Blog about Mike Harding taking on the Catholic church in Salford

[EmmaHartley]

http://theglamourcave.blogspot.com/2011/03/mike-harding-takes-on-catholic-church.html

Mike Harding, an old boy of St Bede's College, is campaigning for an apology from the Catholic church for physical and sexual abuse suffered at the hands of Monsignor Thomas Duggan, who was rector of the school from 1950-1966.

[cheethamgirl]

I was so sorry to read about Mike Harding's experience and about the terrible effects this sort of abuse had, and is still having,  on so many boys.  As I mentioned over on my Cheetham Hill posts, Mike Harding was, in his early days before he found fame, a cheery and fondly remembered bus conductor who, with his quick wit and chirpy manner, brightened the days of many of the school kids who caught his bus, and who still brings us pleasure with his folk music programmes etc.  I'm now guessing there was pain and anger behind his humour.  I was taught by nuns, some of whom could be excessively cruel, and I knew some of the Bedes' boys, yet none of us spoke about our treatment at the time.  I guess we thought it was normal.  In Irish households in particular, kids were raised to believe that priests and nuns could do no wrong.  One of my classmates at St Chad's infants' school was taken to hospital with a fractured skull, caused by an angry nun wielding a brass handbell. His crime?  He was still running around after she had rung the bell to signal the end of playtime.  And nobody complained ...

[celeste]

I hope Mike Harding gets his apology, not before time, as for the nun with the brass bell I can well believe it,  I read that Julie Walters went to a convent to be educated and some of the nuns were less than saintly - messing with childrens' heads, it's a blessing that some of them don't grow up to be scarred for life, then again some of them do

[cheethamgirl]

You know, Celeste, not so long ago I read Julie Walter's autobiog and I was astounded at how similar our lives were.  Apart from the fact that she grew up in Birmingham, she might have been writing about me!   

[Churchmouse]

My wife went to a Catholic school and some of the things the nuns did bordered on child abuse. Of course, this was in the 50's. I'm sure things have changed. For one thing, few Catholic schools have nuns for teachers these days (In the US anyway).

[cheethamgirl]

It should be said, of course, that there were some kind and inspirational priests and nuns involved in teaching.  They attract little publicity.  We had a French nun at my grammar school (afraid I cannot remember her name) who taught me maths and made it all intelligible, when I'd been really bad at maths for most of my school years.  She showed me how to calculate simple interest in about five seconds.  Because of the nuns, my mother moved me away from St Chad's to St Clare's, Blackley, where the Franciscan friars did not teach but were very kind and gentle.  I never heard a whiff of scandal attached to them.  One of the teachers at St Clate's did cause me to lose a tooth, but she was a lay teacher with a fierce temper.  I still have the gap and it always reminds me of her and that awful day.


Our Priest at St Chads was the charming and respectable Fr Valentine Kamaitis.  He was also, I believe, head of the Lithuanian community in Manchester.  He was very good looking and laughed a great deal. 


I think the problem is that the church, and the respectability of the cloth, unwittingly provide opportunities for abusers.  Once they know about such individuals however, the church authorities should make it a priority to root it out. "If thine eye offend thee, pluck it out" isn't that how it goes?     

[Churchmouse]

That's where the problem was. These people were just sent to new churches when accusations were made.
Of course, I think most people realize 99% are suffering for the actions of a few.

[sheilanz]

I was also Convent taught by nuns, this was way back
in 1936/39, I never had a happy day at school,the belt
used for their keys Cross and etc etc was a handy weapon
against small children, It has been said by others that
Nuns and Priests were sinless at least so considered by
the family....I was lucky my father came back from Turkey
and believed what I said, I was out of St Mary.s sharpish.
My children never went to a Catholic school they held
to many memories for me...

[celeste]

You know, Celeste, not so long ago I read Julie Walter's autobiog and I was astounded at how similar our lives were.  Apart from the fact that she grew up in Birmingham, she might have been writing about me!    I think the problem is that the church, and the respectability of the cloth, unwittingly provide opportunities for abusers.  Once they know about such individuals however, the church authorities should make it a priority to root it out. "If thine eye offend thee, pluck it out" isn't that how it goes?     

just seen this, I didn't read the book - it was in an article in a magazine though I imagine those who did read it can identify with it too The church does provide opportunities for abusers - I agree, ROOT 'EM OUT

[Churchmouse]

I went to school with a boy that had been in a Catholic school. One day he did something and the nun hit him on the top of his head with a book. When she turned around he stood up and hit her on the top of her head with the same book.
The next day he was in the public school.
 

[Greengate Girl]

I was also Convent taught by nuns, this was way back
in 1936/39, I never had a happy day at school,the belt
used for their keys Cross and etc etc was a handy weapon
against small children, It has been said by others that
Nuns and Priests were sinless at least so considered by
the family....I was lucky my father came back from Turkey
and believed what I said, I was out of St Mary.s sharpish.
My children never went to a Catholic school they held
to many memories for me...

Hi Sheila, My husband went to a catholic school nearly the same time as you,
and he has told me some horror stories. He isn't into religion now. You don't have to be
religious to be a good person.My 3 children didn't go to catholics school either.xxxxx

[sheilanz]

FRom what I can gather people that had problems with
RC teachers never sent their children to suffer the same.
 
Maybe today things are more open, of course Children
are not afraid to speak out and complain which is a help.
Just thought we did,nt need chidren bullies in thoses days
the School itself did the bullying...........

[celeste]

I believe from what I've read a lot of that went on in 'Care' Homes,  and many of those affected have received compensation

[Greengate Girl]

When we were chatting about school days (I'm not catholic) load of friends said
most of the nuns teaching were cruel, but some were kind. I've never met anyone
who had the awful problems Mike Harding had, but we know now, and I don't think
one could ever get over that.