Monkish Menace ...

[sandyRoe]

The news report mentions 'cautions'. Is that a fitting punishment for child sexual abuse?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-45127284

[fiction-factory]

I says "Ten individuals, including monks, have been convicted or cautioned for abuse." I'm not sure whether it goes on to say how many were only cautioned or what their actual offences were, but I find it hard to imagine why they wouldn't all have been convicted

[wolf63]

I think that the people who covered up these crimes are (slightly) more despicable than those who carried out the abuse. Perhaps men wishing to become RC Priests should be castrated to prevent any sexual abuse from happening again.

[anneasquith]

At least after 4 other candidates chosen by Theresa May, there is now a judge who is showing results ( professor Jay )

[anotheoldgit]

/// But, the report said both institutions attempted to cover up the allegations. ///

At least in this case, no one can blame the Police or social services.

[anotheoldgit]

wolf63

/// Perhaps men wishing to become RC Priests should be castrated to prevent any sexual abuse from happening again. ///

Not only RC Priests but all sexual abusers.

[andy-hughes]

If the law decides that a caution is the appropriate sanction, then that is what is handed down.

On the basis that the court knows a lot more about what has gone on than you or I, we have to hope that they are right in their actions.

[Mamyalynne]

Cover ups are never justified, Children and their safety must come first.

[sandyRoe]

Andy-hughes,
As far as I know a caution is handed out by the police. A person accepts their guilt and never sees the inside of a court. I'd also thought they were given out for relatively minor offences.
I can't see how any offence of a sexual nature involving a child could ever be considered minor.

[kvalidir]

Indeed Sandy the Police hand out cautions, and I agree anything regarding the abuse of children should carry a custodial sentence.

[naomi24]

//I can't see how any offence of a sexual nature involving a child could ever be considered minor. //

Nor I, sandyRoe.

[Canary42]

/// a caution is handed out by the police... ///

... whose higher echelons are allegedly riddled with kiddy-fiddlers.

[naomi24]

Disgusting expression, Canary. Actually you're making some pretty libellous accusations lately. Careful.

[Canary42]

Unlike you of course

[naomi24]

Yes, unlike me.

[gness]

A caution is never acceptable for anyone involved in the abuse or for covering it up.
I do understand how and why the police and maybe the CPS had to accept that some should be cautioned and not charged and convicted.....they were dealing with the Catholic Church after all.

Moving an abusing priest to the gift shop to make abusing more difficult for him?
Burning all the files before the police could find them?
Moving White to the senior school when his abuse came to light and giving him the role of housemaster to his victim?
Trying to influence parents?
Saying that not reporting the abuser after allegations were made was to protect the victim?

Only ten individuals convicted after all the above and more and for how many years? How many got off scot-free as so often happens....

The Catholic Church (and I know it from the inside) is.......
I won't continue there...I'd fill a page.... this evil organisation turns my stomach.

[fender62]

perhaps if priests or whatever monks were allowed to marry or cohabit
with another person regardless of sex, a lot of this would never have happened, devotion to a fairy sky god must be detrimental to ones health, physical and mental..perhaps that what they want though.
no excuses, i would have confiscated the building and prosecuted all envolved, all assets taken.

[Deskdiary]

Ain't religion wonderful?

The Catholic church does appear to have more than its fair share of these people.

[Buenchico]

>>> I can't see how any offence of a sexual nature involving a child could ever be considered minor

There was a case reported on the BBC website earlier this year where the deputy headteacher of a primary school was convicted of 'sexual activity with a child' because he tickled their feet. Perhaps that might be a minor enough offence to merit a caution?

Similarly, there have been cases in the media where an offender has ended up in court because he briefly allowed his hand to rest lightly upon a child's clothed bottom. Again, perhaps such an offence could be dealt with by a caution?

(I can't see how either of those offence would be likely to result in serious and long-lasting psychological damage to a child).

[Peter Pedant]

// but I find it hard to imagine why they wouldn't all have been convicted//

because the evidence was weak - 'he did' against "I did NOT" [ Allison Saunders has just lost her job over her enthusiasm for this] - and both parties wanted it to go away

I mean one of my contemporaries waited 50 y before declaring 'this has wrecked the last 50y for me'. - no possible evidence after that time
yeah yeah I know Monica lewinska kept the dress Clinton had well you know.... but most of us didnt have this de=gree of er foresight.

and Max Clifford HAD kept a letter from one of his accusers from 1894 in ... his bedside cupboard and it went badly for him when the police found it ....

[Peter Pedant]

the only two convicted I can find are
https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/01/09/richard-white-paedophile-downside-school-monks-lose-control_n_1193981.html

Nicholas White and Anselm - who is doing time in Shepton Mallet