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Betty’s story, Abuse at Goodwood Catholic Church Orphanage, Adelaide, South Australia 1950s
My time at the Goodwood orphanage has left emotional scars
for life, and anger at being forced to endure and witness many beatings on
myself and others. A childhood devoid of any love, kindness and understanding
by these carers; fear being the only emotion that was readily displayed by the
children. Anger at the Catholic order for allowing nuns with obvious
psychological problems, no self discipline, ignorance, inexperience, lack of
ability and a callous indifference in looking after children and their needs.
Being allowed to treat children in the way in which they did has had a
devastating effect on my life, and that of many of the other children who
passed through their hands.
They made it clear to us that we were paying for the sins of
our parents, or what they perceived to be the sins of our parents. I am still
shocked at the arrogance of the sisters deciding who was deserving of an
education and who wasn’t. But by far the worst was the lack of protection from
the other nuns who turned their backs on the children who were brutalised,
humiliated, degraded, lonely cold and hungry most of the time.
Most children had no family to support them. Whist visitors
were allowed on the second and fourth Sunday of the month between 2pm and 5pm, many of them had none.
I was fortunate. I did receive visitors. However, on some
occasions my granny would walk all the way to the orphanage only to be told I
was in bed and could not see her. Sometimes this was because I had been beaten
so badly, they did not want anyone from outside to see my injuries.
We were told by the nuns that we were the “devil’s children”,
and that we were there because our parents did not want us - and neither did
the nuns. However, some of us “worthless human beings” are now united and
fighting back at the injustices that we as children were forced to endure. The
Sisters of Mercy are living a lie. Not all of their work has benefited
humanity. In fact, many adults are still unable to cope with life. They now need
regular counselling, have anxiety attacks and still believe that God deserted
them.
I believe that the Catholic Church should now help these
fragile people and be held accountable for the physical, psychological,
emotional and spiritual harm which has been done to so many.
Link below for more of Better's Story