People knew Fallada knew

From the first days that church authorities began to make statements about the horror of child sex abuse this blogger was of the opinion most of what they were say was close to humbug.

In the past this entire phenomenon was swept under the carpet and today church authorities continue to do that albeit in a new manner using new tools. The only reason why they are speaking is because they were caught.

In a current issue of a religious magazine a priest, who is involved in this issue, tells his readers that people were simply not aware of what was happening, nor were they aware of the results and damage of such behaviour.

I have always thought that to be inaccurate and simply not true.

In 1938 Hans Fallada published ‘Wolf  Among Wolves’. In this book he tells the story of an adult sexually abusing a minor. It is is a copybook account of so much of what we have learned and read about in recent years.

Fallada explains in precise detail the thinking of the perpetrator and the horrific damage it does to the victim.

After Violet is abused she observes her abuser, “ Raeder went to the cupboard. He unlocked the cupboard and placed the glass inside it. That is how men are! He was not always a murderer, normally he was a very ordinary citizen, and it was that that made him so dangerous....

“When she saw him, scarcely three yards away, kneel down on the little stage visible only to herself, and pray, he who just before had put his hand around her throat – when she reflected that perhaps he was thanking God for being allowed to do that to her – then Violet could contain herself no longer but jumped up and ran into the night.

“She ran through the garden, on and on, and up a grass ridge between the fields. Her breast heaved. She felt as if she must run away from it all, from herself and everyone, and she threw herself down and gazed at the sky, whose impalpably deep background made the stars twinkle all the more brightly.(Melvillehouse page 511)

Hans Fallada knew exactly what was going on and wrote about it.

Popes, cardinals and bishops, who say they did not know are greatly damaging the meaning of words when they talk as they do.

It is impossible to listen to them.

Stop. Please.