Cardinal Levada says New York Times unfair

Why should the Times let the facts (that even they put on their website) get in the way of a good agenda? Why won't the NCR print the truth about the Milwaukee case, even though it points straight at Weakland?

The NY Times no longer has a sterling reputation. It goes for sensationalism on par with the tabloids. As a reader of the NY Times since my high school days, I can say the standards have been lowered at that paper for the past decade at least. Occasionally clear thinking on Catholic Church issues come forth in the op ed page with articles by John Allen and Peter Steinfels. John Allen wrote last week in the NY Times an article in defense of the Pope and what he has done to fight the "filth" in the church. We as Catholics have been quiet too long regarding the media, and we must now speak up. It is obvious there is an agenda out there to destroy what is good about being a Catholic.

I am a Roman Catholic, and have been my entire life. Over the decades, and I've seen many, I have noticed that anyone who criticizes the Catholic Church is "unfair". Let's face it folks, anyone who tries to justify NOT calling the cops when they find out a kid has been molested, is dysfunctional. Any system that encourages [papal secret] such behavior by its practices is un-Christian, and by any moral standard, immoral. Let's quit trying to come up with scapegoats and face the facts. It doesn't take a Ph.D. to realize that the Christian thing to do when you discover immoral behavior is to report it to the civil authorities NO MATTER what your religious superior tells you to do. This applies to lay people, priests, bishops, cardinals and to the Pope; no Christian is EXEMPT from following Jesus in the protection of the "little ones." Secrecy, obfuscation, and lying are TOXIC to humanity and to spirituality. For our church to regain any sense of moral credibility and legitimacy after what it has covered up for decades, we should sell all church property, liquidate all savings and give the money to the poor; remove any pastor, bishop, cardinal or Pope who had ANYTHING to do with the sexual molestation of kids and/or the cover-up, and begin a re-structuring process that removes the hierarchy from the institution. Then, and only then, can we claim that we are following Jesus Christ. Lacking that action of remorse and conversion, we best remove the adjective "Christian" when we describe ourselves. To do anything less is to be a fraud to Jesus Christ and the People of God should NOT be a part of it.

Levada states "As a believer, I have no doubt that Murphy will face the one who judges both the living and the dead,"

...so will Levada and DiMarzio.

Thank you, Cardinal Levada, for taking on the errors of The New York Times. While I am sure this response won't be satisfactory for most of the people on who subscribe to bashing the Church and the Pope, the truth and the Truth will win out in the end.

In Holy Week, would it not be more fitting as you Roman Catholics and we non-RC Christians hear the Passion of the suffering servant, the man of sorrows, he who was mocked by the crowd, not to engage in all these verbal dust ups. Let the critics have their say, even when it stings. Bishop DiMarzio sounds more like a character in a certain Hollywood trilogy talking about the organization's "enemies" than a teacher and pastor. Anathemas may have worked in centuries past but only make your church look intolerant and defensive these days.

Take a cue from Archbishop Rowan Williams of my communion. He is regularly unfairly mocked and scurrilously attacked by both left wing and atheist activists on one side and ultramontane Roman Catholics and conservative Anglicans on the other. This pious and holy scholar and writer turns the other cheek, even when the Anglican initiative of your church was suddenly dropped like an unwelcome package on his front lawn at Lambeth palace. He does not have an enemies list. He does not mention newspaper columnists by name who have thrown mud. Sure, part of that is the stiff upper lip syndrome of the UK, but I prefer to think it is living out small "c" catholic values. May you have a blessed Easter.

Cardinal Levada makes a good point about the case of the serial abuser in Milwaukee. By the time anything tangible could possibly be accomplished by the Dickensian juridical paraphrenalia of the Vatican---the priest in question had already shuffled off into the next world. Who can accuse those charged with administering justice of proceeding with undue haste? Giving Bishop DiMarzio the last word was simply genial. He is right on target. He suspects that there is an "enemy". In fact, he has met the "enemy". Pogo's observation applies in this case to finger-pointing bishops, "We met the enemy and he is us." Hopefully, we can continue to read in the free press about the Church's difficult and painful struggle to self-identify as an organization in serious need of reform. NPC

There is only one way to get to the bottom of this sexual scandal and that is to get an investigation that is from outside the Church to examine what has been happening for many years in our Church. It looks like the bishops and the Vatical officials have "circled the wagons" and it will be difficult to get the truth. I just read the "documentation" for the recent article in the New York Times. It is 89 pages covering the sexual abuse cases in Milwaukee which involved Arbishop Weakland ( who has been disgraced). In this information about the case of the two priest, Bishop Weakland is telling the truth about his correspondence with Cardinal Ratzinger. This is a terrible situation which is creating further scandal for the Church. I pray that the Holy Spirit will touch the Vatican to ask for an independent investigation so the the truth will finally be found.

Levada locuta est, causa finita est?
FAR FROM IT....and his very NEED to respond only proves the veracity of the charges made against him and the guy he (and Law and Burke) currently work for!
http://www.catholic-sf.org/news_select.php?newsid=&id=57030

Memo to LEVADA:
The NYT and others are currently FOLLOWING THE MONEY during YOUR tenure in San Francisco. The question now becomes, was your "PROMOVERE AD REMOVERE" to the CDF designed to protect you from being prosecuted for PROPERTY TAX FRAUD?
http://www.sfbg.com/politics/2010/03/31/levada-takes-times

It's time to come clean and to admit what is apparent to anyone who has a brain; they intentionally covered up crimes to protect their power and wealth and that all there is to it. They still do not get it, they still are covering up and will not let the light of the day and reason prevails. They say they are sorry and continue to blame everyone but themselves. They hide behind pious talk and dogma and try to hide even more from the eyes of the world.

It will not last, for an explosion is coming; and they will all be exposed for their hardheartedness and the crimes they have hide from view. Nothing Changes, nothing Changes, expecting different behaviors form the same old way of thinking, will not happen ever. The sexual abuse continues unabated, as a symptom of failed understanding of sexuality and sexual development. These men who do not have normal sexual development from years in the incubator of seminary and religious formation that was psychologically flawed, are themselves part of the problem. They would have to admit their own deepest dark secrets of having abnormal sexual development, that is stunted and malformed; in order to foster change and openness in the Church. They will never admit the system is a failure and it's time for a change in celibacy.

Cardinal Levada is nothing but a super shill for Benedict. He did not serve San Francisco Catholic well when he was Archbishop. He DIVIDED Catholics and caused great anger over his lack of courage in the way he mishandled the child sexual abuse cases. He was the last person who should have been promoted by the Vatican to the position he now holds. His hands have blood on them. He is most remembered as a coward and not as a leader. He is their YES MAN and he is out there spinning propaganda, trying his best to shoot the messenger. It is making matters worse. Levada never knows when to shut his rather big mouth. We are not buying his latest comments about the role Ratzinger has played in this scandal. Criminal behavior should never be rewarded but that is exactly what the Vatican is trying their bet to do.

Woodward and Bernstein were unfair, too, weren't they?
The world is getting so dark, like it's spinning or something. Where is Torquemada when we need him? He would make those nasty reporters write fair words. I know he would.

For Cardinal Levada and other prelates to attack the New York Times, whose report was purely factual and quite nuanced as to whether the then Cardinal Ratzinger was involved in any culpable way (I doubt he was), is counterproductive, attacking the messenger rather than the egregious sin against defenseless children that was reported. Cardinal Levada and many other prelates have been falling all over themselves to defend the Pope, one trying to outdo the other. They are doing the pope no favor for I doubt there is anything to defend against and their protests make it seem there was such. But this is the type of rank sycophantism that can be expected in an institution where any priest, bishop, archbishop or cardinal can be summarily removed (or conversely awarded) by those in power in Rome. It is an anachronistic and irrational system which generates such pathology and childish behaviour. It needs to be ended once for all.

More PULPIT WARS:
"Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio of Brooklyn, N.Y., also criticized the Times in his homily at the chrism Mass March 30 in the Cathedral Basilica of St. James..."

Looks like the church has also "given up" preaching the GOOD NEWS for Lent, 2010.

Levada on the Vatican's official website reads more like one of the irritated, right-wing regular NCR bloggers than the current Head of the CDF:
http://www.vatican.va/resources/resources_card-levada2010_en.html

It is interesting to note that no one has mentioned Cardinal Levada's past history while he was archbishop of San Francisco and again just before that in Oregon, also, where he was involed in sex abuse cases involving moving priest offenders in both states at that time, and it seems, quickly went to Rome and was appointed by Pope Benedict to head the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. I feel he went there to avoid being on trial. However, he was brought back to the States to appear in Court anyway. Not sure of the total outcome. He was rewarded just like Cardinal Law who enjoys quite a beautiful apartment and is in charge of a lovely church in Rome. Whatever happened to, when one commits a crime, serving some time in jail? It seems both men have been enormously rewarded for their envolvement in hurting little children in unmentionable criminal ways, abuse, rape, beating, etc . in a cover-up to satisfy keeping the Catholic church's honor unblemished. Yet, they are definitely against abortion, or any harm to the unborn child. I guess they do not put the same value to the child after he or she is born. I am a very , very upset Catholic,soon to be ex Catholic. I have been a Catholic for 48 years. It is time our Blessed Lord made some adjustments to the Vatican and all it's untouchable men.

Archbishop William J. Levada (now a cardinal and Prefect of CDF) traveled to Rome with scandal baggage of his own.

http://www.mgr.org/LevadaTrajectory-Details.html

http://www.mgr.org/LevadaTrajectory-Highlights.html

Redeem yourselves.

The church should be leading by example in setting a "reasonable standard of fairness" in its own honest actions and admissions. The church's oppresive patterns of secrecy have given rise to the current crisis of sexual predation and has caused it to travel, along with abusers, world-wide. Now you whine of unfairness?That you clergy continue to battle in defense of eachother and the church's actions speaks of selfish personal human weakness. You resist understanding and embracing your role in widespread harm. You resist admitting guilt. You resist taking responsibility. You resist making amends. You persist defending eachother and yourselves. This is not leadership along a healthy and healing paths to redemption. Persistent, male-dominated, bullying and secrecy continues to poison yourselves, the male religious community, and our local church communities of faithful people. Examine yourselves to establish the ground for "fair" treatment. Accept a "reasonable standard of fairness" for all: for the role of the women in the church, for our families and for our children. --ic

The New York Times was a fine paper when it published complimentary articles about the pope's visit to the U.S. Now it is unfair because it writes the truth about Ratzinger when archbishop of Munich and when he was chief inquisitor in Rome.

Can we not just send Levada and Ratzinger to northern Wisconsin to finish their careers?

Let us not forget people: the NY Times is NOT about fairness. It's about selling advertising space and making money.

That said,with the exception of Maureen Dowd, who come across as an angry baby boomer that hasn't become Episcopalian as her Irish-Catholic upbringing still has her afraid of Protestants, The Times hasn't been as unfair as many claim. A few days ago, when they ra John Allen's piece, there was also another opinion written by a guy that discussed the chrch's viewof history, as well a Maureen's angry rant. It's not as unfair as many think.

Like Ratzinger, Levada is guilty of protecting pedophile priests as he actually reinstated one in the diocese of Portland of which he was archbishop.

http://www.theinquiry.ca/wordpress/rc-scandal/pope/levadas-secret/

Levada is following the pattern of all miscreants: he attacks the media, trivializes the message, and isn't even honest enought to deal with the followup reporting which shows that the Times was actually correct in it's reporting. Good thing he's in Rome where he can't look the other way while priests rape children, as he could if he were in a diocese.

What about Weakland? You know, the one responsible for Murphy. The one too busy sexually abusing men himself and stealing money to deal with the problem?

I totally agree with New York Times and the author.It is common sense that when injustice is done to a child , it should be reported to the appropriate Civil authorities, not to the Ecclesiastical Courts. As a Clinician I am bound by professional ethics.My professional license mandates that I report child abuse to the State authorities or CPS in particular. Bishops are not above the law.They are citizens of this land and are bound by the laws of the land and not by Roto Romano or the Canon Law. New York Times is a reputable publication and should continue to print such articles, as their motto says " all news fit to print".This, it is, and "kudos" for publishing it. No Bishop in the country, should make a call to boycott the New York Times for telling the truth. The time for Clerical Triumphalism is a thing of the past, Holy Spirit is not the monopoly of the clergy (Bishops in particular)Do not treat laity as if they are just subjects We do not take a vow of Obedience (which itself is slavery,plainly speaking).Do what you are called to do "minister to the people of God" as true servants not as feudal kings.

Weakland was not "too busy sexually abusing men" but in a loving, adult relationship with another man.

I see the anonymouses here are still, like Catholic League Bill Donahue and Pope John Paul II's spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls, trying to equate pedophilia with homophilia.

If dishonesty killed, they would all be dead and buried six feet under!

The Faithful has the right to know who really is the Guardian of the Catholic Faith.

We have updated Cardinal Levada's "Résumé" with facts and figures which have the "seal of approval" of courts of law and which have been "certified" by payment of damages from Levada's camp to a whistle blowing priest.

It may be found at http://www.mgrfoundation.org/LevadaTrajectory-Highlights.html

Let's face it, mistakes were made, but recent allegations of abuse are almost nonexistent. All this "breaking news" happened 20 years ago. Read the frigging John Jay Report. Mechanisms are now in place to deal with incidents of abuse.
Part of the problem was that the Church bought into the ethos of the times in the 60s, 70s and 80s--the "treatment" and "counselling" obsession where no one is responsible for their actions.
And where was that brat Maureen Down in the 90s when the American Psychological Association was pushing for public acceptance of pedophilia--excuse me, "male intergenerational intimacy"? All this perversion was being mainstreamed at the behest of sicko groups like NAMBLA and being promoted by authors in the Psychological Bulletin of the APA. Was the NY Times in high dudgeon over that? I think not.
The Catholic Church is finding out that the Boy Scouts were right: Don't let homosexuals have leadership positions and be in close contact with young boys. Seems like they forgot about avoiding near occasions of sin.

PS: The only solution that will satisfy the Church's detractors is for Benedict XVI to abdicate, ordain women--plus plenty of lesbian bishops, and declare abortion the eighth sacrament. I rest my case.

So let me get this straight. Card. Ratzinger was assigned the job by JPII of cleansing the filth out of the Church in 2001. And Fr. Murphy was already dead for what, 2 to 3 years by then? The nerve of Ratzinger! Why didn't he step into the time machine that we all know the Vatican secretly keeps, go back to 1950 and prevent Fr. Murphy's ordination? Why not go Back to the Future? No, wait, that was movie with Michael J. Fox, but I digress.

It was degenerates like Weakland who bear the brunt of the blame. He waited 20 years to report the case to Rome. Talk about diddling with little boys!

William Levada is a "piece of work". I met and confronted him about his past decisions concerning abusing priests in Portland, OR. and well as in San Francisco, CA. I also shared with him my own experience being abused by a local catholic priest who was still in ministry in SF. He replied "I will pray for you". I told him not to bother. Picking up on my sarcasm, he then called me " a f__king idiot". If any of you have ever met this guy, you'd never forget him. He is the most spiteful, cruel and frightening person to ever hold an official position in the church. If you wonder why the institution is in big trouble, look no farther than Cardinal Levada.