The priests abuse scandal...

Like I said, the world has gone wacky.

Paranoia  !

I worked in the corporate world after leaving the military for a few years before I discovered that money wasn't anything. There was this one particularily heavy unattractive girl who worked in customer service and she was always complaining about being sexually harassed which unfortunately resulted in the dismissal of one ( the few ) friends I had in the company. She accused the guy of touching her on the behind. I didn't believe it for one second. My friend said to me that he would rather fondle a sack of potatoes. Make a long story short this girl was let go for crying wolf once too often and my friend moved on to a better job with a better company.

I sometimes tutor entry level university mathematics to physiotherapy  and biology students but I have yet to feel uncomfortable or experience what you guys have mentioned. I guess it's a liitle different because I do this by referal and  everyone who refers me knows me personally because I also play on a McGill University slow pitch team. One thing I do when the weather permits is to go outside on the campus grounds away from the clinical environment of the classroom not because I'm afraid of being accused of sexual harassment but because it is more conducive. 
I dunno, the world just gets wackier and wackier. Or has it always been wacky and we just haven't noticed it?

Easy Money wrote: Epignosis wrote: Once a teacher in the USA has been accused of inappropriately touching a student, it doesn't matter if he is not proven guilty.  His career is effectively over.  Done deal. Although it is extremely rare, I can recall one instance where a child was clever and precocious enough to tell a teacher (not me) that if he did not get his way, he would report the teacher for inappropriate touching. The teacher was a veteran and knew to report this conversation immediately. There are precautions that any teacher can take, if I am with one child, or a very small group, I leave the classroom door open and all blinds and shades on the windows up. Having an always open and easily visible presence is your best defense.

Yep- absolutely John. While it didn't happen often (I taught all boys), if I were even with a female student (escorting her somewhere, or something like that), I made it a point to find a third person to be with us. 

Fortunately, we had a wonderful administration that recognized that we were dealing with "at-risk" youth who were not the most trustworthy of people, so any accusation was treated with a cool head

I was once accused by an entire class of using racial slurs at them, and nothing ever came of that (except one drunk, pissed off teacher that evening ).

_____

It's just that people automatically assume someone is guilty, especially when it is reported in the media. 

well said Robert.

Tony R wrote: With regard to an earlier post discussing professions with the most instances of child abuse I hope that  people know that in over 75% of cases the perpetrator is a family member or a friend of the family, at least in the UK it is. I am certain that in some cases "local priest" would qualify as "friend of the family" in a way that other professions wouldnt. Certainly doctors no longer tend to be in that role, though they once were.  My best mate is a senior Child Protection Officer and he always worries when the media focuses on Pedophile scare stories because the enemy is within and these stories suggest otherwise.

Edited by Ivan_Melgar_M - April 11 2010 at 12:09

As a male music teacher who works with young teens and younger kids too, I am suspect number one. I have caught parents using different means to spy on me etc. I don't blame them and never say a word of protest when I catch them peeking through a window or hiding behind a door jam. It's just part of my job and I am OK with that.

On a somewhat related note, are 'scary' pictures of the pope really helping this be a serious conversation?

Edited by Easy Money - April 11 2010 at 12:29

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article7094310.ece

Dawkins and Hitchens believe the Pope would be unable to claim diplomatic immunity from arrest because, although his tour is categorised as a state visit, he is not the head of a state recognised by the United Nations. They have commissioned the barrister Geoffrey Robertson and Mark Stephens, a solicitor, to present a justification for legal action. The lawyers believe they can ask the Crown Prosecution Service to initiate criminal proceedings against the Pope, launch their own civil action against him or refer his case to the International Criminal Court. Dawkins, author of The God Delusion, said: “This is a man whose first instinct when his priests are caught with their pants down is to cover up the scandal and damn the young victims to silence.” Hitchens, author of God Is Not Great, said: “This man is not above or outside the law. The institutionalised concealment of child rape is a crime under any law and demands not private ceremonies of repentance or church-funded payoffs, but justice and punishment.

I will be very pleased if he doesn't come but am not sure about this move.

Chris S wrote: With respect, for once leave lawyer type facts alone. The Catholic Church must hang it's head in shame and no amount of  " Evidence"  towards parents, teachers etc will polish or divert the cursed stain the Catholic Church now has to overcome.   Sorry but we live in an immediate media based world and if I think 'Catholic'...I immediately flinch associating Catholicism with sodomy and child abuse ( And I am 48 years old can you imagine what kids think googling away at the age of 16 and up?). That Church has a long time to overcome any sceptisism from the public at large. Start a seperate thread with evidence against parents, teachers etc. but you will not undo the damage already done by a priesthood where nominated individuals hide and lurk behind Christ and God.An eternity of Hell is too short for these church representatives.   Perception of the Catholic Church will take hundreds of years to heal.

Considering the pedophile priest cover up, Fred Phelps and company, Islamic fundamentalism, etc.  I think I will be forgiven for moving beyond religion...

Edited by Slartibartfast - April 11 2010 at 05:31

Ivan_Melgar_M wrote: The T wrote: Listen, it's not the religion that encourages or covers up child abuse. Of that we're clear. My main problem if you check my first post has always been Ratzinger 1.- probably involved in the cover up and none even thinking of any consequences for the guy... 2.- If Ratzinger was American and lived here, they would've already named this whole scandal Vaticangate or Ratzingergate or Childgate. Ja. I don't accuse the religion of pedophilia. I accuse important members of the church that direct it of covering it up. Probably is not enough to judge any person and you are already asking consequences...I know you are a thoinking person but you are already asking for a witch hunt without evidence, what can you expect froom the press or even religious sects like the Westboro Baptist Church or hate sites as .Jesus is Savior  who are having a party? Yes, that's the problem with USA, the press accuses without certitude and never ask excuses if they are wrong (something usually happens). As long as press puts names to scandals without being sure without any reasonable doubt, the institutions will have to protect their members against unfair trials....The press causes this problem. What's the chance of a priest receiving a fair trial if the press already calls it Vaticangate?   Of course if you are afamous football player and your name is OJ Simpson, you will be declared innocent despite there was no doubt of the crime.   Iván

Ivan