HiddenMysteries: Christianity Today: Keep Children Away from Christians!

Sisters Claim Nun On The Run Starved Them

By Marion Scott

Exclusive Orphan Abuse Row Sister Accused Of Beating Stepkids

A RUNAWAY nun at the centre of an orphan abuse scandal has been accused of beating her two stepdaughters.

Liz Cowe and Jackie Youngson claim Sister Dorothy Clark regularly thrashed them and treated them like slaves.

The Sunday Mail revealed last month how Clark, 65, and Reverend Jane Burchill, 76 - a Scottish Episcopal Church priest - fled Africa after being accused of cruelty at the orphanage they founded in Zambia.

Clark wedded Liz and Jackie's father Joseph in Arbroath, in 1975 - and his daughters claim she was a "wicked stepmother" who abused them.

Mum-of-six Liz said: "When we saw the allegations against Dorothy it brought back all the horror she inflicted upon us when we were children.

"After marrying our father she treated us like her personal slaves.

"We were beaten and refused food if we didn't finish a long list of chores every day.

"As the eldest, I was made to do all the cooking, cleaning and washing. I was only 11. If there was a single plate with a mark on it, I'd be hit and she'd erupt in anger.

"She was nasty - everything you'd imagine a wicked stepmother could be."

Jackie, 42, added: "Dorothy forced us to go to church with her. She'd put on a front for everyone there but back home she was a tyrant."

Clark lived with Joseph and three of his five children in Auchmithie, Angus. As an Episcopal nun she was allowed to marry.

Liz said: "My father was also very abusive.

"Dorothy would do nothing to help us when he beat us."

Clark set up the Little Sisters in Jesus home in 1994, a year after farm worker Joseph died. The sisters, now living in Peterhead, knew their stepmother had gone to Africa but had no contact with her. The Human Rights Commission in Zambia are now trying to force Clark and Burchill back to Africa to be investigated.

Human Rights Commissioner Godfridah Sumaili said: "We're petitioning to have the two Scottish women brought back to face human rights violation allegations.

"They treated children in their care like slaves. Children were starving but these nuns made sure their dogs were well fed."

Clark, now in Bucks burn, Aberdeen, last night denied abusing her stepdaughters.

She said: "We were very poor but the children always came first and we did what we could for them.

"We were very happy despite it being a hard life."

She also denied the African abuse claims, saying: "I am innocent of all the charges - the sad thing is I am unable to prove it.

"God knows my conscience is clear and that is the most important thing.

"My faith will get me through this."

http://www.sundaymail.co.uk

Christianity Today: Keep Children Away from Christians!

Monday, December 31 2007 @ 07:02 AM CST