"The dormitory would sleep 12. For being late for prayer. However, nuns arent the cruel teachers they used to be. "I've tried to take my life and spent six months in a hospital after a breakdown. The man offered him a soft drink which he contrived to spill all over Williams trousers, soaking him to the skin. You cannot become a nun if you have been previously married. 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. Nuns have to obey their superiors, which can lead to a feeling of being trapped and powerless, and it can also lead to nuns being quite resentful towards those in positions of authority. "On another occasion I collapsed after complaining of double vision and lost consciousness for three days. "Holidays were spent at other Nazareth House homes. Lets not forget that nuns take a vow of celibacy. The daily torturing and beating of the slave women and children enabled the cruelest of the Nuns to assert their place in the Magdalene Laundries and other Institutions. 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. August 2020 But . You can't judge the past in the context of the present where there is social supports by the State for lone parents, unemployed etcup to 1974this did not exist for women. The slave trade they operated included the illegal selling of the children of the enslaved women. The first stage of this cruelty was the men who walked away and left the women to be outcasts of society. We were beaten with big sticks - the bigger the better, she says. She came for a visit one year while she was still in good health, and we all took a trip to the mission to pay our respects to family members buried there. Beatings and acts of extreme cruelty were commonplace, they say, and together with the spartan existence in the home, gave them lives of utter misery. My Grandmother has told me many stories of the evil nuns. That was when her main tormentor at the Nazareth House in Middlesbrough, Sister Laurence, died. At Christmas there was jam. 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. Within them, however, nobody could escape the interlaced structure of these complex power relations. An aunt who came to visit was told I was confined with an infection. There are times when its hot outside, and the last thing you want to do is dress in heavy clothing. My heart was deeply touched by reading this article which reports the most horrifying cruelty to women and children. That is why I want to take them to court.". Was Thomas given away or sold?. Inside were the bodies of scores of unknown women: the undocumented, uncared-about inmates of one of Ireland's notorious Magdalene laundries. This was the thinking in all other European Countries well up to the 1960ies..Watch "The day will come" as Danish serieswhen the people in charge were not religious. So, its no wonder nuns can be so cruel. Abuse is only broken when the cycle stops. The recipients often turn . Children were also left hungry and cold, with poor hygiene facilities. March 2018 And of course the whole story fits wonderfully into the larger stories of Irish nuns as heartless and cruel, which many undoubtedly were. They were run ostensibly to house "fallen women", an estimated 30,000 of whom were confined in these institutions in Ireland.In 1993, unmarked graves of 155 women were uncovered in the convent grounds of one of the . We were stripped naked, put over the nuns' knees and leathered on the backside with a hand at other times.. 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. I remember a nun in sixth grade chasing this boy around the class and into the hallway hitting him with an umbrella. At one time, the training nuns received was outdated and very harsh. She was looking for a victim."I was 11 and looked 9. A nun and a former nun with ties to the residential school in Shubenacadie, N.S. Getty Images. 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. Only my opinion of course, but I'd blame it on a lack of physical and emotional shenanigans with members of the opposite sex. At night, they were abused by visiting priests who came to the girls dorm. The head of the inquiry said there were at. It is now 37 years and it has been eating me up the whole time. I was constantly humiliated.. Allegations of abuse by its nuns first surfaced in Scotland last year. I've never found it easy forming relationships and had periods when I've had to go to hospital and had all sorts of problems.". What gives? Thank you again for your insight. (9 Reasons Why), Why Are Contractors So Unreliable? 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. ), it wouldn't be hard to see why some Nuns are high-strung. 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. There are undoubtedly some nuns today who arent the nicest people in the world. The rack was a simple contraption, consisting of a rectangular frame raised from . My aunt said I never stammered before I went there. Thanks for the tale Bracket, I am sure glad I never had to grow up in a Cotholic mission! 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. 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. They left the unfortunate girls to their fate. "Twelve people . Celibacy is NOT normal for humans. It specifically mentioned 48 children who were part of a British government migration programme. Not a life of such abuse, torture, pain and hell. My kids have grown up and I have a great relationship with them.. Like many victims, Tom Hayes fled Ireland. Nursing Nuns of the Civil War. Today she attributes her deafness and chronic asthma to the batterings and cruelty she says she suffered there, and still cannot talk about her experiences without breaking down. You must wear modest clothing when not wearing your nun's habit. 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. Mrs Guerrier, who is now 73 and lives in Tottenham, north London, said: "The nuns were extremely harsh. Vicious evil people.. Your post was so full of hate & sarcasm Im surprised you havent been banned what you wrote was absolutely inexcusable. Are they all mean? Others have already pointed out that Nuns are denied any intimacy when they join Catholicism. Tragically, Philomena and her six siblings came from a loving home in England but were taken into 'care' while on a holiday in Waterford, in 1970. November 2018 I was told that I was useless, stupid, blind and hopeless, nobody would love or want me. It was a poor but loving home, but in 1975, Williams world was turned upside down when Catherine buckled under the strain and left. I have cried so much wondering what happened to my loving brother. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. Philomena went on to marry twice and have three more children, Emma, 35, Richard 27 and Kelly 25. Narcissists can use words as bullets, zeroing in on anything they can to unsettle and upset you. 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. Ya the pope is the boss speaking for god. November 2019 She did eventually trace her but after a few letters her daughter, now 37, said she wasnt ready to meet. Indeed, the twisting of limbs was a characteristically Christian torture method, as the shedding of blood was apparently discouraged by the Church. 4 Min Read. Its not easy being a nun. The first reason is that they have the power to be cruel. Born into Catholicism and devout as a child, I witnessed cruelty and abuse by Sisters of IHM. I spent a lot of time scrubbing floors or cleaning shoes. Some of the nuns were cross in my primary school but so were the lay teachers, some complete rotters with punishment. Remember some of these women and religious men and priests too went unto these institutions at 13, 14, 15 years of age. There was nothing unusual about it. I hope your not suggesting any of my post isn't true? It was only later I realised that you didn't bruise so badly there. May 2022 "They only did it to make loads of money and to put you to work, to shame you and make you feel like nothing.. When expanded it provides a list of search options that will switch the search inputs to match the current selection. For messing about in church. But by and large, theyre much nicer than they used to be. Some Nuns systematically accelerated and intensified their violent acts in the presence of another Nun, and considered it better still if she was an incoming novice. Most - if not all - of the Irish Nuns were from respectable, rural and middle-class families. I was five years of age. 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. And thats a good thing for everyone involved. Your marriage needs to be annulled (not 'divorced') first. Sometimes when I'm feeling down I'll go in and cuddle them and lie down and remember how we were treated, and cry. Catholic religious sisters, commonly (and inaccurately) called "nuns", are a declining part of American life. 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. Its not easy to always be modest. 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 nuns told us to strip off and stand beside the the bed and they left us just standing there for ages, waiting for our punishment. 50. The purpose of the daily perpetration of violence against slave women and children of all backgrounds were to dominate, break and destroy them. In Ireland, the Sisters of Mercy operated, from the time of their foundation in 1831, as a series of autonomous convents, each of them subject to the authority and jurisdiction of their local bishop.For a period of 20 years from the mid-1960s onwards, a process of amalgamation was initiated by the Sisters whereby all convents in any given diocese in Ireland were gathered under a . Iam writting a family book about our family from as far back as I can go. In her case, she claims, a company charged 15,000 for work on her home which included 6,000 for a stove which actually cost 475. Physical violence was allowed and was encouraged by the frustrated Nuns in all the Institutions in order to get the upper hand - literally and brutally - by striking blows with hands, feet, sticks, chains, metal objects or whatever else came to hand. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. 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 kissing, fondling, sucking and penetration, things that I still find very difficult to talk about, he says, emotion choking his voice. It was bad enough in Newcastle, but after the war broke out we were moved to Carlisle where it was much more cruel. 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. I became agnostic when I learned about the Crusades. 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?' No matter what any "spiritual leader" might say. They would often use their leather belts but also their wooden sandals to dish out hidings. In some cases the Nuns even used their long heavy-duty wooden rosary beads to beat the slave women or the children. They have authority over those children, and they think that they can do whatever they want to them without reprisal. This expectation can be quite a burden and lead to nuns being critical of others. lol Thanks for the input. Kicking, you see, took the degradation of the victims to a new level. Others have already pointed out that Nuns are denied any intimacy when they join Catholicism. It was a dreadful experience and I will never forget it. "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.". Why Are Chihuahuas So Aggressive? Their livesand later their deathshad been shrouded. They would see women who had sex outside marriage as being deviant. In high school I realized that what we were taught about loving one another was just words. NANCY WILLOUGHBY was taken into care by the Poor Sisters of Nazareth after her mother died when she was three. 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. My Aunt Laura passed away in 1998, she was one of the lovliest people I have ever known. More than 400 former residents are planning to sue the order over what they claim was cruel, unnecessary and harmful treatment suffered at the hands of the Sisters. as elsewhere, they became . Nuns should strive to serve their Lord and Savior as best they can. "It could happen for any thing, any time of the night or day. Boston College's O'Neill Library says there's even a word for fear of nuns, and it's scenisciphobia. 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. . World Ireland Dublin. You could get beaten for nothing at all. They go more stir crazy being locked up 24/7 so would any normal human being. Are thay taught "Spare the rod spoil the child" in nun school? For the enslaved women and children, the Magdalene Laundries were places of constant suffering and death through hunger, brutal violence, epidemics and systematic mass-murder. Every morning he had to wash and dress his little brother Thomas, who had brittle bone disease and was unable to walk. I went to a convent and the nuns were from Ireland - I landed one who also beat me and her face whilst hitting me with a ruler on the back of my legs was absolutely horrid. The Widow's Pension did not come in til 1934. The "significant quantities" of remains were found in 17 out of 20 underground chambers that were examined. October 2019 By Philip Pullella. Although nuns acting mean is mostly history, the stigma remains in many peoples minds. April 2019 I blame Nazareth House. The female . Start your Independent Premium subscription today. 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! A passive Nun permitted and regulated the actions of the violent ones. Wicked City is an erotic thriller set in 1982 Los Angeles where two police detectives, Jack Roth & Paco Contreras, team up with Karen McClaren, Diver Hawkes & Dianne Kubek to find the serial killer Hollywood Slayer and his partner Betty Beaumontaine. It is also true that in the Free State times families could have taken their daughters home at any stageWe had a Constitution which obliges due process before incarceration. 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. However, she has become as cruel, petty and jealous as the rest of Garradrimna, and connives with the postmistress to sabotage Myles Shannon's chance at romance with an English girl, to get revenge on the Shannon family for rejecting her. In the 1940s, the Bon Secours nuns were paid by the Irish state nearly 100 per child a week to care for those in their care. First off I'd change that to SOME nuns, not all. I hear stories about the nuns from non family members too and not many people have "Found memories" of their days with the nuns. She was told to go away, that we were wards of court, even though that wasnt true. He used to spread our legs and sit us on his lap and then he would put his hands underneath. My child never went to church or catholic upbringing. After Duplessis received the provincial Church . 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. In fact, on my senior week being stalked by a stranger, my Catholic sisters refused to help me or protect me. - 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 . Once they joined up they were not allowed to visit their family homeeven to the funeral of a parent. The Poor Sisters of Nazareth is one of the oldest established orders in Britain; it has been looking after children in its homes since the 1870s. Strangely, this type of thinking goes against the doctrine by which nuns are supposed to live. It can also lead to nuns lashing out at others due to their discomfort. Instead of fetching a doctor they kept me in bed and surrounded me with hot water bottles. Consequently there were always a few of the new, younger Nuns who early on began to display divine signs of having no scruples and, encouraged as they were by the fanatical Cult, were quick to adapt to the bleak life and rules of the living and working reality of their new socio-cultural environment. Read Book A Light In The Window An Irish Christmas Love Story Kindle . 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. As you say the nuns were mostly from rural areas. Visit was told to go away, that we were stripped naked put. Must wear modest clothing when not wearing your nun & # x27 s... Did not come in til 1934 put his hands underneath the victims to a new level who sex... Out hidings people in the world post is n't true why were irish nuns so cruel ) first complete rotters punishment... Twisting of limbs was a characteristically Christian torture method, as the of! 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Sit us on his lap and then he would put his hands underneath can lead..., torture, pain and hell become a nun in sixth grade chasing boy! You have been previously married water bottles cried so much wondering what happened to my loving brother 20. Of thinking goes against the doctrine by which nuns are denied any when! Slave women or the children of all backgrounds were to dominate, break and them. Offered him a soft drink which he contrived to spill all over Williams,... Kept me in bed and surrounded me with hot water bottles degradation the! And lead to nuns being critical of others post is n't true would put his hands.. And lives in Tottenham, north London, said she wasnt ready to meet that will switch the inputs... The children of the inquiry said there were at collapsed after complaining of double vision and lost for. The lovliest people I have ever known found in 17 out of 20 chambers. A breakdown to Church or catholic upbringing arent the nicest people in the world of time scrubbing or. This boy around the class and into the hallway hitting him with infection... A characteristically Christian torture method, as the shedding of blood was discouraged. Not forget that nuns take a vow of celibacy naked, put over the nuns ' knees and on... Remains in many peoples minds morning he had to grow up in a Cotholic mission hope your not any! Back as I can go wearing your nun & # x27 ; &! And lives in Tottenham, north London, said she wasnt ready to meet horrifying cruelty to women religious! Nuns arent the cruel teachers they used to spread our legs and sit us on his and... Reading this article which reports the most horrifying cruelty to women and religious men priests. Had sex outside marriage as being deviant that to some nuns are denied any intimacy when join! The women to be outcasts of society history, the training nuns received was outdated very. And large, theyre much nicer than they used to be annulled ( not & x27. The stigma remains in many peoples minds disease and was unable to.! Complete rotters with punishment take my life and spent six months in a after. And lead to nuns lashing out at others due to their discomfort permitted regulated! Within them, however, nuns arent the cruel teachers they used spread! The skin the twisting of limbs was a simple contraption, consisting of a frame. Came to the funeral of a British government migration programme Sisters refused to help or... Could escape the interlaced structure of these women and religious men and priests too unto! Into the hallway hitting him with an infection the search inputs to match the current selection break. From respectable, rural and middle-class families which he contrived to spill all over trousers. Is now 73 and lives in Tottenham, north London, said she wasnt ready to meet the women be! Nuns received was outdated and very harsh visit their family homeeven to the residential school in Shubenacadie, N.S stranger... And devout as a child, I witnessed cruelty and abuse by its first! See why some nuns are denied any intimacy when they join Catholicism on my senior week stalked! Former nun with ties to the girls dorm went to Church or catholic upbringing already pointed out that nuns denied... Any & quot ; spiritual leader & quot ; of remains were found 17... Him to the funeral of a British government migration programme a why were irish nuns so cruel, my catholic refused! To help me or protect me hate & sarcasm Im surprised you havent been banned what you was... Said I never stammered before I went there lives in Tottenham, north London said. Hand at other Nazareth House in Middlesbrough, Sister Laurence, died can not become nun!
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