Child protection measures apply regardless of religious rules
20 replies, posted
[quote]The Irish justice minister has said that forthcoming child protection measures, including mandatory reporting will "apply regardless of any internal rules of any religious grouping".
Alan Shatter was responding to comments made by Cardinal Sean Brady who defended the seal of confession.
Cardinal Brady stressed it was a "sacred and treasured" rite.
Mr Shatter said past failures in the Catholic Church had led paedophiles to believe they could act with "impunity".
Last month the Cloyne report was published.
It found the diocese failed to report all complaints of abuse to police.
Past failures
As a result, a number of child protection measures were announced under the legislation currently being drawn up.
A priest could be convicted of a criminal offence if they were told of a sexual abuse case and failed to report it to the civil authorities.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Mr Shatter said: "It is the failure in the past to make such reports that has led sexual predators into believing that they have impunity and facilitated paedophiles preying on children and destroying their lives."
Anyone who fails to declare information about the abuse of a child could face a prison term of five years.
The Irish Children's Minister Frances Fitzgerald said that priests who are given admissions of child abuse during the sacrament of confession will not be exempt from new rules on mandatory reporting.
During his homily to worshippers at Knock shrine in County Mayo, on Sunday, the archbishop of Armagh and primate of all Ireland said: "Freedom to participate in worship and to enjoy the long-established rites of the church is so fundamental that any intrusion upon it is a challenge to the very basis of a free society" he said.
Child protection
The inquiry into the Cloyne Diocese was set up by the Irish government in January 2009 following a report published the previous month.
It was conducted by the National Board for Safeguarding Children (NBSC) - a body set up by the Catholic Church to oversee child protection policies.
It found child protection practices in the diocese were "inadequate and in some respects dangerous".
Meanwhile, it has been announced that 22 new seminarians are to begin studying for the priesthood this autumn at Ireland's national seminary, Saint Patrick's College in Maynooth.
The group includes a chartered surveyor, a pub manager, several mature students and at least one school leaver.
The average age of the new entrants is 25-years-old, and they come from 14 of the 26 dioceses of Ireland.[/quote]
[url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-14707515[/url]
I agree with this. Don't priests already have to report if someone confesses to murder? So child abuse should be no different.
If abuse is going on I couldn't give a fuck less about your religion...something needs to be done
[QUOTE=Bryanrocks0;32038746]I agree with this. Don't priests already have to report if someone confesses to murder? So child abuse should be no different.[/QUOTE]
However in ireland priests were covering eatch other for child abuse and such so nothing was being done
Yay for progression to stop relgion being "above the law"
Good, once more the church submits to the state.
[QUOTE=Sobotnik;32040161]Good, once more the church submits to the state.[/QUOTE]
Not sure if sarcasm...
Anyway, this is good that people aren't being bullshitted anymore, at least in Ireland.
Now, if we could get this kind of personality in England...
Oh, the burning fields of chav corpses...
[QUOTE=Cone;32040514]Not sure if sarcasm...
Anyway, this is good that people aren't being bullshitted anymore, at least in Ireland.
Now, if we could get this kind of personality in England...
Oh, the burning fields of chav corpses...[/QUOTE]
It isn't sarcasm, I like it whenever the state has more power than religion.
[QUOTE=Sobotnik;32040552]It isn't sarcasm, I like it whenever the state has more power than religion.[/QUOTE]
Ah, good. I thought we might have had a new record for soonest flame-war.
Couldn't agree more, personally.
[QUOTE=Sobotnik;32040552]It isn't sarcasm, I like it whenever the state has more power than religion.[/QUOTE]
You like the state to have power over literally everything, even free will.
Though I [B]DO[/B] agree about that the state should have more power over religion, and not the other way around.
In fact, those two things should be strongly separated.
It should be good morals that leads the way, not a religion that's based on ancient teachings and skewed view of what's right and wrong.
[QUOTE=Sobotnik;32040552]It isn't sarcasm, I like it whenever the state has more power than religion.[/QUOTE]
Frankly I prefer voluntary organisations to mandatory ones.
[QUOTE=Bryanrocks0;32038746]I agree with this. Don't priests already have to report if someone confesses to murder? So child abuse should be no different.[/QUOTE]
It isn't illegal to not report a crime, but you could easily end up on the bad side of a conspiracy charge if you hold that knowledge and the person kills again.
[QUOTE=Van-man;32040922]You like the state to have power over literally everything, even free will.[/QUOTE]
I never have said that.
[QUOTE=Zeke129;32042652]It isn't illegal to not report a crime, but you could easily end up on the bad side of a conspiracy charge if you hold that knowledge and the person kills again.[/QUOTE]
really? i thought not reporting a crime was obstruction of justice
[QUOTE=thispieiscold;32043015]really? i thought not reporting a crime was obstruction of justice[/QUOTE]
As far as I know that's only when they come asking. Of course, laws are different in different countries so I can't say I'm right.
[QUOTE=Viidya;32040144]However in ireland priests were covering eatch other for child abuse and such so nothing was being done
Yay for progression to stop relgion being "above the law"[/QUOTE]
About damn time, I know someone who was sexually abused as a child and it's fucking sickening.
Religious beliefs should grant you no immunity from the law.
The law is the law, no matter what bullshit fairy tales you're stupid enough to believe in.
They really should of done this long ago.
I love how this thread ground to a pretty amazing halt because it's not really a subject that has two sides to the argument.
[quote]During his homily to worshippers at Knock shrine in County Mayo, on Sunday, the archbishop of Armagh and primate of all Ireland said: "Freedom to participate in worship and to enjoy the long-established rites of the church is so fundamental that any intrusion upon it is a challenge to the very basis of a free society" he said.[/quote]
I don't get this part. Was he actually saying this in the homily in regards to the ruling/case? Is he legitimately saying that not being able to use religion as a shield for your crimes is a challenge to free society? Is he fucking stupid?
Sorry, you need to Log In to post a reply to this thread.