Should Cardinal Sean Brady Resign - Over Child Rape Secrets ?

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   theirishobserver.posted 14 years ago

   Cardinal Sean Brady is the Pope's representitive in Ireland - he has admitted that he was one of the people who forced two young children to sign a secrecay letter after they told him and other Church leaders that they had been sexually abused by Father Brendan Smyth (Smyth was later convicted for sexually abusing dozens of other children) - should Cardinal Sean Brady resign for forcing two rape victims to keep their mouth shut?

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      brianzenposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Seems reasonable, I mean if we are going to tar and feather him he needs to take off the hat, at least tell me there are charges pending?

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      Deborah Sextonposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      YES..plus it seems that by also keeping the secret..he is guilty of a crime.
      These are our innocent children. Innocence can never be regained.
      Because I am in Health care I am obligated to report..

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      prettydarkhorseposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      yes IRISH, he should -- this is simply gross
      
      Hi IRISH, Happy St Patricks Day to you tom!

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      (Q)posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Does it really matter? Will this start an investigation into the Catholic church to expose the pedophilia contained within. Not likely. They will do everything in their power to protect the Father and pray it simply is forgotten in time so they can continue 'shagging the flock.'

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      Daniel Carterposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      My, my, you mean lose his job? Maybe he could become a high level MLM sales person. They probably preach their religion about the same way, don't they? And make such large sums of money, I'm told my all my MLM friends.
      
      No, I don't think he should resign. I think he should be excommunicated and then prosecuted as an accomplice. Or, actually uncover the evidence that he also perpetrated sexual crimes....

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      qwarkposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      He should be jailed and raped by male inmates.

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      Brenda Durhamposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Yes.
      Plus he should be prosecuted legally.

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      cosetteposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      yes. absolutely.

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2. 61

   theirishobserver.posted 14 years ago

   brianzen - nicely put - charges pending - No - he has publicly admitted that he was one of a number of religious members who forced two children to sign a letter swearing never to tell that they were sexually abused by Fr Brendan Smyth - there is no mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse in Ireland - therefore this is more about a moral decision rather than a criminal prosecution

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   Peter Hogganposted 14 years ago

   He shouldn’t be given the opportunity to resign, his actions are beyond that and should be enough to have him kicked out. IMO that’s a complete no brainer. Makes you wonder about the morals and the mind set of his colleagues - what kind of people are prepared to tolerate his continued service?

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      rebekahELLEposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      ditto.
      
      I saw this on the news last night, and wondered, why is he still there??????

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   theirishobserver.posted 14 years ago

   Peter Hoggan - I appreciate your comments - exactly - to publicly admit that he was one of a number of people who forced two children to keep silent about their sexual abuse is beyond comrephension - I think it is back to "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone" I think that so many in the Catholic Church leadership have so much to hide in this regard that they cant speak out

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   earnestshubposted 14 years ago

   I believe that he should be thrown out of the church and prosecuted as his actions resulted in Smyth going on to abuse more children.
   Germany is now discovering that the same is going on there as well!

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   theirishobserver.posted 14 years ago

   earnesthub - thanks for your comments on this topic that is raging in Ireland today - it is good to see sober real comments on this subject...thanks....Irish

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   Jeramiposted 14 years ago

   If this were any other orginization in the united states and most other countries,  there would be a full investigation. And appropriate actions would follow.

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      JeanMeriamposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Not entirely true. In Canada there were huge amounts of sexual and physical abuse in the Indian residential schools. The government has admitted to it and even paid out settlements, but no names have ever been released and no charges pressed. I would swear they were paid just to keep them quiet.

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         Jeramiposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         That is a shame.  It realy wouldn't be for the best for society but sometimes I think that we should bring back just a little bit of the old vigilante mentality.

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   JeanMeriamposted 14 years ago

   Fired, not resigned. I can't believe Ireland doesn't have a mandatory reporting law. They're very behind in child protection. Denial?
   
   I don't understand how or why the church tolerates this. I understand forgiveness and atonement, but child molesters don't change. You would have to wonder if they don't realise it's actions like this that keep so many people so far away from the church.
   
   I believe what the cardinal did is worthy of criminal charges. Obstruction of justice at the very least.

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   theirishobserver.posted 14 years ago

   Jean and Jerami - thanks for your comments - it is indeed out ragous that there is no mandatory reporting of child rape in Ireland - however - as this is a small country there are very dangerous links between the Government and the Catholic Church - it is really about a certain class in society protecting their own from prosecution.

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    theirishobserver.posted 14 years ago

    hello pretty - happy St Patricks Day

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    theirishobserver.posted 14 years ago

    Deb and Reb - thanks for your comments - happy St Patrick's Day

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    theirishobserver.posted 14 years ago

    I have just copied the following comments from irishtimes.com just so you can get a view of what Irish people are saying in Ireland today about Cardinal Brady -
    
    He should resign immediately and face criminal prosecution for obstructing the course of justice. How anyone with children still defers to that church is beyond me. What would have to say about all this I ask myself.
    Susan  Ireland
    
    Yes. His lame excuse that it wasn't his responsibility to inform the Gardai is indefensable. He has lost all moral authority. He even concealed his involvement in this affair from the Pope and fellow clergy. Smyth carried on for another 20 years abusing children- and he thinks he has done nothing wrong!
    Ciaran  Sudan
    
    this is hierarchial power run awry and fairplay to press.Patsy calls it straight.In retrospect weren't we all abused daily with nuns and christian brothers both had belts belted. and belted well!,well!
    norah syd  Australia
    
    Yes yes for God's sake yes. He was there when t persons described rape by a priest and he didn't take it any further - Sven if Smyth had himself resigned it would have been bad enough - that Smyth went on to rape and destroy lives for almost another 20 years is impossible to forgive. Have some people absolutely NO conscience??? If one saw an animal being hurt one would stop it - but a child????
    Peter O'Connor  Ireland
    
    Did he abuse anyone? I gather that what he did was to follow instructions when he was a young clergyman. If he has to resign for this I suggest that many senior judges must resign (they defended obviously guilty murderers and rapists in their youth ), senior politicians must certainly go ( they followed instructions to protect their backers and cronies ), ....the list is endless.
    Michael G  Ireland
    
    Yes - but I don't really care. It's a private club and it is up to the members to run him out of office - as if that were possible! If he has committed a criminal offence then put him in jail.
    It did occur to me listening to the radio yesterday (which I turned off) that if we could turn reporting on child abuse into an industry we'd solve the economic crisis. The reporting borders on the voyeuristic. This country has many current social ills and the obsession with the catholic church and and child abuse sometimes looks more like creepy interest rather than concern.
    Art I Culer  France, Metropolitan
    
    
    Yes! His actions are just another nail in the coffin of the Catholic Church in this country. What arrogance.
    Jonah  Ireland
    
    I asked God himself that very question some few days ago . Early yesterday morn m I was putting out the garbage ,and suddenly these trumpets started to blow . I looked up and there it was ; the hand of God , revealed in all His majesty clutching a letter to me paorach . I was taken aback at how many liver spots it had , though I grabbed the letter pretty quick . I unfortunately can't read Aramatic ,or, whatever its written in , so I really don't know what it says . And there's no contact number . So I'll rely on my faith and say.. "he still don't get it" ..he knew .did not bring about criminal charges , as he had moral responsibility and should have done so, instead ,as all the others covered each other by circling the wagons...tar and feather would be not enough.
    paorach  Canada
    
    No, I care not a jot about the RC clerical establishment one way or another. But I must note the mind-numbing hypocrisy of those commentators hyperventilating over this issue. A non-reporting to the Gardai of suspected abuse 35 years ago. Today, in 2010, this State and it's citizens are facilitating child abuse on a scale that dwarfs anything ever happened in Ireland since the foundation of the state - and no comment. In the mind of the Commentariat, to be worthy of condemnation or even interest, the abuse must be carried out by RC clerics. Preferably a long time ago.
    The Dog of Verhojansk  Israel
    
    Resigning isn't enough. Failure to report a crime IS a crime. So he should be investigated thus. This goes for many others too.
    tony doyle  Ireland

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       SpaceAgeposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       is this true, or a rumor? this is where we must draw the line, because rape is serious.
       a friend of mine was falsely accused & spent time he shouldn't have spent. after he got out, his niece admitted she lied when she apologized. sorry won't restore lost time, but it can help in starting fresh.

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    theirishobserver.posted 14 years ago

    spaceage this is true - Cardinal Sean Brady admitted on Irish TV yesterday that he was one of a number of clergy who forced two children to remain silent about the fact that they were raped by Father Brendan Smyth (see irishtimes.com).

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    theirishobserver.posted 14 years ago

    irishtimes.com tells the whole story today

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    Alotaposted 14 years ago

    He should be taken out and shot, simple, scum of the earth.

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    theirishobserver.posted 14 years ago

    Alota - somewhat extreme dont you think - especially when you consider that the vast majority of people who committ sexual crime will never be prosecuted

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    Rod Marsdenposted 14 years ago

    The law in most Western style countries when it comes to rape is pretty clear cut. You cover up for a rapist and force others to cover up instead of bringing him before the law you do time as an accessory to the rapes. This is a criminal offense and any ordinary person would do time for it. I think that anyone who aids a rapist like this should be behind bars. Let him stay a cardinal if the pope is happy to keep him one but a cardinal in lock-up.

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    Oona Seckarposted 14 years ago

    What a vomitously disgusting person.  How could resignation be considered sufficient?

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    brotheryochananposted 14 years ago

    This is why i dislike everything catholic.
    They have NO more of a relationship with God than my pen does! Every time they SIN it is reflected on Christianity as a whole: and really, honestly and truthfully catholicism is the spirit of antichrist and they will keep on passing doctrines contrary to the Word of God and doing unspeakable things because it is the nature of catholicism to worship the nature of the beast and to give power to the beast.
    
    If any of you out there are catholic and are reading this leave catholicism! find a better church, preferrably not denominational lol. If catholicism has NO followers then it cannot perpetrate it's unholy system.
    
    You have to ask yourself "how can a holy person do this thing?" The answer is "that person is not holy". and therefore the system does not produce holiness, we have heard of this my whole lifetime now and the situation never improves, it just continues in its filth.
    
    God bless, pray, be wise!

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       Rod Marsdenposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       This sort of thing not only came close to destroying the Catholic church in Ireland in recent years but also the Catholic church in the USA, especially in Boston. The Catholics of Boston said something has to be done about bad priests or we are walking. Bringing in the law was pushed forward and treating bad priests like any lawbreaker was considered to be the right answer. How this will play out in Ireland and the USA  in the coming years I don't know.

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    blondepoetposted 14 years ago

    Surely he is still not in the church!!!!

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    pylos26posted 14 years ago

    Do you think the church is any less responsible than He?

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       Rod Marsdenposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       A cardinal is pretty high up and if the buck isn't going to stop with the pope then it has to stop with a cardinal.

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