Its been an open secret for years. Catholic priests fathering children in breach of their vows. After suffering in silence and shame for years, those children are speaking out, demanding answers and recognition from Rome. Like other scandals it has faced, the Church has swept the issue of children of priests under the carpet.
The church operates on a system where if it can ignore you and hope you go away, then it will do that, says one former advisor to the church.
The children of priests have long suffered in silence and shame, their mothers pressured to keep quiet and keep the secret.
We follow the story of one Australian woman who discovered in middle age who her father was, and whos determined to find out more.
I remember thinking I cant tell anybody. I now have to carry a secret, she says. Over a period of time, I realised
I cant keep the secret and I need to step forward
Reporter Lisa Millar heads to Ireland to speak to the man whos bringing this issue out from the shadows into the light.
From a village south of Dublin, Vincent Doyle, whose father was a priest, is bringing these children together for the first time, helping them find a voice and a pathway to answers........
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Poster Comment:
Notice I'm not blaming any one denomination.