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1. Are they courageous or are they courageous? We would never see such an act of force here in Australia.
   

   Posted By: L Newington Bendigo Victoria

2. L Newington: Should it be courageous or outrageous? Read the account of the behaviour of the Belgian police, and, the resultant violation of the requests for confidentality made to Church officials by complainants.
   I should hope that 'we would never see such an act of force here in Australia'. The jackboot trample the wattle? Never.

   Posted By: Marco Elliott

3. L. Newington: I hope you would not see such police brutality in Australia!
   I am a Canadian and have always admired Australia.
   There may have been clergy at the meeting in that house who were child abusers, but there were also, no doubt, good men who never scandalized a child and they were treated as criminals.
   I understand they were not allowed to make even one phone call for the 9 hours the police ravaged the house. Now to the victims of secual abuse who dared to come forward and disclose their pain and suffering as they recounted their abuse. All of that pain and suffering being rehashed and entered into a computer, where it would be kept confidential.
   The Belgian police made sure that won't happen! Those records might as well be published for all of the respect they will get in police custody, then in the courts, where they will be read by court Clerks, lawyers, articling students, and the list goes on. Disgusting all round!

   Posted By: Vicki from Ontario, Canada

4. Marco: It is not until recent times our police force has been able to activate church abuse cases in this country so rigoriously irrespective of what they knew due to the reluctance of bishops to be more forth comming.
   That goes for politicians and NGO's.
   Where have you been hiding?
   Maybe you have a selective memory; it wouldn't be mental reservations would it: as contributors to a forum we are all on the same level when submitting comments unless we make it known who we are.
   

   Posted By: L Newington Bendigo Victoria

5. L Newington and Marco Elliott: Get a grip. Where there is established, unquestioned, long-term, continous proven and deliberate sexual abuse you may well be thankful for this swift and dramatic action. Judge after the events - obviously there is much to follow....

   Posted By: MJB Melbourne

6. MJM: If my response over the week-end to Marco Elliot is accepted, you will see I would agree with you 100%.
   

   Posted By: L Newington Bendigo Victoria

7. L Newington: Some might believe that police investigations would be expedited if we abolished habeus corpus, search warrants, juries, and reinstituted the Star Chamber.
   However, in countries which have fought long and hard to develop and maintain the rule of law, the jackboot approach to law enforcement is understood to be totally counterproductive. And that is the point, in the long run, that approach is counterproductive.
   The debacle in Belgium will be much regretted by the police. Already the members of the church investigative commission have resigned; and, it will be interesting to see how many of those who made submissions in confidence will now be prepared to do the same for the police, and, to co-operate with them.
   Your comment concerning “mental reservations” indicates you do not really know what the term means. I would suggest a good Catholic encyclopaedia.
   Yes. All contributors are equal. However, that does not mean that all contributions are of the same pertinence, validity or worth.

   Posted By: Marco Elliott, Sydney, NSW

8. So now the masks have been taken off. The civil authorities can no longer claim that they are trying to help the victims of alleged abuse, because their anti-Catholic actions only cause further abuse of the victims. Their real agenda to persecute and if possible destroy the Catholic Church is laid bare.

   Posted By: Peter G Thornleigh

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