Cold, cold, cold the snow outside the country church.
The quiet park, in summer filled with children's happy cries
And singing birds and mothers, babes in arms, is quiet now.
Snow falls gently on the leaves and on the statue in the lake.
But in the vestry all is not so quiet, as Father Reilly
Gropes his Christian way under the young girl's clothes,
Not minding her screams of terror at his clawing fingers;
"For the love of Jesus, but that feels great," he moans.
And don't forget that, even if he does get caught one day,
Even if that little girl tells her shocked Mummy and Dad,
The bishop, clad in purple and with all the Church's power,
Will brush the trivial incident under the clerical carpet.
*****
EDNA PERSUADED BISHOP PADDY O'POOFTA TO READ THIS POEM TO YOU. IT WAS AT media.putfile.com/Games-in-the-Vestry & WAS IN THE ACCENT OF THE RARE OULD TIMES - UNFORTUNATELY IT HAS NOW BEEN DELETED, NO DOUBT THANKS TO THE INFLUENCE OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. I'LL TRY & REPOST IT ELSEWHERE BUT DON'T HOLD YOUR BREATH. IF IT'S TOTALLY DESPERATE TO HEAR IT YOU ARE, SEND ME A MESSAGE & YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS & I'LL SEND YOU A COPY OF YOUR VERY OWN.
*****
Author notes
One of the great scandals of the last 60 years is the number of Catholic priests who have had sex with little children and then been protected by their bishops and indeed by the previous and current popes.
Try www.allpoetry.com/poem/1592532 .
Ireland and New England get the gold prizes in the paedophile parade.
Written 14th December, 2005.
In a list
A contest entry
- Raven Qualifier - Dark: Anger, Angst and Goth by Raven Contest.
450 points, ended August 1, 2007, 124 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
1 - 31 of 31
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I like the purples and the carpet and the spring to winters cooled claw
also appreciate that the pervert does not seem to be acting out of malice as most child molestation poems tend to characterize with -
I have to say in all honesty that it has been a pleasure for me to read a second entry from this author into the Raven contest, if only for the candour of such a piece. During my travels through the dark category I have read many poems on abuse and the effects it has on people’s lives but I think this is the first one that has openly covered the topic of abuse from those within the church. I feel that it’s been written in a manner that doesn’t instantly create revulsion in the reader, thus enabling it to be appreciated by a greater audience. Subjects like this should be aired more frequently, though I personally think there are few that like to tackle such issues with the directness found in this work. Airing the topic in this manner opens it to debate rather than confining it to the thoughts of one victim, though there is room for both.
I agree with the author notes, that this crime is coming to light more these days but I think it’s always been a clandestine element in the church. Media coverage simply allows it to reach the general public far more frequently now. I’ve often wondered if a survey was done on abuse within the church, whether it would conclusively prove that ‘more’ abuse takes place in religions where men or women are ‘expected to remain celibate.’ While some religious people might say remaining celibate is a “test of strength or faith” in their vocation to God, I personally think that if God created mankind with a sexual desire, then it is something that he clearly intended mankind to do, so why ask his ‘loyal servants’ not to do it. It is a basic need in all nature to procreate and that surely includes ‘men of God.’ It’s the next step up from the basic need of fulfilling hunger or thirst. (Though a little less life threatening if the need isn’t not met, lol.) On those grounds, I think the church has created much of its own perverted problem and should address the issue if it wants credibility and survive into the future. I don’t suggest for one moment that all celibate people are perverts, of course they aren’t, but some of those who ‘claim’ to be celibate either have a strong constitution to overcome a ‘primeval desire’ or they are finding other sources of release.
I found no bones to pick over in this work and found the directness and clarity of it to be a benefit. For any one who hasn’t yet taken the opportunity to listen to Bishop Paddy O’Poofta I recommend you do because it adds another dimension to this poem.
Thank you for entering the Raven Contest 2007 and good luck with your entry! Your work may also be viewed by other Raven judges.
Northern Raven
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an exelent write although not fitting into my *chocolate* contest i am still happy to be able to read comment and applaud this one, it is frighteningly true for many children that the so called * priests/men of god* (and in some childrens homes *nuns/brides of christ* ) are their first introduction to abuse either physical sexual or both.
it is also very true that cover ups are more likely than prossocutions in all cases to do with the church,
i believe that anything that brings these things out into the open and into the public mind/eye be it serious or humor is worth applauding.
i shall book mark this as i see there are other links to peek at
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Good job with this one i really liked it. You are a very talented writer and i hope that you will just keep getting better. Good job and keep up the good work.
Lindsay -
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I did get better.
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When you say "this is terrible" do you mean...
a] my poem is terrible
b] my audio version is terrible
c] catholic hypocrisy is terrible
d] pederasty is terrible
e] all of these
???
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I agree with everyone this is terrible!!! I don't know if something like this happened to you or a loved one but its not on!!! My boyfriends uncle is presently, and has been in and out, of prison for the last 15 years for paedophilia. He was a member of the clergy also. He tried to touch up Karl (my boyfriend) but i'm so proud of Karl as he was brave enough to knee him in the privates and call the police (he had hurt beforehand that his uncle had been in prison for doing similar things) at about 11 years old. He hates his parents in many ways for leaving him with his uncle when they new of the way he was. It's the same with all those bishops by brushing it under the carpet they are basically agreeing with it! Which is wrong! Karl hates his uncle and has in the past carried out similar acts... It messes with your head. He's better now though. Thanks for sharing and best of luck.
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I enjoyed your audio presentation very much. I have been involved in so many recently it’s nice to listen to others. The pour girl getting a blast from a dirty old canon, always remember never ask a Priest were the little boys room is
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See where I commented on this before in January - glad you are featuring it again and letting more know about this.
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Dear GLC: Did you try the audio recording on this poem?
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wow
wow -
So much has been written about this, braodcasted about this and videoed about this, and still the men get off with only a slap on the wrists. In Canada some have been up for court sentences and the church has been ordered to pay so much in compensation, as if money will ever get rid of the stigma and abuse these children had to endure and still do. Well written.
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Dear hockey goalie,
Lighten up a bit, babe. -
I think it's sad that too many children have been taken advantage of by too many clerics. I don't think this is ever funny or something to trivialize.
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It always makes me feel sick that those who are in positions of trust, like bishops, abuse this power and brush off accountability for their actions. Especially in taking advantage of children who will carry the scars of his fantasy with them for the rest of their lives is too much to keep down. One thing that I believe is that all men will stand before God one day and give account for what they've done in this life. If these priests would repent of what they've done, I'm sure God would forgive them, but they should still serve sentences befitting their crime. That's just how society works. So, yeah, that's my rant, good write, very provocative subject.
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Hi , so true my friend but the power of Rome still moves in certain quarters, ahhhh it's a sad world and things get worse by the day,great write my friend, will try and stay up till midnight but if I dont , have a very happy new year, time to open a bottle of something good, pity you are not here to share, next new year I could well be in England, hugs Di
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This is so true. The thing about this is people act like "hey he did that so what, as long as it's not happening to my kids I don't care." The thing people don't understand, is that it can happen to anybody. You are raising awareness of how the world is slowly falling apart. It's a horrible sight anywhere you go now. That is what's so sad. Thank you for entering my contest. Good luck!!
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well done. it really is terribly sad that the atrocities these certain priests have comitted have given the entire faith a bad rap. it's also incredibly sad that people are so willing to judge an entire faith by the actions of a few.
what they did was wrong and disgusting and horrible, and it is important to verbalize that. nice work. -
truthful, sadly
At least you bring to light the truth of the poor bastards hiding behind robes and sanctimonious religion. -
As a reminder, for a cartoon you may not like, try: www.apocalypsecartoons.com/fathertucker/fathertucker.html
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Those priests will have a good hot spot in Hell for their transgressions; I'm Christian and cannot help but be disgusted at the wrongs committed by the clergy and other ranking members, not just of Catholicism, but all Christian sects. I applaud your keeping of these events in the open; it's good for people to know what really goes on sometimes behind those closed church doors so they can act and stop it, even if some are idiotic enough to have ignorance over truth. Very good poem.
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Judgement day comes for all of us. Those leaders of the church have a higher responsibility for their sins upon the innocent than us regular people. They are judged more sternly and harshly. Their day will come for thier dirty deeds and will pay highly.
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Oh my, that's just wrong. But, all the same, I did chuckle. Thanks for sharing, Edna.
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Dear Dark Prince: thank you for putting on that link. I think it is UTTERLY fabulous, one of the best cartoons i have ever seen in my entire life. Staggering! I am very grateful. I hope you won't mind if I include the link in other poems on this subject! In the meantime I have added an AUDIO version of the poem which I hope you will try out! The link is www.dump.com/cttl/vestry. I did it before I saw the Father F. cartoon - if I had seen that before I would never have presumed. Thanks again! Wonderful.
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Oh my goodness. That "A-IdDie4Jesus-A" is a true cretin of the highest order. "all my Christian authority"... what a load of poppycock. Stimelderfrutch, even. Poor Jesus. He was a genuinely cool guy, and all these little turd-weasles misusing his message of tolerance, peace and love make me as angry as a tiger in an itchy jumper.
Anyway, onto the poem. It was magnificent, of course.
Do you know that I am a member of the clergy? Well, my clergy. I am Pope Becman the Fourth. I even have a pope costume, complete with cool shades and a rather nifty hassock.
Much better than all these twisted Catholic types. -
i fall for little and feel little shame for falling but
as the sun revolves around the earth
so shall the earth revolve around cannedvenient forgiveness and forgetfulness
We are the word or the world made flesh.
We are the choice of life, of death.
We are to be shamed and soiled by our in and actions.
Let's not place blame on convenient idiots when we make no attempt to change a world where they, and we, can play without the chime or yell of dining's bells.
Oops. Drunk in the afternoon, again, after killing the wild rabbit and whatnot. -
first i want to say to A-IdDie4Jesus-A that your muslim comment was very rude,disrespectful and uncalled for.
i am offended by YOU!
now i want to say yay to edna for posting this.you anmd micael are doing a great thing here informing people of the truth.
it might be a disgusting revolting truth,but it happens and these so called "christions" can go sit on a tac!
great job -
Dear A-Id etc etc. I referred your insulting comment to the moderators. However I now realise that this was a joke and I loved it. You struck just the right note of outraged moronic Christianity that I fell for it. But my revenge will be savage.
Edited on Dec 15, 8:50 because 'The light dawned.'. -
this is amazing! I have heard about all the disgusting things such as this that has gone on. It is so horrible that things like this happen. Thanks so much for entering and bringing awareness,
-Faithful Dreamer -
www.apocalypsecartoons.com/fathertucker/fathertucker.html
The above link sends you who are brave enough to face this sickness with dark humor. I am glad both Michael and Edna have chosen to expose the darkest perpetrators of the violated trust instilled by "Gods chosen," we are raised to trust (or told to trust) these teachers of God holy word, and yet it seems too many abuse more then their power. Thanks again for making us face the darkest side of child sexual abuse. So follow the link to Father Tucker the Child Fucker and share a grim laugh at the sick pedophiles in purple vestments. -
very true Edna, I was saddened and shocked but not entirely suprised to learn what I did regarding abuse in the church. Fair play though to the holder of this contest, she is giving every post a chance regardless of where it points the finger, she was just as shocked to learn what she did from my post. I prefer your stuff that is sick but not real! Only because I like a laugh but can't laugh at this because I know there is too much truth in it.
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