ALTHOUGH THERE are no reports, many Jama-icans feel that the paedophilia scandal that has dogged the Catholic Church internationally is an issue locally, according to the findings of a Gleaner-commissioned poll.
Fifty two per cent of a sample of 1,008 respondents in 18 communities across the island's 14 parishes held this view, mainly in the parishes of St. Mary, St. Catherine, Westmoreland and Hanover.
Fourteen per cent of the respondents in the poll, conducted on May 13 and 14, said that the Church problems were not an issue in Jamaica. The margin of error is plus or minus three per cent.
In recent times, a series of allegations concerning the molestation of youngsters, especially young boys, by members of the Catholic clergy, surfaced in the international media. According to the reports, most cases of sexual abuse occurred in seminaries, schools and orphanages.
NO SUCH CASES IN JAMAICA
Informed about the findings of The Gleaner-Bill Johnson poll, Roman Catholic Archbishop the Most Rev. Lawrence Burke emphasised that he was not aware of any such cases in this country. "No one has accused anyone in front of me," he said. "I deal with facts and I don't have any facts on this issue."
According to an article on the website, wikipedia.com, in the late 20th century and especially at the turn of the 21st, the Catholic Church in several countries was confronted with a series of allegations, many of which were confirmed. The article, while not confirming the number of cases, stated that countries where the allegations were brought included Ireland, Britain, Canada and the United States. The crimes, which were committed mainly on boys aged 13 to 17 years, took place several years before they became public knowledge.
APOLOGIES AND RESTITUTION
According to the article, in many cases, the crimes when reported, were covered up by high-ranking authorities of the Church. "The Church in several countries has responded more openly than in the past, resulting in apologies and restitution to the victims, and the criminal prosecution of the perpetrators," the article said.
