FROM THE MANAGERS DESK: Faith runs deep despite church anger

"This column is a difficult one for me to write because I believe religion and faith are a personal thing”

FAITHFUL: Samantha Wantling at her Grade 7 confirmation with sponsor Neta Jensen. Picture: Samantha Wantling

I AM a Catholic. I was married in the Catholic Church, chose to have all three of my daughters baptised in the Catholic Church and have now watched with pride as my youngest daughter was married and my two grandchildren were baptised in the Catholic Church. I don't attend church every Sunday and if anything, I am one of those Christmas, Easter and special occasion church goers, but that in no way diminishes my beliefs.

This column is a difficult one for me to write because I believe religion and faith are a personal thing. It is one of those topics we can easily check on a doctor's form, but it isn't something we always wear on our sleeves and scream from the hilltops at every given chance.

But the past few weeks has seen many Catholics having to defend their choice to remain true to their church and to their beliefs. Let me be clear, I am angry with my church. I am angry that men have used the cloak to hide behind and commit the most monstrous acts on the most innocent of its congregation. I will never understand the mindset that is involved in the stealing of innocence of a child.

Equally, I will never understand the cover up that has taken place. I am infuriated that this behaviour has been tolerated and hidden behind closed doors for centuries. I am heartbroken that children have been made carry these secrets with them throughout their lives and so many having never found peace or happiness, and so many having taken their own lives. I believe that my church, the Catholic Church has a lot to answer for. This is not a matter that should be trivialised and those found guilty should be faced with the harshest penalty that our law allows.

But, paedophilia is not just a Catholic problem. It is a human problem; it requires no religious belief or institution to nurture it. The truth is that thousands of cases are reported to authorities every year, and I have no doubt there are many more that aren't.

There is no doubt there is a deadly silence that fills the halls of many institutions and even governments when the topic of paedophilia is raised. But as a society we cannot sweep this problem under the carpet. It is not going away, and the once embarrassing and taboo topic should be one that we discuss openly without any fear.

In the business world we are often told, don't come to me with your problems, come to me with your solutions - but what happens when the problem is just so great that the solution seems out of reach?