As usual, when those that have been abused by Catholic priests speak out, the Catholic church closes ranks and does what it has been doing for decades. Denies everything especially liability.
So when you see a headline like this
Waterlooville woman wins High Court case against Catholic church over sex abuse
it’s no surprise that there is an immediate response with a headline like this
Portsmouth Bishop hits out at High Court ruling in sex abuse case
The Catholic Church has done absolutely nothing to help those that were abused by the Catholic clergy but they have bent over backwards to hide and protect the abusers.
Now that the finger is actually being pointed at the church, now that the courts are saying that the church is in fact culpable, now is the time when the Catholic Church speaks out.
The Roman Catholic Bishop of Portsmouth, the Rt Rev Crispian Hollis, has leapt to the defence of Father Wilfred Baldwin, who it is alleged abused a young girl back in the 70’s.
However, solicitor Tracey Emmott said: ‘This effectively reinforces the public perception that the church doesn’t care and is once again trying to avoid responsibility.
‘I question his assertion that the legal case concluded last week involved the only allegation against a priest who he describes as being of unblemished character.
‘In fact before his death Father Baldwin was the subject of an extensive police investigation, based on allegations against him from at least three other alleged victims.’
Now a High Court Judge has ruled against the Catholic church in a row over whether it can be held responsible for sexual abuse by one of its own priests, now the Catholic Church is feeling exposed and is starting to squirm.
It’s about time the church acknowledged its responsibility for not having removed abusive priests and for not having actively supported the prosecution of abusive priests.
And most of all its about time that they acknowledged that they have let down the very people that they should have been protecting, the victims of abusive priests.
WrAnTz 