The Incorrigible Criminals

 A  Conference of Leaders of Catholic Religious Orders in Germany published (I assume reluctantly) the results of a survey regarding the Abuse-Scandal involving members of the Catholic Church.

The horrible results of this survey revealed that 654 Monks and Nuns misused children and other individuals in need of their care. Are we talking only about Monks and Nuns? Why does this survey not also include Priests and other Catholic dignitaries?

1,412 men and women reported that they had been victims of such violent, sexual transgressions.

Approximately 80 percent of the perpetrators had already died, but it may be assumed that they were quickly replaced by other criminals of their ilk.

I believe that it is reasonable to assume that only a minute fraction of these victims had come forward, and that the vast majority of men- and women-victims had remained silent, carrying the wounds inflicted upon them by Catholic Clergy within themselves, from their childhood until the bitter end.

Psychologists and Statisticians estimate that fewer than 1 in 10 abuse victims will come forward with an accusation. It is also reasonable to assume that the Catholic Committee charged with this 'internal' survey were not overly diligent in finding the majority of culprits. They, of course, found only those which were mentioned by the 1412 victims.

I cannot draw conclusions how many victims and how many perpetrators there really were, but I believe that there were innumerably more on both sides.

This above mentioned survey into the criminal activity is limited to Germany.                        Now imagine the horrendous number which would be found in other countries, more Catholic than the Germans.                                                                                                        Think about the truly "religious" countries, like Austria, Poland, Italy, Spain, Ireland and hundreds more.  The numbers would likely be staggering and it is hard to understand, why the people are not up in arms, demanding that these criminals are charged in Court, and, if convicted, sentenced to long prison terms. Instead they are transferred to another Diocese or Bishopry, where they see no reason not to continue in their nefarious ways.

Bertstravels

fears, he is a voice in a wilderness

The Jumper

 

"The Jumper" scales the perpendicular wall. 

Having arrived at the jump-off point he packs his gear

in a floating bag and throws it into the lake below.

Then he jumps the 30 meter drop,

and calls it fun.

SPLASH

Little Joe Lake - again

 Once you've been there, you will always want to come back.

Early in the morning on Little Joe Lake,

on the beach of Arowhon Pines.

That's called: "Relaxing"

A Pun is a Pun is a Pun

The fattest Knight at King Arthur's table was 'Sir Cumference.'

He got that way from eating too much pi.

I got more where this came from.

Bertstravels

Waterfalls...

 ... cascading over perpendicular rock-walls  carrying much water, particularly after heavy rains as we've had them over the past week. There are many of these fascinating appearances on your way to the Großglockner. I will show you only a few of them.

Flowers in our garden

 

... and the Band came marching in.

 Mary's Ascension, a most important religious holiday in Austria,

 is ushered in by the excellent local Marching Band.

Every self-respecting Marching Band 

is accompanied by two young  ladies, called "Marketenderin"

carrying "drink and food" for the hungry and thirsty members of the Band.

Mary's Ascension and the Blessing of the Flowers

I arrived in Heiligenblut just a short while before

the Procession for the "Blessing of the Flowers"

Singly and in Groups the Citizens of this lovely town arrived,

carrying flowers, beautifully bound.

These are blessed by the local Priest and then sold to whoever wants to buy them.

Funds raised in this way go to charitable purposes.

Heiligenblut and the Großglockner

 Heiligenblut: 

A small town nestled at the foot of the Großglockner, Austria's highest Mountain.

One cannot get much more picturesque

Falkenstein, the Castle of my childhood

 Falkenstein!

When I was a kid, between 6 and 10, my mother took me to her hometown, Feistritz on the river Drau. Every year during Summer holidays, this most exciting adventure took place, and every year I looked forward to my absolute favorite sight: The Castle of Falkenstein! 

At the town of Böckstein in the Province of Salzburg, the train entered the Tauern tunnel and about 10 km later it would leave the tunnel at Mallnitz, in the Province of Carinthia. There was a break in the tunnel and for a few seconds I could see what I had been waiting for:   the tower of the castle of Falkenstein.

Just the other day, on my trip to Heiligenblut, I stopped there and actually visited this memory of my childhood.

Falkenstein, as I saw it from the train window:

The Main Gate into the Castle.

(unfortunately, the sky was a  solid gray.)

Ladders and wooden stairs maintain the ancient look

The "Knights' table!

(were there only three knights?😆

Heiligenblut,

 Day before yesterday I decided that I simply had to do something out of the ordinary.

So, I got into my car and drove to Heiligenblut. ( about 450 km there and back) 

This little town of about 1,100 inhabitants rests comfortably at the foot of Austria's highest mountain, the 3,798 meters high Großglockner.

The drive itself is beautiful, as the few pictures I took will prove.

A little rest at this lively brook.

and here is the little town of Heiligenblut, 

with the Großglockner Mountain in the background.

The Glacier covered mountain, the highest in all of Austria.

Two more views of this picturesque town.