NYTimes
His remarks were a ringing declaration of the supremacy of state over church, in words of outrage and indignation that had never before been used publicly by an Irish leader.
“For the first time in Ireland, a report into child sexual abuse exposed an attempt by the Holy See to frustrate an inquiry into a sovereign, democratic republic as little as three years ago, not three decades ago,” Mr. Kenny said, referring to the Cloyne Report, which detailed abuse and cover-ups by church officials in southern Ireland through 2009.
Reiterating the report’s claim that the church had encouraged bishops to ignore child-protection guidelines the bishops themselves had adopted, the prime minister attacked “the dysfunction, the disconnection, the elitism” that he said “dominate the culture of the Vatican.”
He continued: “The rape and torture of children were downplayed, or ‘managed,’ to uphold instead the primacy of the institution — its power, its standing and its reputation.” Instead of listening with humility to the heartbreaking evidence of “humiliation and betrayal,” he said, “the Vatican’s response was to parse and analyze it with the gimlet eye of a canon lawyer.” [...]
“You can talk about the finesse of diplomatic ties and maneuverings, but what Kenny was actually saying was that you have to prioritize the victims of abuse, and you have to assert very loudly that this is a republic and civil law has to take precedence over canon law,” said Diarmaid Ferriter, professor of modern Irish history at University College Dublin.
His remarks were a ringing declaration of the supremacy of state over church, in words of outrage and indignation that had never before been used publicly by an Irish leader.
“For the first time in Ireland, a report into child sexual abuse exposed an attempt by the Holy See to frustrate an inquiry into a sovereign, democratic republic as little as three years ago, not three decades ago,” Mr. Kenny said, referring to the Cloyne Report, which detailed abuse and cover-ups by church officials in southern Ireland through 2009.
Reiterating the report’s claim that the church had encouraged bishops to ignore child-protection guidelines the bishops themselves had adopted, the prime minister attacked “the dysfunction, the disconnection, the elitism” that he said “dominate the culture of the Vatican.”
He continued: “The rape and torture of children were downplayed, or ‘managed,’ to uphold instead the primacy of the institution — its power, its standing and its reputation.” Instead of listening with humility to the heartbreaking evidence of “humiliation and betrayal,” he said, “the Vatican’s response was to parse and analyze it with the gimlet eye of a canon lawyer.” [...]
“You can talk about the finesse of diplomatic ties and maneuverings, but what Kenny was actually saying was that you have to prioritize the victims of abuse, and you have to assert very loudly that this is a republic and civil law has to take precedence over canon law,” said Diarmaid Ferriter, professor of modern Irish history at University College Dublin.
"...an attempt by the holy (rabbi) to frustrate an inquiry...as little as three (months ago), not three (years) ago..."
ReplyDelete"...the (rabbi) had encouraged (his congregants) to ignore child protection guidelines...(that even Agudath claims to have adopted)...and instead maintained "the dysfunction, the disconnection, the elitism...that dominate the culture of (his charedi community)..."
"The rape and torture of children were downplayed, or managed, to uphold instead the primacy of the (charedi kehilla) - its power, its standing and its reputation."
I know these comments are gross generalizations. But I am actually speaking from personal experience with my (previous) kehilla rav.
At this time of year, one works especially hard to get rid of the bitterness in ones heart over the injustices done, by the rabbis. To let go, is to forgive the rav for being human and making very big mistakes (that doesn't mean I think he should get let off the hook, but I don't have to make myself sick with hatred). Also, forgiving myself for naively believing (how embarrassing!)that which the rav preached, that a talmud chacham is a higher neshama than the rest of us, and that rabbeim have ruach hakodesh.
NO, I have to let this bitterness go, and believe with all my heart that H rules the world. And since we as a people have finally sunk as low as possible, (nothing is lower than the molesting of children, and the community's protection of those perverts) then for the sake of our holy children, please H,hurry and redeem us.
Consider that my RH speech.
Shana Tova