Cardinal Sean Brady, today the leading church figure in Ireland for the Catholic Church, was the lead investigator in 1975, when then 14-year-old Brendon Boland told him he had been sexually abused by Fr. Brendan Smyth.
Not only that, but this brave 14-year-old boy also
gave the names and addresses of other children who were at risk from the paedophile priest to Cardinal Brady, who at that time was a 36-year-old priest.
Young Brendon thought he was saving not only himself, but other children from being sexually abused again by Fr. Smyth.
Cardinal Brady, then a lawyer for the Catholic Church, claims he was not the lead investigator, but merely a "note taker" and
...passed the allegations to his superiors but did not inform the police or the children's parents.
Fr Smyth continued to sexually assault one of the boys for a year after that.
He also abused the boy's sister for seven years, and four of his cousins, up until 1988.
Brendon Bolen was an alter boy, age 11 when it started - and was sexually abused for 2 years. But at 14, he reported to his Parish Priest who took him straight home to tell his parents. A week later, he was reporting to a Canon Lawyer for the Catholic Church, then Fr. John B. Brady.
The line of questioning is quite disturbing - he was alone with his father asked to stay outside -
Brandon was asked about his own behavior
Did you ever do anything like this before with another boy or grown man?
If not why not?
Did your body change - did you get an erection?
Did Seed come from your body?
And how did the Catholic Church ensure Brendon Boland's continued silence? They placed his hand on a bible, had him repeat the following and sign a document reading:
"I Brandon Bolen do solemnly swear that I have told the truth, and the whole truth. I will speak to no one about this meeting, only to authorized Priests."
The bottom signature? John B. Brady, now Sean Brady, Cardinal of Ireland.
The documentary in it's entirety is below the jump...[Trigger Warning]
Tree Climbers at Daily Kos is a community composed of survivors of childhood sexual, physical, and emotional abuse and those who support them.
Tree Climbers tell our stories, recover, sustain each other, learn about childhood abuse, and discover and create ways to protect children.
Trigger Warning - The next paragraph holds brutal words. Feel free to scroll past it.
In a typical Tree Climbers diary, you might read of someone who survived the grooming (this does not mean hair brushing), the fondlings, the rapings, the beatings, the mutilations or the death threats perpetrated by a sadistic egocentric molester of an innocent. Criminals abuse their victims. For years. Families refuse to believe the victims. For years. Victims report being dead inside. For years. Families and society have stifled the voices of victims and magnified and perpetuated the abuse. For years. We weep. We rage. We heal. We inspire.
We invite you to climb or be lifted up in our safe tree with us. We have broad branches, sunshine, hammocks, cushions, and plenty of tissues. Comment on the diary, ask questions, and share your perspective or even your story. If you are too overwhelmed to speak, you can just witness. That's okay. A few of the Tree Climbers are as silent as a jury.
Tree Climbers Rule: Be kind.
No T r o l l s. When we were children, we had no power. But we are no longer children. Climbing trees is not healthy for trolls - everybody knows that. If you act like a troll in our tree, we will calmly watch while you become invisible.
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Special diaries and a radio broadcast. If you missed the first few days of the Tree Climbers, we recommend that you read the following three diaries and also listen to a radio interview.
• F**k Joe Paterno by Rebecca, January 22, 2012.
• “No One Spoke Up for Us": For The Children Who Had No Voice and for Those Finally Finding Theirs by Rebecca, January 26, 2012.
• In Solidarity. There is No True Justice for a Crime That Lasts Forever by dear occupant, January 26, 2012.
• Tree Climbers - Roxine's Interview. On Dr. Laura's radio show on November 11, 2011, Roxine read her letter on air (8 minutes).
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