Abuse by Women Religious (nuns and sisters)

Contact: Mary Dispenza
Phone: 425-941-6001
Email: [email protected]

Contact: Marya Dantzer
Phone: 617-448-6039 (Voicemails only)
Email: [email protected]

Contact for Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Slovenia

Franka Miloloža

[email protected]

 

Contact for Peru:

María La Rosa Matuk

+51 941 695 920

[email protected] (María checks this account daily)

 

A virtual support group for those abused by nuns/women religious (Survivors of Abuse by Nuns/Women Religious) is led by Marya Dantzer, with backup from Anne Gleeson ([email protected]), and meets every Wednesday from 8-9:30 PM Eastern Time. These meetings are for those abused by nuns/women religious who are over the age of majority. Contact Marya for the login information.

 

Contact: Marya Dantzer
Phone: 617-448-6039 (Voicemails only)
Email: [email protected]

 

A second virtual support group for those abused by nuns (Nun-2) is led by Mary Dispenza and meets every other Monday from 5-6:30 PM Pacific Time. These meetings are for those abused by nuns/women religious who are over the age of majority. Please call or e-mail Mary if you are interested in participating.

Contact: Mary Dispenza
Phone: 425-941-6001
Email: [email protected]

SNAP National Office

Contact: Melanie Sakoda, SNAP Survivor Support Director
Phone: 925-708-6175
Email: [email protected]

Melanie is located in the San Francisco Bay Area

Contact: Shaun Dougherty, SNAP Interim Executive Director
Phone: 814-341-8386
Email: [email protected]

Shaun is located in Western Pennsylvania

Introduction

By Mary Dispenza

NUNS, NUNS, NUNS. I used to be one. I loved the nuns. It was a long time after I left my religious community that I remembered the day a superior took my 18-year-old face between her hands and kissed me all over. It was years before I finally named this incident as abuse, not just a “creepy” story. A small invasion, some may think – just kisses. Yet it left a lasting impact of confusion with me. In that moment spirituality and abuse came face to face trapped between the superior’s hands as her power loomed over me.

Unlike being abused by a priest who is “GOD,” men and women sexually violated by nuns must contend with the belief that women, especially nuns, would never, ever hurt a child. We hear expressions like “Women don’t do that,” “Women are caring and maternal”. While mostly this is true some women, rape, physically abuse, and irreparably ridicule and shame children, mostly because of their power - often as teachers, Mothers, and nuns. Nuns have the added benefit of the “halo” effect because of their Godly stature and reputation of kindness and love.

Men abused as boys by nuns carry deep shame, believing they were weak, a sissy, not boy or ‘man’ enough to stand up to Sister when week after week she either punched him, kissed him, bullied him, put him over her lap and beat him, or had sex with him. Young girls abused and used by nuns have the additional burden of unravelling the belief that they were in love with the nun, and that she was in love with them. As adults, women survivors often must face the fact that it wasn’t love, not even an affair – it was sexual abuse. They know what a ‘broken heart’ feels like and the betrayal that goes with it. Girls abused by nuns often speak of the psychological and spiritual damage done to them, stolen childhood and adolescent years of friendships, dates, dances, and often God.

Women Religious orders are very closed systems, more so than the priesthood. Religious communities often function like an incestuous family protecting each other at all costs from being exposed as sexual predators among them. Their culture is built on secrecy, power, and protecting the sisterhood. It has been nearly impossible to break through this wall of secrecy. Survivors abused by nuns are ignored by most religious orders and the Catholic Church. Justice is mostly an illusion. The Leadership Conference of Religious Woman (LCRW) has yet to show any desire to work with survivors in healing themselves, the past, present, and in shaping a safer future for children and adolescents. SNAP is working to change that. The timeline below shows the actions SNAP has taken to date.

Timeline

  • 2002 - LCWR refuses to participate in USCCB’s “Policy for the Protection of Children”
  • April 5, 2002 - LCWR issues statement on clerical abuse
  • August 24, 2002 - LCWR National Board issues statement on sexual abuse
  • June 12, 2004 - Nun survivors meet for the first time in Denver at SNAP Conference
  • July 13, 2004 - Hand-delivered to LCWR and USCCB from nun survivors regarding Plan of Hope, Respect, and Open Healing. Also requested nun survivors be allowed to speak at LCWR-CMSM Joint Assembly in Ft. Worth. To date, we received no answer from USCCB.
  • August 5, 2004 - Letter to LCWR from SNAP expressing dismay over their decision not to let us speak
  • August 9, 2004 - E-mail to National Review Board to intervene on our behalf
  • August 13, 2004 - LCWR Press Release: Response of LCWR President Sister Constance Phelps, SCL saying we can’t speak in Ft. Worth
  • August 19 to 22, 2004 - Joint LCWR – CMSM Assembly in Ft. Worth, TX. Nun survivors attempt to attend event but are refused.
  • October 3, 2004 - Meeting with LCWR Leadership in Chicago
  • November 22, 2004 - LCWR letter to SNAP refusing to work with SNAP members who are survivors of sexual abuse committed by nuns and sisters
  • August 2, 2005 - Not allowed to speak at LCWR National Conference in Anaheim, CA; we are present – we delivered letter
  • August 17, 2006 - Not allowed to speak at LCWR National Conference in Atlanta, GA; we are present – we delivered letter
  • August 24, 2007 - LCWR contacts us to meet to talk but LCWR does not provide an agenda after numerous requests; Not allowed to speak at LCWR National Conference in Kansas City
  • September 19, 2007 - LCWR responds to SNAP, denying all five requests
  • August, 2008 - LCWR rebuffs us via letter; SNAP holds night-time vigil
  • October 9, 2008 - SNAP meets with Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious in St. Louis; requests are denied
  • February 23, 2009 - SNAP asks to speak at the LCWR conference in New Orleans
  • March 26, 2009 - LCWR denies all of SNAP's requests
  • August 11, 2009 - Not allowed to speak at LCWR Conference in New Orleans; we deliver letter
  • August 14, 2010 - Not allowed to speak at LCWR Conference in Dallas; we are present
  • August 16, 2011 - LCWR National Conference in Garden Grove, California
  • August 7, 2012 - LCWR National Conference in St Louis; SNAP members deliver letter and hold vigil
  • August 8, 2012 – Letter sent to Bishops
  • August 2018 – Designed a Power Point Presentation giving statistics/data about nuns in the United States as abusers (2019) Will be updated for 2023.  (Dan McNiven and Mary Dispenza)
  • April 3, 2019 -- SNAP forms first support group for those abused by nuns
  • August 16, 2019 – First time ever and the last time since that any leader of the LCWR spoke openly and honestly about their role in abusing and harming children. 
  • February 21-24, 2019 – SNAP in Rome during the Papal summit on the Abuse of Minors. the first press conference on Nuns Abusers was held followed by a MARCH to the main headquarters – the UISG (International Union of Superiors General). A letter was delivered outlining concerns and demands of survivors abused by nuns. The letter was never acknowledged. SNAP representatives were Mary Dispenza, Tim Lennon, Esther Hatfield Miller, and Carol Midboe.
  • February 23, 2019 – During the Papal Summit SNAP joined with ECA (Ending Clergy Abuse) in the Global “March for Zero” Tolerance through the streets of Rome.
  • August 14, 2019 – Mary O’day, Mary Dispenza, Tim Lennon, and a small group from SNAP protested outside The Fairmont Hotel in Scottsdale, Arizona in 115-degree heat. Snap was denied access to the Hotel property. SNAP’s demands of LCRW were to speak at conference, have religious orders mount an aggressive outreach drive to find and help others violated by nuns, Post names on its websites of credibly accused child molesting nuns, urge Attorney Generals investigating clergy sex crimes and cover ups to include nuns and their victims in these probes, and to beg anyone who may have seen, suspected or suffered wrongdoing to come forward, start healing, protect others and call law enforcement. (David Clohessy). TV and media coverage of this event was excellent.
  • February 19 -22, 2020 – Four SNAP representatives were sent once again to the Bishop’s summit in Rome: Tim Lennon, Sean Dougherty, Brenda Brunelle, Kevin Bourgeois, and Mary Dispenza. Their message to the Bishops and Pope Frances was “WE ARE NOT GOING AWAY.”
  • On the second day of the 2020 summit another press conference was held on Abuse by Nuns/Religious women. Another march took place. This time the goal was to speak to Sister Pat head of LCRW at that time. The good news is that Mary Dispenza and Tim Lennon sat around the small table with Sister Pat. Concerns were share by Tim and Mary on behalf of survivors. Upon returning to US, Mary Dispenza wrote a follow up letter to Sister Pat. Several months later Mary received a very short thank you of no substance
  • February 25, 2021 – An article in the National Catholic reporter features four survivor’s stories, and a conversation with Mary Dispenza and Sister Carol Zinn of LCWR. In the article Carol Zinn said that Mary Dispenza was asked to speak to LCWR, and she declined. That was not the truth.
  • April 24, 2021 – Breaking Free, Personal SNAP Stories by Those Abused by Nuns was aired. 
  • December 21, 2021 – Mary Dispenza, SNAP, speaker at Voices of Faith International 2021 Conference on Abuse of Power Inside the Church. (see Document 7)
  • February, 2022 – Started second Support Group for Those Abused by Nuns
  • July 22-24, 2022 – SNAP Denver 22 Conference. A breakout session called “What About Nuns? Was presented by Mary Dispenza and 2 survivors of Nun abuse, Gabrielle Longhi and Marya Danzer.

Documents:

Document 1: Letter sent to bishops (Aug. 8, 2012)

Dear Archbishop Sartain Bishop Blair, Bishop Paprocki

We write you with great sadness and reluctance. Each of you, like most of your colleagues, has done a poor job of dealing with child sex abuse and cover up. Still, each of you have a chance to prod US nuns to do a better job in this regard. For the sake of prevention, healing, openness and justice, we hope you seize this opportunity.

We have little faith in "internal" church "investigations" and reports on clergy sex crimes and cover ups. We have even less faith when they're conducted by bishops or “outside” firms hand-picked and hired by bishops.

Still, something is often better than nothing. That’s the case today with abuse and cover up by nuns. Right now, there's very little known about child sex crimes and cover ups by nuns. No one's apparently trying to learn more. And as best we can tell, no one inside or outside of the nuns’ community is trying to prod them to do a better job of protecting the vulnerable and healing the wounded.

So with considerable reluctance and distrust, we're asking you to expand your “oversight” of the LCWR into what the organization – and America’s religious orders of women- are doing and are not doing regarding child sex crimes and cover ups by nuns.

Why does this matter? Because we believe that

  • many abusive nuns have never been exposed or disciplined.
  • many who have seen, suspected or hidden their crimes have similarly never been exposed or disciplined
  • many who were abused by nuns have coped by essentially denying and mischaracterized the crimes they suffered, and minimizing the impact of those crimes, so they suffer in confusion, denial, isolation, shame and self-blame.

We suspect that fewer nuns molest than priests. (Research suggests that more men are sexual predators.) At the same time, however, that’s just speculation. And regardless of the rates or percentages of abuse, two other facts are important. First, there are more nuns than priests. (55,944 nuns in the US versus 41,406 priests) Second, many more nuns had more access to more kids, largely because they worked and work in schools.

Ultimately, however, the numbers or percentages are not especially relevant. If there are 400 or 4,000 or 40,000 adults who were victimized by nuns in this country, every single one of them deserves help. And if there are 4 or 40 or 400 children who may be victimized in the future by nuns in this country, they need protection.

Again, we take this step with great sadness and reluctance. Everyone knows most nuns don’t commit or conceal child sex crimes. Everyone knows that most nuns do wonderful, selfless work, often to help society’s marginalized.

But we see little or no evidence that nuns – either in or through the LCWR or their individual orders – are in any way, shape or form “trailblazers” in making the church or our society safer from clergy child predators or making substantial contributions to the healing of those who suffer because of clergy child predators.

It’s a painful truth to acknowledge. It’s unusual and unsettling for us to seek your help in dealing with it. But our concern – for the vulnerable and the wounded – and our inability to get the LCWR to be more pro-active, leave us with few other options.

Click HERE to download a .zip archive of correspondence between SNAP and the LCWR, SNAP and LCWR press releases, and other coverage of the groups (4.76 mb

Document 2: Face facts, says LCWR president: Sisters have been part of Catholic Church sexual abuse scandal by Dan Stockman (August 6, 2019)

Document 3: Leadership groups condemn abuse by nuns but leave solutions to local congregations by Dawn Araujo-Hawkins. (Feb 25, 2021)

Document 4: Letter International Union of Superiors General (UISG) March 3, 2020

Dear Sister Pat and members of the Board,

Thank you for welcoming Tim Lennon and myself to the table to meet with you. We were very grateful to have time to share our concerns and listen to yours. This is the first time anyone from SNAP has been invited to sit and talk face to face with someone from the leadership team of UISG or LCRW. It was a welcomed moment especially for me.

For the past two years, I have had the honor and challenge of listening to survivors of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse by nuns in various orders. Some survivors are nuns within religious communities who were abused by nuns still living in community — others were abused as children, teens, and vulnerable adults. There is something new resounding in the stories I hear. Besides pain, anger, and loss, I hear a deep, burning desire and longing for justice from each survivor — justice for what was lost and taken from them by nuns they trusted. As I see it, this is where you, as religious women, come into the story.

Clearly, we can’t undo the past. We can face it. Work to understand it, so as to end it. Most importantly, we can transform the past by right and just actions now.

What follows are 3 areas of immediate concern to survivors that hopefully lead to a continued conversation between us:

Survivors who were or are nuns and experienced sexual, emotional, or psychological abuse within their communities want their perpetrators gone, reports filed and their names and reason for leaving the community posted. They also want the secrecy about it all to stop. They want their religious communities to engage in candid and open conversation about the problem.

Adult survivors of sexual, physical, and emotional abuse by nuns as children, teens, vulnerable adults who have registered a valid complaint want religious superiors to listen to their stories seriously, believe them and work with them for resolution and justice. They want right action when it is warranted such as filing a report with local authorities and removing the perpetrator from children or other potential victims. Some want and desperately need financial recompense for their pain and suffering. Some want reconciliation and an apology. All want to be believed. All want religious communities to acknowledge that they failed to protect them.

Survivors find some hope in Pope Frances, moto propio, which took effect last June 2019 and instituted for the first time a mechanism for reporting and investigating allegations of sexual abuse and offers protections to whistle-blowers yet falls short of any set consequences or reporting of crimes to law enforcement. The pope expanded his view of abuse to include children, people with mental disabilities, seminarians, nuns and women in religious orders, children in orphanages, indigenous people—all of whom have been victimized by leaders in Church and religious orders. The law also demanded that alleged victims must receive, support services and all they need for their healing journey.  Survivors would like to know that the UISG and LCRW have in place policies and procedures for handling allegations of abuse, including reporting them to local law enforcement agencies.

I hope these ideas on our minds as survivors of nun abuse give us some starting points for discussion. It’s our desire that we continue to dialogue with the shared goal of finding ways to protect children from all types of abuse, especially by those they trust, and to give survivors of the past the justice they do desire and deserve.  I have always held these lines from scripture as essential to my life, “And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8.)

Thanks, Sister Pat, and members of the Board for this opportunity to work together.

Respectfully, Mary Dispenza,

SNAP Leader for those Abused by Nuns.

CC: SNAP Executive Director, Zach Hiner

        SNAP President, Tim Lennon

nuns sisters women religious clergy abuse

Showing 230 comments

  • David Taylor
    commented 2015-10-15 17:52:16 -0500
    I have been living for decades, with this and it ruined my life. I was one of 4 boys that was molested by 3 nuns when I was 16, I do not know if there was anymore or not, and this place was a place for troubled youths. Well, that shaped my life and it took me down the road to ruin. I never knew where to go or who to talk to other then the other boys, which at time it was a big proud deal to us. Sister Pat, Sister Kathy, Sister Gertrude. was the 3 nuns that would visit us at night. Some of the details escape me, but not all, and I feel sorry not only for myself but, the others that might have had to endure the things I had to during my time there.
  • Johanna Smith
    commented 2015-10-14 15:06:29 -0500
    I was sexually abused by Sister Helen Phillip, one of the sisters of Notre Dame who taught at St. Anthony’s Catholic School in Southern Pines, North Carolina. I found another one of her victims and we are going to get an attorney and hopefully a settlement.

    Johanna Smith
  • JShaw
    followed this page 2015-09-09 12:25:09 -0500
  • Sarah Anders
    commented 2015-08-21 12:48:35 -0500
    Good luck and courage to all of you
  • Roma Downey
    commented 2015-02-15 05:15:55 -0600
    Starving children in catholic-run “homes” was the way the nuns enjoyed themselves. The food they gave me was disgusting slop and not much of it. The nuns ate well — I thought gluttony was a sin. You are correct Rita that those still alive should be punished now along with those still doing these horrible deeds. Then they can pay later in that burning lake too.
    Roma Downey from http://healthcareadmin.org/
  • Carly Danner
    commented 2015-02-06 21:46:40 -0600
    These stories are so sad, makes me cry, and fill ashamed for these poor kids.
  • paco wilson
    commented 2015-02-01 23:00:32 -0600
    Revealing the stories should be encouraged by our society, and I am also sorry to hear these stories, but we can’t always indulge in this.
  • Starcruiser Danny
    commented 2015-01-06 14:19:02 -0600
    Myself Star from http://healthcare-schools.org/healthcare-administration/. I thank you very much for writing this article. Many things have contributed to the decline of nuns in the Catholic church. First I would like to say “Thanks!” to all those who have served. Few people today would know the dedication, the education, and the sacrifice these women made to serve God. When I think “Nun”, I see a teacher, not just of religious education, but of one of the best educations one could get at a parochial school. When I think of Nuns, I think of the nurses who served in the Catholic hospitals caring for patients, whether they were Catholic or not. When I think of Nuns, I think of all the women who gave their lives to fight social injustice, economic injustice in the poorest cities of our nation. They did all that for low pay and very little thanks, if any.
  • Zohan Matt
    commented 2014-12-13 00:05:05 -0600
    Its really unfortunate to see these kind of incidents happening around. With such kind of initiative we are sure the world still is a decent place to live on.

    http://sectstates.net – Business Corporation Search Redefined!
  • Ginger Perry
    commented 2014-12-10 23:05:03 -0600
    After going to Catholic school and seeing how these “liberated” sisters verbally and psychologically bully and abuse anybody who crosses them (so motherly and relational!) , it doesn’t surprise me in the slightest that this was going on. I’m willing to bet that the sexual abuse is far worse in some cases than what most priests have done. The Holy Father is right on about the rot and filth in the Church, and I really feel so far we’ve seen only the tip of the iceberg when it comes it.

    http://ultrasoundcertification.net
  • Ginger Perry
    commented 2014-12-10 23:05:02 -0600
    After going to Catholic school and seeing how these “liberated” sisters verbally and psychologically bully and abuse anybody who crosses them (so motherly and relational!) , it doesn’t surprise me in the slightest that this was going on. I’m willing to bet that the sexual abuse is far worse in some cases than what most priests have done. The Holy Father is right on about the rot and filth in the Church, and I really feel so far we’ve seen only the tip of the iceberg when it comes it.

    http://ultrasoundcertification.net
  • Cait Finnegan
    commented 2014-11-20 15:44:21 -0600
    Joanne Baribeau, your post here gives me courage. I am 63 years old and understand carrying a burden of anger and memories, and admire you tremendously for addressing your story and sharing it here.

    Cait Finnegan
  • Joanne Baribeau
    commented 2014-11-20 13:38:19 -0600
    I am almost 80 years old, and daily I have passed onto my family the scars of 17 years of abuse at the hands of religious women “doing God’s Will” I have recently viewed two movies that have sparked my indignation, my aging frustration and most of all my anger at my lost childhood. I was only four when placed in the boarding school at Hudson, NH to receive " a good Catholic education" passed on to me in the most abusive, mean spirited, cruel ways until I was 21 years old.
    Back to the films—the Magdalenes-was my first reality that “oh My God, others experienced the same illogical mental sick upbringing I did” “How could I be loved by God when I was not fit to be a grain of sand under His sandals.” I wanted to contact the Director of the film at the time and ask him how he learned so much-could he do more?
    Now comes a Judith Dench film-Philomena. I was spellbound—how brainwashed she was to forgive and forget, not their fault-my anger was on the same level or higher than the author’s anger-Martin Sixsmith. So now once again I am wondering-would he write another book? Stories wouldn’t be the same-but many many New England children were sent to boarding school at a cost of $40 a month, after the depression and during WWII maybe for reasons like parent death, parent illness, parents working, too many children in house, behavior problem or my case (mistress problems in a stated highly regarded Catholic Diocesan business corporation). Worst part of all, I was a tall blond IRISH girl in a french convent and I experienced 17 years of novitiate policy, water filled soup, gruel, near starvation during Lent, while the nuns table was on a stage above us with their special meals because they had spacial needs! And when they were finished we were automatically finished and had to leave the dinnig area even if we hadn’t been served yet-that happened a lot. I was having the devil driven out of me because I was a daughter born out of wedlock and not allowed to be like my Protestant Mother. So my story is different, but the horror, the upbringing, the abuse, the sexual abuse by many, the resulting story is the same as many more out there.

    I am too old to remember every name but all of you who witnessed, suffered, endured fruitless years of counseling to get over your childhood, you could do so much for those suffering now. Get your story out, find someone like Martin Sixsmith who might be your legs to investigate hours and hours of research and explode the story to the world. They were not all saints, it was not the sign of the times (as so many like to describe it)-in industrial New England, boarding schools went along with the religious code of the factory worker. I survived, I am a survivor mostly from sheer anger that kept me going and that is not good, not good for my family nor those around me. Best to get the stories out, all the stories. There was too much hiding going on-in all areas of the Catholic Church.

    Thank you for what you have accomplished so far. Continue with knowledge that you have already helped millions-just please keep going. Maybe some authors will come forward and help get our stories out. Thank you Martin Sixsmith for writing Philomena, thank you Philomena for sharing. God Bless You. I don’t believe He ever meant for us to suffer in His name but we need to GET THOSE STORIES OUT. And Pope Francis needs to continue his good work by acknowledging our years of suffering.
  • Bonnie Richard
    commented 2014-09-24 12:15:20 -0500
    WHY IS THERE NOT MUCH RESEARCH ON NUN ABUSE IN LOUISIANA? AND NEVER EVEN MENTIONED-
  • Patricia Sulecki
    commented 2014-08-10 10:47:35 -0500
    the way I see it and mind you I’m sure thousands of other people do also" and I’m not saying this to take away from what the Nazis did " to the Jews,Polish all Nationalities (The Holocaust) The horrible things the Nazis did;" With the Priest, Nuns, Pope, Vatican; horrible abuse on children;“starving children,abusing, rape ,torture,murder,burying baby” children’s bodies in septic tanks ; tell me" what is the difference between the ( Catholic Church & the Nazis ? )……… for a while they were able to stop the Nazis " and now we have the Neo Nazis / SSPX…………………but " what I don’t get" they were never able to stop the Pope,Priest,Nuns,The Vatican……mmmmmmmmWonder Why ????

    SSPX is a growing danger because they have six seminaries, three universities and 70 primary and secondary schools around the globe. In addition to Williamson it has three other bishops, more than 550 priests and 200 priests in training. Are they training to incite another Holocaust? Pope Francis doesn’t talk about the real issues — these skeletons in the vatican closet.
  • Timothy Egan
    commented 2014-08-02 15:12:58 -0500
    Judgement Day might be sooner than you think Rita Marie. Either way, it still boggles my mind that women could be part of this cover-up, let alone the abuse itself. It’s just further proof that the Catholic hierarchy is indeed part of what the book of Revelation (3:9) describes as the synagogue of Satan….those calling themselves Jews (and Christians) even though they are not. Even the righteous are being fooled, as foretold. Don’t expect the U.S. government to lift a finger concerning this issue either, as they are a part of it as well. Outrageous conspiracy theory? We’ll find out upon Christ’s return. Just because an idea is too monstrous for the good-hearted to consider doesn’t mean it’s not possible. We’re in the last days. The final war between good and evil is upon us. The signs are everywhere.
  • Patricia Sulecki
    commented 2014-08-02 11:42:13 -0500
    As victims we have to get the DOJ, Government etc.etc. to open their eye’s and keep them open to help the Children ( Victims ) to get justice here and now" this is 2014 stand on & for No More Abuse on Children; White House site; sign and pass it on to all who care > http://wh.gov/lzySY
  • George and Jean Barilla
    commented 2014-06-04 21:35:33 -0500
    Starving children in catholic-run “homes” was the way the nuns enjoyed themselves. The food they gave me was disgusting slop and not much of it. The nuns ate well — I thought gluttony was a sin. You are correct Rita that those still alive should be punished now along with those still doing these horrible deeds. Then they can pay later in that burning lake too.
  • George and Jean Barilla
    commented 2014-06-04 21:25:53 -0500
    800 dead in a mass grave in Ireland. Over 50,000 Canadian Indian children died — from abuse, torture, starvation, from murder — in residential schools run by the catholic church jointly with the church of England. Their bodies found in graves under trees that were planted to cover up the deaths. With so much evidence, in so many countries why is the church not held accountable? Why aren’t the governments in all countries excavating the land next to all of these schools and orphanages? It’s good that these atrocities make the news pages.
  • Rita Marie Kelley
    commented 2014-06-04 20:44:44 -0500
    It’s too long to wait for them to reach the hot lake; they need earthly consequences. When enough of us publicize all of their atrocious acts, public opinion will shift, just like it did with marriage equality and pot. If there’s one thing perps hate, it’s the light, so let’s keep shedding light on their actions. (And by perps, I mean the abusers and their superiors equally!)
  • Timothy Egan
    commented 2014-06-04 19:08:53 -0500
    Let them enjoy their lavish lifestyles now while they still can. They’re going to be spending quite a long long time in a hot lake.
  • Rita Marie Kelley
    commented 2014-06-04 18:56:03 -0500
  • Rita Marie Kelley
    commented 2014-06-04 18:37:29 -0500
    Look at what was in the front page of msn.com today!!!
    Where was anyone who thought to speak up of the starvation that was so widespread in these catholic—I won’t capitalize it—institutions??? If you delve further, it was noted that the nuns and priests had gourmet meals…how in the world did no one speak out for the children?

    http://news.msn.com/world/800-babies-buried-in-septic-tank-at-irish-home-for-unmarried-mothers
  • Cait Finnegan
    commented 2014-05-30 16:02:03 -0500
    If the pope refused to meet with victims he’d be called out on that too.
  • Rita Marie Kelley
    commented 2014-05-27 02:16:39 -0500
    The pope’s meeting with victims is just another empty gesture—how many meetings have there been with zero results? When Pope Frank turns over the perps and Cardinal Mahoney et al to law enforcement for due process, then we’ll know he means business and is truly sincere about wanting to help victims and prevent future abuse.
  • Bonnie Richard
    commented 2014-05-26 18:35:33 -0500
    the pope said he will meet with sex abuse victims—why did he not say all victims of nuns etc—not just priests— but he will NOT come to usa where most of the victims are
  • Timothy Egan
    commented 2014-05-18 18:47:58 -0500
    He must have been one of the last honorable bankers (if there is such a thing). I hope and pray that the Father in Heaven brings justice to these people and the world, for I believe we’re living in the last days. Please keep praying for the true Light to win.
  • Rita Marie Kelley
    commented 2014-05-18 18:37:04 -0500
    We were in England when a Vatican banker was found hanging from not ironically, Blackfriars’ Bridge…another facet of the conspiracy to kill my favorite pope…
  • Timothy Egan
    commented 2014-05-18 17:36:52 -0500
    Pope Francis is knowingly working for the devil. The last good pope to hold office was John Paul the 1st. And he was murdered.
  • Rita Marie Kelley
    commented 2014-05-18 17:17:49 -0500
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HmSkgO0JFc
    This video explains Ratzinger’s resignation.

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