Dutch newspapers cite decades-old abuse by Catholic priests

Tuesday, March 02, 2010

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Several Dutch newspapers on March 2 picked up on a sexual abuse scandal in the Roman Catholic church in the Netherlands. The accusations are levelled at a range of institutions and concern incidents that took place between 40 and 50 years ago. But the story seems to be gathering momentum, as the de Volkskrant newspaper reports it received ten reports from victims on March 2 giving accounts of rape or sexual assault. The paper says "the call for a major investigation into abuse in the Catholic Church is growing ever louder".

In a report in de Volkskrant, a victim asserts "It is very important that cases like this are coming to light now. It's insane that the Catholic Church is refusing to give communion to homosexuals while the church itself is rotten to the core". Others emphasize the emotional damage and isolation suffered by the victims. A person cited by the newspaper, recalling the plight of his abused elder brother, states "his terrible loneliness stemmed from the fact that all this happened at a time when a 12-year-old boy was not allowed to utter a word about such matters, not even to his parents. It stayed with him his entire life."

Filed under catholic, religion, netherlands, eu, homosexuality

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