I was interviewed for the ABCs documentary, Undeniable, which examined the events leading up to the establishment of the royal commission into institutional responses to child sex abuse.
Towards the conclusion of the interview I was asked what my expectations were after the Commission handed down its final report.
“Well, what do we want do, burn another generation of children and get back to this in thirty years?”
Some might see that as a flippant remark and perhaps understandably, it found its way to the floor in an editor’s suite.
I thought it was a reasonable point to make because that is where we are now.
Full column here.
Boadacea makes a good point vis a vis celibacy. No, doubt that absurd tradition will not change.
It occurs to me that in the vetting process for priesthood a true test of genuine commitment to our father in heaven and good works for humankind would be for the priests to submit to voluntary castration. A celibate priest would not need testicles surely? A small sacrifice to make freeing them to apply themselves to fulfil their maximum potential in saving and guiding souls.
It is a matter of fact that many individuals with wanted or unwanted desires seek anonymity under the umbrella of respected institutions like the church and police organisations. Some believing it will put them beyond suspicion or even cure them, others with evil intent, part or fully formed.
Whatever, without an effective vetting process or relentless surveillance the consequences of things as they stand is entirely predictable.
Triv :
From last blog – this from the sports writer in The Age:
“Interesting, is it not, that so many asthmatics decide to pursue one of the extreme sports. It is clearly the condition du jour for the stars of Team Sky.”
There were big question marks over Sir Bradley Wiggins too. A parcel delivered to him for which the paperwork went “missing”.
An Italian rider got suspended for a year after similiar high levels of salbutamol in a urine test.
It will be interesting to see how they deal with this abnormal test result for the sport’s biggest star.
Four TDF wins in a row starts raising eyebrows. Froome, if he races, will cop a torrid time from spectators next year.
Ya just never know
They do know Triv. Instant suspension for anyone else. Froome asked to explain. What crap.
It will never be stopped because it is a game of power…adults over children and because of the taboo surrounding much of this, there are some people who are so damaged they will never speak up. Like a mate of mine abused at our school by a Marist Brother who locked himself in his room for 30yrs. I found this out a few years back from another school mate. What concerns me is the stuff we don’t know about and will never know about.
Do the kiddies who institutional abuse by labor zombies at the school gate qualify.
WTF Jim?
Place needed some levity. Bassy’s aldult over kiddies power game comment. Merry Xmas all.
Good question. I would say yes, of course, and as soon as these zombies are bought to the public attention the better. I would not limit investigation and remedial action to any particular group of zombies. This is an area that has been neglected and demands bipartisan support.
Quite correct Marquis. Poison little mind is such an easy game.
You got me TP! Let’s go for it.
This, Mr Insider, from a poor little boy who was “rented out” to paedophiles from the Salvation Army’s Home at Bexley: “”I was still wearing my shirt, which I kept trying to pull down over my genitals, but he kept pulling my shirt away. I was so upset I grabbed my pants and ran out of the room. I caught a train back to Bexley, and walked back to the home. By the time I arrived it was dark.
“Wilson was waiting for me, and he took me to his office. I tried to tell him what had happened, but he just kept saying to me, ‘These are good people I sent you out to’.
“He then caned me about 18 times, and sent me to bed.”
What happened at Bexley is probably the worst single instance of child sexual abuse in an institution. Children were actually rented out to peds. It was deplorable. The Salvos’ apologies have been too little too late. That they continue to receive so much state and federal funding (billions) is a disgrace. When they rattle a tin in my direction, they don’t get anything more than an abrupt refusal. You may wish to do the same.
Absolutely Jack.
I give stuff to the Lifeline opshop, nebercwanted Salvo’s. Lifeline probably land up dealing with the Salvo’s victims.
God, my phone’s done it again
Second sentence should read “never to the Salvo’s”
We got it.
That’s exactly what we do Mr Insider, totally ignore them in every way. Cheers
The salvo’s haven’t had a cent from me since that came out, Surf lifesaving gets a generous donation instead
Flying Doctor and any volunteer marine rescue for mine!
Refuse to give to any religion or big NGO.
I was thinking Basic Instinct when I was watching the Channel Nine cricket wrap-up this evening. What was Warney thinking? Is is possible for him to wear tighter pants in the crotch region? There should have been a trigger warne-ing
Something for us girls to watch when the cricket gets a bit dull. Sharon.
Oh God no, speak for yourself……..
Yuk.
Joke Penny
If the Institutions named don’t live up to their responsibilities to their victims and their families, then I think it high-time that more than castigation in the media be the result, but actual, legal, financial, economic consequences if they manage to wriggle out of it all and continue to ruin already ruined lives further.
The same with the Police and politicians and media outlets and/or ‘personalities’.
If any politicians or media try to impede this overdue restitution, then it should be that the politicians get voted out in a landslide at the following election or made to resign, tarred and feathered (literally?), and the media get no more eyeballs until they make amends.
If the churches, etc., cry about religious freedom to continue to be horrible to the rest of us, then they can go jump.
I’m curious to know if the same abuse has been allowed to happen in the catholic church across the globe & still today may remain a dirty church cover-up? Here in Australia they kept moving the evil to unsuspecting towns for faithful parishioners to find out too late that the new priest was a monster so it would not surprise me if they are still in the business of keeping their own pedophiles protected.
Bella,
Most Western countries have had a similar type of inquiry. As for the developing and third world who knows? A pedophile’s picnic I’d imagine.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church_sex_abuse_cases_by_country
Francis Sullivan on 730 just now wants Turnbull to take RC recommendations straight to COAG in order to get States on same page, and not risk further delays by sidelining it to the Senate.
BTW, were any political leaders (other than Turnbull & Shorten) there to “receive” the RC report? Any past PMs, for example?
The Catholic Church has been a lot more amenable than say, the Anglican Church on the national redress scheme, HU. I think you might be referring to JWH with Min for Social Services, Christian Porter being at the cricket yesterday.
No one from the church was there apparently
Jack, who is the Goose John B (weak Beach Boys reference) on the other side? Denying that the Rock Crushers were significant contributors to these crimes! The fact that he won’t read and rebut, but still feels entitled to comment says everything about him and nothing about you.
You know my admiration for Denis and you for Unholy Trinity – it’s only enhanced by the findings. There but for the grace of … humans can be evil.
Regards, Nick
You know what the say about opinions.
The other “forgotten” people in this saga are the people who sat on the RC and those who assisted them.
For 5 years they have continually sat through horrific personal details and institutional obfuscation.
It has to have has an effect.
It has to have had an effect,
People like Bob Atkinson have seen it all before. Google Sian Kingi JS and see if you reckon Bob Atkinson hasn’t had to be pretty resilient over the years.