Friday, November 16, 2012

Catholic Church funds defense for repeat Aussie child molesters

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Cartoon: Priest announces to congregation, “I ask you to donate generously to father Fitzwallop’s defense … the details of which I won’t go into” [by Ron Tandberg]
[source]

The ongoing clerical child abuse scandal in Australia worsens:

THE Catholic Church has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on legal fees to defend priests and brothers who have already been tried and convicted of serious sexual assaults against children in their care.

A Fairfax Media investigation has revealed that at least two Catholic orders have continued to fund the legal defences of some of their religious members as they went to trial for the second, third and even fourth time for the sexual abuse of children.

This includes the funding of multiple appeals, hiring top barristers who charge thousands of dollars a day, and hiring private investigators.

In some cases the result has been that criminal prosecutions and the victims of abuse are dragged through the courts for many years.

I really have nothing to add other than bafflement at the idea that anyone, anywhere, can still in good conscience support this putrid edifice to delusion and corruption with their money or membership. How many children must be raped, how many women must die, how many millions must suffer and how long must progress in general be held back before people decide to just quit the goddamned Catholic Church?

(via Joe. My. God.)