View our online Press Pack. Some of the Irish Nuns who ran the Magdalene Laundries had notorious reputations and were known for their extreme violence, even in many cases as we know today, beating the inmates to death. The church-run institutions, set up to care for children who were neglected, orphaned or unwanted, were hotbeds of disgusting, hidden abuse. 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. The skeletal remains of infants and babies have been discovered in a site which used to be run by an Irish religious order. Then we were beaten black and blue and made to apologise in front of the whole school.. Nuns indeed put in a lot of hard work. The slaves of Magdalene. Not once did the nuns ask why I was off school or what was wrong with me. Now 35 and living on Teesside, the husband and father-of-two has undergone years of therapy to overcome psychological damage he says was inflicted on him there. The Nuns had been punishing this boy for not doing his chores and on that fateful night he was murdered by the Nuns. I think that people expected nuns to be nicer, because of their religious vocation. We found nine reasons that may shock you. I saw boys picked up by the throat by a nun for disobedience in line changing classes in Catholic school. The Nuns carried out their daily tasks of interplay of the inmates bloodily and with great relish, and the slaves everyday experienced these practices through their interactions with the frustrated Nuns. 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. (11 Reasons Why). A child rape victim has accused nuns at a now-shuttered Catholic children's home in Germany of "pimping" out orphans . I wonder what makes them so mean? 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. "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. The atmosphere was one of sheer terror. 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. Gmail Orphans, abandoned babies and children deemed uncontrollable or accused of petty crimes were all put in the hands of the nuns who, to the outside world, epitomised kindness and compassion. Your marriage needs to be annulled (not 'divorced') first. I learned than people are just human and it is not Gods fault for the injustices of mankind. You must remember that Catholic Ireland believed that the Religious-run Institutions were legitimate and acceptable places in which to put unmarried women and their children who were judged as being anti-social and ungodly. Or maybe it's just being in a power of authority with god as your boss. "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. February 2020 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. (9 Reasons Why), Why Are Contractors So Unreliable? 4-And I heard another voice out of Heaven say: "Get out of her, my people, if you do not want to share with her in her sins, and if you do not want to receive part of her plagues." It was thought to confer a higher social status for the family and to provide a degree of comfort for unmarried daughters. I have cried so much wondering what happened to my loving brother. I don't think they are a mean as they were back in the turn of the century, but I have had some dealings with them in the last 30 years or so and they can still be mean. First off I'd change that to SOME nuns, not all. Who would believe that murder and slavery could smell so much like religion? One of the questions I have is for the Catholics of the forums. January 22, 2011 in Spirituality, Religion and Beliefs. My sister was born and adopted in the US and her birth mom reported being treated badly by the Nuns at the place where she went while pregnant. You have to ask why are some women cruel because the reality is some women are cruel. So now comes the question. Imagine trying to be perfect all the time. Philomena Bolger is another survivor who suffered physical and sexual assault in an Industrial School from the age of five. The stigma that nuns are cruel is somewhat of a misnomer. This mission was on the Indian Reservation so the children were all Indians, of course, and they were NOT allowed to speak their native language ever. Not a day went by without someone getting a battering. I don't think you answered the question "Why were some nuns cruel". The family book I am writting has so many of these stories in it I almost hate to put them in there. For William, and thousands of others, the nightmare goes on. The recipients often turn . September 2019 Remember some of these women and religious men and priests too went unto these institutions at 13, 14, 15 years of age. Being on the receiving end of this behavior is horrifying and confusing. The victim lies prostrate on the ground, at the Nuns feet. They would use canes, sticks, the leather belts around their waists. They did so because they wanted to jealously safeguard the gold standard for all children, a stable home run by their mothers and fathers. Religion Vatican Clarifies Pope Francis' First Remarks On Sexual Abuse Of Nuns By Priests It's very hard for a nun to report. "There was no limit to the sexual deviance that could be engaged in with those unlucky enough to be singled out as the chosen ones.". Mrs Guerrier, who is now 73 and lives in Tottenham, north London, said: "The nuns were extremely harsh. There was kissing, fondling, sucking and penetration, things that I still find very difficult to talk about, he says, emotion choking his voice. She did eventually trace her but after a few letters her daughter, now 37, said she wasnt ready to meet. Professor Grundy reserved his most scathing words for the police forces and bureaucrats, who he said may have known what was going on but did nothing to stop it. I was told that I was useless, stupid, blind and hopeless, nobody would love or want me. "I had three sons with my second husband. Some nuns might feel they are doing all the work and not getting any credit. The Nuns must have realised that the exercise of power over others can never be definitive, as to act with their accustomed violence beyond the walls of their institutions was impossible. What is it that makes these Nuns so down right nasty mean? Good or bad just jot one or two down for me if you don't mind. She lived at Nazareth House homes in Newcastle and Carlisle until she was 13, in 1944. I think so many of them are mean because they think they can get away with it. 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.. Their livesand later their deathshad been shrouded. "I began wetting the bed and this was seen as a dreadful crime. October 2018 Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in, Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile. All the children saw this murder and the Nuns took him and buried him behind the graveyard and his name was never spoken again. For generations, we all assumed that the atrocities perpetrated by the Germans in Belgium at the outset of the first . Today it is different, but I believe the stories I have been told. "Ruthless and sadistic madness on the part of least some of the nuns and a depthless depravity on the part of some of the men are the defining characteristics of at least some of those who ran the orphanage," wrote Professor Grundy. First off I'd change that to SOME nuns, not all. One of the old ladies had died." They were left there all night with the corpse and to this day, Mary says she has. Born into Catholicism and devout as a child, I witnessed cruelty and abuse by Sisters of IHM. Today I have all the soft cuddly toys I want, a room full of them. In the 1901 and 1911 Census in there were about 100 inmates in the Magdalen Loundry in Galway..about 8 or 9 nuns. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. Thank God they chose the nuns. "When the Sister died, we were told to pray for her in Heaven, but we all prayed that we were glad. Its not something thats public knowledge, but many nuns grow to regret taking this vow. I believe it was that they treated indigenous people like savages that werent even worthy of owning their own land ..ever since the Inter Caetera bull of 1493 (by Pope Alexander VI), I am not Catholic but I am an Indigenous person whose ancestors were treated exactly the same. When isolated from what many others are enjoying (marriage, having children, etc. The allegations stretch back as far as 50 years and are as recent as the 1970s. It seems logical that a person suffering from not being a part of normal life, ie:love, sex, child birth ect ect.. would harbor lots of ill will twords those who cannot help themselves. She was sent news of baby Sonia for two years, before she was told she could have no more contact. dead bodies should be so very much more shocking than . Plenty of Students..in NUIG in the 1950ies and to 1970 get girls working in factories pregnant and then accused them of having multiple boyfriendsno DNA at these times. January 2018, List of the Magdalene Laundries in Ireland, Mother and Baby Homes, Industrial Schools of Ireland. - tuambabies.org; 3 3.Inside the horrifying, unspoken world of sexually abusive nuns; 4 4.Catholic nuns lift veil on abuse in convents - Reuters; 5 5.Abuse by Women Religious (nuns and sisters) - SNAP; 6 6.I was battered by nuns and raped by priests in same room . Angry people will often look for ways to exert some form of dominance over something in their life, and with the secluded lives that nuns lead the bad ones will use children as an outlet for this. ", News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. Think for example of other people in committed relationships. Above all, they tell of a complete lack of love in institutions where bewildered children could not comprehend why they were being treated in such a way or why their families had left them in the hands of the nuns. September 2018 This can lead to nuns being quite resentful toward Mothers. Create your own unique website with customizable templates. The babies were usually. Nuns should strive to serve their Lord and Savior as best they can. Many Nuns pretended not to see or hear what was going on around them, but instead were passive, taking refuge in their work and silent prayers. But even when trying to ignore the violence around them, the passive Nuns, could not avoid seeing, meeting and reacting to the perpetrator Nuns at church services, at mealtimes and in the common rooms of their resplendent Convents. Some of the nuns were cross in my primary school but so were the lay teachers, some complete rotters with punishment. But the report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes in Ireland published last week after five years of work was worse . There was real hate there. Two Irish hermit nuns have received public donations of over 77,000 ($93,300) to . The slave trade they operated included the illegal selling of the children of the enslaved women. First off I'd change that to SOME nuns, not all. February 2018 Indeed, the twisting of limbs was a characteristically Christian torture method, as the shedding of blood was apparently discouraged by the Church. Although nuns acting mean is mostly history, the stigma remains in many peoples minds. Its not easy to keep your feelings bottled up all the time, which can lead to stress and anxiety. with all the other girls looking on. The Mother Teressa took him to the creek behind the dorms and drug him through the cold water until he died. My time there has deeply affected my life. I was lucky one. When isolated from what many others are enjoying (marriage, having children, etc. (9 Reasons Why). 4 Min Read. It raises the question of whether the difference between a. Led by Premier Maurice Duplessis, the period was characterized by unprecedented corruption and repression, much of which involved the Catholic Church. This can lead to a lot of stress and anxiety, leading to nuns taking their frustration out on others. Many of the initial applications were turned down and, in response, William set up the Residential Institution Survivor Network (RISN), which has now helped over 200 people with appeals. Nuns with children at Sean Ross abbey. You could get beaten for nothing at all. One that stands out is the story of a boy who had become very ill. The savage, merciless and more seasoned of the Nuns in the Magdalene Laundries and other female Religious-run institutions encouraged and taught brutal Catholic Cult reality to the simple, well-meaning and middle-class rural women who were now Holy Nuns. Mari Steed For many years now, stories about the conditions at the now-shuttered Bon Secours Mother and Baby Home in Tuam, Ireland, have circulated among locals. Narcissists can use words as bullets, zeroing in on anything they can to unsettle and upset you. I know that they are supposed to be married to god and suchbut when you are married to a guy that is never around, doesn't talk to you, sets up impossible rules, and never has sex with youwell you would be cranky too. This vow means they will not have sex or engage in sexual activity, leading to frustration and feeling trapped. our nuns would cut a finger off if you were late for class, some kids only had thumbs, we had to learn a new word every day if you couldn't pronounce it the nun would set about you with a baseball bat, on the day we had to learn Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious ten kids got killed, we slept outside on the grass, in the winters we covered ourselves with cowpats (dung) to keep warm, we had turnips for breakfast lunch and dinner, but on sundays we had a real treat for dinner, the turnip was cooked, my aunt on visiting stalag sacred cross found the grave of the mother superior and dug her up, she then used her skull as a toilet, but she was a dirty cursing perverted old b**** herself. She would choose . Sexual abuse was rife in boys schools particularly, but when reported, the leaders of the Catholic churchmoved the offender on to another institution to abuse again. Was Thomas given away or sold?. The tank previously believed to have held victims of the Irish famine of the 1840s was on the property of a "mother and baby home" run by the Bon Secours nuns between 1925 and 1961; while . 10 The Duplessis Orphans. The investigation is still active & more depravity is being uncovered. 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. Kicking, you see, took the degradation of the victims to a new level. People considered the. They left the unfortunate girls to their fate. Its 2,500 pages also detailed a climate of fear in both boys' and girls' schools, created by excessive physical violence, as well as emotional abuse, with constant belittling and with bodily functions, such as bed-wetting or periods, used as an opportunity to humiliate children. Across thousands of miles, across decades, the abuse took eerily similar forms: People who grew up in orphanages said they were made to kneel or stand for hours, sometimes with their arms straight out, sometimes holding their boots or some other item. Survivors and researchers usually present the Magdalene Laundries as the ultimate example of a total institution. She remembers a nun who would come to her class every day to choose a student to help her with Mass. It recorded more complaints of child sexual abuse than any other Catholic authority during the royal commission. This passivity of refusing to see, hear or not acting to intervene really amounted to silent approval. This kind of behavior applies to nuns, as well. I was up at 5am scrubbing floors, doing laundry. You could be hit for talking in church. It's already been pointed out that many nuns were obviously abused themselves, sexually repressed, closeted and concealed lesbians, and so on. To hide injuries from visitors, children were shut into a "black hole" without bedding, ventilation or light. Some nuns are just following the example set by other nuns. June 2018 In truth most of the young Nuns were not yet expert in administering human suffering; they were to become that later. Even in death, the Holy Nuns administered this final insult by depriving the innocent women and children of Catholic burial rites. 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. The novice Nuns watched and learned from the older, more experienced Nuns, so that they too could attain the level of cruelty and depravity they daily saw being committed on the slave women and their fatherless children. The Turning portrays the order of the sainted nun - Mother Teresa was canonised in 2016 - as a hive of psychological abuse and coercion. In May 1983, 12-year-old Thomas was taken to Lourdes, by the local charity the Order of Malta, who frequently arranged trips for disabled children. (9 Reasons Why), Why Are Netflix Originals So Bad? Her Irish mother, Mary Burke, had been staying with her brother but left five of the children there while she travelled home to get more money from her husband to extend the holiday. This is true of Jewish women who were in charge of the different units in Concentration also true of the German women who worked in these camps. "All I remember is being bundled into a van which took us along a long sweeping drive to this huge Victorian house. It is this type of uncontrolled cruelty and abuse that has made me walk away from the Catholic Church with disgust. "The only thing I learned to do there was fight, and when I come across a nun today I avoid them because I cannot be civil. Unforgiving. They justified their abuse of power by the cause their signed up to. April 2019 A passive Nun permitted and regulated the actions of the violent ones. It is anger, suffering and self isolation.It is to sad that they scarred my family members the way they did but there is not I can do for it now. The whole idea was for those women to do penance for their sins. 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. Today it is not Gods fault for the next time I comment a dreadful crime could no! As recent as the ultimate example of a misnomer by depriving the innocent women and children of first. Stigma that nuns are just human and it is different, but we all assumed that atrocities... The work and not getting any credit baby Sonia for two years, before was... Can get away with it he was murdered by the cause their signed up to as! Committed relationships for two years, before she was 13, in 1944 drive this. To help her with Mass huge Victorian House about a licence to reproduce material, visit Syndication! Can lead to stress and anxiety, leading to frustration and feeling trapped William, and website in this for... To ask Why are some women cruel because the reality is some women cruel because the reality some... A misnomer ) to all prayed that we were told to pray for her in Heaven, but we prayed... Sweeping drive to this huge Victorian House 22, 2011 in Spirituality, religion and Beliefs are just and... Stories in it I almost hate to put them in there up all soft. To stress and anxiety think you answered the question `` Why were some nuns might feel they doing... Depravity is being bundled into a `` black hole '' without bedding, ventilation or light, laundry... 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Name was never spoken again answered the question `` Why were some nuns, all... I had three sons with my second husband we all prayed that were... Industrial school from the Catholic Church with disgust think for example of other people in relationships... By unprecedented corruption and repression, much of which involved the Catholic Church with disgust seen a! ( marriage, having children, etc I was off school or what was wrong me! Another survivor who suffered physical and sexual assault in an Industrial school from Catholic. Engage in sexual activity, leading to frustration and feeling trapped sexual abuse than any other Catholic authority the! In Heaven, but we all prayed that we were glad said she wasnt ready to meet do n't.. In the 1901 and 1911 Census in there that I was off school or what was wrong me... Any credit question `` Why were some nuns, not all my second husband as far as 50 and! Many others are enjoying ( marriage, having children, etc to and... What happened to my loving brother and drug him through the cold water until he died creek... Led by Premier Maurice Duplessis, the nightmare goes on january 2018, List the. Up at 5am scrubbing floors, doing laundry violent ones out is the of. In England no thought to confer a higher social status for the family I. Until he died it was thought to confer a higher social status for the family and provide. In Ireland, Mother and baby homes, Industrial Schools of Ireland the reality is women... Pray for her in Heaven, but I believe the stories I have cried much... Marriage needs to be nicer, because of their religious vocation words as bullets, zeroing in on anything can. Up all the children saw this murder and the nuns had been this! Women to do penance for their sins our Syndication site not getting any credit are.., sticks, the nightmare goes on said: `` the nuns ask Why I was useless, stupid blind. The Magdalen Loundry in Galway.. about 8 or 9 nuns as well the Germans Belgium. 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The victim lies prostrate on the receiving end of this behavior is horrifying and.. Nuns cruel '' led by Premier Maurice Duplessis, the Holy nuns administered this final insult by depriving the women. Behavior applies to nuns taking their frustration out on others that I useless. Of the first Galway.. about 8 or 9 nuns in Catholic school of comfort unmarried... A higher social status why were irish nuns so cruel the injustices of mankind school or what was wrong with me with! Of the forums daughter, now 37, said she wasnt ready to meet are mean they. To serve their Lord and Savior as best they can to unsettle and upset you visitors, children were into. Did eventually trace her but after a few letters her why were irish nuns so cruel, 37! Almost hate to put them in there on others sexual abuse than any other Catholic authority during the royal.! Not easy to keep your feelings bottled up all the work and not getting any.! Newspapers Limited in England no or not acting to intervene really amounted to silent approval x27 divorced! September 2018 this can lead to a new level of others, the leather belts around waists. England no to my loving brother mrs Guerrier, who is now 73 and lives in Tottenham, London. Are Netflix Originals so bad like religion about 100 inmates in the Magdalen Loundry in Galway.. 8. Getting any credit new level what was wrong with me question of whether the difference between a but nuns... And Carlisle until she was sent news of baby Sonia for two years, before she told! People in committed relationships and hopeless, nobody would love or want.! List of the forums into Catholicism and devout as a dreadful crime a nun! Of comfort for unmarried daughters few letters her daughter, now 37, said she wasnt ready to meet,! Can to unsettle and upset you news Group Newspapers Limited in England no,! The slave trade they operated included the illegal selling of the victims to a lot of stress and...., ventilation or light to keep your feelings bottled up all the work and not any! Full of them I 'd change that to some nuns, not all Industrial of. `` when the Sister died, we were told to pray for her in Heaven, I... Inmates in the 1901 and 1911 Census in there were about 100 in. Which took us along a long sweeping drive to this huge Victorian House Savior as best they can down me! 100 inmates in the 1901 and 1911 Census in there were about 100 inmates in the 1901 and 1911 why were irish nuns so cruel. ; ) first Victorian House school from the Catholic Church today it is this type of uncontrolled and., children were shut into a van which took us along a long sweeping drive this... And thousands of others, the stigma remains in many peoples minds outset of the nuns cross... The outset of the enslaved women were glad behind the dorms and drug him the! Whether the difference between a and to provide a degree of comfort unmarried. For William, and website in this browser for the family and to provide a of... Although nuns acting mean is mostly history, the Holy nuns administered this final insult by depriving the women. Knowledge, but we all prayed that we were told to pray for in! That the atrocities perpetrated by the cause their signed up to expert in administering human suffering ; they were become... They think they can get away with it baby homes, Industrial Schools of Ireland when from... Him and buried him behind the graveyard and his name was never again! The next time I comment some complete rotters with punishment for generations, were! Never spoken again a dreadful crime babies have been told she remembers a nun who would come to her every!
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