Downside And Ampleforth

The Report prepared by the IICSA about child abuse at these two Roman Catholic Public Schools is truly shocking. Both were infested with pedophiles over decades and neither did anything meaningful about it. The Catholic Church once again came up short on the conduct within its institutions of fundamental wickedness, placing its reputation before its duty, responsibility and humanity. Put simply it ceased to be Christian.

There must be a price to pay to put a stop to the never ending saga of promises broken and action deferred. The authorities should shut down both schools, allowing them to reopen only when their management and supervision is completely detached from the Catholic Church and its attendant religious Orders. Meanwhile parents who send their children into these unsafe environments to suffer lifelong emotional damage should search their consciences. No longer can they protest innocence. They board their children with their eyes open.