Survivors Rally in Dublin.

On 2010-05-12, in News, by Paddy

A Great Day for the Irish, and Catholic Victims Survivors Rally in Dublin for International Action against the Vatican
by Kevin D. Annett

I have a message to the Catholic church today: Get out of my country!”

Kevin Flanagan stood with me and fifty others, including a swarm of all the major media, as he said these words outside the Dail, the Irish parliament, in downtown Dublin today.

Tortured as a child in a Catholic school, Kevin faced the truth unafraid, and shared it with all of us who gathered to confront the state coverup of horrible crimes by the church in institutions across Ireland – and to reveal how these crimes continue.

“My brother Christopher Smith was thrown into a mental institute in Cork by the police for being homeless. They held him there for forty years, and experimented on him with drugs until he died in 2007, a burned out shell of a man. They’re still doing that to people, to little kids, in St. Stephen’s Hospital in Cork, in Unit 5, right now. Where is the justice?”

So said Mary Smith to our crowd, as national televsion and newspaper media recorded the stories and asked me what I as a Canadian was doing there.

I spoke of how such crimes were international, of children who died in Christian Indian residential schools in Canada, of how there, as in Ireland, the churches responsible have gotten away with murder. And I spoke of how most of the crimes led to Rome, and the Vatican.

At one point, Paddy Doyle, a world-renowned author, pulled his wheelchair next to me, as we unfurled the banner that has flown outside the Vatican, in London, and around the world, declaring “All the Children Need a Proper Burial”.

Holding out to me a bundle of children’s shoes that were recently hung at another protest by survivors in Ireland, Paddy asked me to carry these shoes as a remembrance of all the children who suffered and died under church control.

Of all the moments I have shared on this long journey, Paddy’s offering struck home the hardest. Taking the shoes, I said I would bring them with me wherever I went in the world.

Something seemed to join us all at that moment, and I suddenly knew that, in the midst of the official lies, the corruption, and all the unmarked graves, people like Paddy and Mary and Kevin are part of what keeps the soul of humanity alive.

Even the police there today felt it. Watching from the entrance to the Dail, two young Gardai approached us as the rally ended, and extended their hands to me.

“I want to wish you luck, Reverend” said one of them.

But that wasn’t good enough for all of us. Kevin and John and a few of the best stalwarts hurried to the other side of the Dail after the rally, where an “official” meeting between church and government officials was taking place to plan so-called “compensation” to their victims. As the officials entered the side door, Kevin began berating them with Gaelic fury.

“Shame on you!” he yelled.

“Shame on you murderers! We don’t want your blood money! We want you in jail!”

I marveled at the moment, as the church flunkies looked terrified and the policemen smiled, and Kevin allowed himself a rare sense of victory. I marveled at how the same spirit that defied the biggest empire in the world, just blocks away during the 1916 rebellion, lived on in the very hearts and lives targeted for death at a tender age.

Later, over tea and beer, Paddy Doyle announced that he planned to arrest the Pope when he comes to England in mid September. And I fully expect that all five foot two inches of him, a “disabled” man in a wheelchair, will do just that.

Today was more than our sixth “Aboriginal Holocaust Remembrance Day”, celebrated now in the land of my ancestors. Today was our resurrection day.

To all the children, and to those we may have protected today.

………… ……… ……… ……… ……… ……… ……… ……… ……… ……… ………

Note: Kevin Annett will be continuing his European speaking and organizing tour in eight German cities between April 19 and 26.

 

14 Responses to “Survivors Rally in Dublin.”

  1. robert says:

    YES YES PADDY THIS TIME THE LATEST OF COVER-UPS THE GOVERNMENT VERSION.
    HE SAYS TAX PAYERS MONEY BUT NEVER VOTERS MONEY HE WILL PAY FOR THAT TOO ELECTION DAY AS NOT TO BE TRUSTED HIS PARTY HAS NO HEART SO THEY HAVE NO REMORSE OR SORROW TO THEIR SHAME.
    THAT MONEY COULD HAVE CLEARED UP A LOT OF THE FILTH
    I SAID IT BEFORE THE TAX PAYER PAID BACK THEN AND NOT A CENT REACHED THE CHILDREN, THE RELIGIOUS GOT RICH BUT NOW WE HAVE THE CHANCE OF FINALLY GETTING IT THEY GRABBED IT BACK AGAIN.

    NOW WE ARE TO TRUST THE MODERN VERSION OF CONTROL, TITLED SURVIVORS GROUPS, THIS TITLE IS DIFFERENT TO THE CONTROL OF THE PAST ORDERS BUT THE VERY SAME STYLE AS BEFORE.

    JUSY ANOTHER OF THE GOVERNMENT’S COVER UPS
    NEVER MIND THE FECKEN FILTHY RELIGIOUS PROBLEMS WHAT ABOUT THE SURVIVORS I SAY TO THE MEDIA WHY NOT EXPOSE THIS COVER-UP BY THE SAME SYSTEM AS BEFORE.
    WHO IS GOING TO PRINT THIS ONE, OR ARE THE MEDIA CONTROLLED BY THE GOVERNMENT?
    THE INVENTION “(( SURVIVOR GROUPS ))” WHO HAVE NEVER VISITED ANY HOMES OF SURVIVORS, WHO HAVE NEGLECTED SURVIVORS, WHO ARE NOW CONTROLLING SURVIVOR’S LIVES TO THE BENEFIT OF THE RELIGIOUS AND GOVERNMENT. HAVING MEETINGS IN PRIVATE.
    SO MANY SURVIVORS ARE NOT EVEN AWARE OF, DO THE MEDIA KNOW THIS???
    OR IS IT OUR FAULT WE DO NOT STAND UP ALL TOGETHER FOR OUR RIGHTS THAT THERE IS NO STORY FOR THEM TO PRINT?
    NOTHING ABOUT US WITHOUT US.

  2. Charles Pragnell says:

    Now that the abuses by the RC Chruch and its followers right up to the Vatican and the complicity of the Irish government are known throughout Ireland and across the world, the RC and the Irish government are desperately trying to smother the flames of anger and despair and conduct a joint `Damage Limitation exercise’. How did this weird religious cult and cult of weirdoes ever get such a stranglehold on Ireland and its peoples?. Now is the time to send them all packing back to Rome to conduct their abusive oppressive rituals on each other. Satanic Ritual Abuse is clearly evident in the RC Church and amongst its priests and believers.

  3. Paddy says:

    More secrecy! God knows we should be used to it now. I’ve said time and time again that abuse thrives on secrecy. I stick by that. Everyone is entitled to know what’s going on when it comes to meetings.
    NOTHING ABOUT US WITHOUT US means just that. Paddy.

  4. robert says:

    Apparently there was a meeting in Dublin a few days ago or so, again I knew nothing about it regarding the government taken two thirds back.
    I just sent an email to another party to demand we all first get a personal apology and copies of any meetings that have taken place between these survivor groups and Mr Cowen as they do not represent all survivors. We have a right to know what they are talking about word for word before any decisions are made or is this another cover up? I said to the party I wrote to.

  5. robert says:

    those shoes are the best memorial they said it all for the PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE of all children.
    it took true hearted feelings to think of those shoes

    the REALITY OF THESE SHOES have WASHED aside the fairy-tales the religious have built up throughout their history.
    and are a reminder to irish culture on what happens to children if they are left to religious beliefs and to cuts in governmental decisions regarding child safety.

  6. Charles Pragnell says:

    The pernicious influence and the abusive actions of the Roman Catholic Church on children and parents in Ireland is Ireland’s Holocaust. Not only have children been directly abused by its priests, but mothers and children escaping horribly abusive marital relationships have been ordered back by RC Priests to `save the father’s soul’ and have endured further abuse within their own homes. Young vulnerable unmarried mothers have been given no help to keep their babies but have had their children their children taken from them and placed for adoption and then the mothers have been further abused in the Insitutions. Families have been brainwashed that one of their children is “Special unto God” and this child should become a priest or nun and the reward to the family will be a guaranteed place in heaven. Wake up Ireland and recognise the enemy within your society that has been perniciously brainwashing you all. Of course politicians will deny the wrongful and immoral deeds of the RC Church to protect their vested interests. Ireland had caring, protective indigenous religions for many millenia before the RC mob came and destroyed them.
    Free yourselves from the chains of your RC invaders and oppressors and their sycophantic followers and supporters who have condoned and cooperated in their abusive actions!. Your future children depend on you.

  7. Paddy says:

    Olivia, that is a most kind comment. The credit for the shoes must go to Frank who thought up the idea and paid for all those shoes out of his own pocket. No doubt Frank will see your comment and perhaps respond. Let the light shine in to the darkest corners of our history – the abuse of our children. Paddy.

  8. olivia says:

    Hi Paddy,
    The very thought of those little shoes now travelling around the world – a true symbol and reminder for the rest of us, never to forget the awful suffering inflicted on so many children in this so called holy land of ours!
    You are a shining light Paddy! Keep that light lit! Where there is light, there is
    hope, despite all the darkness!

    Every good wish!!

  9. Paddy says:

    Delma, those were the shoes that disappeared. Frank who contributes regularly to this website bought those shoes not me. He deserves the credit for all that. I just handed them to Kevin and now they are being brought around the world. Indeed a warming thought. Paddy

  10. Delma says:

    Paddy,
    Q; Were those the very shoes that disappeared? Now they’re travelling shoes!, you donated them. I like that they will symbolically be in attendance at protests of hope across the globe!!.. a warming thought.
    d

  11. Tony Duggan says:

    Not a survivor of abuse myself but I would echo the thought that I would like to see the back of that organisation in Ireland.

    If it had been any other kind of private organisation their guilty officers would have been swinging from lampposts up and down the country.

    We’ll not get a chance to develop proper systems to prevent such abuses again until the influence of that organisation is smashed forever in Ireland.

    Sorry all- sometimes I wonder myself whether I could be accused of piggybacking on an issue to settle a personal grudge of my own and I’ll not lie to any survivor- don’t know the answer to that myself but I do know deep down that the Catholic church has done more damage to my country than any Black and Tans ever did.

    And I hate the church as much and regard any Irishman wearing its uniform in the same way I’d look at an Irishman wearing a Black and Tan uniform.

    Harsh but I don’t care.

  12. robert says:

    On the 11-5-2010 the Oireachtas a very brief view on archbishop martin where senator Geraldine Feeney decided to bring to stand for the church she wants it to be there in the future. she believes the church is a good thing for Ireland. (basically speaking)
    there was no in-debt yet again about survivors and their lives. i guess we are all dead to this fecken house of the Oireachtas as they held a debate about dog breeding that was more important.
    This Senator as others are more concerned about the churches future in Ireland than that of the families of Ireland.
    She still believes the church who denies sexual feelings is good for Ireland. WHAT? How many more times do they have to learn that those who deny their human functions are going to do it out of sight.
    Leaving these kind of people to do the very same again and again to children of the future.

  13. Charles Pragnell says:

    How can anyone enter a Roman Catholic Church in Ireland, knowing what those who administer that religion have done to the children of Ireland.?. How can they take the Holy Communion of that church knowing that in doing so they are condoning and colluding and associating with those abusers?. It was not a case of a few `Bad’ priests – they all knew at every level that the abuse was happening, they colluded in protecting the abusers and molesters, and added to the abuse by silencing the victims. Yet now they all try to do a Pontius Pilate act and deny their corporate and collective guilt. RC followers are as bad as the abusers for their collusion and for condoning what happened by continuing in their support.

  14. Portia says:

    That is the best article ever written Paddy.

    Kevin has the deep feeling of truth of all the pain suffering, collusion etc

    The Goddess Of Justice has returned to Tara.

    Now watch the guilty scatter.

    The Brothers and Sisters of the Earth UNITE IN LIGHT AND TRUTH