Catholic World News News Feature

Irish Sisters In Trinidad Warn Of Child Pornography June 06, 1997

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago (CWN) - The issue of child pornography came to the fore this week on the Caribbean island of Trinidad & Tobago, and two Catholic nuns are urging citizens not to become apathetic about it.

Irish-born Holy Faith Sisters Ethna Regan and Roberta O'Flaherty, both members of the Credo Foundation for Justice, a local church-based organization, have warned the public to take a critical look at the situation. In a statement issued June 3 to Trinidad's Catholic newspaper, the sisters said there is more than "the legal issue" at heart in a May 23 appeals court ruling that returned pornographic material depicting children - described by the chief justice as "revolting" - to its owner, Hans Boos.

The sisters said "we strongly criticize the narrow perspective" of the court, and warned: "The bigger picture is being overlooked. ... fundamental questions remain unasked. From our work with children who live and work on the streets, we know this is not an isolated case," they said. "The sexual exploitation of our young people ranges from the highly organized pornography ring to individuals who prey on the most vulnerable children in our society." The sisters, who have been in Trinidad for years, urged those who rent pornographic videos to stop, as it was dehumanizing to "men, women, and with alarming increase, young children."

In June 1993, Boos, a former zoo curator, was arrested after police raided his home and made the discovery. The following month, police authorities were granted an order to destroy the more than 700 video tapes, photographs, and magazines. Boos, 56 and a suspected member of an international pornography ring, appealed against the order stating the collection was for his use only.

After four years the court returned the material on a technicality: the complainant police inspector did not swear that he believed the collection was "for sale and distribution," rendering the destruction order "null and void." Trinidad law states it is not a criminal offense to be in possession of such material, if it is for personal use. Boos cannot enjoy his triumph, however, because he has since been arrested in the United States for breaching US obscene publication laws and is serving a 30-month jail term.