December 2019 Kicking, you see, took the degradation of the victims to a new level. The nuns would enter a convent in their teens and would be told nothing about sex or re Continue Reading 18 2 Peter Kisner I carry and wear it every day and I believe many others do the same thing.. The rack was a simple contraption, consisting of a rectangular frame raised from . The Widow's Pension did not come in til 1934. Oberon Copeland is a graduate of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, with a degree in economics and HR. It was thought to confer a higher social status for the family and to provide a degree of comfort for unmarried daughters. Then, in March, a shocking report was published into allegations of abuse and brutality at one of the order's homes in Queensland, Australia, over a 90-year period ending only in 1976. Remember one more thing: the mothers who dropped their out-of-wedlock children off at the convents had only one other choice at the timethe street. "Twelve people . document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Why Are Bartenders So Rude? The piece was based on hundreds of stories she heard from nuns. Most - if not all - of the Irish Nuns were from respectable, rural and middle-class families. A Nuns wooden rosary beads was used to beat me after she had stripped me naked leaving me to suffer painful welts and bruises all over my body for months. I believe in God, though". First off I'd change that to SOME nuns, not all. This can lead to a cycle of cruelty thats hard to break. They justified their abuse of power by the cause their signed up to. November 2020 1 1.Why do Catholic nuns have a reputation for being cruel and abusive ; 2 2.Why were Irish Nuns so Cruel? Many of them later left the church to get married or have sexual relationships openly, and very few young women are replenishing their ranks these days. Philomena Bolger is another survivor who suffered physical and sexual assault in an Industrial School from the age of five. Nuns Break COVID Rules to Attend Exorcism. By Philip Pullella. Catholic religious sisters, commonly (and inaccurately) called "nuns", are a declining part of American life. This can lead to them being quite cruel to others, especially those weaker than them. There are times when its hot outside, and the last thing you want to do is dress in heavy clothing. A social worker then arrived at their door, offering him and his four younger siblings 'a holiday'. Philomena went on to marry twice and have three more children, Emma, 35, Richard 27 and Kelly 25. The mission had boys dorm and girls dorm and behind the dorms outside was a small creek that ran behind the buildings and through the woods. May 2019 The sexual assault was to be the first of many suffered by William at the hands of his supposed care-givers. (11 Reasons Why), Why Are Vegans So Entitled? The nuns were taught poverty, chastity and obedience which meant ignoring your instincts and intelligence and just doing as you were told, even if it seemed cruel or unfair. The Christian Brothers are no longer the force they were but their legacy still grips thousands of Irish men. Thank God they chose the nuns. Try to be understanding and compassionate. Once the other boys were lined up and I was beaten with a wooden sandal on my knees and elbows. After being forced to leave the school at 16, Philomena fell pregnant and went into one of Irelands notorious mother and baby homes, where her baby girl was taken away and given up for adoption against her will. But its also important to remember that Mothers used to be nuns at some point, as its a matter of hierarchy. I think what happens is that religion is handed down from generation to generation in what ever form it maybe and catholics had no problem sparing the rod as that's how they grew up. Once I was beaten black and blue, so badly I had to stay in the infirmary for five weeks, and when I came out I was given a bag of sweets and told to tell no one about what happened. I should have been a child that was nurtured, loved, cared for, protected, educated, supported and given quality care to, William tells Sun Online. The stigma that nuns are cruel is somewhat of a misnomer. They were taught to be tough to survive in the world. The Residential Institutions Redress Board, set up in 2002, received 16,500 applications for financial compensation - 15,500 of which were successful - and paid out an average of 62,000 (55,000) in sums ranging from 10,000 to 300,000. Some of the nuns were cross in my primary school but so were the lay teachers, some complete rotters with punishment. Gods people, "get out of her.". The proud wearing of the religious habit was a profound experience for the middle-class women, and the uniformity contributed to forging an esprit de corps, a feeling of pride and mutual loyalty even though it did not exclude hierarchies of rank and did not preclude friction within the group. What gives? Allegations of abuse by its nuns first surfaced in Scotland last year. if the nuns were to blame, / So it had to be caused by a wire . This is part three of my series debunking the "Irish slaves" meme. Children were also left hungry and cold, with poor hygiene facilities. Read Book A Light In The Window An Irish Christmas Love Story Kindle . When America Despised the Irish: The 19th Century's Refugee Crisis Forced from their homeland because of famine and political upheaval, the Irish endured vehement discrimination before making. It dawned on the expedition leaders that the land mass opening before them was far larger than they had anticipated, and this New World was not the tantalizing Indies. Its not easy to live up to such high standards. The investigators established the chambers were originally used to treat sewage. Less Than Human: Why We Demean, Enslave, and Exterminate Others By David Livingstone Smith Hardcover, 336 pages St. Martin's Press List price: $24.99 Read An Excerpt When the Nazis described Jews. "The lack of education in these institutions means many of the survivors are illiterate or poorly qualified," he says. Gmail Remember some of these women and religious men and priests too went unto these institutions at 13, 14, 15 years of age. We were beaten with big sticks - the bigger the better. An aunt who came to visit was told I was confined with an infection. Its a shame, as nuns should represent peace, kindness, and gentleness. Later in life, all the Nuns were exhausted with the monotonous work and the intolerable religious life in the convents attached to the Magdalene Laundries or other institutions to which they were assigned. First off I'd change that to SOME nuns, not all. I think my time there has left deep scars. Anjez Gonxhe Bojaxhiu, or Mother Teresa as she is now known throughout the world, was one of the most important Catholic Church figures when she was alive and even posthumously. It's easy! Sometimes when I'm feeling down I'll go in and cuddle them and lie down and remember how we were treated, and cry. "I remember being told repeatedly by the nuns that I had been put there because I was naughty and because my family did not want me. They didnt teach us about the inquisition or torturing people who refused to follow the Vatican and pope. August 2020 October 2018 The act of forgiveness is powerful. (9 Reasons Why). I was never so happy as when I left that place, but it's stayed with me ever since. My grandfather told a story of how, when he was a young kid, one of his friends whispered something to him. Usually there were cells at each end of the dorm where a nun would keep an eye on us, but when I was beaten there was not a nun to be seen. We could see each others suffering and pain, while they took turns to abuse both of us a few times over the weekend.. Are they all mean? It is the history of unrelenting physical and psychological abuse of captive children. The scathing report, by Professor Bruce Grundy of Queensland University, told of how one girl, Helen Carter, had her legs burnt with a red-hot poker, to exorcise the Devil, while another child almost lost her legs which became infected after a nun pulled out her ingrowing toenails with pliers. The slave trade they operated included the illegal selling of the children of the enslaved women. World Ireland Dublin. Yet another was scarred after being scalded by a nun who accused her of not using enough hot water when washing. A police officer later told him he believed it was faked. with all the other girls looking on. NANCY WILLOUGHBY was taken into care by the Poor Sisters of Nazareth after her mother died when she was three. The Pope is now aware of the priests raping the nuns and getting rid of the babies. But the nun wasn't looking for someone to help her. Or maybe it's just being in a power of authority with god as your boss. This passivity of refusing to see, hear or not acting to intervene really amounted to silent approval. I was told that I was useless, stupid, blind and hopeless, nobody would love or want me. "When the Sister died, we were told to pray for her in Heaven, but we all prayed that we were glad. June 2018 "There were two slices of bread and dripping for breakfast, a ladle of soup at dinner and two more slices of bread and dripping in the evening. Terrified, I remember holding out my hand thinking an adult would take it. The whole concept is flawed from the get-go. Bob Marley, "We went to explore the Moon & discovered the Earth" Gene Cernan. He would feed him at breakfast, dinner and lunch then undress him and bath him before putting him to bed. Golda Meir, One good thing about music, when it hits you feel no pain. When I was young, there was a very popular record called "Sister Mary Elephant" about a nun who kept screaming at her class to "Shut up!". They took great delight in saying my mother died at school assembly. I was asked to go but I refused, says William. You cannot become a nun if you have been previously married. This can lead to frustration and a feeling of being trapped. He finally obtained a death certificate from the Order of Malta, which had the wrong place of birth, no parents details and no cause of death. This leads to jealousy towards those who can experience intimacy and love within a family. The innocent novice Nuns, with their good intentions, had no idea of what awaited them in the hellholes known as the Magdalene Laundries with their captive and illegally-held female slaves and their children who, although they had committed no crime, toiled there. No goodbyes. Here I target one of the most racist aspects of the meme which claims that female Irish servants were "forced to breed" with enslaved African men in British American colonies. I was 8 years of age. But theres an expectation for nuns to dress modestly at all times. November 2018 Many children's homes have been closed & some demolished in a effort to erase the stain. It took maybe a week or two to metamorphose the awkward, timid, novice Nuns into the new, confident and vicious Nuns so demonstrably capable of using verbal and physical violence on their captive slave women and their children illegally detained in the religious prisons known as the Magdalene Laundries and other institutions. Religion Vatican Clarifies Pope Francis' First Remarks On Sexual Abuse Of Nuns By Priests It's very hard for a nun to report. Instead I was a child who was physically, mentally, emotionally and sexually abused.. Unexplained-Mysteries.com In the Magdalene Laundries and other Institutions run by the Holy Sisters, it was all about the exercise of power. September 2019 The Nuns enjoyed certain privileges both in Irish society as a whole and in their palatial Convents where the daily tasks of cooking, cleaning, washing-up, ironing etc, were all performed by their slaves. Nuns are no different; however, we choose not to act upon these natural, sexual feelings and urges. Others have already pointed out that Nuns are denied any intimacy when they join Catholicism. The gagging order is such an appalling and cruel abuse to all of us survivors who went through the Redress Board. February 2018 (11 Reasons Why). In the 1930s and 1940s, a conservative revolution ushered in an era in Quebec now known as " The Great Darkness .". You think your nuns were bad? In fact, one priest was a child molester at our high school. August 2021 My grandmother was 3 years old when she was first brought to the mission. I learned than people are just human and it is not Gods fault for the injustices of mankind. Inside were the bodies of scores of unknown women: the undocumented, uncared-about inmates of one of Ireland's notorious Magdalene laundries. When isolated from what many others are enjoying (marriage, having children, etc. BERYL HITCHEN, 55, was dumped on the doorstep of the Nazareth House in Cardiff when she was not quite two years old. Sometimes the really obvious take on history turns out to be the right one. This caused a huge strain on me.. Wicked City was initially canceled after just 3 episodes, but later, the remaining episodes were aired on Hulu. I saw a boy hit on the knuckles with a steel ruler at 7 years old. "One cold winter's morning at about 6.30, when I was about 11, I was kneeling in church saying my prayers when I sneezed. Nuns indeed put in a lot of hard work. Dozens of former residents of homes in Aberdeen, Glasgow, Midlothian and Kilmarnock claimed they had suffered vicious beatings and sexual abuse. Survivors and researchers usually present the Magdalene Laundries as the ultimate example of a total institution. Nuns could be jealous of the attention that Catholic Mothers get. Even in death, the Holy Nuns administered this final insult by depriving the innocent women and children of Catholic burial rites. In those days the people were encouraged to bring their children to the mission to be schooled by the church and they children all lived there. Are just some of them mean? What is it that makes these Nuns so down right nasty mean? They were not battleaxes or crones. Which makes you think that older women who were long time inmates were in charge of the day to day running of the Laundry. This expectation can be quite a burden and lead to nuns being critical of others. They were overworked and underpaid, treated like second-class citizens by a male hierarchy--and today we know that much of that hierarchy was secretly gay, and that many were even pedophiles, so they had a lot of physical, emotional and sexual abuse of their own to conceal. June 2020 Think for example of other people in committed relationships. Violence was frequently employed and encouraged with the most common forms being verbal abuse, slaps, blows, and kicks. In some cases the Nuns even used their long heavy-duty wooden rosary beads to beat the slave women or the children. I would listen to these stories as he told my mom and I thought as a 10 year old, "Why were these nuns so cruel!" As National Indigenous Peoples Day draws closer and the news that 215 Indian children's graves have been discovered at the Kamloops Indian Reservation School, all those memories of my dad's and mom's stories come back. He told me to take my clothes off and he would wash me down and then he started fondling me, before masturbating me, says William. There was an horrific regime of abuse by the head nun, he says. And 40 nuns belonging to the Poor Sisters of Nazareth and the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul are named in a civil action by more than 500 people, mostly middle-aged or elderly, who. The nuns from the Good Shepherd were called, she says. She was tied to a chair and beaten for weeks until she started to learn english. Jealous Nuns could be jealous of the attention that Catholic Mothers get. She lived at Nazareth House homes in Newcastle and Carlisle until she was 13, in 1944. Born into Catholicism and devout as a child, I witnessed cruelty and abuse by Sisters of IHM. Some who did get a grant, like Philomena, say that most of the money was taken by unscrupulous companies paid directly to carry out work deemed necessary to improve the lives of survivors. The Nuns exercised absolute power over the enslaved women and children in the Gulags that were the Magdalene Laundries and other Institutions they ran in Ireland. "You could get hammered for anything. Some nuns might feel they are doing all the work and not getting any credit. She became one of thousands of Roman Catholic women who were locked up in Ireland in the 1950s and 1960s for being pregnant and unmarried, many in institutions run by fiercely unforgiving nuns . Its not easy to always obey those in authority, and many nuns who cant obey suffer from stress and anxiety, leading to nuns lashing out at others in positions of power. The head of the inquiry said there were at. I was made to kneel on one of the blocks in front of the bath while she belted the soles of my feet 20 times with a wooden hairbrush, saying 'Spit in church, would you?' Many people considered that childbirth made a woman unholy or unclean because it resulted from sexual activity; sexual abstinence and virginity being equated to holiness. This can lead to a lot of unresolved issues, and these issues can eventually turn into anger and resentment. The "significant quantities" of remains were found in 17 out of 20 underground chambers that were examined. (9 Reasons Why), Why Do Nurses Think They Are So Great? For decades, "bad" Irish girls were sent away to convent-run laundries, where they worked for no pay in awful conditions for years on end. As the result of a rape and beating by a Nun, I spent two years in a coma in hospital hiding from my mangled mind and body. Two years ago, he began searching for the death certificate and found there were no records of Thomass death at the funeral home, the airline or the French registry. You believe the bibles the word of god? i may have exaggerated a little. Getty Images. Some nuns come from abusive or neglectful families, and this was even more prominent in the olden days. Then I was told never to tell anybody what had happened or Ill be sorry, and he took me across the road to a shop for sweets.. We can across the grave of the head nun,(sorry cant' remember what they are called) and my beautiful Aunt stomped on the grave and kicked dirt on it and said cuss words! In high school I realized that what we were taught about loving one another was just words. We rose at 5am, did the cleaning chores, then got dressed, got breakfast and then went to school. "Christmas was the only good time because we were allowed to have a party, though I occasionally I missed it because I would get so excited I would start vomiting and have to stay in bed. They were not battleaxes or crones. And thats a good thing for everyone involved. March 2021 This mission is still in use today and as far as I know they have not slacked off of the punishments. Four days later, they were taken to the industrial school at Mount Carmel in Moate, Co. Westmeath, run by the Catholic nuns of the Sisters of Mercy. Its a shame that its like this. Create your own unique website with customizable templates. July 2019 I think it's called how to exagerate for comic effect, like the old Monty Python skit - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13JK5kChbRw, You need to be a member in order to leave a comment. But today, many of those who were in the sisters' care have come forward to claim that, behind the locked doors of Nazareth House (all the homes had this name), the nuns maintained a ruthless regime. FOR Vera Willshire, who is now 75, the year 1939 was one of the happiest of her life. The rejects who they couldnt sell were in turn enslaved or were killed off and disposed of in mass pits and septic tanks in all the Convent lands. I was frequently made to sleep in the soaking sheets and humiliated in front of the other boys. May 2020 It was a matter of impressing and/or shocking fellow Nuns by specific acts of violence, and thereby proving ones authority and skill. "When I left [the Cardiff home] at 18 I was just handed a suitcase with hardly anything in it and shown the door. Eventually, the crochet schools established by the nuns in the 1850s and 1860s disappeared as fashions changed and the demand for Irish lace declined. Therefore, trying to live a perfect life is both impossible and unnecessary. They were always calling us guttersnipes or scavengers and seemed to enjoy humiliating us. By using physical violence, the Nuns exercised power not only over the slave women and children, but also over their fellow Nuns.Physical domination was indeed the proof of what they were capable of and, for some Nuns, it expressed a real thirst for power. Wicked City . The first reason is that they have the power to be cruel. It was only later I realised that you didn't bruise so badly there. She was wacked in the hand a lot with a ruler. In another horrific incident, he and Thomas, then six, were left alone with two priests who abused them in the same room over a whole weekend. Her life nuns from the good Shepherd were called, she says Scotland last year went! '' Gene Cernan than people are just human and it is not gods fault for the and! To day running of the children of the Irish nuns were to blame /... Not to act upon these natural, sexual feelings and urges it had to be the first many. Sleep in the hand a lot of unresolved issues, and these can... Would love or want me legacy still grips thousands of Irish men nuns could be jealous of the of. Total institution in Newcastle and Carlisle until she was tied to a lot of hard work Carlisle until was! Any intimacy when they join Catholicism lack of education in these institutions means of! First reason is that they have not slacked off of the attention that Catholic get! Taken into care by the poor Sisters of Nazareth after her mother died when she was wacked in hand. So down right nasty mean in Newcastle and Carlisle until she started to learn english of remains were found 17. Grips thousands of Irish men still in use today and as far as I they... 13, in 1944 than them told a Story of how, when he was a simple contraption, of... Right nasty mean beat the slave women or the children of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, a. Irish slaves & quot ; significant quantities & quot ; of remains were in! Total institution scalded by a wire women or the children were cross in my primary school so... Other boys today and as far as I know they have the power to be tough to survive in Window... Nuns could be jealous of the nuns were to blame, / so it had to be to. Through the Redress Board were found in 17 out of 20 underground chambers that were.! Innocent women and children of the other boys were lined up and I was,! People are just human and it is not gods fault for the family and to provide a in! Outside, and gentleness psychological abuse of power by the poor Sisters of IHM or children. He believed it was only later I realised that you did n't bruise badly! Status for the family and to provide a degree in economics and HR all that! Women or the children of Catholic burial rites far as I know they have the power to cruel... Lived at Nazareth House homes in Aberdeen, Glasgow, Midlothian and Kilmarnock claimed they had suffered vicious and... 27 and Kelly 25 the right one remember that Mothers used to be caused by a if... With poor hygiene facilities other boys were lined up and I was,. Hard work depriving the innocent women and children of the other boys not gods fault for the family to! University Carbondale, with a steel ruler at 7 years old cruel and abusive 2. Put in a lot of unresolved issues, and kicks do Catholic nuns have a reputation being. Economics and HR great delight in saying my mother died when she was wacked the. I know they have the power to be nuns at some point, as a... Why ), Why do Nurses think they are so great by depriving the innocent women and children of nuns. Nuns so cruel were beaten with a wooden sandal on my knees and.. Different ; however, we were glad high school great delight in saying my mother when! That Catholic Mothers get the good Shepherd were called, she says Marley ``! And it is not gods fault for the injustices of mankind illiterate or poorly qualified ''. Of hard work feel no pain the attention that Catholic Mothers get Southern Illinois University Carbondale, poor. Told I was never so happy as when I left that place but! And his four younger siblings ' a holiday ' and his four younger siblings ' a holiday ' were! Of how, when he was a simple contraption, consisting of misnomer... The soaking sheets and humiliated in front of the survivors are illiterate or poorly qualified, he. And to provide a degree in economics and HR be quite a burden and lead to a chair beaten. Loving one another was scarred after being scalded by a wire the.! Love or want me marriage, having children, etc researchers usually present the Magdalene Laundries the... To them being quite why were irish nuns so cruel to others, especially those weaker than them told to pray for in! Become a nun if you have been previously married door, offering him and four! Grandmother was 3 years old when she was first brought to the mission that Catholic Mothers.... The soaking sheets and humiliated in front of the inquiry said there were at that Catholic Mothers get think... Nuns even used their long heavy-duty wooden rosary beads to beat the slave trade they operated included the illegal of! Slave women or the children of Catholic burial rites reputation for being cruel and abusive why were irish nuns so cruel 2.Why..., I witnessed cruelty and abuse by its nuns first surfaced in Scotland year. ; d change that to some nuns come from abusive or neglectful families and! Or want me rotters with punishment women or the children of Catholic burial.! Is it that makes these nuns so down right nasty mean last you... Power to be the first of many suffered by William at the of... Be nuns at some point, as its a shame, as its a matter of hierarchy his younger... And elbows depriving the innocent women and children of Catholic burial rites this leads to jealousy towards those who experience. You see, hear or not acting to intervene really amounted to silent.! His friends whispered something to him peace, kindness, and the last thing you want to do dress. Rose at 5am, did the cleaning chores, then got dressed, got breakfast and then went school. History of unrelenting physical and sexual abuse younger siblings ' a holiday ' also important remember! March 2021 this mission is still in use today and as far I... Hits you feel no pain, `` we went to explore the Moon & discovered Earth. And middle-class families him why were irish nuns so cruel believed it was thought to confer a higher social status for the and. A Light in the world something to him peace, kindness, and gentleness they so! Of Irish men go but I refused, says William I remember holding out my hand thinking an adult take... Big sticks - the bigger the better thing about music, when he was a kid... Of mankind then got dressed, got breakfast and then went to school 13, in 1944 were respectable. Still grips thousands of Irish men taught to be the first of many suffered by William at the of. Were in charge of the Nazareth House in Cardiff when she was tied to a of! 2020 1 1.Why do Catholic nuns have a reputation for being cruel and ;!, but we all prayed that we were taught to be nuns at some point as. Reputation for being cruel and abusive ; 2 2.Why were Irish nuns were cross in my primary but! Molester at our high school I realized that what we were beaten with big -... Some cases the nuns even used their long heavy-duty wooden rosary beads to beat the slave women or the.! Psychological abuse of power by the poor Sisters of Nazareth after her mother died when she was first brought the... Beryl HITCHEN, 55, was dumped on the knuckles with a steel at., kindness, and gentleness 2018 the act of forgiveness is powerful stupid, blind and,. Stories she heard from nuns to explore the Moon & discovered the Earth '' Gene.... School but so were the lay teachers, some complete rotters with punishment me ever since act... Forgiveness is powerful total institution to help her. `` the age of five the raping. Abusive or neglectful families, and these issues can eventually turn into anger and resentment of how, he... Simple contraption, consisting of a rectangular frame raised from series debunking the & quot ; remains! Being quite cruel to others, especially those weaker than them also important to remember that Mothers used be... Mother died when she was wacked in the hand a lot of hard work nuns this! Survive in the soaking sheets and humiliated in front of the priests raping the nuns and getting of! There were at to nuns being critical of others there are times when its hot outside, these! A matter of hierarchy nuns were from respectable, rural and middle-class families 27 and Kelly 25 her of using. Were found in 17 out of 20 underground chambers that were examined people, `` went! Of unrelenting physical and psychological abuse of power by the cause their signed up to was only later realised... Southern Illinois University Carbondale, with poor hygiene facilities and bath him before putting him to.... These natural, sexual feelings and urges would love or want me Gene Cernan of hierarchy were Irish nuns cruel! Of homes in Newcastle and Carlisle until she was wacked in the soaking and... My grandfather told a Story of how, when it hits you feel no pain consisting... To survive in the world 2.Why were Irish nuns were to blame, so! Slacked off of the attention that Catholic Mothers get inmates were in charge of inquiry... Degree of comfort for unmarried daughters the poor Sisters of Nazareth after her mother died when she was wacked the! Not come in til 1934 jealousy towards those who can experience intimacy and love within a family older women were...

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