Church, police “covered up child sex abuse” - The Hindu Nov 28, 2009

I wrote about the sexual abuse of children in my blog 9 times and of-course a book for the parents to know and teach the children to save them how?

Now "The Hindu", newspaper today at International column written by Henry McDonald about Church, police “covered up child sex abuse” [Abuse of children by clergy from 1975 to 2004]. Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. And Pope urged to aplogise for clergy’s behaviour.

You can read the entire article here:

Ireland’s police force colluded with the Catholic church in covering up clerical child abuse in Dublin on a huge scale, according to a damning report on decades of sex crimes committed by the country’s priests.

The devastating three-volume report on the sexual and physical abuse of children by the clergy in Ireland’s capital from 1975 to 2004 accuses four former archbishops, a host of clergy and senior members of the Garda Siochana (Ireland’s police force) of covering up the scandal.

It found that the “maintenance of secrecy, the avoidance of scandal, the protection of the reputation of the church and the preservation of its assets” was more important than justice for the victims of sexual and physical abuse.

Four former Archbishops in Dublin — John Charles McQuaid, who died in 1973, Dermot Ryan, who died in 1984, Kevin McNamara, who died in 1987, and retired Cardinal Desmond Connell — were found to have failed to report their knowledge of child sexual abuse to the Garda from the 1960s to the 1980s. But the report added that all the archbishops of the diocese in the period covered by the inquiry were aware of some complaints.

The report, published on Thursday by Irish Justice Minister Dermot Ahern also concluded that the vast majority of priests turned a “blind eye” to abuse, though some individuals did bring complaints to their superiors, which were not acted upon.

The report, commissioned by the government, strongly criticises the Garda and says senior members of the force regarded priests as being outside their investigative remit. The relationship between some senior gardai and priests and bishops in Dublin was described as “inappropriate”.

Rather than investigate complaints from children, gardai (police officers) simply reported the matter to the Dublin Catholic diocese, the report says. The Garda is accused of connivance with the church in stifling at least one complaint of abuse, and letting the alleged perpetrator flee the country.

Mr. Ahern said there should be no hiding place for the abusers even if they wore a clerical collar. “The persons who committed these dreadful crimes — no matter when they happened — will continue to be pursued.”

The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre welcomed the report, saying it was “another acknowledgment of the abject failure of our society to take care of our children”.

The report states senior clerical figures covered up the abuse over nearly three decades and that the structures and rules of the church facilitated that cover-up. It also says that state authorities facilitated the cover-up by allowing the church to be beyond the reach of the law.

The Murphy Commission of Inquiry into the abuse of children in Dublin identified 320 people who complained of child sexual abuse between 1975 and 2004. It also states that since May 2004, 130 complaints against priests operating in the Dublin archdiocese have been made.

The report details the cases of 46 priests guilty of abuse, as a representative sample of 102 priests within its remit. But it concludes that there was no direct evidence of an organised paedophile ring among priests in the Dublin archdiocese, though it says there were some worrying connections. One priest admitted abusing more than 100 children. Another said he had committed abuse every two weeks for more than 25 years, it said.

The report states that it was not until 1995 that the archdiocese began to notify the civil authorities of complaints of clerical abuse. The commission concludes that in the light of this and other facts, every bishop’s primary loyalty was to the church itself.

The Garda current commissioner, Fachtna Murphy, said the report made for “difficult and disturbing reading, detailing as it does many instances of sexual abuse and failure on the part of both church and state authorities to protect victims.”

Mr. Murphy apologised to victims who did not receive the response and protection they were entitled to.

Pope Benedict was challenged on Friday to go to Ireland and apologise for his clergy’s behaviour. A victims’ rights campaigner called on the Pope to visit and say sorry for “the betrayal of children” by those who were meant to show them love. John Kelly, of Irish Survivors of Child Abuse, said only a papal visit would exonerate the worldwide church of culpability in the abuse scandals. — © Guardian Newspapers Limited, 2009.

Courtesy: http://www.hinduonnet.com/2009/11/28/stories/2009112861551400.htm

How to explain small children about the dangers of sexual abuse?

This is a long term process. We must know contact and communication is very important for the children to understand the rules and norms of our society. They must also learn how to box through in our world.

The points to know include:

• Allow your children to play with other children as we did in olden days. It is applicable whether they are in the home, kindergarten or in the school.
• If possible have an eye on whom they play with and what they talk.
• With their peers, children can play normally, body contacts while playing are normal.
• Teach your child not to accept sweets or other eatables from strangers.
• Do not allow your child to go to the neighbouring houses to watch television.
• Unnecessary body contacts from relatives and friends must be avoided. This means teach your child to say ‘Stop’ to anybody if they touch unnecessarily and to say ‘No’ if anybody offers some sweets or other things.
• Observe your child for any unusual change.
• Listen to your child, talk to your child and take enough time for your child.
• The children may exaggerate sometimes; even then you have to take time to clear this.
• Believe your child’s words than the words of others.
• Do not always say you know everything.
• Tell your child that you are there always if she/he needs you.
• Teach them also that from one’s mistake only one can learn many things which they never forget. The mistakes could be corrected always if the relationship is good. Tell them never to repeat a mistake.
• Above all explain your children your family and social responsibility towards them.

The children are more intelligent than we think and understands the things well if done properly.

The sufferings of an abused child or teenager

These sufferings are difficult to explain, but very serious and bad. It affects their whole life including their married life.

Sexually abused children or teenagers are often depressed and they have way no of dealing with their painful feelings. They lose safety, self-esteem and trust on others. They feel like damaged human beings. If a child or teenager is abused in the family they feel always guilty and abandoned.

The worst here is not only the sexual abuse but also the guilt, threats and the constant fear of discovery. The thoughts the persons who are supposed to love them are the ones who are abusing, hurting and betraying them are the worst of all. These negative influences will be there in their whole life and here the help of a psychologist is necessary.

We must have lot of understanding to help them. It is the duty of the state and the society to provide the necessary finances not only for the medial care but also for the psychological support.

Prevention is better than cure. Be watchful and handle immediately if something is known to you.

Where, mostly, are our teenagers sexually abused?

Unfortunately the sexual abuse of children happens everywhere because the children are physically weak and mentally they have no idea about this evil. The persons who do this evil are mostly their trusted persons.

I can say everywhere and that include:

• In religious functions where many meet where instead of walking you can swim with the crowd. It was not different when I was in the college and it is worse now.

• In marriage functions also the teens are abused mostly in India.

• While travelling in the bus or train or in the plane the danger of abuse everywhere and it is happening also every day.

• Children and teens flying alone are also easy victims of abusers.

• In places where large number of persons meet the fear of abuse is always there.

• In the work place also the sexual abuse is there in all levels and nobody talks about that and it is serious. It is equally as bad as mobbing which makes many very sick in industries as well as in the offices in Western countries. The sufferers are mostly women (more than 90%).

• In the cinema theatre or in other theatres where music performances and other functions take place sexual abuse is normal.

• We should not forget the homes where the handicapped and mentally retarded are living and there also the risk of sexual abuse is too high.

With the developments in our magazines and late night television programmes most of the men are always hot and consider the teens only as a sex object. They never think their mothers, wives or daughters are also women who also suffered surely as they were teens. The men must change if not our moral values will go down so deep and the adult women start exploiting the men in several ways as in Western countries. I tell you at that time the men will be sufferers and losers.

What is your advice to your child if somebody tries to abuse it?

Your child can break the normal rules of politeness if it is danger. Yelling, kicking, screaming, or running away is allowed if it feels in danger. It can bite and mostly this helps to gain the important seconds to run away.

Persons who could do harm to the children

I would like to differentiate in the following way.

• Close family members
• Relatives
• Close friends of the family
• Neighbours
• Persons from educational and religious institutions
• Strangers



Parents, sisters and brothers and grandparents – they are the family but incest is known unfortunately in our world. Mostly here the father sexually abuses the daughter and it is happening in all countries in this world. This is the worst evil of sexual abuse of children.

The other relatives whether they are close or distant we have to put them in one pot. You must explain the danger to your children clearly and the children must be always in a position to say ‘Stop’ or ‘No’. If you observe anything or if your child complaints, you must take appropriate action immediately. If you do not do it, your child will never believe you further in her/his life. Be open to condemn it if some relatives touch your daughter or son unnecessarily in an indecent way.

The family trusts their close friends and the children also trust them. Here lies the big danger of sexual abuse.

Next comes the neighbours and most of them are good. But there are also many unwanted persons in this group. The children believe the neighbours because they are lenient in many things than the parents and here lies the danger. If there are no same age children never allow the children to the neighbours. If the children have no sex health education they may believe everything and pornography may play also a role here. Here one must be very careful.

The next are the persons from educational institutions, religious and other institutions. If you hear or observe something or your child complaints, go to the head of the institution and make a complaint. You must warn the other parents immediately.

Finally, there are the strangers. We meet them outside the house or who come to our doorsteps. It is better to avoid them and ‘No’ and ‘Stop’ is the best words to use. If there are no adults in the house you need not open the door.

In all the above circumstances if something unpleasant happens go to the police immediately and make a complaint.

Sexual abuse of children and teenagers – case 7, 8 and 9

Sexual abuse of children and teenagers are happening everywhere. If we point out one nation with our index finger three fingers point out us; this is unfortunately the reality. The victims are suffering life long. Here I give you three more worst incidents. These are the known cases but there are tens of thousands of cases which never come out…

Case 7 – On 28th March 2009 police arrested a Colombian man in Italy for forcing his daughter to have sex with him for 25 years. Everything started when she was 9 years old. He fathered her eight children. His son is in police custody since last month accused of raping his four daughters aged 6, 8, 12 and 20 and forcing them to watch the sex sessions.

Case 8 – Several lawsuits were filed in 2001 in USA alleging that catholic priests had sexually abused minors. Some priests resigned, others were sent out or jailed. Hundreds of millions US$s were paid to the victims. Such abuses are there almost in all religions and sects.

Case 9 – It is a shock to hear that an Indian businessman allegedly raped his daughter more than 9 years following a tandrik’s advice for getting rich. It is not the only case in India and it is a cold reality.

It is an evil in all the countries in the world, many close their eyes and they are the worst evil doers.

For further details read Dr. Kaniappan Padmanaban's
"Sexual Abuse of Children and Sex Health Education". www.aaronverlag.com

Sexual abuse of children and teenagers – case 5 and 6

Sexual abuse of children and teenagers are happening everywhere. If we point out one nation with our index finger three fingers point out us; this is unfortunately the reality. The victims are suffering life long. Here I give you two more worst incidents. These are the known cases but there are tens of thousands of cases which never come out…

Case 5 – The largest and probably the worst child abuse case in France was 66 adults, including 27 women, appeared in a specially built courtroom accused of raping, sexually abusing and prostituting 45 children. Some victims were babies not yet walking and it was horrible. Parents had sex with their children and sold them to other adults for a food parcel or a carton of cigarettes. Here the social, moral and human values were damaged irreparably.

The victims were children, 19 boys and 26 girls aged between six months and 12 years. One girl, four at that time was abused at least 45 times, including by her own father. The children were demolished and traumatized. Some spoke sparely or screamed as soon as they were approached by strangers. The punishments what they got were 10 to 30 years in prison on charges of rape of minors under the age of 15.

The families were known to the social service officials or under their supervision. This is, unfortunately, the case in many developed countries also.

Case 6 – An Austrian father in the town of Amstetten pretended for years that his daughter had run away to live with a sect. He told that the unwanted children of his daughter were raised by the grandparents. But, she was kept in her father’s basement for 24 years behind a concrete door locked with an electronic code. She bore seven of his children. His relatives, neighbors and officials denied any knowledge of this incident and it is impossible to believe. Only in March 2009 Josef Fritzl got life sentence.

For further details read Dr. Kaniappan Padmanaban's "Sexual Abuse of Children and Sex Health Education". www.aaronverlag.com

Sexual abuse of children and teenagers – case 3 and 4

Sexual abuse of children and teenagers are happening everywhere. If we point out one nation with our index finger three fingers point out us; this is unfortunately the reality. The victims are suffering life long. Here I give you few of the worst incidents…

Case 3 – Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman were murdered by Ian Huntley, a secondary school caretaker, in August 2002 in Soham, England. His girl friend Maxine Carr who was a teaching assistant at St. Andrew’s Primary School where the two young girls were pupils helped him. The bodies of the girls were found 10 km away from their home in a heavily wooded area. Ian Huntley was convicted for life and Carr for 42 months. During the Soham trial, it came to light that Ian Huntley had a long criminal record of four rapes, four under-age sex offences and one sexual assault. The mistake of the police in the verification of his background before his appointment in Soham was a grave one although the other police station had this information. The police verification was superficial.

Case 4 – Madeleine McCann disappeared on the evening of 3rd May 2007 while on holiday with her parents in the Algarve region of Portugal. Madeleine, the British girl went missing few days before her fourth birthday and has still not yet found after a big search through the media. According to her parents Kate and Gerry McCann, they have left their three children in a ground floor bedroom unsupervised while they ate at a restaurant about 120 metres away. Kidnappers, paedophiles or what ever it may be, it is shocking.

For further details read Dr. Kaniappan Padmanaban's "Sexual Abuse of Children and Sex Health Education". www.aaronverlag.com

Sexual abuse of children and teenagers – case 1 and 2

Sexual abuse of children and teenagers are happening everywhere. The victims are suffering life long. Here I give you few of the worst incidents…

Case 1 – Arce Montes, a French national, aged 54 was recently guilty for the rape and murder in 1996 of Caroline Dickinson, an English girl, 13 years, at Pleine Fougeres in her school excursion in Brittany, France.

Few hours before this crime he attacked Kate Wrigley, 13 years, also from England 50 km from Pleine Fougeres. After Kate raised an alarm that woke up the other inmates in the hostel, he fled away. He has been convicted to serve a minimum of 20 years of the total sentence of 30 years without parole.

Case 2 – In Belgium’s trial of the century, Marc Dutroux was convicted for the kidnapping, rape and murder of six girls between the ages of eight and nineteen during 1995-98. Once, an eight year old girl was raped and left to die in a dungeon. He admitted the murder of two other young girls, hid their bodies in the family freezer and later buried them in his garden. He has a very long criminal record and ironically, when the police raided his house in 1995, they heard the voices of the children but could not trace their source. There were speculations that Dutroux was not acting alone and was a part of paedophilic group consisting of influential people. The names of a former Prime Minister, a member of a royal family, police officers and businessmen are mentioned in this regard.

Marc Dutroux was sentenced only 13 years of imprisonment. Dutroux enjoyed the benefit of parole within three years of beginning his 13 year jail term. He also escaped from custody while being transferred from one prison to another and this is the most uncomplimentary to the Belgian authorities.

For further details read Dr. Kaniappan Padmanaban’s “Sexual Abuse of Children and Sexual Health Education”
www.aaronverlag.com.

Sexual Abuse of Children and Youth

While the disappearance and sexual exploitation or sexual abuses of children are alarming problems in our world, even today no clear data are available on their extent. Parental abductions, runaways, criminal abductions and lost or injured or otherwise missing children come in this group.

Every year millions of children and teenagers go missing; most of them are female. Many come back, some are found murdered and many are gone forever.

According to the United States Department of Justice, the number of missing persons in the USA reported to law enforcement in 2000 was nearly 9 lakhs and today it is even higher. 49% of the children are kidnapped by a relative, 27% by an acquaintance and 24% by a stranger.

The recent data shows that there are 140,000 cases of missing children annually in UK which means 383 new cases per day and in Belgium it is 8 new cases per day. UK and Belgium have 61 and 10.5 million populations respectively and India has 1150 million and the problem is correspondingly big.

In the case of kidnapping done by relatives of the child in question, the reasons may be partner, property or sexual abuse problems. In kidnappings by acquaintances, the largest percentile is teenage females, and it is more often associated with sexual and physical assault. It has the highest percentage of injured victims. In kidnappings by strangers, teenagers and school-age children are the victims, but more female victims than males. The sexual assaults are associated mostly with females and robberies are most often with males.

The number of missing children in Canada in 2002 was nearly 66,000.

In Australia approximately 30,000 persons go missing every year.

In most countries, like in India, there are no statistics about the missing children but, in all the countries children and teenagers go missing. Some may run away from their homes, some are abducted due to family quarrels, but many for sexual abuse, particularly for prostitution.

The number of children forced into prostitution in Brazil is between 2,5 lakhs and 5 lakhs and it may be up to 20 lakhs according to other sources. In the mining regions of the North Brazilian Amazon basin, the situation for the children and teenagers is at its worst. But, Brazil is not the worst in this and it comes only next to Thailand where local and tourism factors play a vital role. It is also a big problem in Africa, but willingly done by the girls and the family to get presents from the far more elder men.

Since 2004, more than 6,270 teenagers have been reported missing in Malaysia and out of these 4,620 are teenage girls. According to police statistics, 71 girls are found dead in 2005 and another 71 female bodies are found in 2006.

In India, there are no statistics about missing children and teenagers, and the number may be very high compared to other countries. There have been innumerable cases of infants, toddlers and teenagers who just disappeared one day and were never heard from again.