“Archbishop apologises for ‘slip of the tongue’ claims that paedophilia is caused by divorce” & related article

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 *   Archbishop Jozef Michalik said his comments were taken out of context

*  He had said that sex abuse was the result of people ‘looking for love’

*   He claimed that divorce can be as harmful to children as paedophilia

*   Catholic church in Poland has been hit with paedophile priest allegations

Mail Online (Daily Mail – UK)

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By Daily Mail Reporter

Controversy: Archbishop Jozef Michalik has apologised for his comments appearing to blame divorce for paedophilia

Controversy: Archbishop Jozef Michalik has apologised for his comments appearing to blame divorce for paedophilia

The top Catholic bishop in Poland has apologised for blaming divorce for encouraging paedophilia in comments that the church have described as ‘a slip of the tongue’.

Archbishop Jozef Michalik sparked outrage when he said earlier this week that sex abuse was the result of people ‘looking for love’, and appeared to suggest that divorce could be just as harmful to children as paedophilia.

But he has since apologised for the anger caused by his comments and claimed that they were taken out of context.

After his comments sparked fury among Polish social media users, the episcopate called a press conference in a bid to try and calm the situation.

His spokesman said that his comments had been a ‘pure slip of the tongue’.

Archbishop Michalik added: ‘The context of my comment was as follows: “A child is always innocent. But it can be hurt not only by priests but also by its own environment”.’

His initial comments came as Poland’s Catholic church faces mounting allegations of priests sexually abusing children.

‘Many of these cases of molestation could be avoided given a healthy relationship between parents,’ Archbishop Michalik had told the PAP news agency.

‘We often hear that this inappropriate attitude [i.e. paedophilia], or abuse, manifests itself when a child is looking for love.

‘It clings, it searches. It gets lost itself and then draws another person into this.’

While condemning paedophile priests ‘whom neither the Church nor anyone else can accept,’ the cleric also spoke out against divorce as being harmful to children.

‘How many wounds are their in children’s hearts, in children’s lives, when their parents go their separate ways,’ he said.

‘Today nobody talks about divorce doing great harm to a child. It’s obvious that sex abuse does great harm, one can’t forget about it, but it’s not the only thing.’

In an unprecedented move, Polish church leaders apologised earlier this month for the actions of alleged paedophile priests, as prosecutors began probes against two high-profile suspects.

Archbishop Jozef Wesolowski, a 65-year-old Pole who served as a papal envoy in the Dominican Republic for five years, is being investigated for allegedly having sex with teenage boys.

While condemning paedophile priests 'whom neither the Church nor anyone else can accept,' the cleric also spoke out against divorce as being harmful to children

While condemning paedophile priests ‘whom neither the Church nor anyone else can accept,’ the cleric also spoke out against divorce as being harmful to children

Authorities in the Caribbean country are also investigating Wojciech Gil, a 36-year-old priest suspected of raping several young boys while serving there.

Gil told Polish media last week the allegations were fabricated, claiming that Dominican drug gangs were trying to frame him.

Despite the apology, Church leaders in Poland insist they will not be offering victims any material compensation.

Unlike in countries such as the U.S. and Ireland, child sex abuse by priests in Poland has been a largely taboo subject and has so far not provoked widespread public outcry.

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Divorced parents also to blame for pedophilia, Polish Archbishop Jozef Michalik says

THE top cleric in Poland’s Roman Catholic church has said parents share the blame for certain cases of paedophilia, including those involving Catholic priests.

The comment comes amid mounting allegations of pedophilia involving priests in Poland, one of Europe’s most heavily Catholic countries where loyalty to the church is beginning to wane.

“Many of these cases of (sexual) molestation could be avoided given a healthy relationship between parents,” Archbishop Jozef Michalik, head of Poland’s Episcopate told the Polish PAP news agency in Warsaw.

“We often hear that this inappropriate attitude (pedophilia), or abuse, manifests itself when a child is looking for love,” Archbishop Michalik said.

“It (the child) clings, it searches. It gets lost itself and then draws another person into this”, Archbishop Michalik said.

While condemning pedophile priests “whom neither the Church nor anyone else can accept,” Archbishop Michalik also spoke out against divorce as being harmful to children.

“How many wounds are their in children’s hearts, in children’s lives, when their parents go their separate ways,” he told the PAP.

“Today nobody talks about divorce doing great harm to a child. It’s obvious that sex abuse does great harm, one can’t forget about it, but it’s not the only thing” causing harm, he added.

In an unprecedented move, Polish Church leaders apologised earlier this month over alleged pedophile priests, as prosecutors on both sides of the Atlantic began probes against two high-profile suspects.

Archbishop Jozef Wesolowski, a 65-year-old Pole who served as a papal envoy in the Dominican Republic’s Santo Domingo for around five years, is being investigated for allegedly having sex with teenage boys.

Authorities on the Caribbean island nation are also investigating Wojciech Gil, a 36-year-old priest suspected of raping several young boys while serving there.

Fr Gil told Polish media last week the allegations were fabricated, pointing to Dominican drug gangs possibly trying to frame him.

Despite the apology, Church leaders in Poland inist they will not be offering victims any material compensation.

Unlike the United States, Australia or Ireland, child sex abuse by priests in Poland has been a largely taboo subject and has so far not provoked widespread public outcry.

8 Responses to “Archbishop apologises for ‘slip of the tongue’ claims that paedophilia is caused by divorce” & related article

  1. Sylvia says:

    Yes, I can see where the connection is made to divorce and appearance that Archbishop Jozef Michalik is blaming divorce for the sex abuse scandal. I however see the Archbishop’s comments as more sinister than that: as I read his comments he blames the child for seducing poor “Father.”

    Look at this:

    “‘We often hear that this inappropriate attitude [i.e. paedophilia], or abuse, manifests itself when a child is looking for love.

    “‘It clings, it searches. It gets lost itself and then draws another person into this.’”

    “…then draws another person into this.”

    Poor poor dear Father. He doesn’t stand a chance. It’s not his fault.

    How pathetic!

    How disgusting!

    And this from an Archbishop.

    This is reminiscent of similar comments made by the now deceased former Bishop of Antigonish, N.S., Colin Campbell. It’s the child’s fault.

    So, the Archbishop apologized. It was, we are told by a third party, a slip of the Archbishop’s tongue.

    Perhaps? Perhaps it was. Let’s see:

    “…then draws another person into this”?

    Quite a slip.

    True, there is a language and translation issue here.

    But, I think there’s a problem with the Archbishop’s attitude regarding clerical sexual predators.

    Wouldn’t it be nice if these ‘men of God’ just humbly acknowledged that priests have molested? and that the sexual abuse of a child by a priest is an evil which can not be tolerated in the Church? and that clerical molesters must be purged from the ranks of the priesthood, and that no child – not one – is ever to blame for the perverted and evil sexual acts of a preying priest?

  2. JG says:

    ….“Many of these cases of (sexual) molestation could be avoided given a healthy relationship between parents,”…!!!!

    I wonder if he meant this part of his rationale to occur before of after “father” became a good friend of the family, was invited over for supper and then maybe wiggled his way into an overnight stay so he could pray with little Johnny on the side of his bed…
    He is not only blaming the child he finds a way to blame the parents!
    They have no shame, no honor but they pretend to have a Soul!!??…I can see the “Spirit” right behind them with a steel shovel, ready to swing!…

    They certainly have to cover-up for another year until the JPII celebrations…Sainthood!!… How will the story of a snotty nose kid be able to top that?… or the ramblings of a homeless, unhealthy alcoholic who mumbles and stares at the ground when someone pretends to listen to him! Not very hard for “monsignor” to be more convincing or for the “archbishop” to pretend he has intelligent insight…
    Of course it is too bad for the victims but “there will be no material compensation”!
    The Poles should make sure the “cheap” prayers are not whispered on top of a pillow!.. or are not twisted and glorified with a bowl of soup and a sandwich…
    Blame the child and the parents but make sure you save the money!!!…
    Same old games being recycled for a new crowd.
    No shame for the “holy perverts”!…
    I can’t call them “men of God”, even if only in jest…when they carry on with this type of explanation, in their own defense…for their own fantasy. They explain a view of the world, of our lives, where fewer and fewer can see themselves…
    More of a delusion and a failure than a “Guide” of any sort.
    Christ has left the building!..and he too is looking for a shovel…to bury the whole lot with their money and their comfortable, educated arrogance…
    jg

  3. B says:

    Agreed, Sylvia. The primary connection between divorce and pedophilia which I see is that predators know which children, sometimes from divorced families, are vulnerable, confused, etc, and target them as their prey. To indicate that the priest is “drawn in” is completely backwards and reprehensible.

    On another note, I have received an email from the local police & school that a known child molester has been released to a local halfway house, complete with his photo, and a number to call if he should be seen near a school. How utterly opposite to the way most churches handle–or choose not to handle–their responsibility to those most in danger.

  4. Mike Fitzgerald says:

    Nut cases!!!!! Blaming a child, or it’s parents for the deviant, criminal actions of a catholic priest????@#$%^&*
    Aaaaaaaaargh!!!!

    These nut cases and their enablers are completely out to lunch. You know, “light’s on, but nobody’s home”. “Elevator doesn’t go to the top floor”. Couple of degrees out of “plumb”. Mike.

  5. Mike Fitzgerald says:

    More than just a “couple degrees out of plumb” would be a safe assumption!

    Assuming these two nut cases (bishops) are telling us the absolute truth, we all are left to assume that catholic priests in general are incapable of restraining their sexual urges and are also incapable of honouring their priestly vows of celibacy and chastity.
    Please bear in mind that these same catholic priests are ALL holders of university degrees, and as such are very well educated.

    It is all our fault if the priest cannot resist the sexual advances of a 9 year old child!!

    This scenario is the most pathetic and sickening attempt I have ever heard to deny, minimize, and blame others for the CRIMINAL actions of a catholic priest. And further to realize that we are taught that these same priests are God’s local representatives to HIS flock here on earth!!!
    God help us all!!!! Mike.

  6. Leona says:

    My parents were married for 48 years before my father died. Jack McCann’s parents remained married till his father died. I know that 3 of the other victims parents remained married. How in this case does divorce figure into this case in anyway shape or form?

    These men continually want to shift blame, and refuse to look at the reality of the situation. Like JG said, “bring on the shovels!”

  7. Jerry Boyle says:

    I think the Bishop has things reversed. As a two year victim of one of the “holier than thou”, I found it very difficult to maintain a relationship with my partner(s). What happened was I found it impossible to discuss the decades of nightmares that disrupted our sleep and the lack of intimacy that is expected in an honest relationship. That led to divorce …….. TWICE. Maybe I should have assigned the blame where it belonged. Sometimes that is hard to determine.

    It was not my parents fault. They were married forever and a loving home life was my experience. The only issue there was the total trust they put in the clergy and the resulting inability for me to report the crimes to them. Looking for love was not in the cards. Father Marshall was looking and it was not for love!!!!

    The Bishop has the cause mixed up with the result.

    Have a Happy Thanksgiving….I’ll try.

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