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PDF versionBishop Lori prepares for 'worst case' should abuse papers go public
Meets with priests, deacons to pre-empt bad publicity
Sep. 17, 2009
Bishop Lori (CNS 2007 photo)
Officials of the Diocese of Bridgeport, Conn., down to their final opportunity to keep documents relating to 23 sex abuses cases out of public circulation, met with all priests and deacons today in an attempt to pre-empt the bad publicity in a worst case scenario.
The worst case for the diocese would be a U.S. Supreme Court decision denying the diocese’s request to keep clergy sex abuse files sealed. The request was passed on earlier this month to the full court by Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. The diocese, in that request, was appealing a ruling by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who had denied the diocese’s appeal of earlier state court rulings ordering that the documents be released.
The files will remained sealed at least until the full court reviews the request Sept. 29 and decides to either hear the case in its session that begins in October or to vacate the diocese’s request, in effect releasing the documents.
According to one person attending the session, which was closed to the press, Bishop William Lori told the priests “prudence dictates” that the diocese be prepared should the court refuse to hear the case, meaning the documents would be released.
As part of the preparation, Lori is asking priests to prepare an overview of all the diocese has done to protect children to be presented following the post-communion prayer the weekend of Sept. 26. As part of the preparation, said a source who attended the meeting, Lori told those assembled that they would receive a document with questions and answers so that “we can all be singing from the same sheet of music.”
The bishop explained that he has vigorously fought release of the documents primarily because they contain the names of a number of “John Doe” priests who were wrongly accused. Lori and lawyers retained by the diocese who attended today’s meeting said a review of the cases found that they were groundless. He argued that the priests named would have no way of defending themselves if their names were released along with the documents. In answer to a question, he told the gathering that all of the John Doe priests had been notified earlier and that no one would be surprised.
While release of the names of those considered innocent is a fear, at the same time the priests today were told that there is a chance -- based on an earlier ruling by a state court that the names of the innocent be withheld from any public disclosure – that the names would not be released even if the documents were made public.
NCR: February 3-16, 2012
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The 12,600 pages of depositions, exhibits and legal arguments in question relate to a 2001 settlement of 23 cases involving seven priests. The records were sealed when the cases were settled just before they went to trial.
The priests were told today that none of the documents contain any “bombshells” and that most of the material was reported in a 2002 article in The Hartford Courant.
Following the settlement in 2001, the Courant along with The Boston Globe, The New York Times and The Washington Post, petitioned to have the documents released. It is presumed the documents would reveal details of how Cardinal Edward Egan, the recently retired archbishop of New York, had handled the sex abuse crisis during his tenure as bishop of Bridgeport from 1988 to 2000.
According to the source who attended today’s meeting, diocesan officials, anticipating a question, said that no money was used from the annual bishop’s appeal to pay legal costs in the attempt to keep the documents sealed. However, it was disclosed that the diocese had received large anonymous gifts specifically for that purpose and also that the diocese had used unspecified “unrestricted funds” for legal costs.
No amount was given for the unrestricted funds used.
Lori will be meeting with other diocesan personnel tomorrow in an attempt to prepare Catholics in the diocese for responding to questions that they might be asked in work or social situations.
Roberts is NCR editor at large and can be reached at troberts@ncronline.org.
Well, circle the wagons and
Well, circle the wagons and make sure all stories match. I guess that's a good strategy so everyone can't put two and two together and come up with five. It's just too bad this had to go to the supreme court to begin with; nothing should have been kept secret. All these priests (minus the innocently charged who probably won't be named) should be public. We have websites so we know if our neighbor is a sex abuser yet the church wants to keep them safely hidden. It's just not right.
Just how many
Just how many "wrongly/unjustly accused" were there in Bridgeport? The people I've talked to - lawyers, canon lawyers, psycho-therapists, etc.- have told me that statistically their numbers are insignificant. But then many people are accused of a variety of crimes every day. Should we not follow up when individuals are suspected or accused of violating children because they are doctors, lawyers, teachers, dentists, coaches, ministers, priests, sisters or nuns? I think not.
That is why we have a justice system in the U.S. even if childhood sexual abuse statutes need to be brought into the 21st century.
It has been my experience that lawyers, lobbyists, and spokespersons for dioceses are prone to put individuals on that list who are not criminally prosecuted because the DA decides not to prosecute for a variety of reasons; there is insufficent evidence, lack of co-operating witnesses, etc. That is if the case even falls within the statute. On the civil side, it is a different story. The plaintiff has to bring suit and the burden of proof rests with the plaintiff and, of course, if it falls within the statutes.
Then there are the so-called "investigations" by the institutional church.
And from examples in such places as the Archdiocese of Chicago the cardinal there did not even accept the findings of the committee which he established and which answered only to him. Reports of "wrongly or unjustly accused" by such committees hardly amounts to much when there is such a conflict of interests.
The bottom line is that there have been very few unjustly accused. But to whom should go the benefit of the doubt? I say to those victims of childhood sexual abuse - by anyone.
This has been demonstrated time and time again in dioceses across the United States, in Canada, Mexico, Ireland, Australia and now, of course, in Italy.
Wonder of wonders! Weren't the cardinals who early on stated that this was an "American problem," the Italian cardinals?
Get the Truth out in the open where it belongs, let the chips fall where they will and stop patting yourselves on the back like the Archdiocese of Chicago did in its "FOR INTERNAL USE - Background Information for Pastors Regarding Upcoming Legal Document Release" released in July of 2009 by Colleen Dolan.
Sister Maureen Paul Turlish
Victims' Advocate
New Castle, Delaware
maureenpaulturlish@yahoo.com
Sister Maureen, once again
Sister Maureen, once again you are correct and your clear thinking is very much needed. Thank you!
R. Dennis Porch, MD
I do not understand what the
I do not understand what the problem is in making the documents public. This is why some Catholics are losing faith. Others keeping there faith changeing to the Orthodox Church in America because their bishops like ours trace their roots directly back to the apostles. Still others are joining other churches. It getting hard to remain Catholic
I hope there is no recent cover ups found in these documents.
"the diocese had used
"the diocese had used unspecified “unrestricted funds” for legal costs."
"No amount was given for the unrestricted funds used."
Why cannot the Bridgeport, Conn. Catholics know how much of their money was spent to defend pedophile priests? Why is everything so hush-hush?
What is Bishop Lori really
What is Bishop Lori really saying when he tells his priests and deacons that “prudence dictates”...they be prepared. Is he saying "help me cover my a--"?
His diocese (and many others) has stone-walled information on how and what possibly he and other bishops may have been hiding. Yes, drag in the deacons, while you're at it. It's his "brother priests" who can't keep their hands off little boys, not the deacons. We need to remember that it is priests who are asked to live a more 'disordered' life (single & celebate), not deacons (for the most part married and for the most part 'ordered').
If it is true that the bishop told his priests that they would receive a document with questions and answers so that “we can all be singing from the same sheet of music.” - then this may be more troubling than imagined.
Pack your bags, bishop. You might be reasigned to a plum job in the Vatican.
"help me cover my a--?
"help me cover my a--? Indeed, but with what...certainly not with the truth.
The cliche is the truth hurts; truthfulness is but a trifling distraction to the exigencies of the bishops ends. Wherein has the Church placed truth before authority. Authority first, then dogma, and truth concealed elsewhere, left for Dan Brown to find.
Please go easy on celibates.
Please go easy on celibates. We're not all pedophiles.
Amen. For most of us our
Amen. For most of us our lifestyle is not disordered. Celibacy, when embraced maturely, is a blessing to our ministry.
Dear Brother Robert and
Dear Brother Robert and Father Paul,
Celibacy is deprivation! If you are deprived of food, you can not grow. If you are deprived of shelter you can not thrive. If you deprive yourself of sex, you will not grow in the rightful pleasures and release of tension that is human. This is not to say that all deprivation is wrong, but Christ was only in the desert for 40 days and nights. On the other hand to be required to live a life of deprivation has caused the failure of the clerical institution not only in understanding but in the civility of being human. Mandatory deprivation is not a rout to God far from it! Google Richard Sipe, a therapist, a Benedictine Priest for 18 years and a father of a son. I fear that too many of our men of God are not at all Godly!
R. Dennis Porch, MD
Bishop Lori was not there
Bishop Lori was not there when any wrongdoing was done.
Whether he was there or
Whether he was there or not,when the wrong doing was done, does not excuse him from being honest and upfront. Who is covering up all this mess and who is appealing to the Supreme Court. Come on! See it for what it is.
So if none of the documents
So if none of the documents contain any "bombshells" then why is release of the documents a "worst case" which requires pre-emptive PR?
And regarding the "John Doe" priests who were "wrongly accused." Who reviewed the accusations and found them to be groundless? The diocese?
Were these accusations which the Diocese had managed to keep under wraps and away from law-enforcement authorities until the statutes of limitations expired?
Questions such as these are precisely why the files must be made available to the laity.
"And regarding the "John Doe"
"And regarding the "John Doe" priests who were "wrongly accused." Who reviewed the accusations and found them to be groundless? The diocese?...Questions such as these are precisely why the files must be made available to the laity."
Much as I generally agree with the exposure, this is not correct when it comes to those whom someone has accused, nor should there be any acceptance of the idea that the "laity" or the "public" will handle well the information of someone innocent who was accused and found innocent in such a way as to not harm that person. All one has to do is read the writings of some of the people on here to see the problem with that idea.
There really are some people who have been wrongly accused for whatever reason. There are ways to investigate; there are ways for other people or groups to review investigations independently. But full public disclosure of the names of such people in an assumption that their good names and reputations will not be damaged or destroyed by stupid or mean "laity" or "public" is naive and dangerous and reckless.
Ask anyone on the investigative side of things. And ask anyone whose name and reputation has been damaged or destroyed.
For them to fight this long
For them to fight this long and all the way to the Supreme Court says that there is possibly some very damaging info in those files especially to get the troups together so they are all on the same page!
Justice calls for full
Justice calls for full disclosure. The names of the victims should be withheld and the accused made public. The time has come for the Church to stop hiding behind their sins! It is also time for the Church to be held accountable for their actions in hiding and protecting these abusing priests. Enough is enough!
Even if some of the "accused"
Even if some of the "accused" are innocent? I'm all for disclosure of the rest of the information, but any wrongly accused priests that are named in these documents can kiss their reputations goodbye. What parent will trust them?
Judging from the five far
Judging from the five far right wing justices on the current Supreme Court, it is likely they will side with the cover-up bishops. They stick together and most but not all bishops appointed by John Paul II and Benedict tend toward the right wing reactionary thinking. If the documents are released to the public it will be a major win for the victims of these horrible crimes! However, judging from the past attitudes of most of these bishops, they will try to cover up their crimes and this makes the sexual abuse suffered by the children all the more egregious. I put little faith in the the five right wing justices as they always rule in favor of corporations and far right conservatives. They will go down as the worst Supreme Court Justices in American history. There is little reason to think they will favor the children who were the victims. Pathetic and sad but most likely true if their past decisions are any indicator.
It's just like Tony Soprano
It's just like Tony Soprano calling a meeting .. 'we got a rat talking to the feds' ' 'we have reached out to Scalia but the other guys may be off the reservation' ' Youse guys all better be on the same page on this'.. 'Get the word out to the families that they got nutten on us' ' if anyone makes fun of us at your 'no show' job site ... get their name/address back to us.. Vinney I mean..'
My goodness - that was so
My goodness - that was so funny and so insightful (I speak as somebody alternately horrified and delighted by those guys.)
By using "large anonymous
By using "large anonymous gifts" and "unrestricted funds" to protect the reputation of a retired Cardinal and possibly himself seems to fly in the face of the transparency that everyone seems to be bragging about. Couldn't these large sums of money have been better spent providing tuition relief to Catholic School children or food to the hungry? Is this a decision that is made by Bishop Lori alone. Is there any "stewardship" involved? Priorities seem a bit misplaced in the Bridgeport Diocese.
Hummm... "unrestricted
Hummm... "unrestricted funds"...? "large anonymous gifts"...? What exactly does that actually mean? Who is in charge of the accounting? Perhaps those who stand to lose the most if truth becomes known?
.
Even more curious... apparently, on top of payouts to the victims, the diocese has been spending significant money in legal fees over eight years to suppress this lower court trial information. What could possibly be so monetarily motivating? 'Not sure I'm buying the limp explanation being proffered. Attorney's on retainer aren't a cheap commodity. And what about that list of 'talking points' to counter any disclosure?
.
It continues to appear that episcopal fanny-covering is afoot, at the legal expense of those parishioners who reside in that diocese, — any possible creative accounting not withstanding. The more the bishops evade transparency the guiltier they appear. It seems that they still do not comprehend the degree of treachery involved with their collaboration in broken trust with the faithful. After already establishing that they cannot be trusted, they continue to plead for cover.
.
Strange that those having the fullness of Holy Orders have forgotten that sin has consequences... even for them!
I hope that this Bishop also
I hope that this Bishop also prepared his clergy for the strong possibility that the guilty & abetting priests' & BISHOPS' names would be made public...
They are likely to feel horrified & betrayed by their morally weak leaders, placed over them by the Vatican.
What the public outrage & anger will be like, who knows???
"Officials of the Diocese of
"Officials of the Diocese of Bridgeport, Conn., down to their final opportunity to keep documents relating to 23 sex abuses cases out of public circulation, met with all priests and deacons today in an attempt to pre-empt the bad publicity in a worst case scenario."
Sound familiar?
It certainly does. Recall the memo circulated to pastors in July of 2009 by Collen Dolan, the communications and public relations person for the Archdiocese of Chicago.
The first page read:
FOR INTERNAL USE
Background Information for Pastors Regarding
Upcoming Legal Document Release
Introduction
The second paragraph reads:
"The document will focus on Bishop Goedert's deposition and the questions that may arise from its publication. We are providing this information to assist pastors in understanding the issues and responding to inquiries in their communities. As time goes on, we expect to follow-up with more information on other important issues."
It is obvious that the spin doctors were hard at work in producing the seven pages of this Archdiocese of Chicago "FOR INTERNAL USE" document aimed, among other things, to pre-empt their "Upcoming Legal Document Release."
Now it is Bishop Lori of the Bridgeport, Connecticut diocese who is preparing for the 'worst case' scenario.
Isn't it too bad that church leadership did not see fit to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth from the very beginning?
How many thousands of lives would have turned out differently, how many suicides prevented, if they were not put in harm's way, if they were not raped, if the bishops and other church officials did the right thing and followed civil and canon law instead of being so concerned with protecting and enabling predators and attempting to save the church from scandal?
How many millions of dollars have been spent to hire lobbyists, law firms, PR firms and the like to do everything BUT tell the truth? Whatever happened to the ACCOUNTABILITY & TRANSPARENCY the the bishops promised in 2002? It seems the People of God are still waiting.
I pray to God that the United States Supreme Court refuses to hear this case and that these records are released. Only then will the truth be known.
There is still time for one to make a private novena for this important decision which may be decided as early as September 29th if the U.S. Supreme Court refuses to hear the Connecticut case.
My novena prayer is that these records be released as early as possible so that the truth may be known. Victims, survivors, parents, siblings and children have a right to know to what extent and by whom these Evils were perpetrated on innocent children. All the People of God have a right to know the extent of the conspiracy to cover-up such heineous crimes.
As I said previously:
I am grateful to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg for her ruling in denying the diocese's request that the documents remain sealed until the high court decides whether to take up the case in the fall.
Secrecy and the abuse of power have brought the institutional Roman Catholic Church to this point and only truth, justice, and the ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY the the U.S. bishops promised in 2002 will begin to turn it around.
There should be no accomodation in law that gives more protection to sexual predators and any accompanying enablers, individuals, religious denominations or public entities then to the very real victims of childhood sexual abuse.
This is a step in the right direction and the Diocese of Bridgepost, Connecticut should abide by it as soon as possible. Making these documents available for study should give some sense, context and an understanding of what led to leadership's failure to do the morally right thing.
A further step would be to remove all criminal and civil statutes of limitation regarding the sexual abuse of children in all states as has been done in Delaware and include in that a civil window of at least two years for bringing forward previously time barred cases of abuse by anyone and any institution.
Moreover, laws in all states that exempt any group, from mainline religious denominations or institutions down to the seemingly most benign local cult, from the laws that the rest of society are required to observe should be struck down.
Sister Maureen Paul Turlish
Victims' Advocate
New Castle, Delaware
maureenpaulturlish@yahoo.com
Because of their depraved
Because of their depraved indifference, these unfeeling, uncaring bishops are now having to deal with the embarrassment of what, with their complicity, thousands of Roman Catholic Perverted Priests have done to hundreds of thousands of innocent children, young people and vulnerable adults of our church. I have no pity for these bishops and I hope they burn in hell.
God bless your perseverance.
God bless your perseverance. Still, it's a good thing you're all self-employed contractors.
BTW, does Angie's List rate clerics?
I've long admired Lori's
I've long admired Lori's leadership role in dealing with the past/present/future issues that the abuse blight was/is/will be to the Church. Anyone in his shoes would legitimately curse the translation of his immediate predecessor which effectively stuck Lori with a pretrial settlement that--though technically on his watch--was more likely a fait accompli so that the unthwarted ambitions of the man he succeeded might not be impeded or besmirched after their realization. (Both men are entitled to curse the incompetence and weakness of the prior Ordinary that bolloxed-up things before them.)
Of course it is "prudent" (and admirable from an in-short-supply episcopal pragmatism) for Lori to get in front of the possible release and try to minimize the fallout--particularly from the point-of-view of innocent priests who may be sullied by the scandal perpetrated by others. My real concern is that there still is not the recognition on the part of the episcopacy that the laity is simply beyond being shocked or scandalized at this point in time. The collateral damage of these heinous crimes and the egregious cowardice of too many bishops will take generations to repair. By all means prepare the "talking points", but realize that many will not be there to hear them and those who do already have a level of cynicism that is the unfortunate and malevolent afterlife of this scandal.
It is hard to believe that
It is hard to believe that the bishop's principle concern is shielding the innocent priests from a public firestorm. It seems likely that he is primarily interested in protecting the guilty bishop(s).
And didn't Jesus say that the truth shall set you free?
Bishop Lori, why hide things
Bishop Lori, why hide things in darkness, didn't Christ want us to live in the light? It's very simple, "the Truth shall set you free". Start living in the light Bishop.
Oh, what a tangled web they
Oh, what a tangled web they weave when bishops do first deceive...and now they're caught in the web of their own making. How do we ever trust some of these men again...how loyal were they to our children??
Lori succeeded Egan. Egan,
Lori succeeded Egan. Egan, when he moved to New York, proceeded to conceal information in much the same way as he did in CT. The trail leads from CT to NY. The people should be demanding answers not making contributions to assist in the coverups. Shame on those who have been enablers of coverups!
This is disgustingly typical
This is disgustingly typical of a past course of action which we are told has been corrected and stopped. Bishop Lori and Cardinal Egan should be ashamed of themselves, but we should be more ashamed. We tolerate this kind of deceitful behavior, pretend it's over, even deny that it was ever "all that bad".
But where is Benedict XVI leading the Catholic church at this moment? Has he not heard of the situation, or is he orchestrating more legal coverups? The apologies when he visited the United States seem less than sincere when it takes a court to unseal records! The Vatican needs to be investigating the actions of the hierarchy-- and what are they doing but trying to deflect attention by persecuting the Sisters!
While these "paragons of virtue" are dictating to the country about abortion and healhtcare reform and gay marriage they embarrass their people time and time again!
Has the word "VICTIM" sprung from Bishop Lori's lips even once? Will it be in the Post-Communion prayer? A Bridgeport area Catholic with any sense of fairness would leave Mass early that weekend-- or not go at all. The sermon (not homily) is bound to be focused on the rights of Lori/Egan!
As I heard one monsignor say (while drunk) regarding the victims: "They need to get over it and get a life"!
FIAT LUX! "However, it was
FIAT LUX!
"However, it was disclosed that the diocese had received large anonymous gifts specifically for that purpose and also that the diocese had used unspecified “unrestricted funds” for legal costs.
No amount was given for the unrestricted funds used."
As usual, follow the money! Let's just hope the real ringleaders at the Vatican are also implicated once these documents are released. Let there be light, and let the cucarachas scatter in the darkness.
I think they might have some
I think they might have some funds still left from selling arms to the Contras....or was that Ollie North. I forget.
I do not know the specifics
I do not know the specifics of any sex cases or scandals. I do believe that the possibility does exist of scandals. Any past cover-up has been a mistake. It taints the many good deeds that my church does for people.
I'm supposed to believe that
I'm supposed to believe that the Bridgeport diocese is going thru all this legal hassle and expense to protect the names of these innocent priests? It's got nothing to do with Egan, right?
If they can't prevail with a Supreme Court dominated by conservative catholics, maybe they just need to suck it up and take their well-deserved lumps.
The Texas Two Step continues.
The Texas Two Step continues. [Step .1] Oh look at the hundreds of Catholics abused by our priests laying on the side of the road --- let's cover it up and continue to watch them and their loved ones bleed. [Step .2] What we will be doing in our upcoming PR statements is confuse our flock by saying we have programs to protect our children that way they will believe we didn't walk by the injured.
Bob Schwiderski
It is very difficult to
It is very difficult to understand for me, that I know very little about this issue, but It was very interesting for me to read this.
Anyone who loves the Church,
Anyone who loves the Church, the Body of Christ as the Scripture refers to it, is heart sick over the abused children, adolescents, priest perpetrators, and priests falsely accused and named in these documents cited in the article above,
Despite its blemishes the Church remains a hospital for sinners, a refuge for the unjustly accused and the little children who have been so wounded. How can anyone say something like this which to some might seem superficially facile . Because for one, I see Christ among us even if through tears, confusion, ambiguity, anger and shame in the eyes of those who think we are fools anyway.
This is going on right under
This is going on right under our nose AND we are being investigated???
"Unrestricted funds"---in
"Unrestricted funds"---in relationship to sexual abuse payouts.
Large funds are paid to Insurance Companies to cover the cost of raping chidlren and vulnerable adults. That money is what YOU have paid for during the Bishop's appeal. It is retricted funds paid to an account for services.For instance, Gallager and Basset (sp?) is the Diocese of Marquette's insurance company. When a victim sues the diocese, the lawyers hash out what percentage and our what is covered. Remember, the policies that the diocese inforces is what is going to effect the payees and the amount of payout. AGAIN, your tithe has already paid for that insurance coverage. Next is the SLUSH FUND, or better known as the HUSH FUND. Investment revenue, the houses and properties, bonds and planned giving that has not been retricted, is placed into a central investment pool. This investment pool is a product of many dioceses, and sometimes the collective of different dioceses in nearby states. (This is often helpful to have out of state resources available and good relations with other bishops.) This HUSH FUND is where the payouts come from that are over the top of the insurance payout.
When you are investing your money in the diocesan investment pool, think about what it is now paying for, as it is UNRESTRICTDED.
Either way, we all pay the bill. The only problem is that the bishops can hide it all in yearly financial reports. That is why the payouts don't show up in any column. They were simply "INVESTMENT LOSSES." Payouts that cover rape and molestations are investment losses.
Sobering, but we need to wake up...
Kelly Mathews
Marquette, MI
Where do they get these
Where do they get these people [bishops] from? Who would believe Lori's statement that "prudence dictates" that he fight keeping the truth from the People of God! Much more likely that Lori's attorneys "dictate" that he hide the evidence for as long as possible!
The money to pay for this legal battle to keep the truth hidden came from "anonymous large generous gifts". Like what.........from other Dioceses or the Vatican? Since when would legitimate Catholics be embarrassed to say they gave money to the Catholic Church; unless, of course, they are part of the conspiracy to keep the truth secret!
If Bishop Lori is so
If Bishop Lori is so concerned about protecting the innocent priests from an avalanche of negativity, where were he and his predecessor when the innocent children were being subjected to the hell of abuse by his priests? Oh, that's right he, or his predecessor, was moving them from parish to parish I guess "protection" only counts when it's in a Roman collar!
Viola (and anyone else who
Viola (and anyone else who "knows very little about this issue"),
Yes, it is a bit difficult to understand if we keep a "worldview" that says that a priest is a person dedicated to walk in Christ's footsteps in the world today, preaching the word of God, comforting those in need with compassionate acts, and pursuing just activity in a pastoral way.
However, when you look at the institutional Church, we begin to see a different "worldview": I. All power is held by males who are ordained; power is enforced by ordained males who have sought higher office by the regular and diligent application of political behavior among the current hierarchy; there is a legal system called Canon Law that restricts any power of the non-ordained; only those with a collar and legal education may attempt to influence changes in that comprehensive legal system.
II. The Church teaches that humans who have a same sex orientation are intrinsically or "objectively disordered" whether they act on their sexuality or not. Credible sources acknowledge that 30-70% of Catholic clergymen have a same-sex orientation (whether they are currently "acting" on the orientation or not). Consequently those clergymen, whatever the proportion, know themselves and their disordered status; but must act as if their basic human nature is otherwise because they are a Catholic priest with Magisterial teaching to uphold; yet finally, more than a few succumb to actually living a sexual life that conflicts with their supposed life of chaste celibacy. In those instances the men are attempting to present as a priest living just one congruent life. However, the fact is he may be leading three lives, open to "outing", or scandal, or extortion (for money or position) or internal stress that requires alcohol or drugs to numb.
What reforms need pursuit by the People of God who pray, obey, and pay(less in 2009 than before)but who still worship in the pews? The first would have them raise their voice in pursuit of personal education on all of the subjects that Church leaders declare "already decided", off the table, or secret. Educated American Catholics certainly ought to be using their curiosity and grey matter in the same manner that they do in other daily pursuits to simply understand how following Christ in today's world comes up with answers that will seem so out of touch with an actively lived reality.
What a thoughtful and
What a thoughtful and considered comment, Active RC Over 65.
If now the LCWR will direct
If now the LCWR will direct it's congregations to release their records of abuse and cover-ups.
Fought the release primarily
Fought the release primarily for the wrongly accused? Were they arrested? How many victims came forward? I truly wonder that if the names of those were released, maybe other victims would come forward.
As for those who were found guilty or the Church settled with the victims, to make public (again?) their names may result in victims remembering and coming forward.
The tragedy is that sexual abuse is still going on, priests are still moved to another parish, and their superiors are still protecting them. They must be very forgiving people...
The press in Connecticut has
The press in Connecticut has already written page upon page of stories about several priests who have been wrongfully accused. Why should their names be published once again? Why should the name of any innocent person be published even if the press doesn't know anything about them? I hope the Court does not let that happen.
The identities of the pedophiles is well known to anyone who knows anything about the situation in the diocese of Bridgeport. There is enough public information out there to write several books.
So why exactly do these documents need to be released? If you use Google, you can find the guilty priests as well as the innocent.
Cardinal Egan has already been trashed over and over again. I don't know anyone here in the diocese of Bridgeport who thinks the Cardinal acted appropriately. If anyone reading this, who lives in the diocese of Bridgeport, thinks that Cardinal Egan is as pure as the driven snow, I wonder what rock they crawl from under. Every Catholic I know would be greatly surprised if our former bishop is totally blameless in this scandal. So, even if the documents proved that he did everything right, is that reason enough to release them? Just what is the reason for the release of the documents? Who cares? Why do they care? Is it simply because there is something salacious about this issue? Is it purient interest ?
For the record, I do not care for our Bishop Lori. We would be far better off with a more inclusive and moderate leader here in the Diocese of Bridgeport. Bishop Lori is of the radical right ilk. But that does not make him completely wrong.
Remember ... the greatest of these is charity ...
"Who cares? Why do they
"Who cares? Why do they care?" writes "As we forgive II". Christians and other people of faith care because this sort of sexual abuse and cover-up is an affront to God, however an individual may conceive of that concept. Thinking people care because what has occurred in the Roman Catholic Church is an abomination to all of humanity; it also makes apparent that the solution cannot be found within that institution, and that civil authority and prosecution are needed. Obviously the entire structure of this Roman institution is flawed and corrupt and needs to be dismantled. The Roman Catholic Church of this era is a scandal to Jesus Christ.
and Jesus wept... about the
and Jesus wept... about the little ones. I care about the release of the documents. I never read them being from another state. How dare you talk about charity! As God forgives II... Remember, only God forgives. We want justice, our children cry for justice, our Church yearns for justice. Intrinsic Evil needs to be stopped. There is no peace without justice.
Charity is for little old ladies wearing white gloves visiting the poor to make themselves feel better.
I agree with "forgiveness"
I agree with "forgiveness" but I do not believe that all that is happening has ever been told loudly enough. The majority of people are still not aware of how prevalent these coverups are. It appears that the Bishops and Cardinals want to be charitable to themselves so that the laity does not realize how corrupt they are and have been all of these years. Some preople who call themselves "good Catholics" are apathetic but most people are just so unaware of all that has transpired and is continuing to be covered up.
This corruption comes from within and "God Forbid!" that any one finds out about it!!
I am utterly astounded that
I am utterly astounded that the heirarchy is sill trying everything they can to obstruct the truth regarding criminal action by pedophile priests on little boys and girls. Further, when one also hears about the Irish priest sexual abuse scandal, and the Italian priest sexual abuse scandal, I just can't take it in. Has our heirarchy been abusing children since the beginning? On another website someone brought up an apochryphal "Secret Mark" which discusses a same sex initiation ritual with at least his translation mentioning "youths". This guy thinks it was a homosexual initiation of children going back to a very early period in Church history. I'm not sure Secre Mark is about pedophilia, but it did make me wonder, especially given what looks like a long standing secret pattern of abuse and cover up by priests and bishops. Is our once beloved Church the biggest and best organized pedophile ring in the history of the world? God I hope not!
Thank you, Sr. Maureen, for
Thank you, Sr. Maureen, for speaking the truth and for shining a light on this very dark chapter in our history.
That evil, child-molesting
That evil, child-molesting bishop should be arrested and prosecuted at once for covering up the sex abuse his clerics inflicted upon the innocent children of God of his diocese.
As a non-Catholic reading
As a non-Catholic reading this, I don't understand why it's a big deal whether the names of innocent priests is revealed or not. If they are innocent, what is there to fear?
Egan, his Boss Bernie Law,
Egan, his Boss Bernie Law, and the other Boston Bishops who perpertuated this blasphemy are all pigs. They should be in jail and publically disinvested from their ordination for grave scandal.
Of course, that won;t happen. In fact Bernie Law was rewarded with a cushy job in the Vatican while he plays fugitive from U.S. law enforcement. Until this disgusting mess is corrected, the hierarchy of the church has severely hampered its own ability to preach and teach God's word about abortion or any other controversial issue.
I'm not saying the laity shouldn't, just that the hollow shells of these pharisees should have their authority neutered.
Hey, Bishop Lori- Even though you, canonically speaking, cannot use them, why not grow a pair and speak up for justice instead of covering this Dioceses' sorry ass.
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