Say Sorry: A Harrowing Childhood In Catholic Orphanages

by Ann Thompson

Conceived out of wedlock, Ann was just two months old when placed in the care of a Catholic orphanage. From the beginning, she was taught her mother was sinful and that she would be too unless the devil was beaten from her soul. She was sexually abused from an early age and forced to work long hours on the orphanage farm.

At night, three or four nuns performed the grisly ritual of stripping Ann naked, tying her to the four posts of a bed and savagely attacking her with belts, hoops and sticks.

It would take more than sadistic nuns to quell Ann’s irrepressible spirit, however, and in the course of her virtual enslavement, she acquired the qualities of generosity, kindness and resilience.

'Say Sorry' documents the 19 years of abuse inflicted on Ann and the ongoing consequences. It is also the story of her battle to get authorities within the Catholic Church to accept responsibility for the past institutionalised abuse of young people in its care, and to admit - unconditionally - that there was wrong doing.

The draw-dropping account ends with an expose on sexual abuse by Father Tom Doyle, JDC, DADC, a former Canon lawyer for the Vatican Embassy in Washington. Of Ann’s harrowing experience at the hands of Catholic clergy, he says it’s possibly the most brutal he’s ever encountered.

185 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Ann Free Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know some people do not like the way I wrote my story... Child like they say... Please remember one thing which I am so ashamed of... I found it very hard to write about what happened to me at the two catholic church orphanages... I was not educated... to tell you the truth my body and mind were so damage... that I forgot what I had read after two lines... I could not remember anything... I still get violent headaches everyday... and I can not sleep at night... because of the nightmares I have... Please forgive me for the mistakes I have made in my books... I did them all myself the covers and the layout of my books... I wanted to prove to myself that I could do something... The only thing I am guilty of is telling the TRUTH... Ann Free Spirit = Ann Thompson

[Amy Wieleba · Rating 2 out of 5]

Awful topic but good book. Child sexual abuse by women (nuns!) is not nearly as openly discussed as that done by priests or other men. This is a very sad case of something that should never have happened to this woman when she was a child, but I commend her for her courage to write about her experiences.

[Sue · Rating 2 out of 5]

A harrowing story about abuse at a Catholic orphanage in New Zealand in the 403 and 50s. A true story, told by one of the victims, that sometimes made me sick to read.

[Ashley Jade · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very close to my heart as my nana grew up in this orphanage and worled at st josephs boys. Reccomended to all

[Lyn Chappell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Ann for having the courage to write this book. I myself was at Nazareth House in 1960, whilst my brother and sister were at St Joseph's. I do not have very fond memories of my stay there.