised me in the most unpleasant way was the knowledge that the hierarchy has not my own best interests at heart. Admittedly, I was in doubt that they and the clergy who followed them cared about the spiritual welfare of Catholics with implication of Vatican 2 reforms, which in this country was brutal. The sex abuse scandal only confirmed it. I felt no guilt any longer about attending mass and receiving the sacrament at any church where there is valid mass, even if it is illicit like SSPX. I had to be a light unto myself. And I know from experience the spiritual power of the ancient Latin mass. I tell you the truth the ancient mass and the martyrs commemorated therein, is why I am still a Catholic. I know that I am in communion with the martyrs: Linus, Cletus Perpetua etc. and that is enough. What the current hierarchy is doing is of little interest. They are no different from the politicians and other denizens of this world. So much is clear. When the Pope speaks, I take him at his words like he is the oracle of Delphi. If I can figure out what he means and can apply it my life, well and good. If I don't understand it, I leave until such time as God grants me the grace to figure it out. Who am I to judge? The key theme for me of his pontificate. I do not know how sifting and re-sifting this muck brings us closer to God, His Christ and the Holy Spirit. Is it not the Incarnation enough for us? I understand your motivation for printing this I think. Its compassion for the faint hearted. But please, Father! Let us move on!Paul-A. Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11625698481730141561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-666657655760866332016-03-04T15:35:32.079+00:002016-03-04T15:35:32.079+00:00The Pope has ignored the most scandalous things ab...The Pope has ignored the most scandalous things about 'liberal' cardinals and bishops (Daneels etc). From what I know of the Pope, I think that by contrast Cardinal Pell - who is not a 'liberal'- should prepare himself to be 'thrown under the bus'. I hope that I am wrong but... Lepantohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02487748842744745860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-74789534940507145642016-03-04T13:20:21.134+00:002016-03-04T13:20:21.134+00:00This is the best reflection I have read on the way...This is the best reflection I have read on the way Cardinal Pell is being treated by the press. I do agree that society was different then and things we now know as abuse were common place in previous decades. However sexual abuse of children is quite different from physical abuse and abuse by a priest is the biggest betrayal of all . Children are not fully formed and so these experiences have a permanent effect: innocence, trust, and confidence in bodily integrity is destroyed . The rape of an adult woman is a terrible thing but it is not comparable to the rape of a child. <br />I think that our real focus should be on the terrible suffering of the victims . The acts committed against them have been described as "soul murder" . <br />Maybe the Cardinal, and the Church , should bear the burden of the anger as a penance for the wrongdoings of others. I don't think it is for us right to portray Cardinal Pell as the victim of injustice because it suggests we have turned our face away from the real horror.patriciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14192184139720388399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-58314426976188386572016-03-04T11:51:51.834+00:002016-03-04T11:51:51.834+00:00The hatred of Cardinal Pell by the left in all its...The hatred of Cardinal Pell by the left in all its forms around the country, especially by the socialist's state of Victoria, is one of the clearest indications of how successful the Neo-Marxists inculturation and secularization processes have been. As the highest ranked orthodox Catholic prelate in this country, he has been cast by the mass media, the police, the Royal Commission, liberal left Catholic's, laity and hierarchy alike, and even the victims of sexual abuse, as the primary evil in our country and state, as a human being that is utterly evil. And, that he alone is responsible for all the horrors of sexual abuse in the Church. Logically, this is what happens in a society which subscribes to Marxists and socialist's ideas and behavior, and which advocates a humanism totally without God. In a socialist's state such as ours, which has renounced God, sin and evil are reduced to what offends man, the state and secular society. If you were a visitor to Victoria for the first time and read the papers, listened to the radio, or watch the news on television, you could not help but conclude that Cardinal Pell and the Catholic Church, are evil and the primary enemies of our state. And this is precisely how the Neo-Marxists Paganistic Left would like to define the Catholic Church. This Neo-Marxists Lefty tribe is after a big Catholic Scalp.Gregkangahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11701337405994375544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-40685631148384436532016-03-04T10:45:36.326+00:002016-03-04T10:45:36.326+00:00I wonder what many people would have done if they ...I wonder what many people would have done if they were a Bishop in the 1960s onwards presented with accusations of abuse by one of his priests. First of all after the decriminalisation of homosexual activity there was a great deal of sympathy for people who had previously been criminalised and/or blackmailed under the previous regime. Many abusers would have got under the radar on that score at that time.<br />Secondly if the matter did get to the police they would probably say that there was no hope of conviction as nobody would believe the victim. In a bad case the prosecuting authorities were sometimes prepared to do a deal whereby the priest was relocated instead of being prosecuted. In a really bad case that got to the magistrates an assurance that the priest would be sent for psychological treatment would be accepted and a suspended sentence would be usual. Thus in most cases the Bishop would have been left with the priest even though he might be away receiving treatment for a few months. Treatment that the Bishop believed would work. What should the Bishop have done then? Move him somewhere else preferably somewhere where there was no chance of him meeting young people - a place difficult to find? These predators were pretty persistent and clever and they would usually find their way round any such restrictions. I suppose some people believe that Bishops have the power to send their errant priests to the stake or to be locked up in San Angelo. There were cover-ups, bad decisions, naivety etc but would any of us have done any better? It has taken a host of procedures and better knowledge to try and deal with the problems but these did not exist at the time. Indeed now there has been injustice where some priests have been regarded as guilty until proved innocent and others unduly penalised for trivial mistakes in following the draconian procedures.Nicolas Bellordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08063019108964247676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-37931380736584745022016-03-04T10:31:31.954+00:002016-03-04T10:31:31.954+00:00Dear Father.
There is another perspective on the m...Dear Father.<br />There is another perspective on the movie "spotlight":<br />http://thesestonewalls.com/gordon-macrae/david-f-pierre-a-spotlight-test-of-truth-before-the-academy-awards/<br />Happily a child of Godhappily a child of Godhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10775287973755055331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-75227071556281699462016-03-04T08:33:22.247+00:002016-03-04T08:33:22.247+00:00Thank you for this post Father. I was considering ...Thank you for this post Father. I was considering whether to email you regarding my concerns about the way the press are treating Cardinal Pell.<br /><br />I was disappointed to find earlier this week that the Telegraph’s Rome Correspondent, Nick Squires seemed to rely on gossip in preparing his report on Cardinal Pell. Squires states that Cardinal Pell claimed to be too frail to travel to Australia "despite being seen last week wandering around Sydney". <br /><br />Really? Seem by whom? <br /><br />Why couldn't Squires check with the Cardinal's office to see what his diary was last week?<br /><br />By the way, Squires learned his trade on the Brighton Argus which may explain a lot.<br /><br />In the same vein, with all the accolades being heaped on the movie ‘Spotlight’ I am waiting for a similar movie about how the BBC, the police and the press connived to suppress all whispers concerning the behaviour of Saville. It was Richard Ingrams of the “Oldie” who decided to publish and break out of the conspiracy of silence. <br /><br />Will there ever be such a movie? I wonder ...Exsollertanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03405545423726163814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-24855425370608718452016-03-04T03:53:36.122+00:002016-03-04T03:53:36.122+00:00In Australia we had string of very liberal bishops...In Australia we had string of very liberal bishops following Vatican II. They were all from the same mold and were very wishy washy but still hung onto authority which they used to punish and impose their wishy washiness. They allowed creativeness in the liturgy, morality and helped the process of dissolution. They were chosen because they repudiated discipline, concise morality and were part of the new caring sharing Vatican II Church that stood for nothing except appearances. Archbishop's of Sydney Freeman, Clancy... Bishop Robertson, Archbishop of Melbourne "Chicken" Little, Bishop Mulkearnes of Bendigo, Malone Bishop of Maitland Faulkner Archbishop of Adelaide, Heenan Bishop Rockhamption, Archbishop Carroll Canberra Goulbourn. Notice the Irish names. The Australian Catholic Church was a colony of the Irish with many attitudes towards authority. The Pope tells the Bishops and the Bishops tell us attitude. Its a cultural issue. These men and many sex abusers were educated in seminaries where "Modernism" was normal. Some seminarians slept with each other and homosexual groups formed in seminaries during the 1970's up until now. Laity new this and no one listened. These bishops persecuted good priest and laity who were whistleblowers. Pell has assisted with the appointment better bishops. Let me also add David Ridsdale one of the victims was found guilty of sex abusing a 12 year old boy when he was 18. Some gay activists use sex abuse as an issue to destroy opposition from the Church not so society will be more moral but so they can name and shame while forcing through the gay agenda. Catholics are very confused and like 1930 Germany we are under attack from our own. These gay activists and secularists are like those Nazis or Communists who abandoned their religion for fashionable ideology.John Fisherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04705606458418222924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-75121412839292252182016-03-03T23:41:00.736+00:002016-03-03T23:41:00.736+00:00Wise words indeed, Father.
It saddens me to see b...Wise words indeed, Father.<br /><br />It saddens me to see both Catholic and Anglican bishops slagged off, sometimes posthumously, for behaving like Christians with a belief in the possibility of repentance and forgiveness. An ecumenical case in point in your part of the world is the damnatio memoriae of the late Bishop of Chichester, Eric Kemp, following convictions for sexual assault of a former suffragan (auxiliary) bishop and a Brighton vicar. If Dr Kemp had been aware of a problem, he would certainly have construed the issue as homosexuality - something which seems to elude many of his detractors.Alanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16365402242052425654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-88891614588658749472016-03-03T21:50:07.290+00:002016-03-03T21:50:07.290+00:00This is spot on. The big error was "Gaudium e...This is spot on. The big error was "Gaudium et Spes" and the mistaken belief that the Church had no enemies. A narrative emerged that the Church could say and do anything it wanted post-Vatican II. This arrogance extended to the company it kept especially secular psychologists. I'm afraid the Jesuits were the worst offenders from my experience. Some of the older clergy simply don't get it. Much of the self-destruction of the last fifty-four years has been unnecessary.Sadie Vacantisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04823532366874114366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-36858300119084730892016-03-03T21:27:01.305+00:002016-03-03T21:27:01.305+00:00I went to a Catholic secondary school in the late ...I went to a Catholic secondary school in the late 1950s/early 1960s. One of the teachers taught Latin and History. For History his teaching method was to make the pupils learn several pages in the textbook. The next lesson he would test that you had learnt the contents. If you failed to answer a question he gave you the strap. For Latin he gave the strap to any pupil who gained less than a certain mark for his homework. I really struggled with Latin and so I regularly got a dose of the strap. I now attend the Traditional Latin Mass. However, my wish is that it would be said in English. My own father, by the way, used a slipper to administer punishment to myself and my brother. Different times indeed.Highland Cathedralhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07519428794618769856noreply@blogger.com