Church reformers have second thoughts on pope

Two things for which there is no cure:

1. The pathology of antisocial sexual predation.

2. Addiction to the group-think of clerical culture.

"Man can choose a convenient way and avoiding any hardships. He can also descend, into the vulgar. He can sink into the morass of lies and dishonesty. Jesus walks ahead of us, and leads us higher. He leads us towards what is great, pure, he leads us to the healthy air of the heights: towards life in truth, towards the courage not to be intimidated by the chatter of prevailing opinions; towards the patience that endures and supports others. He leads us towards openness to the suffering, the abandoned, towards the loyalty that is on the side of the other even when the situation becomes difficult. He leads us to a willingness to bring help, towards a goodness that can not be disarmed not even by ingratitude. He leads us to love – he leads us to God."

Pope Benedict XVI, March 28, 2010

For so long going back to the '80s the Vatican kept telling us that this (abuse crisis)was an "American" Church problem and it had much to do with our permissive culture along with liberal views in the Church etc...

Now we are finding out that the Child Abuse crisis is widespread in Europe and beyond. In response to these revelations, the Vatican bureaucracy is attacking the messenger (media) and playing the "Anti-Catholic" card. In the words of the late Governor of Texas, Ann Richards. "That dog don't hunt!"

It's time to clean house. It's time for the laity to stop being enablers; allowing this to continue with its financial support of this system. It's time for fundamental change in how we govern our Church from top to bottom. It's time to end monarchy and install true democracy in our church governing operations.

There comes a time when the reality of the present needs to be faced head-on. What to some looked like a problem of some disturbed priests with maybe a few Bishops making very poor decisions, has grown almost geometrically. It grieves me and I pray that those in authority who were involved have to stand, face the people, ask for forgiveness, and then be relieved of position. If their love of God is what sustains their work, this would only be fair to the many faithful in the pews.. The Roman Catholic Church needs to not only look at the seminaries but also at the entire structure and decision making processes. It will come out with a renewed vigor and respect.

Am I missing something? It is my understanding that Father Tome Doyle OP had become so frustrated and concerned by 1984 about the many reports of clergy sex abuse that crossed his desk that he sent a report to all US bishops alerting them to the storm in the making. He had been forwarding the reports to Rome as part of his duties as Vatican legate in Washington, DC.

Why would we think that Pope John Paul, and his head of the Office for the doctrine of the faith, now Pope Benedict XVI were not aware of Father Doyle's concern and his alarm sent to all US bishops? This is a rhetorical question for me because it seems completely unrealistic that they would not have known, and Benedict especially since he was prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith since 1981 and the recipient of Father Doyle's reports.

All the current talk about Cardinal Ratzinger in Munich and his handling of the case in Wisconsin seems to me to miss the point. I think Pope Benedict has known at least since the mid '80s about the widespread clergy sexual abuse of children and the coverup by the bishops and the Vatican of that abuse.

Please God, may the Vatican soon make a good confession and end this horrible time of deceit in this church that I love.

It seems everyone is so anxious to jump in to accuse Bishops, and now even the Pope, of cover-ups. I think this is an example of hindsight being 20-20. No one knew much about what motivated sex abusers in the 1970's. Forgiveness has always been a strong tenet of the Catholic Faith. If an abusing priest had confessed his sin, sought therapy, and fervently promised not to do it again, it seems logical that he would be transferred and returned to ministry. There is also the seal of the confessional to be considered. Now psychologist and doctors know that this is an illness and rehabilitation may not be possible. Most communities are concerned with sex offenders being returned to neighborhoods, and they should be. I think we need to stop condemming Bishops and look for ways to prevent any of this from happening again. New seminarians need to be psychologically evaluated for any sexual problems. Perhaps all sex offenders shoud be in psychological care facilities, not jails.

According to James Carroll in his book Practicing Catholic, in May 2001 Cardinal Ratzinger as prefect of the CDF, sent a secret letter to every CAtholic bishop in the world, stating that cases of clerical sexual abuse were "subject to the pontifical secret." That means that bishops were to report sexual abuse cases by priests NOT to civil authorities, only to the Vatican. If they violated this order they were subject to excommunication. If the above is accurate, it becomes understandable why bishops around the world did not report cases of priestly sexual abuse to civil authorities.

It seems everyone is so anxious to jump in to accuse Bishops, and now even the Pope, of cover-ups. I think this is an example of hindsight being 20-20. No one knew much about what motivated sex abusers in the 1970's. Forgiveness has always been a strong tenet of the Catholic Faith. If an abusing priest had confessed his sin, sought therapy, and fervently promised not to do it again, it seems logical that he would be transferred and returned to ministry. There is also the seal of the confessional to be considered. Now psychologist and doctors know that this is an illness and rehabilitation may not be possible. Most communities are concerned with sex offenders being returned to neighborhoods, and they should be. I think we need to stop condemming Bishops and look for ways to prevent any of this from happening again. New seminarians need to be psychologically evaluated for any sexual problems. Perhaps all sex offenders shoud be in psychological care facilities, not jails.

Stifle scandal at all costs!

The mantra sold to us for generations.

It seems the one newspaper executive knows a smear campaign when he sees one, whereas Bennett and Burke take as Gospel whatever is published in the NY Times. Fr. Raymod de Souza (over at the First Things blog) has shown that the documents released by the plaintiffs lawyer and published by the NY Times actually refute what the article says. Now we have the former Judicial Vicar of Milwaukee writing in the Anchoarage Diocesan newspaper that: 1) The NY Times article is factually incorrect and 2) That the reporter for the nation's "paper of record" never contacted him. Perhaps she wanted to avoid anyone that might shed a ray of truth on her hit piece.

The trial was never halted; they were still in pre-trial procedures when Murphy died. Bertone encouraged Weakland to stop the trial and use expedited procedures (put into canon law by Ratzinger) to remove Murphy from the priesthood. Civilian authorities were informed early in the process (Stevens Point police invesitgated but did not bring charges) and again many years later (Milwaukee DA) but after the statute of limitations had passed.

This was one of Weakland many messes; the only reason he notified Rome was because of allegations that solicitation was attempted in the confessional. Weakland could have adjudicated the matter himself but chose not to until very late. Similarly, he could have sought assistance much earlier, but did not. The negligence in this case is his and Archbishop Cousin's (and perhaps the Stevens Point police).

As usual, the Church is hung up on sex. My reservations about Pope Benedict XVI are his position vis-a-vis the Tridentine Mass and the conservative Anglicans. Now that is Church reform that I, personality, can do without.

As sad as this is I wonder what the media knows about our public schools and sex abuse. They seems to know about the priests and religious, but hear very little about sex abuse in the public school. I am sure it has happened there also.

Justice Burke is disingenous when she says your brother in law waould go to jail for the crimes the Milwaukee priest was accused of. Dear Justice, remember, in Law School, "Statute of Limitations"? Civil and, until recently canon law have always had such limitations to prevent an innocent person from being railroaded. Benedict may be as guilty of poor judgment as most US bishops, but in the 80's the statutes of limitations were clear and real.

Two lawyers think that they were hoodwinked. One publisher suggests that the 'deniability defense' is sufficient. The prosepct that a gathering for atonement and absolution would not set well with the publisher. Smoking guns are not enought for him, he needs eye-witness accounts by a creditable person.

I am increasingly uncomfortable in making Benedict the scapegoat for a systematic problem. Hierarchy, clericalism, secrecy, clubby old boy's network, aversion to the secular world, discomfort, ego---it is Holy Week, and the narrative of betrayal by friends and high priestly mistakes to save a people show sin is never simple. This appalling state of affairs of widespread child abuse and cover-up has deep and tangled roots. The excavation is just starting, but justice and healing will come.

Well, if anything, this story will serve to dampen John Allen's highly praising article on Ratzinger's competent efforts to bring sex abusive priests to justice.

"Then, The New York Times reported an elderly priest from Milwaukee who had abused scores of deaf children was spared a canonical trial after pleading with Ratzinger in May 1998 to let him die as a priest. (He died four months later.)"

Which is, of course, completely erroneous. The judge who actually presided over the Fr. Murphy case, whom the Times didn't actually bother to, you know, talk to, points out the rather glaring error on the part of the Times:
http://catholicanchor.org/wordpress/?p=601

Somehow, one would think that fairness would suggest that the NCR run Fr. Brudage's article as a counter to this hit piece.

But hey, why would the NCR let those pesky facts and evidence get in the way of trying to make Pope Benedict look bad? That would be bad for circulation!

While I am troubled about the actions of the Pope while he was Bishop of Munich, the issue in Milwaukee keeps getting misrepresented. I urge everyone interested in this issue to read the documents that have been posted on the internet on msnbc.com and The New York Times website. The following is a short time line.

Father Murphy was the head of a school for the deaf in Milwaukee in the 1950's and 60's. He apparently molested 200 students. The children and their parents notified the local police and the bishop as early as the late 1950's. No one did anything about this and Father Murphy was sent to live in northern Wisconsin in 1974. He was not assigned to any new parish and civilian authorities knew about him at this point onward.

For very good reason, Father Murphy became a cause celebre in the deaf community as people handed out leaflets at the Milwaukee cathedral for years concerning Father Murphy and his horrific actions.

On July 17, 1996, Bishop Weakland wrote to Cardinal Raztinger asking what procedures should be institutesd against Father Murphy.

On December 10, 1996, the Diocese of Milwaukee starts penal proceedings against Father Murphy.

On February 24, 1997, the Diocese of Milwaukee abates the trial as the length of time (22 years) raises statute of limiations issues. The Diocese is waiting to see if the Vatican will waive the statute of limiations for this case.

On March 24, 1997, Cardinal Bertone of the CDF waives the statute and instructs Milwaukee that it can go ahead.

In December 1997, it was determined that Milwaukee did not have jurisdiction and it needed to be heard in the Diocese of Superior. The case in Milwaukee is dissolved.

On January 10, 1998 proceedings start in the Diocese of Superior.

On January 12, 1998, Father Murphy signs a letter to Cardinal Ratzinger seeking dismissal of the new Superior case on statute of limiations grounds and citing his bad health and the fact that he has been living in Boulder Junction for 24 years without incident.

On April 6, 1998, Cardinal Bertone of the CDF writes a letter denying dismissal of the case on statute of limiations grounds. He instructs Bishop Bliss to strongly consider Canon Law 1341 and to see whether any alternative short of defrocking Father Murphy would be appopriate here.

On May 13, 1998, Bishop Bliss writes to Cardinal Bertone and states that nothing short of a trial is appropriate and that the Diocese of Superior intends to proceed with the trial.

On May 18, 1998, Bishop Bliss indicates that he wants to discuss the issue with Cardinal Bertone when he is in Rome on May 30, 1998 for his ad limina visit.

On May 30, 1998, Bishop Bliss, Bishop Weakland and Father Sklba, at their own request, meet with Cardinal Bertone and his staff to discuss the case. Father Sklba's notes and the meeting minutes indicate that the CDF is not encouraging defrocking Father Murphy based on his 24 years of conduct and the limiations on his ministry already in effect. CDF also mentions this will be a hard case to prove. Bishop Weakland does say he will have difficulty explaining this to the deaf community.

On July 22, 1998, Bishop Weakland and others (including father Murphy's canon lawyer) discuss their various options. It was decided to limit Father Murphy's ministry; give funeral directives for a closed casket (the deaf community did not want him buried in priestly robes) and for Father Murphy to write a letter of apology.

On August 19, 1998, Bishop Weakland writes a letter to Cardinal Bertone stating that he has decided to abate the trial and instead use an administrative process to have Father Murphy declared irregular for ministry, to write letters of apology to all of his victims and to direct that he have a private funeral with a closed casket.

Two days later, on August 21, 1998, Father Murphy died, thus closing the case.

On September 10, 1998, Bishop Weakland writes to one of the victims, stating that as of Father Murphy's death a church case had been actively pursued and that Father Murphy's death stopped the process.

Those are the facts. It is frankly irresponsible how that gets reported into the CDF shut down an investigation after Father Murphy asked for leniency.

I love the Catholic church....the church of great cathedrals, of Mother Teresa and her mission to the poor, of Father Damien who served the lepers,
of Joan of Arc who saved France for the French, of traveling the world and always finding a Mass to attend; of the great, intellecutal Sisters of the
Holy Hames who provided me with a Catholic higher education,etc....
....but the church of today I do not know...pedophilia, the secrecy, the only-male
orientation, no longer hearing the voice of Vatican II and Pope John XX111.
There must be reform...and we all hope it comes soon. Listen to the Voice
of the Faithful.

Let's go to the bottom line issue. The Catholic Church failed to protect children. Therefore, every Catholic believer must address this problem.

What must be frustrating for Benedict is that he's seen as the chief culprit in all of this while JPII get's off scott free. Few people are talking about JPII. But wasn't he the man who embraced (literally) Maciel? Wasn't he the Pope when a lot of this was happening? Wasn't he the Pope who gave refuge to Cardinal Law when he had to get out of town quickly?

There are two very fine responses to the misinformation that has been floating around from the New York Times, and, alas, so-called Catholic publications and websites.

See below:

Archbishop Timothy Dolan: http://blog.archny.org/?p=589

Father Raymond D'Souza: http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=ZDkxYmUzMTQ1YWUyMzRkMzg4Y2RiN2U...

I think that rather than slam the media (as some of the clergy have done on this blog),they should be engaged in CORRECTING THE PROBLEM. Send into your bishop a world-wide plan that could solve this problems once and for all. The laity has and is listing what they would do, IF they were invited to submit suggestions. Vatican Council II stated the radical equality of every baptized Catholic within the Church. But it is the Vatican that keeps on insisting that only the clergy/hierarchy can make decisions in the Church. So draw up your plans for stopping this cancer in the Church.

Rather than pointing out that other institutions have sexual abuses of youngsters---focus on the fact that no other institution in the world claims to hold the corner on revealed truth as does the Catholic Church. No other institution claims to be founded by Jesus Christ. No other institiution claims that its visible leader is a direct successor of Peter, who received the Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven by Jesus. No other institution claims that its visible leader, the pope, possesses infallibility in matters in faith and dogma. No other institution claims to be guided by the Holy Spirit. No other institution on this earth claims that---no nation, no corporation, no national/international organization, no family claims that. Only the Catholic Church. If its claims are so high---then it follows that the scrutiny of its works should also be intense.

Jesus stated that by its fruits are we to judge the Church (and each and every member in it). If the 'fruit' is not measuring up to the claims----the media has every right in this world to probe and point out the lapses in the Church. And, please believe that the Holy Spirit can/does speak just as clearly through the media as through the Magisterium of the Church.

Major structural changes need to be made. Governance vested in an absolutist monarchial structure is not the way that Jesus envisioned the successors of Peter and the other Apostles to exercise leadership. Washing people's feet once a year---on Holy Thursday---is not equal to a pervasive humility on the clergy/hierarchy's part.

If the media in the United States had not pressed and pressured the hierarchy, we would have never had the Dallas Charter, here in the US. The fact that the media is going after the hierarchy (and read Pope), is because that for decades arch/bishops moved abusing priests about from place to place to abuse youngsters again. People (read hierarchy) knew what was going on---and did NOTHING because the institution was considered more important than flesh and blood young victims, who were looked upon as expendable throw-aways.

It is time for the Pope to admit that he, too, like many bishops followed the common practices of the time, and permitted abusing priests to be moved to new places. And I cannot believe, that the former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who for 25 years as head of the Holy Office---and who had more authority than anyone imagined---did not see the reports sent into the Vatican about abusing priests from all over the world.

It is time to exercise the humility of Jesus, to confess with tears personal betrayals of victims as did Peter, and to stand by the cross of what was past pactices and what now must be done to bring about true reform. There needs to be an Extraordinary Synod of World Bishops to the Vatican. And the participants there must not be just sitting and saying "Yes, your Holiness." Discussion and suggestions (from the clergy and yes, from the laity as well), should be deliberated with care. Action plans need to be implemented----and then, and only then----the Church may experience a true Resurrection.

Don't you think he's still the best man for the job; he has left the "cover up" policy & let many abuses to go "into the surface" assuming the costs: the suffering of the Church & of the good clerymen, but for the fidelity to Christ & the Gospel it's a job someone must face & do: "clean tha house".

Dear God, this is such a horrible mess.
Dear God, help us be compassionate, just, merciful, loving, understanding, caring, hopeful, patient, peaceful, and sensitive as we walk through this hell.
Dear God, bring us wise, intelligent, compassionate, faith-filled and faithful people to help us.
Dear God, during this Holy Week, help us discern truth from lies, light from dark, good from bad.
Dear God, we are the body of Christ. We are your Church, every square inch of it.
May we experience the Resurrection after the crucifixion.

To all f the people who have their heads deep in the sand, it is time to come above the terra firma and see the involvement as exactly what it is and what it was when he put priests who had molested children ABOVE the very child victims. Ratzinger's main concern was the image problem this presented for the Church. His FIRST concern should have been the victims of these horrendous crimes. The very fact that he recycled priests who would abuse children AGAIN, SAYS HE WAS GUILTY OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR! Both Ratzinger and his fellow bishops consider themselves above civil law. Whereas the rest of us would go to prison for participating in a cover up and recycling of abusers who would abuse again, Ratzinger;s main concern was CONTAINMENT so that it would not tarnish an image of the Church. This is both deplorable and criminal. Ratzinger should be punished for his crimes the same as all other members of society. Instead, the right wingers want him to have cult status and thus insist that he is "holy". This criticism is totally deserved, but we must all realize that until prelates from popes, cardinals, archbishops and bishops are held accountable for their criminal behavior, along with the hundred or perhaps thousands of priests, their will be only one sided justice in which only a small percentage of these men will actually pay for their crimes. Ratzinger is at the center of this and he above all people, should PAY for his criminal behavior. It would be a great act of justice if he would admit to all of the cases he tried to conceal and then as a true disciple of Jesus, step down as Bishop of Rome and offer himself to the authorities so he could make restitution by paying for his criminal behavior.

In light of the new revelations in Europe, I, for one, am very encouraged and relieved to know that the Vatican is investigating the American women's religious orders. I'm sure that will help get to the bottom of the problem.

1. The pope should immediately order all priests convicted or confessed to sexual abuse defrocked.
2. Same former priests should be allowed monastic life within Vatican City only.
3. Bishops who knowingly transferred abusive priests should be forced to tender resignations in lieu of missionary assignments as priests.
4. After imposing these penalties, Benedict should voluntarily retire.
5. We all need to pray for the state of Christ's Church and that includes cleaning house.

Once again the Bible of NYT is taken as a truth over the comments made by our Holy Father himself. Interesting reality. There are many in the blog sphere that have already refuted the times article with the facts. Yet, still so many refuse to realize the hidden agenda of many of these media outlets. Stop the Church, the one voice left of Moral decency at all costs. As horrible and grievous a sin and a crime it is to abuse an innocent life. So many fail to see the connection of this with the over all contraceptive and abortion mentality that is so prevalent today even in the Catholic Church. Let us as Catholics Pray for the Pope and the Church in this time of need.

It's time for the folks who covered this up to resign! Starting from the top down!! Resign Now!!!

Papal Secrecy and the ultimate punishment of EXCOMMUNICATION from the Catholic Church if bishops do not report DIRECTLY and ONLY to the CDF (Ratzinger) should be another major reason that Ratzinger should resign the papacy! This is criminal behavior on such a large scale that I see no other solution if the Church is truly going to repent of these horrific crimes and sins. Every bishop who went along with this "secrecy" should step down and beg the Church and those children who were abused for forgiveness. The average person would be behind prison bars for these crimes. "Subject to the Pontifical Secret" indeed. A fancy way of black mailing bishops with EXCOMMUNICATION and forcing them into the Grand Cover-Up of these crimes. Disgusting and as immoral as it gets!

Transparency, transparency, transparency! If the Church fails to become completely transparent on ALL issues, we will no longer have a Church. Is it possible that the investigation of Religious Women in the United States is but a smoke-screen to deflect awareness from the REAL ILLS that beset us? Perhaps a "Divide and conquer tactic?

Thank you, Bruce, MT and others, for directing us to a clearer exposition of the facts in the "Fr." Murphy case. We do seem to be rather wallowing in our self-righteous rage and enjoying the exposure of the sinfulness, weakness, indecision and plain mistakenesss of others. And certainly, true righteous anger is still necessary in the prophetic outcry against this terrible sin. However, aren't we still called, as Christians, to engage with the truth? And doesn't truth sometimes have something to do with the facts? We need to be very careful how we judge and condemn others, and if we're going to do it, we have an obligation to try to be objective, to the extent that we can. Sin is 'catching' - witness how the sins of individual priests and religious have spread to the hierarchy - and there's no reason to think we're not falling into sin ourselves!

Chris Smith-are you even aware of what is going on in this story? You accuse Ratzinger of recycling priests. No reporting has shown this to have happened. It is obvious that this is a far-fetched attempt to accuse Ratzinger of exactly that.

These are the people whose efforts to paint the pope as a Nazi failed, for obvious reasons, and now they are resorting to plan b.

And why are so many of you so trustful of the media? Trust the media at your own risk. When has the media ever been friendly to the Church? It is obvious that people are using this issue because they have axes to grind. And that is uncharitable and wrong.

There is a lot of angst for ordinary catholics now about their church. Maybe

my simple story can help somebody.

I was brought up in a devout catholic family, and I

became a good catholic in my turn. I spent ten years in a

boarding school run by Jesuit priests, for my sins. I was a

'goodie goodie': I went to so-called voluntary mass at

7am on weekdays, and regular confession, and I became

a Knight of the Blessed Sacrament (no mean feat). All in

all, the system had produced a model to be admired.

(Recently the school has been involved in a terrible

scandal concerning events of sexual abuse, some of

which had occurred while I was there, but I personally

never witnessed anything.)

When I was about 17, my father took me aside for a

chat. He said, "Have you ever thought of becoming a

priest? You should seriously think about it. To become a

priest is the highest profession a man can attain to." If I

had been some other way inclined I might have taken

him up. However, since my overwhelming desire at the

time was to find a girlfriend, I said "No, I don't want to

be a priest."

Then I went on to college and, for the first time in my life, I was not surrounded by catholics. Still, there was an active catholic chaplaincy there, and I got involved. It was a great social centre, apart from anything else.

I don't know how or why it happened, perhaps it was just

part of growing up, but while I was there I gradually, very

slowly, started to look at my beliefs from a different

point of view, and to question them one by one. It was a

very slow process. I guess for things that are so deeply

ingrained it has to be. I just began to look at it all from a

wider perspective and to wonder whether I needed to

have such ideas. And one by one the answer was always

"No".

It actually took several years but, in the end, I realised

that I had discarded everything. And I mean everything.

Much water has flowed under the bridge since then. So,

what do I believe now, you might ask, with all the

mumbo jumbo far, far behind me?

Well, I think that the highest profession I can attain to is

to be a good father to my two beautiful children (no

mean feat), and to be a good partner, friend, and

neighbour where appropriate (each also no mean feat). I

don't think I need to believe anything else.

And when I see pictures of priests, bishops or cardinals

dressed in those funny robes and silly hats, an old saying

pops into my mind: "But for the grace of God, there go I!"

-- the God of Nature, that is.

Please Bp Joseph Ratzinger....please investigate the male religious too so that our minds can be taken off the horror that the hierarchy has unleashed on the People of God via child abuse. As a practising Catholic I will not give anymore financial support until this lot listens to the People of God and reforms.