I watched some heavy duty tv last night.
We caught up with the final episode of The Shadow Line (such a great series), then Luther which was followed by Abused: Breaking the silence. The latter was a documentary revealing sexual and psychological abuse that happened to many boys at 2 Catholic schools.
On the 14th September 2002 my hubbie and I were married by Fr Kit Cunningham at St Ethelreda’s Church, Ely Place. It was the happiest day of our lives followed closely by the birth of our two children.
Last night I learned that this trusted and highly regarded priest abused several children whilst holding a position of authority at a school in Tanzania back in the 1960′s.
Firstly I would like to thank those brave men for coming forward and sharing their painful stories. I feel sick and saddened that this was allowed to happen to you and I hope that you all eventually find a way of moving forward with your lives despite the fact that justice has never been served to you.
Secondly (and I’m finding it quite hard to say this without sounding full of self pity as the effect this man had on young innocent boys is nothing in comparison to us) I’m devastated to know we were married by a paedophile. Our special day is now tarnished by the one man who was entrusted to bless our union. He is forever in our wedding album and any memories we have of our day. I feel like I want to have our union blessed again but by who, yet another Catholic priest who could turn out to be a paedophile?
One thing this documentary has taught me is to explain to my children (who are both baptised Catholics and attending a Catholic school) that a priest is not always who he professes to be. Thank God these and many more stories have come to light so we can see such priests for who they are and that the power they once possessed has diminished.
To the Vatican and the Pope – isn’t it time the Catholic Church moved with the times? Let women be ordained, let priests marry. Maybe then, just maybe the Catholic Church would not be a haven for sick men looking to abuse innocent children.
Fr Kit Cunningham died last year. He confessed his guilt shortly before his death in a letter to one of his victims, he also returned his MBE to Buckingham Palace.
He has met his maker.
Twitter
Facebook
The key message in your comment is that priests no longer have the power that they once had. Thank goodness. In my younger days they were held up as mini gods. Those days have gone forever along with many other forms of deference. Your marriage however was blssed by God not by the priest. The priest was a mere conduit (this whole thing is making me think that maybe the Protestants had got it right after all!) and, as a human being, was with sin as are all human beings. Forget him and remember the day and all the joy it brought you.
You’re so right, our marriage was blessed by God, and that as human beings we are all with sin. Really important points to remember.
Thank you for taking the time to comment.
I was also married by Kit Cunningham in 2002 and my eldest child was baptized by him. I feel just as you do. I will never be able to feel the same way about my wedding day or about St Etheldreda’s. It has profoundly affected me and has sullied my memories. I feel great pity for the men involved and hope they can find peace so that they can put this behind them. I am shocked that Fr Kit was allowed such a high profile position in such a respected church. Had I known of his past, I would never have dreamed of asking him to marry me but I am also confused as I have heard many stories of the good things that he did for other people. I guess what is most confusing is that I respected him and even liked him.
Hi, thanks for your comment. I’m sure we are a few of many who were married by Kit Cunningham who are feeling exactly the same. He was a very charismatic man. His sermon during our wedding convinced a man to propose to his wife after having shunned the idea for quite some time. He was a monster to some and a witty, jovial, likeable character to others. It is very confusing. Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts here.