Don't superficialise this violence by downgrading it to what went on in schools - this was persistant and brutal, constant beatings with whatever came to hand, leading to wounding and bruising, and sometimes broken limbs. One of our elderly friends had her eardrum burst by being hit around the head by a priest - her crime - going to a dance.
The violence was horrendous and it was accompanied by constant humiliation in front of fellow inmates, such as beatings on the bear arse in front of a classful of students. The withdrawal of food as a punishment for a misdemeanor was common, as was being locked in darkened cupboards for long periods. Makes Matt McGinn's experiences look like a stroll on the beach.
All this happened because the children under the care of the church were considered less than worthless - summed up superbly by the letter signed by the present pope when he was a bishop, stating that a habitual abuser should not be reported to the authorities because "reporting his behaviour should be measured against the general interests of the church AND ON THE EFFECT ON THE PRIEST HIMSELF.
Just take a look at the savagery of institutions like Letterfrack or the ones Patrick Galvin experienced before you trivialise all this to the level of a schoolyard joke.
Are you sure you aren't a Christian? - you're certainly an apologist for their behaviour.
Jim Carroll