Church's suicide victims

[Matilda]

CONFIDENTIAL police reports have detailed the suicides of at least 40 people sexually abused by Catholic clergy in Victoria, and have urged a new inquiry into these and many other deaths suspected to be linked to abuse in the church.

In a damning assessment of the church’s handling of abuse issues, the reports say it appears the church has known about a shockingly high rate of suicides and premature deaths but has "chosen to remain silent."

(snip)

A spokesman for the Melbourne Catholic Archdiocese last night said: "The only information the Archdiocese of Melbourne has about such suicides is what has appeared in the media. We don't have access to any information that links suicides with sexual abuse."


http://www.smh.com.au/victoria/churchs-suicide-victims-20120412-1wwox.html


While the hierarchy concerns itself with the words we say at Mass, real damage is being done by the head-in-sand attitude towards abuse and its aftermath. The church seems to hope it will one day just go away, but it's people who are leaving. Why can't they see?

[Manifestor_of_Light]

1. It's bad enough listening to that crap about being a sinner.

Some asshole preacher telling you you're going to hell because you're awful and filthy, should be enough to send some people to commit suicide if they can't stand it. You have to have low self-esteem to be a Christian, because why else would a person who believes in themselves put up with that verbal abuse of original sin?

I would imagine that verbal and emotional abuse (You'll never be good enough for Gawd) plus sexual abuse would drive a lot of people to do away with themselves.

Huh?

[Matilda]

3. I think you should look at the Statement of Purpose posted for this forum.

This is a forum where Catholics and Orthodox can discuss their faith, with all its rewards and all its failings, but it's not a place to come if you want to attack Christianity in general. There are other forums where you can do that if you want to.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

4. If you want to believe in such a negative doctrine, be my guest.

[hedgehog]

2. Good post! In all the talk about survivors suing the Church,

we rarely hear of those who didn't survive!