Absolutely, if anything was ever more warranted this is it. Yet another Black Eye for the Catholic Church. This has been systemic for centuries and the most sad aspect of it all - the poor unfortunate children being orphaned had no one to help them. The unfortunate children who weren't orphaned were not believed by their parents because the CC reigned high and mighty. The all "Omnipotent gangsters" who posed as God's messenger, ruled Ireland with an IRON fist. Their game is up - thank you God for exposing them at long last. It is time for the Vatican to sell off a coupe of their ritzy palaces and contribute said wealth to these poor victims of circumstances through no fault of their own. Kudos to the Ryan Commission report.
colette Miller, Florida

Punish the individuals, yes with real evidence. But any attempt to judge the whole Church, not so fast. That would include a lot of innocent people and you would eventually have to include "other" religions, and groups as well.
mickey, Alabama

I felt like taking a shower after reading the Ryan Commission report. It was so disgraceful and profoundly sad, since their victims were little children. The Catholic Church is morally bankrupt. What parent in their right mind would trust any clergy around their children today? The Vatican should not be exempt form prosecution - they were the great enabler's hiding behind their Canon Law routine for centuries and turning a blind eye to the rampant pedophilia in the church. I say force them to sell the Vatican and all their priceless works of art and compensate these innocent victim's- after all it is the 'authentic' Christian way of doing things.
bernie saunders, Florida

This is the same Catholic Church that turned their heads when the Holocaust was happening.....shameful!!!
kristine pennington, Colorado

I can't believe that there haven't been arrests yet. The evidence clearly shows that child abuse took place and it's clear who has committed these horrible crimes. If this would happen in any other setting, the financial settlement would be the least of their problems. We can only pray that all of the people involved; men or women, priests or nuns be held accountable and be given the maximum amount of time.
Gerry O'Brien, Missouri

It comes as no surprise to me that nuns, brothers and priests in Ireland abused, assaulted and raped children under the guise of Catholic education. They should all be prosecuted and sent to jail. As a survivor of Catholic education in the US I can attest that some of the Sisters of Mercy, an order of nuns founded in Ireland, abused children on a regular basis for all eight years I attended grammar school in the 40?s and 50?s. As for the Catholic apologists, who say only a small portion of the religious engaged in such practices, I say those that did not actively abuse children, but witnessed the abuse and did not intervene to protect innocent children, are just as guilty. Today they would be in jail for the abuse of innocent and defenseless children. Many of the nuns have died and I hope they receive their just punishment in the after life, God knows they deserve it. The whole concept of ?Catholic? education was flawed by the administration of abuse in the name of discipline. I thank God that future generations of children will not have to suffer under nuns, brothers and priests. Thank God they are all becoming an extinct presence in our schools. Goodbye and good riddance.
Seamus O'Corcrain, New Jersey

The orders concerned have been found to be at fault but to them should be added the Irish government of the time. Their courts put those children into harms way and they should pay their fair share as well. In the Ireland of that time church and state were one.
Joan, Texas

A crime is a crime, and when a person violates a trust that they have been given, they should be put away until the last person they abused can forget what was done.
Mike, New Jersey

A criminal act is still a criminal act, no matter who committed it; no one is above the law. The protection of children was violated and those who participated whether in committing this heinous act or covering it up must be held accountable.
Dan Callaghan, North Carolina

As a child of Ireland in an orphanage who was adopted and brought to the U.S. I often felt that Ireland had abandoned me. In the long run I guess I was the lucky one who was not left to be abused. I do wonder if I was taken away from my mother in Ireland and sold to Americans. My adopted parents often spoke of the large sums of money that changed hands with the orphanage. It seems that the abuse that has come to light may only be the tip of the iceberg.
tina, Florida

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