Kirchenakte Documented events from judgments, reports and church documents
1933-1984 · 51 years · show in timeline

Scotland, children's homes of the Sisters of Nazareth 1933 to 1984 (Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry 2019)

In 2019 the state Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry found that children in the four Scottish homes of the Catholic order of the Sisters of Nazareth were abused between 1933 and 1984: they were beaten with belts, sticks and wooden crucifixes, bedwetters were humiliated, children were force-fed, locked up and separated from their siblings. In all four houses children were sexually abused, including by priests and sisters; sisters and priests knew about it and did nothing.

Period
1933-1984 (51 years)
Report published
30 May 2019
Country
United Kingdom
Institutions
Sisters of Nazareth (Congregation of the Sisters of Nazareth)
Nazareth House Aberdeen
Nazareth House Cardonald
Nazareth House Lasswade
Nazareth House Kilmarnock
Category
Violence, Sexual abuse
Level of evidence
A Primary source · what does this mean?
Persons
Schwester Alphonso (sister of the Sisters of Nazareth, convicted in 2000 of assault on children)

What happened to the people

Who was affected? Victims and numbers

  1. In all four Nazareth Houses boys and girls were sexually abused by staff, volunteers, visitors, priests and sisters. Adults, including sisters and priests, knew about it and did nothing. At least one sister facilitated the serious sexual abuse of a girl by adult men, including priests.
    Evidence: Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (Schottland), Summary, S. x (PDF-S. 12)
    „Children were sexually abused when in the care of the Order at all four Nazareth Houses. Boys and girls were sexually abused in various ways by staff, volunteers, visitors, priests and Sisters. Adults, including Sisters and priests, were aware of the abuse but took no action. At least one Sister facilitated the serious sexual abuse of a female child by adult males including priests.“
    Case Study no. 2: The provision of residential care for children in Scotland by the Sisters of Nazareth between 1933 and 1984 in the Nazareth Houses in Aberdeen, Cardonald, Lasswade, and Kilmarnock (Findings), Summary, S. x (PDF-S. 12). Original

How were they charged and sentenced?

  1. In 2000 Sister Alphonso was convicted at Aberdeen Sheriff Court on four charges of assault on children, among other things for pushing children against a radiator, hitting them with a hairbrush and force-feeding them.
    Evidence: Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (Schottland), Kap. 4.1 Aberdeen, S. 31 (PDF-S. 45)
    „In 2000, Sister Alphonso was convicted of four charges of having assaulted children at Nazareth Houses.“
    Case Study no. 2: The provision of residential care for children in Scotland by the Sisters of Nazareth between 1933 and 1984 in the Nazareth Houses in Aberdeen, Cardonald, Lasswade, and Kilmarnock (Findings), Kap. 4.1 Aberdeen, S. 31 (PDF-S. 45). Original
    Evidence: Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (Schottland), Kap. 4.1 Aberdeen, S. 31 (PDF-S. 45)
    „striking a child against a radiator, punching and slapping a child, striking a child with a hairbrush, knocking a child to the ground, force-feeding a child and ridiculing a child“
    Case Study no. 2: The provision of residential care for children in Scotland by the Sisters of Nazareth between 1933 and 1984 in the Nazareth Houses in Aberdeen, Cardonald, Lasswade, and Kilmarnock (Findings), Kap. 4.1 Aberdeen, S. 31 (PDF-S. 45). Original

What happened to those affected?

  1. According to the findings, the Nazareth Houses were for many children places of fear, hostility and confusion, where they were physically abused and emotionally degraded with impunity. Sexual abuse in some cases reached a level of extreme depravity.
    Evidence: Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (Schottland), Summary, S. ix (PDF-S. 11)
    „The Nazareth Houses in Scotland were, for many children, places of fear, hostility and confusion, places where children were physically abused and emotionally degraded with impunity. There was sexual abuse of children which, in some instances, reached levels of the utmost depravity.“
    Case Study no. 2: The provision of residential care for children in Scotland by the Sisters of Nazareth between 1933 and 1984 in the Nazareth Houses in Aberdeen, Cardonald, Lasswade, and Kilmarnock (Findings), Summary, S. ix (PDF-S. 11). Original
  2. Children were beaten with and without implements, including belts, sticks, broom handles, hairbrushes, shoes and wooden crucifixes. Carbolic soap was forced into their mouths, their heads were knocked together and they were made to kneel in corridors for long periods. For many children this was part of daily life. Runaways were beaten on their return; those who told the police about abuse were not believed.
    Evidence: Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (Schottland), Summary, S. ix (PDF-S. 11)
    „The implements used included belts, canes, sticks, broom handles, hairbrushes, shoes and wooden crucifixes. Children had carbolic soap forced into their mouths. Their heads were banged together.“
    Case Study no. 2: The provision of residential care for children in Scotland by the Sisters of Nazareth between 1933 and 1984 in the Nazareth Houses in Aberdeen, Cardonald, Lasswade, and Kilmarnock (Findings), Summary, S. ix (PDF-S. 11). Original
    Evidence: Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (Schottland), Summary, S. ix (PDF-S. 11)
    „Abuse of this kind, for many children, was part of daily life.“
    Case Study no. 2: The provision of residential care for children in Scotland by the Sisters of Nazareth between 1933 and 1984 in the Nazareth Houses in Aberdeen, Cardonald, Lasswade, and Kilmarnock (Findings), Summary, S. ix (PDF-S. 11). Original
    Evidence: Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (Schottland), Summary, S. ix (PDF-S. 11)
    „Runaways who reported to the police that they were being abused were not believed.“
    Case Study no. 2: The provision of residential care for children in Scotland by the Sisters of Nazareth between 1933 and 1984 in the Nazareth Houses in Aberdeen, Cardonald, Lasswade, and Kilmarnock (Findings), Summary, S. ix (PDF-S. 11). Original
  3. Bedwetters were beaten, put into cold baths and humiliated, for example by being made to "wear" their wet sheets; contrary to the order's account, this continued into the late 1970s. Children were force-fed even when they vomited the food, and locked in cupboards as punishment.
    Evidence: Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (Schottland), Summary, S. ix (PDF-S. 11)
    „They were beaten, put into cold baths and humiliated in ways that included “wearing” their wet sheets“
    Case Study no. 2: The provision of residential care for children in Scotland by the Sisters of Nazareth between 1933 and 1984 in the Nazareth Houses in Aberdeen, Cardonald, Lasswade, and Kilmarnock (Findings), Summary, S. ix (PDF-S. 11). Original
    Evidence: Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (Schottland), Summary, S. ix (PDF-S. 11)
    „Contrary to what was submitted on behalf of the Order, these abusive practices had not ceased by the late 1960s and they were continuing in the late 1970s.“
    Case Study no. 2: The provision of residential care for children in Scotland by the Sisters of Nazareth between 1933 and 1984 in the Nazareth Houses in Aberdeen, Cardonald, Lasswade, and Kilmarnock (Findings), Summary, S. ix (PDF-S. 11). Original
    Evidence: Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (Schottland), Summary, S. ix (PDF-S. 11)
    „forcing food into their mouths even when they were vomiting it back“
    Case Study no. 2: The provision of residential care for children in Scotland by the Sisters of Nazareth between 1933 and 1984 in the Nazareth Houses in Aberdeen, Cardonald, Lasswade, and Kilmarnock (Findings), Summary, S. ix (PDF-S. 11). Original
    Evidence: Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (Schottland), Summary, S. x (PDF-S. 12)
    „Children were punished by being locked in cupboards or other confined spaces.“
    Case Study no. 2: The provision of residential care for children in Scotland by the Sisters of Nazareth between 1933 and 1984 in the Nazareth Houses in Aberdeen, Cardonald, Lasswade, and Kilmarnock (Findings), Summary, S. x (PDF-S. 12). Original
  4. Siblings were routinely separated and punished if they sought contact, even on the school bus. Some children did not know that siblings were living in the same house; some did not know their own birthday.
    Evidence: Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (Schottland), Summary, S. x (PDF-S. 12)
    „Children were routinely separated from siblings and were punished if they tried to make contact with them.“
    Case Study no. 2: The provision of residential care for children in Scotland by the Sisters of Nazareth between 1933 and 1984 in the Nazareth Houses in Aberdeen, Cardonald, Lasswade, and Kilmarnock (Findings), Summary, S. x (PDF-S. 12). Original
    Evidence: Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (Schottland), Summary, S. x (PDF-S. 12)
    „Some children did not even know they had siblings residing in the same Nazareth House.“
    Case Study no. 2: The provision of residential care for children in Scotland by the Sisters of Nazareth between 1933 and 1984 in the Nazareth Houses in Aberdeen, Cardonald, Lasswade, and Kilmarnock (Findings), Summary, S. x (PDF-S. 12). Original
    Evidence: Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (Schottland), Summary, S. x (PDF-S. 12)
    „Some children did not know when their birthday was.“
    Case Study no. 2: The provision of residential care for children in Scotland by the Sisters of Nazareth between 1933 and 1984 in the Nazareth Houses in Aberdeen, Cardonald, Lasswade, and Kilmarnock (Findings), Summary, S. x (PDF-S. 12). Original

Witness accounts and records

Witness "John", former child in care, before the inquiry

you would get a young nun and she could be in charge of 20, 30 young boys, and she’s only in her 20s, never had children of her own , but suddenly she’s in charge of a big squad of kids. It’s not a good mixture. It’s a recipe for disaster, actually

Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (Schottland): Case Study no. 2: The provision of residential care for children in Scotland by the Sisters of Nazareth between 1933 and 1984 in the Nazareth Houses in Aberdeen, Cardonald, Lasswade, and Kilmarnock (Findings), Summary, S. x, Anm. 7 (PDF-S. 12). Original

Background

Why? Justification and motives (according to the sources)

  1. The sisters in charge were often young, inexperienced and untrained. Because of their vow of obedience they did not question existing practices; until the 1970s they were even expressly discouraged from forming relationships with the children.
    Evidence: Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (Schottland), Summary, S. x (PDF-S. 12)
    „The Sisters directly responsible for the children were very often young, inexperienced in the care of children and untrained.“
    Case Study no. 2: The provision of residential care for children in Scotland by the Sisters of Nazareth between 1933 and 1984 in the Nazareth Houses in Aberdeen, Cardonald, Lasswade, and Kilmarnock (Findings), Summary, S. x (PDF-S. 12). Original
    Evidence: Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (Schottland), Summary, S. x (PDF-S. 12)
    „The vows of obedience taken by the Sisters meant that they did not question existing practices.“
    Case Study no. 2: The provision of residential care for children in Scotland by the Sisters of Nazareth between 1933 and 1984 in the Nazareth Houses in Aberdeen, Cardonald, Lasswade, and Kilmarnock (Findings), Summary, S. x (PDF-S. 12). Original

Who received the assets, who profited?

  1. Children had to do work to an abusive extent and were in part used as unpaid labour where staff were lacking. Some had to buy necessities such as toothbrushes from the sisters with their own pocket money; one child was caned for having spent part of a prize instead of handing it over to the sisters.
    Evidence: Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (Schottland), Summary, S. x (PDF-S. 12)
    „the children were, in effect, being used as unpaid labour in the absence of staff“
    Case Study no. 2: The provision of residential care for children in Scotland by the Sisters of Nazareth between 1933 and 1984 in the Nazareth Houses in Aberdeen, Cardonald, Lasswade, and Kilmarnock (Findings), Summary, S. x (PDF-S. 12). Original
    Evidence: Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (Schottland), Summary, S. xii (PDF-S. 14)
    „There were instances of children being expected to use their own pocket money to buy necessities, such as toothbrushes, from the Sisters“
    Case Study no. 2: The provision of residential care for children in Scotland by the Sisters of Nazareth between 1933 and 1984 in the Nazareth Houses in Aberdeen, Cardonald, Lasswade, and Kilmarnock (Findings), Summary, S. xii (PDF-S. 14). Original
    Evidence: Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (Schottland), Summary, S. xii (PDF-S. 14)
    „one of a child being caned for spending some of the half-crown he received as a maths prize rather than handing it over to the Sisters“
    Case Study no. 2: The provision of residential care for children in Scotland by the Sisters of Nazareth between 1933 and 1984 in the Nazareth Houses in Aberdeen, Cardonald, Lasswade, and Kilmarnock (Findings), Summary, S. xii (PDF-S. 14). Original

Response of the Church

  1. Most of the sisters who gave evidence denied having seen any abuse. The chair, Lady Smith, found it hard to believe that they knew nothing about it, for example when children had to kneel in the corridor outside the Mother Superior's office and were hit on the head by every sister who passed.
    Evidence: Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (Schottland), Summary, S. xi (PDF-S. 13)
    „it is difficult to accept that they were wholly unaware of it“
    Case Study no. 2: The provision of residential care for children in Scotland by the Sisters of Nazareth between 1933 and 1984 in the Nazareth Houses in Aberdeen, Cardonald, Lasswade, and Kilmarnock (Findings), Summary, S. xi (PDF-S. 13). Original
    Evidence: Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (Schottland), Summary, S. xi (PDF-S. 13)
    „children were forced to kneel for long periods in the corridor outside the Sister Superior’s office whilst being hit on the head by any Sister who passed by“
    Case Study no. 2: The provision of residential care for children in Scotland by the Sisters of Nazareth between 1933 and 1984 in the Nazareth Houses in Aberdeen, Cardonald, Lasswade, and Kilmarnock (Findings), Summary, S. xi (PDF-S. 13). Original

See also

Original documents to read

  1. Government report
    Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (Schottland): Case Study no. 2: The provision of residential care for children in Scotland by the Sisters of Nazareth between 1933 and 1984 in the Nazareth Houses in Aberdeen, Cardonald, Lasswade, and Kilmarnock (Findings), 30 May 2019. Original (retrieved 15 Oct 2026)
Change log (2)

The change log is kept in German only.

  • : Aktualisiert: Englische Übersetzung
  • : Aufgenommen

Last changed on 22 October 2026. Is something missing or wrong? Suggest an addition or correction.