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Where the Light Enters


An enthralling epic about two trailblazing female doctors in 19th century New ...
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In addressing the needs of the orphaned children in 1880s Manhattan, where do you think the Catholic Church succeeded and where did it fail? How have things changed in the decades since?

Created: 10/01/20

Replies: 8

Posted Oct. 01, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
davinamw

Join Date: 10/15/10

Posts: 3442

In addressing the needs of the orphaned children in 1880s Manhattan, where do you think the Catholic Church succeeded and where did it fail? How have things changed in the decades since?

The Catholic Church attempted to address the needs of the many thousands of orphaned children who were homeless in Manhattan in the 1880s. Where do you believe the church succeeded and where did it fail? How have things changed in the decades since?


Posted Oct. 02, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
kimk

Join Date: 10/16/10

Posts: 889

RE: In addressing the needs of the orphaned children in 1880s Manhattan, where do you think the Catholic Church succeeded and where did it fail? How have things changed in the decades since?

I think they largely succeeded in trying to make sure children had some form of refuge, and I think the intent was good. However, like so many large institutions, the implementation was uneven, and apparently the follow-up non-existent. While stories like this highlight orphanages that did more harm than good, I'd like to think they were the exception rather than the rule.


Posted Oct. 04, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
paulak

Join Date: 04/21/11

Posts: 264

RE: In addressing the needs of the orphaned children in 1880s Manhattan, where do you think the Catholic Church succeeded and where did it fail? How have things changed in the decades since?

It's an interesting topic since I don't hear as much about orphanages now - has our foster system replaced them? I'm embarrassed to say I don't know. That said, I think like anything, there was a mix of good and bad about the orphanages during the late 1800's and Donati has definitely highlighted the problems. The church succeeded by offering a solution albeit an imperfect one.


Posted Oct. 04, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
shirleyl

Join Date: 06/01/11

Posts: 73

RE: In addressing the needs of the orphaned children in 1880s Manhattan, where do you think the Catholic Church succeeded and where did it fail? How have things changed in the decades since?

In this novel, the Catholic Church cared more about their rules and precedents than the welfare of the orphans. Although the situation with orphanages and foster care has certainly changed for the better, in many incidents the fundamental value system of the Church has remained the same. More concern was given to preserving the Church's reputation during the sexual abuse scandals than was given to the health and welfare of the victims. The more things change, the more they stay the same.


Posted Oct. 04, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
LWReads

Join Date: 08/09/18

Posts: 41

RE: In addressing the needs of the orphaned children in 1880s Manhattan, where do you think the Catholic Church succeeded and where did it fail? How have things changed in the decades since?

The Church succeeded in giving the children a place to live and food to eat. However, beyond that the doctrine of the Church took precedence over the well being of the children. In the book, the children were denied a comfortable and loving family life just because the children would not be steeped in Catholic doctrine.

I do not know if this has changed much over the years. The Church as an institution still endeavors to indoctrinate people to a constricted way of thinking and behaving. I think at the individual level, at least in the U.S., some clergy are more compassionate and would have supported letting the children live in a loving but non-Catholic home.


Posted Oct. 08, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
nancyh

Join Date: 06/25/13

Posts: 347

RE: In addressing the needs of the orphaned children in 1880s Manhattan, where do you think the Catholic Church succeeded and where did it fail? How have things changed in the decades since?

I believe the Catholic Church erred in their thinking. In this time period, the Catholic Church thought they were the only church and the children should be raised in it. They were wrong in not allowing children to be raised by people that truly wanted them. My Mother was in an orphanage in about 1910. She said it was terrible and terrible and would never talk about it. I do not believe there are any orphanages left.


Posted Oct. 15, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
katherinep

Join Date: 07/16/14

Posts: 374

RE: In addressing the needs of the orphaned children in 1880s Manhattan, where do you think the Catholic Church succeeded and where did it fail? How have things changed in the decades since?

Again, a leading question--why focus on the Catholic Church? The only situation they had in the book was the placement of Rosa and her sibs. Why not ask about the handling of orphans by any entitiy during the late 19th Century. Shepard's Fold was not a Catholic institution. While some orphanages run by any group were less than idyllic, the paid foster system we use presently has produced some horror stories in this modern day. Ask any teacher who has had foster children in class about some of the delightful situations in which some of these kids find themselves. A supervised orphanage might be a Godsend--Catholic or otherwise


Posted Oct. 26, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
evelyng

Join Date: 02/07/18

Posts: 49

RE: In addressing the needs of the orphaned children in 1880s Manhattan, where do you think the Catholic Church succeeded and where did it fail? How have things changed in the decades since?

In our modern days, orphanages were phased out. Society changed and women were not forced to abandon or give up their children to orphanages. The foster care system has many flaws, but some parenting, even poor parenting is better than no parenting. In the 1880's thousands of children were left to roam homeless on the streets of NYC, alone and prey to any fate. As the book portrays women faced dreadful dangers, even death, to end unwanted pregnancies. The needs of women and children are not truly addressed in many ways, even today. We have a road to travel..


Posted Oct. 30, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
crisandy5

Join Date: 05/13/20

Posts: 26

The Plight of Orphans

The plight of orphans in the late 1800's was indeed dire. Those who had family or who were fortunate enough to be adopted by a caring family were the lucky ones, but there were and are many who do not find a home. The Catholic Church has been one place that did try to help through the years; it is not the Church's fault that some of the directors were not kind or supportive. For the children in that situation, life was sad.

I think today there are many families who have taken in orphans or disadvantaged children whose families could not take care of them, but the situation always remains that some of these adults abuse their charges. However, it is better today.


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