Philadelphia: Is Help Coming?

A response to a couple of items. First - Rigali should next hang his hat in prison. He is directly responsible for the abuse of children and should serve jail time for that abuse. Second - why do priests believe the innocent were thrown under the bus. Just because the diocese branded some of the abuse as 'boundary violations' doesn't make it so. There is no reason to believe that the removed priests were not abusing kids. Lets see the evidence rather than believe the diocese that we already know lied to us.

I guess as the trial approaches for lynn, sherro, etc 'rigali' will join his pals, law etc in rome and then claim diplomatic immunity from prosecution as the trial heats up, change in the 'rcc' will only happen through Legislation.

Changing the Philly Archdiocese leadership is not going to change the way church officials handle sex crimes against kids.

Until the courts start allowing victims of child sex abuse to have their day in court, kids will never be safe. The truth needs to be exposed, and those who commit crimes against kids need to be held accountable. That includes all who abused and all who covered up these crimes.

Children are no safer today, and they will be no safer with a different bishop.

Judy Jones, SNAP Midwest Associate Director, 636-433-2511
snapjudy@gmail.com
"Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests"
http://www.snapnetwork.org/

Who is going to clean out the docile ones? It is noteworthy that, after 3 Grand Jury Reports, there has been nothing in Philadelphia vaguely comparable to the 58 Boston priests who found virtue and courage in 2002 to write publicly to Law and call for him to go. There should be a moral theologian around somewhere who could explain to the clergy the line between blind obedience and tacit consent to what many, including Grand Juries, view as crime-related behavior patterns.
Is it that too many are what the 1st Grand Jury findings referred to in 2001-2003 as "non-offenders"?
(p.8): “Finding 10. Many non-offender priests have remained silent in the face of clear evidence that a brother priest is sexually molesting a minor, and in some cases have actually covered up the abuse. The Archbishop and his appointed administrative managers foster this silence in order to avoid scandal in the Church and do not encourage priests to report suspected abusers.” 
http://www.bishop-accountability.org/reports/2003_09_25_First_Philadelphia_Grand_Jury_Report.pdf

Thanks for the great article- also the bio about the maybes for the office. I did know a little about Archbishop Gregory but none of the other. And boy, do we need help!
Betsy

The news of cardinals being sacked is about as sure as predicting who would be pope. Of course, the smart money on Ratzinger last time turned out to be right, so maybe this truism is changing. Still, I'll believe it when I see it. I've met A/B Greogry. He would be a good choice.

"Rome must devise a policy: If a bishop is shown to be non-compliant with his own child protection policies – or with those of the Episcopal conference to which he belongs – he is removed immediately,"

By that criteria, Vasa and Bruskewitz would be removed tomorrow. Not likely, although it would be a great first step and a shot across the bow to the rest of the USCCB.

I personally believe Kurtz would be the best choice due to his pastoral qualities. Gregory should be elevated to Cardinal in the next go round because Atlanta, in my opinion, has become the most important and most rapidly growing city in the SE U.S. It would be a mistake to take him away from a major archdiocese where he is doing such a great job and which has a highly significant minority Catholic population. It is way overdue for the US to have an African American cardinal.

God forbid if Lori or Chaput get the nod. Chaput has been campaigning for the red hat for the last decade, going so far as to criticize JFK (who obviously isn't in a position to defend himself) for telling the Houston ministers in 1960 that he would not be strictly guided by the Pope or his Catholic faith in his political decisions as POTUS. We also know that he has not been very pastoral as to the feelings of his minority Hispanic parishioners and we know he has curried some favor with Benedict The Worst through his selection for and hatchet job he performed in record time on Bishop Morris in Australia.

So Michael, what becomes of Rigali? Will he be ushered off to Rome ala Cardinal (out)Law, given seats on the Curia, and a major parish/minor basilica to hang out at outside the clutches of the Philly prosecutor should Msgr. Lynn incriminate his cardinal superior in the endangerment of the children of Philly? Or maybe a papal nuncio job in a country without an extradition treaty with the US?

Rigali should go to jail for reckless child endangerment.

He made everyone feel safe when he said that “no archdiocesan priests in ministry today who have an admitted or established allegation of sexual abuse of a minor against them.”

A month later, it was clear that he was lying. The truth was in the Grand Jury report, and he waited until we all got it a month later to suspend 37 priests.

Throw him in jail along with any other pedophiles and pedophile protectors in Philadelphia.

Lori ???? God help them. Then they would really know what its like to be thrown under the bus.

I predict Chaput will go to Philly given his high profile in recent years. Gregory is considered too liberal.

Non-docile lay people should be asking why the secrecy in the process of selecting the new bishop. Reason: it keeps those who are now in power in power. The government of China chooses the Catholic bishops there, why do the representatives of Catholics in the U.S. have no say? The 1st bishop of the U.S., John Carroll, was chosen by vote of this country's clergy, & Bishop Carroll recommended that his successor be chosen in the same way. The successor to Judas was chosen by lot, if I recall correctly, so there is nothing by way of doctrine which says it should be a secret process controlled solely by Rome. So, my question, why do we continue to allow it to be so? Clericalism, it infects us as much, if not more, that the clergy.

I am a young Philadelphia Catholic of a traditionalist outlook. I am 31, and still remember with affection the great Cardinal John Krol. It was due to his firm but pastoral leadership, his orthodoxy but cautious allowance for some latitude in Vatican II implementation, and his strong leadership that held the Archdiocese together, even after his death. His kind but firm spirit is still here.
I believe that we will not get a radical liberal like Gregory who would trash the beautiful legacy of the Philadelphia Catholic tradition, but rather we would get an Arshbishop more like Chaput, or Olmstead or Finn. Perhaps even a great young bishop like Bishop Salvatore Cordeleone presently in California.
Bevilaqua was complicit in the priest sex abuse coverup. Rigali has done next to nothing here in Philadelphia, except for restoring the beauty of our Cathedral Basilica. We need a new Archbishop who will restore of our Church and the beauty of our Catholic tradition and Faith.
And that may be Chaput, Finn, Olmstead, etc.
Definitly not Gregory!!!!

This is a very interesting article, and it shows dramatically what is missing in our church: civil prosecution for those responsible for the molestation of children and vulnerable adults, input from the people on who should be archbishop, input from the clergy on who should be archbishop.

Until and unless these things happen, there is no justice for those who have been violated, and there is no real change in the RCC.

And we are still sheep.

I thank the Holy Father for the urgent change. I pray for the victims that they may be healed, the abusers that they may be forgiven, and for my Church.
The Church in Philadelphia must move forward.

Unfortunately we are all waiting to see who "Rome" appoints instead of interviewing and appointing a leader ourselves. Father Rigali wanted the red hat so badly and for so long that he sold his soul at the expense of our childrens' lives once he got it. I have unbaptized grandchildren because we don't feel safe anymore around Phila. clergy.

I'd like to see Regali go to trial and be sentenced to jail with the rest of the Priests and Bishops that kept all the child abuse cases secret. He is just as responsible as the priests that committed the abuse to all those children for keeping it hidden. Could it be that all the school closings were to keep more priests away from the children? God Bless whoever is taking over, and hopefully he will investigate and help prosecute all other priests that have been involved in child abuse.

The docility of the priests in Philly is often overstated nationally. The times are a-changing in Philly among the presbyterate, maybe too little too late, but the new guy should expect a warm welcome and a clear message from the priests that business as usual can be no more. And maybe no more cardinals in Philly! We need a guy whose full time job is helping us heal - not jetting off to Rome for two weeks of every month to wander the halls of the Vatican

The only thing that is important with respect to the next leader of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia is that he honestly, in word and deed, puts the:

"SAFETY, SECURITY, PROTECTION AND INNOCENCE OF OUR CHILDREN"

first above all else. But based on past performance, conduct and decision-making here in the "City of Brotherly Love" such a focus seems highly unlikely.

"...his (Bishop Gregory) reputation for confronting the sex abuse scandal when he led the USCCB is second-to-none."

Are you kidding?

Like all other dioceses, when you step out of your discipline, then you are going to have problems. It seems to me we have lost our discipline in the Church. To learn, you must love discipline as proverb tells us. Obviously, we have become slow learners in the American Church.

In spite of some comments, I do feel Archbishop Chaput would do a great job in sheperding the diocese.9 DPD

I hope the heir apparent is Archbishop Gregory, but I think the recent appointments in the U.S. indicate that it will be Chaput or Lori.

Maybe it is time for the curial loyalists in St. Louis to find a reason to re-title the Rigali Center.

It is a shame to think that Rigali will keep papal elector privilege, especially as the entire process of him becoming a cardinal involved firmly breaking the brief tradition of St. Louis being cardinalatial, while he had his insider's assurance that he, personally, would get the red hat later. Before Atlanta gets a red hat, St. Louis should get the one that piques in Rome with Abps. Kenrick and May have withheld.

Is it plausible that any Philadelphia replacement will become a cardinal in lifetime of Rigali?

Will the US bishops re-think any of the decisions they have taken on the "advice" of Rigali in the past? He seemed often to be the messenger from the curia who told the USCCB what they were supposed to do instead of think for themselves or consult American periti.

Do not discount Chaput of Denver. One particular Italian newspaper and author Marco Tossatti seems to believe he indeed is the choice. Probably to be named next Tuesday, as the day is open on Chaput's public calendar. See this link:
http://vaticaninsider.lastampa.it/en/homepage/blog-san-pietro-e-dintorni...

Wilton Gregory would be a great choice for Philadelphia; he is loved in Atlanta and spoken of very highly in his other assignments. He also has a proven track record in dealing with substantive issues such as child protection and abuse matters. However, given the choices that Benedict XVI has been making in other sees in the U.S., I would put my money on Chaput or Lori.

My good friend Ed O'Donnell, administrator of St. Louis after John May's death, stated that 25 years in Rome following Vatican II was a great preparation for Archbishop of St. Louis. He was shipped to Louisiana quickly after Rigali's enthronement. Now, let's see Rome ship Rigali to someplace nice and miserable for the rest of his years: the federal prison in Louisiana sounds good!
Whether Wilton or Kurz, both would do well. I agree, Lori and Chaput are more concerned with towing the line than actually ministering in their dioceses.

I thank God for Cardinal Rigali and his holy leadership and example of patience in suffering. Boy, did they come after him. He didn't deserve the enormous criticism he received. Never before has the head of a diocese dealt with such an onslaught of charges against his priests and himself. It will all come out in the end, and I believe will prove that this was an attack on the Church of Philadelphia. God bless you Cardinal Rigali. Now, I will pray very hard that Archbishop Chaput or Bishop Lori will be sent to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. How very, very, blessed will we be if this happens. Our Lady of Mount Carmel, please intercede for this intention, if it be God's Holy Will.

Aren't positive comments about Cardinal Rigali allowed on this post?

Gregory would be the best choice of the suggested names for Philly - but the powers in Rome may think otherwise. Anyway, he's not going to get a red hat staying in Atlanta despite its growth - there won't be two cardinalatial sees in the South.

Chaput is probably more in line with the evolving view of what Rome wants in a major-see archbishop - too bad for Philly. If he doesn't go there, he's doubt in line for either Chicago or San Francisco, which will likely be filled within the next year or so. God help the Catholics of either place if Chaput is inflicted on them, especially SF. If Chaput goes to SF, the people there may look upon the eras of Niederauer and even Levada as "the good old days".

They took good care of Cardinal Law when his crimes were exposed. I'm sure Rigali has a plum cathedral appointment, a Vatican position and a chauffeured limousine waiting for him in Rome, courtesy of Ratzinger. How long will we allow the Law's and Rigali's of the church world to be rewarded?

Cardinal Rigali will no doubt have a successor in Philadelphia. But will that successor make a difference, particularly in the clergy sex abuse crisis? That successor will be part of the same cherical culture which created the crisis in the first place. That successor will owe absolute fidelity and unswerving loyalty to the Pope and to the "system."

Petrus R says: Meaningful change will not take place until the old clerical culture is gone. Kaput. Over. And Philly will not be an exception.

It looks like Rocco D. is indicating the choice is Kurtz.

http://whispersintheloggia.blogspot.com/2011/07/one-day-more.html

Palmo says it's Chaput. This is gonna be good!

http://whispersintheloggia.blogspot.com/

What else is new ?
The Catholic Church is RIFE with disgusting , abhorent pedophiles who have preyed upon innocent children and ruined their lives for decades, while the priests, bishops and cardinals live in shamless Luxury. Ireland and all over the world...as examples. They live and breath to repeat their actions while the Catholic Church not only tolerates the sickening behavior but COVERS IT UP and pays out Millions in plea bargains and settlements.
Hiding the filth with an outward appearance of granduer.
The damgage done can never be rectified, justified or explained to the Creator.

This is not Christianity..
But but actions of an organization that makes me want to Vomit !
Being a former Catholic.

Here in Phoenix, it is well understood that Olmsted and Chaput are of a single mind set. Both are extremely orthodox and both do not have a grey area in their theologies (things are either black or things are white - there is nothing in between). So...as I see it, Chaput (ka-poot for Philly) heads East where he can be fitted for his long sought after red hat, and Olmsted heads to the Rockies to continue to throw rocks (pun intended) at all those "liberal thinkers". We have a new aux bishop here in Phoenix who can pastor us for a while - until we get another one of B16's think-alikes.

That's my prediction and I'm sticking with it.

Most Catholic abuses in my opinion, having known many sexually immature priests , come from conservative homes of the Catholic Church faithful, and religious orders. In Catholic religious orders where growing up with sexual maturity is delayed because you live with other sexually immature persons of your own sex. Just ask the Oregon Jesuits.
On another note Chaput having known him in Rapid City where he first became bishop; I am guessing he has his own skeletons in his closet as a conservative Franciscan. I wish him well, but I do not see him as a healer of souls. I am guessing his days are short concerning a peaceful time as Archbishop and Cardinal. I see him as a polarizing man full of self-righteousness. Fact is his reputations is of a man who polarizes. Sadly the Vatican did not see this.

(Why)does no one think we should get rid of RED HATS and all other trappings that cloud the vision and warp the minds and souls of ALL of us? We are ALL complicit in sustaining a RCC that Jesus could not have imagined or was that part of the vision as he wept over Jerusalam. I so agree with the comment about sexual immaturity in the -- no, across the board. The exploitation of the immature is aided and abeited by an establishment that keeps sexuality and sin closely linked. Powerful, public arbiters of shame and disgrace have intimidated
the faithful and the faithful intimidated one another until the "system" was full to overflowing. If the Franciscan doesn't spread balm, DO just ask "Do you think that is how Francis/Clare/Jesus would have handled ...? Hang around to listen for an answer.