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babes for benedict .....The sex industry is expected to be blessed with an increase in customers thanks to the most unlikely of sources - World Youth Day. A report by Industry analysts IBISWorld predicted the 2008-09 financial year would see strong growth for brothels, strip clubs and prostitutes, primarily on the back of a marked increase in tourism levels to Sydney as a result of the Catholic Church's World Youth Day. IBIS World senior industry analyst Ed Butler said the report did not suggest the 225,000 international pilgrims or clergy would be heading to brothels or strip clubs. But the event, to be held from July 15 to 20, would also draw people from outside the church including tourists, support staff and media – and some of them would use the sex industry's services.
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Lying by ommission?
As the Catholic church prepares to celebrate World Youth Day, ABC 1's Lateline program will tonight publish documents that raise new questions about how the country's most senior churchman, Cardinal George Pell, has handled sexual abuse allegations against a clergyman.
The documents show that Cardinal Pell wrote to a victim who had been abused by a Catholic priest telling him there were no other complaints against the priest, even though Cardinal Pell knew there was another victim and also wrote to him on the same day.
Lateline's investigation shows Cardinal Pell ignored a report from his own church investigators recommending that the victim's allegation be upheld.
Tune in to Lateline tonight for the full story.
No cover up... just bad eclesiastical grammar...
In a statement to the ABC, Cardinal Pell denied any attempt at a cover-up.
"Fr Terence Goodall's offences occurred more than 25 years ago. When they were reported on June 6 2002, I commenced an investigation under the Towards Healing protocol," he said.
"The letter to Mr Jones was badly worded and a mistake - an attempt to inform him there was no other allegation of rape.
"However, I signed both letters of February 2003 mentioned in ABC's Lateline program, and any fault in the drafting was mine.
"The accusations against Fr Goodall were investigated by the church and the police, and Fr Goodall was stood down. Church authorities fully cooperated with the investigations.
"In a subsequent letter soon after the February 2003 letter, I expressed my sorrow at what Mr Jones had suffered and offered to meet him.
"There was no attempt to mislead him. I apologise for the confusion caused to Mr Jones."
no swimsuits...
Priest to hold nun beauty pageant
An Italian priest says he is organising the world's first beauty pageant for nuns to erase a stereotype of them as being old and dour.
Antonio Rungi says The Miss Sister Italy online contest will start on his blog in September.
"Nuns are above all women and beauty is a gift from God," he told Italy's Corriere della Sera newspaper.
He is asking nuns to send their photos to him, saying that internet users will then choose the winner.
Father Rungi stressed that nuns were not being invited to parade in bathing suits, saying it will be up to them whether they pose with the traditional veil or with their heads uncovered.
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see toon at top
no contest
Priest cancels nun beauty contest
An Italian priest who said he wanted to hold the world's first beauty contest for nuns has decided to cancel the project, saying he was misunderstood.
Antonio Rungi said he had never intended to put sisters on the catwalk, but had wanted to erase a stereotype of them as being old and dour.
He had wanted to hold the contest online on his internet blog.
Father Rungi said he changed his mind after the local religious authorities expressed their displeasure.
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see above and toon at top.
alone in a room with a priest...
Sister Jesme was in her twenties and new to convent life when she found herself alone in a room with a priest.
Key points:He told her to undress, then he did the same.
She was so shocked she did not know what to do, so she complied. She had never seen a naked man before.
"I was forced to strip off my clothes by the priest who I thought was a very holy priest."
Later, she was approached by a senior nun who asked her to engage in sexual acts.
"I thought that perhaps if I submit to her, she will be ok," said Sister Jesme.
"So that happened. Other nuns, in a way, were encouraging me to submit to whatever she did. It was a homosexual-type thing."
It took Sister Jesme another 20 years in a religious order before she felt she could speak out about what happened.
"That vow of obedience is the most terrible hammer used on nuns. It is becoming the most important evil inside the convents," she said.
Read more:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-12-01/indian-nuns-speak-out-about-sexua...
Read from top.
See also:
http://www.yourdemocracy.net.au/drupal/node/34760
http://yourdemocracy.net.au/drupal/node/18708
http://www.yourdemocracy.net.au/drupal/node/36098
http://www.yourdemocracy.net.au/drupal/node/27819