How is this possible?

About 6 years ago the remains of 800 babies and children were found hidden in a septic tank in a disused convent in Tuam, Ireland. For much of the 20th.century the convent had been a Catholic home for illegitimate children; any deaths that were reported were put down to diseases caused by malnutrition. The matter is still under investigation. Under pressure from the Irish PM and others the Pope on his just-ended visit, apologised for past wrongs but apparently knew nothing about this. How is it possible that with a visit pending, neither Vatican advisers nor Irish bishops briefed him on such a crime?

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ArishMell · 70-79, M

There was a series on BBC Radio Four recently about this.

One who'd lived there was asked what should happen to the surviving nuns. She thought for a moment, and said they've already been punished. When asked gently, how, she explained by their having lost all their power.

Unfortunately I missed the last episode, which queried the views and recollections of the State, but to answer the OP's last question, it's possible the advisors and bishops were afraid either of embarrassing him or being seen as trouble-makers by the Vatican heirarchy.

The Catholic Church has a lot to answer for, around the world though Ireland was one of its darkest countries, but to be fair it is slowly trying to address its guilt. After all, it took 400 years to forgive Galileo, and that for his astronomy; and it still can't quite accept that. A few years ago a British RC bishop opined that the Church's problems stem a lot from its views on women and human sexuality - instead of thinking about it and realising what he meant, the Vatican basically told him to shut up.

alan20 · M

@ArishMell There have been so many major issues that the Church has been badly wrong about, down the centuries. I accept that there are some good Catholics, but many that were or are evil, stupid, naive, just couldn't be bothered getting involved. There are currently some allegations about the Pope covering up. Because of indoctrination from birth some still attend Mass every day - for emotional reasons; they admit bad things have happened but cannot make the break.

ArishMell · 70-79, M

@alan20
Perhaps not just a matter of not being bothered, but being afraid to speak up, or to leave the Church.

It is hard to do anything when the Church has become so ingrained in society as a whole that it takes a lot of courage and determination to speak or act against it.

alan20 · M

@ArishMell Afraid of what though? Eternal damnation perhaps. I know that we were taught that the greatest sin of all was pride in our own intellects. But if one knows that something outrageous is being perpetrated against a child by someone ordained a priest and protected by that organisation, it's hard to understand how one can stay silent. Two of my classmates have become priests. I know that one at least was aware of the widespread paedophilia, so why is he a priest? Several of my in-laws agree that this is going on and yet continue attending Mass and being practising Catholics. I can't understand why. They're not going to be attacked by society for deciding enough is enough.

ArishMell · 70-79, M

@alan20
Afraid of human, not divine, damnation. When a church has as much power over its society as the Church of Rome had, resistance must be very difficult.

I find it hard to understand the silence too, how the priesthood can still recruit, that members of the congregation can still attend the services, when they know how corrupt is their Church.

It is only very recently that victims of abuse (I refuse and abjure the use of "survivors") felt able to speak out, and when asked why they had kept quite for so long, the most common reason is that they felt no-one would believe a priest or nun could be so, well, sinful.

You may be right that the people you know would not be ostracised or criticised for abandoning the Church of Rome nowadays, but old beliefs die hard; and such people might even feel the situation can only improve.