Scandals That Have Rocked The Catholic Church

books:


	• Unto Us a Child: Abuse and Deception in the Catholic Church Donald T. Phillips Tapestry Press (TX), 2002 - 232 pages average customer review:based on 7 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

A Very Sad Story

I agree completely with the review from New York.

This book was not an easy read. It is very disturbing. I have read (and heard on TV) many stories about abuse in the Catholic church, but never one that includes so many members of one family. Of course, the Catholic church felt there was no truth to these stories (and the priest who determined this is now the Bishop in Dodge City, Kansas). I am not sure how he could come to this conclusion since there was a baby that was born after one priest sexually abused one of the daughters from the age of thirteen (Eventually the priest was defrocked after another paternity issue arose).

The Catholic church must address these issues. They WILL NOT go away. The victims deserve justice.

I can see this book being made into a movie. It is truly the most disturbing story I have yet to hear involving abuse in the Catholic church.

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Such a sad story

This is such a sad story, but one that needs to be read. To think that the Catholic church is so callous is heart-breaking, but we have read enough of these types of stories recently to know that it is true. The hierarchy within the church are not only callous but are self-righteous and even hateful, in my view. This family suffered so terribly and unnecessarily, each and every one from the parents down to the 9 children and beyond, that it is a heartache.
This book is so well researched and written, it certainly deserves a higher priority in the bookstores! I just happened to come across it on a table of "new books" in my local bookstore; I am saddened that it won't be widely read, because it needs to be. We cannot continue to blindly trust huge establishments, such as the Catholic (or any) Church; and we must fight injustice all the way, as this family did. Unfortunately, outdated laws are preventing the remaining family members from any sort of justice, let alone compensation, but maybe laws will be changed down the line and these people will find the courage and strength (not to mention money and time) to continue their battle. I am ashamed of the Church. I have come to despise it. Please read this book and see what they have done to our children and to it's members who have taken a wrong step when they were minors......

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Scandals That Have Rocked The Catholic Church

For the past several years there have been several books written about the scandals that have rocked the Catholic Church.

Unto Us A Child is another one of these horrendous stories only this time with a different twist.

New York Times best selling author Donald R. Phillips relates in Unto Us A Child how an entire family of seven children were placed into an orphanage and subjected to unbelievable acts of cruelty at the hands of some of the nuns and priests who were the administrators of this orphanage.

More particularly, it is the story of the Albert children from Kansas, who, when they were very young, were placed under the care of a Catholic run institution because their parents were too poor to feed them or care for them.
While living in the orphanage they were constantly subjected to vicious behaviour on the part of their caretakers.

How can you rationalize the molestation of the Albert boys by an alcoholic priest...?

Where is justice where another priest had a continuous ... relationship with one of the under-aged Albert sisters eventually leading to her impregnation and probably the cause of her suicide years later?

This same priest today is no longer a member of the clergy; however, he is presently living in a Catholic retirement community, and was never brought before the courts for the crime of [being] with a minor.

Ironically, it was this same priest, who with the alcoholic ..., made sure that the scandal was all hushed up and that the child born out of wedlock was put up for adoption.

Phillips was apprised of this inconceivable and painful story when one of the grandchildren of the Albert family, who worked for him, related this tragedy and asked him if he wanted to write about it.

After careful investigating the various facts and interviewing the Albert brothers (two of the sisters were already deceased), Phillips decided to pursue the matter and "tell all."

There will probably be howls of anger after readers have the opportunity to ponder over the gravity of the crimes committed.

The damning evidence meticulously exposed in the book uncovers lies ... and injustice that underline the enormity of the problem that has beset the Catholic Church in recent years.

No doubt, many readers will shake their heads and ask themselves, how could members of the clergy break the sacred rule "do unto others as you would have others do unto you."

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One Family's Story

Unto Us A Child chronicles the lives of one family as impacted by the Catholic Church. Their experiences of sexual abuse caused devastating problems, coupled with the refusal of their diocese to admit the truth behind the Albert family's allegations. Unfortunately, this pattern of denial by the Church has happened countless times throughout the U.S. This story will open many eyes and touch many hearts. Sexual abuse thrives in secrecy. Placing a spotlight on this issue will help society as a whole, because the more educated people are about the long-term effects of sexual abuse, the more involved they will be in finding ways to prevent it. Our son committed suicide several years ago, a few months after revealing that he had been sexually abused by a priest when he was twelve. Families who are telling their stories are enabling other families to protect their children. Each person can strengthen the fight against sexual abuse by giving emotional support to the victims and by insisting on legislation requiring churches to report child sexual abuse. The Albert family is to be commended in their relentless pursuit of truth and justice.

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Fr Patrick McCafferty

This book is heart-breaking. It is an account of incredible suffering and horrific abuse perpetrated against the children of the Albert family. This book is a story of extraordinary courage and endurance in face of astonishingly difficult odds.

The story of the Albert family should be read everywhere. Furthermore, it should be required reading for Catholic bishops and clergy throughout the world. I hope this book gets picked up and read.

I too am a survivor of child sexual abuse and clergy abuse. I am also a Catholic priest. I know well the horrendous legacy of abuse - the crippling trauma from which healing can be so difficult.

The institution of the Catholic Church is - in so many ways - sinful, sick and dysfunctional. The Church needs repentance, conversion, purification and healing.

The terrified voices of abused children over so many years cry out to God in Heaven on account of the evil perpetrated within the Church. God's Church should have been a place of compassion, love and care for those children in society who were most vulnerable - most in need of gentleness, love and nurturing. Far too many, like the Albert children, experienced just the opposite.

Thankfully, however, more and more of those children who suffered, as a result of the evil and criminal behaviour of perverts and sadists in religious garb, are no longer frightened voices. They are becoming strong and demanding voices - demanding truth, justice and redress.

The adults the Albert children have now become deserve profound awe and immense respect. I hope they find peace, gentleness and healing after all the horror they endured when they were children. May God bless them - the True God of Love.

May that monstrous and false god - the fearsome construct of those who abuse their power and position over the defenceless and the vulnerable - be forever de-throned.

Those predators who happened to be priests and religious - along with their conspiring and conniving superiors and bishops - have actually abused and betrayed Christ Himself in the persons of His little ones.

Jesus is very explicit in what He thinks of those who have scandalised "any of these my little ones". (Matthew Ch. 18:5-6 and verses 10-11). How could so many cardinals, archbishops, bishops, priests and religious have behaved so scandalously in the face of innocent suffering?

How could they have so negated the essential message of the Gospel - both clerical abusers and those in positions of authority who sought to cover up their crimes - by they way they behaved towards the victims?

May God forgive them! May God have mercy on their immortal souls, for one day they will all stand before the Judegement Seat of Jesus Christ. And their attorneys will be of no use to them!

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reviews: page 1, 2

The Alberts, a Kansas family beset by hard times and too many challenges lost seven of their nine children to the state in the late 1940's; the other two died as toddlers. The Catholic Church convinced the family and the state that the best place for the children was in the local orphanage run by the church. Once there, the children were exploited and subjected to sexual, physical, emotional, and mental abuse by both the nuns and priests. Darlene, the youngest daughter died tragically at age 47. After her death, her brothers discovered the secret life that she led during her time at the home, and later as a young, beautiful woman when she gave birth to the illegitimate child of a priest. They went about searching for the child that she gave up for adoption years earlier. Ironically, that child also was seeking his birth parents at the same time and they were united-too late for mother and son to meet, but Darlene's brothers treasured the opportunity of meeting the boy who grew up to be a fine man. Meanwhile, the boys in the Albert family sought vindication in the Kansas courts until the emotional toll was too great to bear. This is their true, fully documented story told by Don Phillips, a best selling New York Times author, outstanding journalist and master story-teller.

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