870 Allegations of Child Sex Abuse Against Catholic Order

While being attacked by the far right, Pope Francis faces another growing problem: a resurgence in media coverage of the Church's foul conspiracy to aid, abet and protect sexual predator priests.  A new bombshell has exploded in Ireland where the Church is already in a free fall with the release of a report on the rampant sex abuse within the Christian Brothers religious order.  Meanwhile, things aren't going well for the Church in Australia and else where as reports on the abuse and cover ups mount.  As for Francis, he still has failed to hold anyone in the hierarchy accountable and no one has been drummed out of office.  Here are highlights on the new report out of Ireland:

The child protection watchdog of the Catholic Church has published eight reviews of the practices and procedures in place to address sex abuse cases. The audit covers the period between January 1975 and May 2013.

It examines six separate dioceses and two religious congregations.

The work was carried out by the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church (NBSCCC).

This latest tranche of reports from the Catholic Church child protection watchdog shows that during a period of almost three decades 870 allegations of child sex abuse were made against 325 members of the Christian Brothers order.

The audit shows that 12 have been convicted and describes the number of allegations as 'substantial'. It says the reviewers were in no doubt that a great number of children were seriously abused by the Brothers.

The review of the St. Patrick's Missionary Society - known as the Kiltegan Fathers - says 50 allegations were made against 15 members of the order, with one conviction since 1975.

In the Archdiocese of Armagh 16 priests were the subject of 36 allegations. One of the those have been convicted of child sex abuse office.

As noted, things are not sweetness and light for the Catholic Church in Australia where a Royal Commission is investigating sex abuse by Catholic clergy.  Indeed, faced with the drumbeat of news of abuse and cover ups, the Archbishop of Perth felt the need to issue a public apology:

The Archbishop of Perth Timothy Costelloe has issued a public apology for the Catholic Church's failure to recognise and prevent the sexual abuse of children.

In an open letter to 100 parishes and the wider community, Archbishop Costelloe says he is sorry the abuse happened and ashamed that some church leaders did not adequately respond to allegations.
"The key message of the letter is really to acknowledge the terrible suffering of people who have been victims of sexual abuse by clergy and other church workers," he said.

"I really do feel ashamed of the actions of those who betrayed everything the church stands for.

The apology comes as the Royal Commission into institutional child sexual abuse examines the Catholic Church's Towards Healing program, which was set up in 1996 to deal with complaints against it.

Let's be clear.  The Church did recognize child sexual abuse.  It merely sought to cover it up and throw the victims on the trash heap like garbage.  The Archbishop's apology is disingenuous at best.  Meanwhile, when will Pope Francis begin purging the hierarchy of those who participated in the cover up conspiracy?