The cardinal, his men and the McCormack legacy
Cardinal George, Bishop Rassas, Chancellor Lago, Vicar General Canary, Bishop Kicanas
Two years ago this month, the Rev. Daniel McCormack was arrested for molesting boys. He’s in prison now. And the top leaders in the Archdiocese of Chicago who might have stopped him have risen in their church positions.
Keep reading.
Cardinal Francis George
At the height of the sexual abuse scandals in 2002, U.S. Catholic bishops adopted a policy calling for the removal of any priest credibly accused of child molestation. Beforehand, George had argued repeatedly on national television that the “zero tolerance” policy was too stringent. McCormack was first picked up by police in August 2005, but not charged. The cardinal’s review board recommended that the priest be removed from ministry, the archdiocese said. But the cardinal refused. McCormack went on to abuse other children. He pleaded guilty last July and was sent to prison. Four months later, the cardinal was elected president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Bishop George Rassas
When McCormack was first arrested in 2005, Rassas was the archdiocese’s vicar general. Despite the arrest, he allowed McCormack to receive a priestly promotion. The priest was kept in the West Side parish he served and went on to abuse more children. McCormack was arrested again in 2006. A few weeks later, Rassas was made an auxiliary bishop.
Chancellor Jimmy Lago
As the archdiocese’s chancellor, Lago oversees the offices that handle sexual abuse. After McCormack’s 2006 arrest, Lago told another media outlet that he regretted “that he was on vacation” when the priest was first arrested in 2005. And “not in the loop when a school principal came forward in 1999 with the first allegation against the priest.” Not aware of McCormack? Really? Lago called for a so-called “independent” investigation into how McCormack slipped through the archdiocese’s system. In releasing the report, the tough talking chancellor was hailed as a hero with unquestioning acceptance by the Chicago Tribune. The cardinal bestowed Lago with even greater responsibility in handling abuse. The question not raised: Should Lago have been fired?
Vicar General Canary
The Rev. John Canary was vice rector of Mundelein Seminary when McCormack was studying for the priesthood. Mundelein officials learned in 1992 about sexual accusations against McCormack involving two adult males and a minor. The incidents began in 1988 when McCormack was at a seminary school known as Niles College, where Canary previously worked, according to archdiocesan reports. Canary said the allegations were noted in seminary records, which then “disappeared.” Canary later became seminary rector. In 2006, he was appointed vicar general, a position that became open when Rassas was elevated to auxiliary bishop.
Bishop Gerald Kicanas
While rector of Mundelein Seminary in the 1990s, Tucson Bishop Gerald Kicanas says he knew about three reports of “sexual improprieties” against then-seminarian Daniel McCormack. Still, Kicanas supported McCormack’s ordination, he recently told the Sun-Times. “It would have been grossly unfair not to have ordained him,” Kicanas said. “There was a sense that his activity was part of the developmental process and that he had learned from the experience. I was more concerned about his drinking. We sent him to counseling for that.” McCormack was ordained in 1994. The following year, Kicanas became a Chicago auxiliary bishop and in 2001, a bishop of Tucson. Two months ago, he was elected vice president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
When the People do their Job
BELLEVILLE (IL)
BELLEVILLE NEWS-DEMOCRAT
Bishop apologizes for spending restricted funds; $18,000 to be repaid
'Benefactor' will pay it, Braxton says
BY GEORGE PAWLACZYK
News-Democrat
Jan. 23, 2008
After weeks of controversy between himself and the diocesan finance
council, Bishop Edward Braxton issued a public apology Monday for
approving
spending $18,000 on new furniture and ceremonial garments with money from
restricted funds.
Braxton also announced he had obtained funding from an "outside
benefactor" that would repay $10,100 spent on a conference table and
chairs from the
local "Future Full Of Hope" account and about $8,000 for new ordination
vestments taken from money collected for the Society for the Propagation
of the
Faith. The pontifical fund is dedicated to the poor worldwide and cannot
be spent in the country it is raised.
"While this gift resolves the immediate question concerning restricted and
unrestricted funds, it does not resolve the larger question of the
confusion,
mistrust, misunderstanding, loss of confidence, and even anger caused by
these developments. I regret this very much, and I apologize for anything
I may
have done, even unwittingly, to contribute to this situation," Braxton
wrote.
Braxton, who would not accept questions from a News-Democrat reporter,
promised to work closely with the finance committee's membership of clergy
and
laity "... to ensure that such a problem does not occur again."
The bishop's statement was met with guarded optimism from the executive
council of an influential priest organization, whose members issued their
own
statement urging Braxton to work more closely with all diocesan priest
organizations and to reappoint former Belleville councilman Bill Knapp to
another
term as chief financial officer of the diocese.
"We are hopeful that this crisis can be slowly resolved over the coming
months when the bishop continues to restore trust. Otherwise, his recent
statement
and actions will be the efforts of a classic corporate damage control,"
read a statement from the executive council of the priest Presbyteral
Council.
The statement, sent by the council's chairman, the Rev. Jerry Wirth, also
urged that the oath of secrecy taken by members of the 16-member finance
council be scrapped. Wirth said it was Knapp who raised questions about
the purchases within the finance council. Knapp has said the oath of
secrecy
prevented him from commenting.
In December, the finance council wrote to the U.S. representative of Pope
Benedict XVI, Archbishop Pietro Sambi in Washington, D.C., complaining of
Braxton's use of the restricted funds. Finance Council member the Rev.
Dennis Voss, who has confirmed that the complaint was made, has also
stated
that the propriety of the oath of secrecy will be discussed.
David Clohessy, executive director of the St. Louis-based Survivor's
Network of Those Abused by Priests, whose group called Thursday for
Braxton to
explain the purchases, said, "We're grateful for this decision, but we're
even more grateful for the brave Belleville church employees, both laity
and priests,
who exposed Braxton's wrongdoing."
Clohessy said parishioners who may still have doubts that their
contributions will be spent properly should "avoid donating in cash, and
earmark their
checks for specific projects."
Monsignor John Kozar, who heads the New York office of the Society for the
Propagation of the Faith, said after learning of Braxton's statement: "I'm
very
satisfied and happy that monies that were earmarked for the missions
outside the United States will in fact end up going there." He said he
also hoped that
parishioners continue to donate, and that church officials account for the
money.
Kozar said, "The church wins whenever there is openness."
BELLEVILLE NEWS-DEMOCRAT
Bishop apologizes for spending restricted funds; $18,000 to be repaid
'Benefactor' will pay it, Braxton says
BY GEORGE PAWLACZYK
News-Democrat
Jan. 23, 2008
After weeks of controversy between himself and the diocesan finance
council, Bishop Edward Braxton issued a public apology Monday for
approving
spending $18,000 on new furniture and ceremonial garments with money from
restricted funds.
Braxton also announced he had obtained funding from an "outside
benefactor" that would repay $10,100 spent on a conference table and
chairs from the
local "Future Full Of Hope" account and about $8,000 for new ordination
vestments taken from money collected for the Society for the Propagation
of the
Faith. The pontifical fund is dedicated to the poor worldwide and cannot
be spent in the country it is raised.
"While this gift resolves the immediate question concerning restricted and
unrestricted funds, it does not resolve the larger question of the
confusion,
mistrust, misunderstanding, loss of confidence, and even anger caused by
these developments. I regret this very much, and I apologize for anything
I may
have done, even unwittingly, to contribute to this situation," Braxton
wrote.
Braxton, who would not accept questions from a News-Democrat reporter,
promised to work closely with the finance committee's membership of clergy
and
laity "... to ensure that such a problem does not occur again."
The bishop's statement was met with guarded optimism from the executive
council of an influential priest organization, whose members issued their
own
statement urging Braxton to work more closely with all diocesan priest
organizations and to reappoint former Belleville councilman Bill Knapp to
another
term as chief financial officer of the diocese.
"We are hopeful that this crisis can be slowly resolved over the coming
months when the bishop continues to restore trust. Otherwise, his recent
statement
and actions will be the efforts of a classic corporate damage control,"
read a statement from the executive council of the priest Presbyteral
Council.
The statement, sent by the council's chairman, the Rev. Jerry Wirth, also
urged that the oath of secrecy taken by members of the 16-member finance
council be scrapped. Wirth said it was Knapp who raised questions about
the purchases within the finance council. Knapp has said the oath of
secrecy
prevented him from commenting.
In December, the finance council wrote to the U.S. representative of Pope
Benedict XVI, Archbishop Pietro Sambi in Washington, D.C., complaining of
Braxton's use of the restricted funds. Finance Council member the Rev.
Dennis Voss, who has confirmed that the complaint was made, has also
stated
that the propriety of the oath of secrecy will be discussed.
David Clohessy, executive director of the St. Louis-based Survivor's
Network of Those Abused by Priests, whose group called Thursday for
Braxton to
explain the purchases, said, "We're grateful for this decision, but we're
even more grateful for the brave Belleville church employees, both laity
and priests,
who exposed Braxton's wrongdoing."
Clohessy said parishioners who may still have doubts that their
contributions will be spent properly should "avoid donating in cash, and
earmark their
checks for specific projects."
Monsignor John Kozar, who heads the New York office of the Society for the
Propagation of the Faith, said after learning of Braxton's statement: "I'm
very
satisfied and happy that monies that were earmarked for the missions
outside the United States will in fact end up going there." He said he
also hoped that
parishioners continue to donate, and that church officials account for the
money.
Kozar said, "The church wins whenever there is openness."
47 Young Girls Abused by Priest over three decades
BishopAccountability.org
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'Guilty' 47 Times
Rev. Charles Sylvestre Admits to Decades of Sexual Abuse Involving 47 Girls - Many Still Suffering
By Jane Sims
London Free Press [Canada]
August 4, 2006
http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/News/Local/2006/08/04/1718146-sun.html
Chatham -- He wore his priest's collar to win trust and respect in Roman Catholic parishes across the region.
The collar gave him an exalted place in the communities. The collar, many believed, also meant he was just a step away from God.
Yesterday, Charles Henry Sylvestre, 83, of Belle River, was wearing the collar again -- but this time in a criminal court, under the watchful eyes of his 47 sexual abuse victims.
Carol Ann Mieras speaks to reporters outside the Chatham courthouse. She is wearing a shirt featuring a photo of herself when she was 11 years old, a time when she was sexually assaulted by Father Charles Sylvestre, a Catholic priest.
Photo by DEREK RUTTAN, The London Free Press
Balancing himself against the table beside his lawyer, Andrew Bradie of Windsor, Sylvestre stood for 25 minutes as the court clerk read out the 47 counts of indecent assault.
"Guilty," the 83-year-old said feebly, after each charge was read.
Behind him in the packed courtroom, women dabbed their eyes.
Irene Deschenes of London, who along with 10 others asked the court-ordered publication ban be lifted from their names, smiled, leaned forward and put her hand to her ear to be sure Sylvestre was admitting abusing her.
It was the start of a heartbreaking day in the Ontario Court of Justice, as victim after victim -- all women -- came forward to have the abuses described.
For most, their lives were irrevocably changed.
The case, Chatham-Kent Crown Attorney Paul Bailey said, is North America's largest case of non-residential school sex abuse by a Roman Catholic priest.
The case is so large, there was only time to hear from 21 victims yesterday. Justice Bruce Thomas is expected to hear the rest Sept. 22.
The abuse dates as far back as 1952 and extends to 1989 when the victims were between nine and 14. It involved churches in Windsor, Sarnia, Chatham and Pain Court.
Two victims were students at Mount St. Joseph academy in London when Sylvestre was the chaplain in the 1950s.
Twenty-nine of the victims were members of St. Ursula's parish in Chatham.
All are asking why the abuse was allowed to continue so long.
Bradie said while his client acknowledged the abuses in his guilty pleas, his memories of the events have faded.
Bailey described each abuse at the hands of the priest, and noted many times the victims were made to feel "special" by the priest's initial attention.
Many said they were "good Catholic girls" who attended church regularly and were raised in devout families.
Many were offered chocolate bars and pop when they sat on the priest's lap while he groped them and bounced them on his groin.
Many were assaulted after being "chosen" by Sylvestre to volunteer at the rectory or the church to fold bulletins, tidy worship areas, to count the collection.
Some were assaulted on beach day trips Sylvestre organized. Others were groped and fondled in his car.
Some were assaulted during church confession. They were told to stay quiet or they would be punished by God.
Every one was just entering puberty. Some spoke of just "budding." Every one of them had their breasts fondled.
Sylvestre shoved his hands down the pants of some to fondle their genitals, and some were digitally penetrated.
Two of the women said they were raped by Sylvestre.
Lou Ann Soontiens, of Chatham, a victim who had the publication ban lifted, through Bailey, said she had an abortion at 15 after she was impregnated by the trusted priest after years of abuse.
"I feel he robbed me of my childhood and took it away from me," her statement read.
"I believe God should have been there for me."
Bradie told Thomas his client doesn't admit to any sexual intercourse or penetration but to the other described abuses.
Bailey said only a trial could resolve that and, "with some regret," the Crown wasn't prepared to wait any longer to move forward.
The sexual intercourse allegations will be tried at the civil level.
Thomas accepted Bradie's submission and found Sylvestre guilty based on his other abuses of the women.
Many bravely read their own victim impact statements, often through tears and anger. Others listened to Bailey read their words.
Their stories were personal and emotional. They spoke of lifelong struggles with trust and intimacy, self-esteem problems, rebellious angry pasts, addictions and depression.
Some were suicidal.
Many expressed shame and guilt when their stories weren't believed.
Some said they thought, "I was a child and I did nothing wrong," said Joanne Morrison, 46, of White Rock, B.C. "I will not hide behind shame or guilt anymore."
Only two, who confided in parents and were supported, said they had little if any long-term fallout from the abuse.
The case led to an unprecedented response by the Roman Catholic diocese of London yesterday, with Bishop Ronald Fabbro issuing an apology to the victims and their families for the abuse and "for the failure of the church to protect the victims and their families from Father Sylvestre."
Fabbro is to preach a mass Sunday at St. Ursula's church in Chatham where he will formally apologize.
Many of the victims are seeking civil remedies.
Yesterday, London lawyer Barbara Legate filed a lawsuit on behalf of 22 women, naming not only the diocese but school boards, nuns and Sarnia police.
BISHOP APOLOGIZES
The Roman Catholic Diocese of London issued a statement yesterday in which Bishop Ronald Fabbro expressed his regret for Rev. Charles Sylvestre's abuse:
I sincerely apologize to the victims and their families for the abuse that they endured at the hands of Fr. Sylvestre, and for suffering the consequences of that abuse over the years. I apologize as well for the failure of the Church to protect the victims and their families from Fr. Sylvestre. The abuse of minors has been a scourge in the Diocese of London that must end, and I pledge myself as the Bishop of London to do my utmost to end it.
How the lives of three women, including Irene Deschene, right, were turned inside out by their abuse as children.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'Guilty' 47 Times
Rev. Charles Sylvestre Admits to Decades of Sexual Abuse Involving 47 Girls - Many Still Suffering
By Jane Sims
London Free Press [Canada]
August 4, 2006
http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/News/Local/2006/08/04/1718146-sun.html
Chatham -- He wore his priest's collar to win trust and respect in Roman Catholic parishes across the region.
The collar gave him an exalted place in the communities. The collar, many believed, also meant he was just a step away from God.
Yesterday, Charles Henry Sylvestre, 83, of Belle River, was wearing the collar again -- but this time in a criminal court, under the watchful eyes of his 47 sexual abuse victims.
Carol Ann Mieras speaks to reporters outside the Chatham courthouse. She is wearing a shirt featuring a photo of herself when she was 11 years old, a time when she was sexually assaulted by Father Charles Sylvestre, a Catholic priest.
Photo by DEREK RUTTAN, The London Free Press
Balancing himself against the table beside his lawyer, Andrew Bradie of Windsor, Sylvestre stood for 25 minutes as the court clerk read out the 47 counts of indecent assault.
"Guilty," the 83-year-old said feebly, after each charge was read.
Behind him in the packed courtroom, women dabbed their eyes.
Irene Deschenes of London, who along with 10 others asked the court-ordered publication ban be lifted from their names, smiled, leaned forward and put her hand to her ear to be sure Sylvestre was admitting abusing her.
It was the start of a heartbreaking day in the Ontario Court of Justice, as victim after victim -- all women -- came forward to have the abuses described.
For most, their lives were irrevocably changed.
The case, Chatham-Kent Crown Attorney Paul Bailey said, is North America's largest case of non-residential school sex abuse by a Roman Catholic priest.
The case is so large, there was only time to hear from 21 victims yesterday. Justice Bruce Thomas is expected to hear the rest Sept. 22.
The abuse dates as far back as 1952 and extends to 1989 when the victims were between nine and 14. It involved churches in Windsor, Sarnia, Chatham and Pain Court.
Two victims were students at Mount St. Joseph academy in London when Sylvestre was the chaplain in the 1950s.
Twenty-nine of the victims were members of St. Ursula's parish in Chatham.
All are asking why the abuse was allowed to continue so long.
Bradie said while his client acknowledged the abuses in his guilty pleas, his memories of the events have faded.
Bailey described each abuse at the hands of the priest, and noted many times the victims were made to feel "special" by the priest's initial attention.
Many said they were "good Catholic girls" who attended church regularly and were raised in devout families.
Many were offered chocolate bars and pop when they sat on the priest's lap while he groped them and bounced them on his groin.
Many were assaulted after being "chosen" by Sylvestre to volunteer at the rectory or the church to fold bulletins, tidy worship areas, to count the collection.
Some were assaulted on beach day trips Sylvestre organized. Others were groped and fondled in his car.
Some were assaulted during church confession. They were told to stay quiet or they would be punished by God.
Every one was just entering puberty. Some spoke of just "budding." Every one of them had their breasts fondled.
Sylvestre shoved his hands down the pants of some to fondle their genitals, and some were digitally penetrated.
Two of the women said they were raped by Sylvestre.
Lou Ann Soontiens, of Chatham, a victim who had the publication ban lifted, through Bailey, said she had an abortion at 15 after she was impregnated by the trusted priest after years of abuse.
"I feel he robbed me of my childhood and took it away from me," her statement read.
"I believe God should have been there for me."
Bradie told Thomas his client doesn't admit to any sexual intercourse or penetration but to the other described abuses.
Bailey said only a trial could resolve that and, "with some regret," the Crown wasn't prepared to wait any longer to move forward.
The sexual intercourse allegations will be tried at the civil level.
Thomas accepted Bradie's submission and found Sylvestre guilty based on his other abuses of the women.
Many bravely read their own victim impact statements, often through tears and anger. Others listened to Bailey read their words.
Their stories were personal and emotional. They spoke of lifelong struggles with trust and intimacy, self-esteem problems, rebellious angry pasts, addictions and depression.
Some were suicidal.
Many expressed shame and guilt when their stories weren't believed.
Some said they thought, "I was a child and I did nothing wrong," said Joanne Morrison, 46, of White Rock, B.C. "I will not hide behind shame or guilt anymore."
Only two, who confided in parents and were supported, said they had little if any long-term fallout from the abuse.
The case led to an unprecedented response by the Roman Catholic diocese of London yesterday, with Bishop Ronald Fabbro issuing an apology to the victims and their families for the abuse and "for the failure of the church to protect the victims and their families from Father Sylvestre."
Fabbro is to preach a mass Sunday at St. Ursula's church in Chatham where he will formally apologize.
Many of the victims are seeking civil remedies.
Yesterday, London lawyer Barbara Legate filed a lawsuit on behalf of 22 women, naming not only the diocese but school boards, nuns and Sarnia police.
BISHOP APOLOGIZES
The Roman Catholic Diocese of London issued a statement yesterday in which Bishop Ronald Fabbro expressed his regret for Rev. Charles Sylvestre's abuse:
I sincerely apologize to the victims and their families for the abuse that they endured at the hands of Fr. Sylvestre, and for suffering the consequences of that abuse over the years. I apologize as well for the failure of the Church to protect the victims and their families from Fr. Sylvestre. The abuse of minors has been a scourge in the Diocese of London that must end, and I pledge myself as the Bishop of London to do my utmost to end it.
How the lives of three women, including Irene Deschene, right, were turned inside out by their abuse as children.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Reminder: VOTF meeting on Monday Jan.14 at 7:30 pm
Reminder:
VOTF meeting on Monday Jan.14 at 7:30 pm
in the Larchmont Avenue Church
Jennifer Lowry, Assistant District Attorney for Westchester County, will be speaking about sexual abuse in Westchester.
This is a one-time opportunity for us to hear from the D.A's office, to become more informed and to ask relevant questions. Please invite friends to this meeting as the more people who understand these important issues the greater chance we have of reforming these NY State laws.
PURPOSE: To Reform the NYS Statute of Limitations on Child Sexual
Abuse during the 2008 session of the NYS Legislature.
Fr. Tom Doyle reminds us:
It is essential to support legislative changes in the law by:
extending the Statutes of Limitations well beyond the limited number of years common to most states and
by passage of a "window" of a year or more to enable persons who have fallen outside the Statute to come forward and initiate cases.
Current research shows that at least 1 in 5 American children have been sexually abused. Meanwhile, many of their predators are legally shielded by state statutes
of limitations!!
Help protect the children of New York; become more informed and help change the law!
For more information google NYS Assembly and NYS Senate.
VOTF meeting on Monday Jan.14 at 7:30 pm
in the Larchmont Avenue Church
Jennifer Lowry, Assistant District Attorney for Westchester County, will be speaking about sexual abuse in Westchester.
This is a one-time opportunity for us to hear from the D.A's office, to become more informed and to ask relevant questions. Please invite friends to this meeting as the more people who understand these important issues the greater chance we have of reforming these NY State laws.
PURPOSE: To Reform the NYS Statute of Limitations on Child Sexual
Abuse during the 2008 session of the NYS Legislature.
Fr. Tom Doyle reminds us:
It is essential to support legislative changes in the law by:
extending the Statutes of Limitations well beyond the limited number of years common to most states and
by passage of a "window" of a year or more to enable persons who have fallen outside the Statute to come forward and initiate cases.
Current research shows that at least 1 in 5 American children have been sexually abused. Meanwhile, many of their predators are legally shielded by state statutes
of limitations!!
Help protect the children of New York; become more informed and help change the law!
For more information google NYS Assembly and NYS Senate.
Monday, January 7, 2008
Pope calls for continuous prayer to rid priesthood of paedophilia
Pope calls for continuous prayer to rid priesthood of paedophilia
Richard Owen in Rome
The Times (UK)
January 7, 2008
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article3142511.ece
Pope Benedict XVI has instructed Roman Catholics to pray “in perpetuity” to cleanse the Church of paedophile clergy. All dioceses, parishes, monasteries, convents and seminaries will be expected to organise continuous daily prayers to express penitence and to purify the clergy.
Vatican officials said that every parish or institution should designate a person or group each day to conduct continuous prayers for the Church to rid itself of the scandal of sexual abuse by clergy. Alternatively, churches in the same diocese could share the duty. Prayer would take place in one parish for 24 hours, then move to another.
Vatican watchers said that there was no known precedent for global prayer on a specific issue of this kind. There are about one billion Roman Catholics worldwide.
The instruction was sent to bishops by Cardinal Cláudio Hummes of Brazil, head of the Vatican Congregation for the Clergy. He told L’Osservatore Romano, the Vatican newspaper, that he was acting in the Pope’s name. The Pope wanted Catholics to pray for the “mercy of God for the victims of the grave situations caused by the moral and sexual conduct of a very small part of the clergy”, he said.
Officials said that the prayers were in addition to support for legal action against paedophile priests by their victims and a code adopted two years ago by the Vatican to try to ensure that men “with deep-seated homosexual tendencies” do not enter seminaries to train for the priesthood.
Cardinal Hummes said that the aim was to put a definitive stop to a scandal that had damaged the image of the Church and forced US archdioceses, including Boston and Los Angeles, to pay millions of dollars in compensation to the victims. He said that the scandal was exceptionally serious, although it was probably caused by “no more than 1 per cent” of the 400,000 Catholic priests around the world.
When the paedophile scandal erupted in Boston five years ago, Pope Benedict XVI – or Cardinal Ratzinger as he was then – accused the media of exaggerating the crisis. He later took a tougher stand and was said to have been behind the statement in 2003 by Pope John Paul II to a meeting of American churchmen in which he said: “The abuse which has caused this crisis is rightly considered a crime by society and is also an appalling sin in the eyes of God. People need to know that there is no place in the priesthood and religious life for those who would harm the young.”
When Cardinal Ratzinger stood in for the dying John Paul II at the Good Friday procession of Easter 2005, he stunned the faithful by deploring publicly “how much filth there is in the Church, even among those in the priesthood”. A month later he lifted the legal protection that the Vatican had given to Father Marcial Maciel, the Mexican founder of the Legionaries of Christ, who was accused of sexual abuse of youngsters. Maciel was banned from saying Mass or speaking in public.
However, Cardinal Bernard Law, who was Archbishop of Boston when the scandal broke, was transferred to a post in Rome and remains a respected figure – despite accusations that he did not take strong enough action in dealing with abuse in his diocese.
The Pope, who is preparing an encyclical on the social effects of globalisation, gave a homily at St Peter’s yesterday on the feast of the Epiphany in which he deplored the West’s “search for excess and the superfluous”. He said: “The conflicts for economic supremacy, and the scramble for energy and water resources and raw materials, render difficult the work of all those who strive to construct a more just and united world. We need a greater hope, which allows us to prefer the common good of all to the luxury of few and the poverty of many. Moderation is not only an ascetic rule, but a way of salvation for humanity.”
Church crisis
$660m The amount paid out by the Los Angeles Roman Catholic archdiocese to 500 victims of sexual abuse
$2bn The amount estimated to have been paid out across the US
4,392 The number of priests alleged to have abused children in the US in the past 50 years
10,000 The number of Americans who say that they were abused
100 The number of allegations of abuse made in Ireland between1962 and 2002
21 The number of priests involved
6 of the 21 Irish priests involved died before any allegations were made against them
3,000 The number of allegations of abuse received by the Australian group Broke Rites by 2002
Have your say
As a priest I would say that prayer is always fitting -- however, as a VICTIM OF CLERLGY ABUSE I would say it is not enough. Eight months before ordination I was raped as a deacon by one of the priest in the parish. I reported to my supervisor -- come to find out my supervisor had been diagnosed 13 years earlier (1957) with a psychopathological personality and like playing with mentally ill teenaged girls. He was still active when I was raped (1970). IN the fall of 2001 I had a flashback. Since then I had to follow my conscience and leave ministry. As a priest I could no longer represent bishops who covered up and failed to take responsibility for their own actions. What the Vatican needs to do is remove those bishops who have brought as much (if not more) scandal to the church.
Rev James F Moran, Alexandria, USA/Virginia
Two items:
To Paola of Milan, this has NOTHING to do with homosexuality. There are millions of gay men who have NOTHING to do with minors. The great majority of child abuse is male against female child.
On to the issue.... Out of touch is putting it mildly. Why isn't this Pope calling for the removal of the bishops who kept the abuse hidden and did nothing at the time it was occurring? THAT is something he has full control over and could do something positive to show the Church takes responsibility for the actions and the concealment.
But, I won't hold my breath till it happens. SO much easier to push the responsibility to the parishioners and to God to clean up the Pope's act.
Thomas Denney, Austin, Texas
While I commend daily communication with God, I must remind the leaders of the Catholic Church that communication is a two-way street. It's not just speaking, but listenning as well. If they desire to succeed, they need to listen to what God has said in His Word, the Bible. For example, the idea of "forced celibacy" for priests is considered a doctrine from hell in 1Timothy 4:1-3: "Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to ...doctrines of demons, 2 ..., 3 forbidding to marry,". Besides, the Apostle Paul clearly states that church leaders are to be the "husband of one wife" in 1Timothy 3:2. God has made us sexual beings and being married, having sex within the context of a marital,monogomous relationship between a man and a women is blessed by God, not considered "unspiritual". I believe you'd see a lot less abuse if they followed this truth. For some, Paul does suggest (not command) to remain single in 1Cor. 7
Mike Hill, Aberdeen , Idaho USA
The Pope's appeal is welcome. Divine power will lead to the unmasking of some of the perpetrators, perhaps give some of the victims greater courage to speak out, and enable those who might damage children to withstand their temptations.
Many people assume there is some link between celibacy and paedophilia, but the vast majority of paedophilia assaults are perpetrated by family members: stepfathers, elder brothers, Mum's new boyfriend, favourite uncles etc.
Those churches which have a married clergy - Anglicanism and Methodism - have hardly been immune to child abuse cases, although the media have homed in on the Catholic church to an unprecedented degree. Even Richard Dawkins (The God Delusion) says he thinks the Catholic Church has been unfairly treated by the media in this respect.
The appalling repeat-repeat-repeat cases in some US and Irish dioceses have not really been paralleled to the same extent at all in the UK. But even one case is bad enough...
Bernard O'Callaghan, Chorley, England
Is it too cynical of me to point out that if prayer helped it would not need to be perpetual? No, I don't think it is.
Gatz, Chelmsford, UK
The pope does well to call attention to this issue and to as catholics to address it through serious community prayer.
Allowing priests in the Latin rite to marry wouldn't solve anything. The number of priests who have been involved in paedophilia (less than 1%) is lower than the global overall statistic.
Chris Dela, Cambridge,
As ever the Pope either misses the point or is, much more likely, a hypocrite when his answer to child-abuse in this church is for Catholics to "pray in perpetuality" or for candidates with deep-seated homosexual tendencies to be banned from entering the seminaries (scurrulously suggesting homosexuals and paedophiles are one and the same thing) . The inability to see that allowing men to fulfil their perfectly human sexual needs within a loving relationship with a male or female partner, possibly in the context of marriage and children or a pax is the only way forward highlights what many of us have known for a long time: that ultimately dangerous, irrational dogma still rules.
Paola, Milan, Italy
Praying is talking to yourself. The best solution to this perverted priests problem is fire them and make them get real jobs. An even better solution would be to close down the entire Catholic religion, which after all is nothing but childish nonsense.
BobC, Margate, Florida
It's not about God, it's about people. Jesus did not die for some people, but for all to give hope that each human can have the chance to go to heaven. And the fact that some do not choose God and, what's more, make awful harm to others, means that these people consciously choose hell.
Pope shows that he is really interested in this matter and he is not going to hide away from it.
Monica, Warsaw
Richard Owen in Rome
The Times (UK)
January 7, 2008
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article3142511.ece
Pope Benedict XVI has instructed Roman Catholics to pray “in perpetuity” to cleanse the Church of paedophile clergy. All dioceses, parishes, monasteries, convents and seminaries will be expected to organise continuous daily prayers to express penitence and to purify the clergy.
Vatican officials said that every parish or institution should designate a person or group each day to conduct continuous prayers for the Church to rid itself of the scandal of sexual abuse by clergy. Alternatively, churches in the same diocese could share the duty. Prayer would take place in one parish for 24 hours, then move to another.
Vatican watchers said that there was no known precedent for global prayer on a specific issue of this kind. There are about one billion Roman Catholics worldwide.
The instruction was sent to bishops by Cardinal Cláudio Hummes of Brazil, head of the Vatican Congregation for the Clergy. He told L’Osservatore Romano, the Vatican newspaper, that he was acting in the Pope’s name. The Pope wanted Catholics to pray for the “mercy of God for the victims of the grave situations caused by the moral and sexual conduct of a very small part of the clergy”, he said.
Officials said that the prayers were in addition to support for legal action against paedophile priests by their victims and a code adopted two years ago by the Vatican to try to ensure that men “with deep-seated homosexual tendencies” do not enter seminaries to train for the priesthood.
Cardinal Hummes said that the aim was to put a definitive stop to a scandal that had damaged the image of the Church and forced US archdioceses, including Boston and Los Angeles, to pay millions of dollars in compensation to the victims. He said that the scandal was exceptionally serious, although it was probably caused by “no more than 1 per cent” of the 400,000 Catholic priests around the world.
When the paedophile scandal erupted in Boston five years ago, Pope Benedict XVI – or Cardinal Ratzinger as he was then – accused the media of exaggerating the crisis. He later took a tougher stand and was said to have been behind the statement in 2003 by Pope John Paul II to a meeting of American churchmen in which he said: “The abuse which has caused this crisis is rightly considered a crime by society and is also an appalling sin in the eyes of God. People need to know that there is no place in the priesthood and religious life for those who would harm the young.”
When Cardinal Ratzinger stood in for the dying John Paul II at the Good Friday procession of Easter 2005, he stunned the faithful by deploring publicly “how much filth there is in the Church, even among those in the priesthood”. A month later he lifted the legal protection that the Vatican had given to Father Marcial Maciel, the Mexican founder of the Legionaries of Christ, who was accused of sexual abuse of youngsters. Maciel was banned from saying Mass or speaking in public.
However, Cardinal Bernard Law, who was Archbishop of Boston when the scandal broke, was transferred to a post in Rome and remains a respected figure – despite accusations that he did not take strong enough action in dealing with abuse in his diocese.
The Pope, who is preparing an encyclical on the social effects of globalisation, gave a homily at St Peter’s yesterday on the feast of the Epiphany in which he deplored the West’s “search for excess and the superfluous”. He said: “The conflicts for economic supremacy, and the scramble for energy and water resources and raw materials, render difficult the work of all those who strive to construct a more just and united world. We need a greater hope, which allows us to prefer the common good of all to the luxury of few and the poverty of many. Moderation is not only an ascetic rule, but a way of salvation for humanity.”
Church crisis
$660m The amount paid out by the Los Angeles Roman Catholic archdiocese to 500 victims of sexual abuse
$2bn The amount estimated to have been paid out across the US
4,392 The number of priests alleged to have abused children in the US in the past 50 years
10,000 The number of Americans who say that they were abused
100 The number of allegations of abuse made in Ireland between1962 and 2002
21 The number of priests involved
6 of the 21 Irish priests involved died before any allegations were made against them
3,000 The number of allegations of abuse received by the Australian group Broke Rites by 2002
Have your say
As a priest I would say that prayer is always fitting -- however, as a VICTIM OF CLERLGY ABUSE I would say it is not enough. Eight months before ordination I was raped as a deacon by one of the priest in the parish. I reported to my supervisor -- come to find out my supervisor had been diagnosed 13 years earlier (1957) with a psychopathological personality and like playing with mentally ill teenaged girls. He was still active when I was raped (1970). IN the fall of 2001 I had a flashback. Since then I had to follow my conscience and leave ministry. As a priest I could no longer represent bishops who covered up and failed to take responsibility for their own actions. What the Vatican needs to do is remove those bishops who have brought as much (if not more) scandal to the church.
Rev James F Moran, Alexandria, USA/Virginia
Two items:
To Paola of Milan, this has NOTHING to do with homosexuality. There are millions of gay men who have NOTHING to do with minors. The great majority of child abuse is male against female child.
On to the issue.... Out of touch is putting it mildly. Why isn't this Pope calling for the removal of the bishops who kept the abuse hidden and did nothing at the time it was occurring? THAT is something he has full control over and could do something positive to show the Church takes responsibility for the actions and the concealment.
But, I won't hold my breath till it happens. SO much easier to push the responsibility to the parishioners and to God to clean up the Pope's act.
Thomas Denney, Austin, Texas
While I commend daily communication with God, I must remind the leaders of the Catholic Church that communication is a two-way street. It's not just speaking, but listenning as well. If they desire to succeed, they need to listen to what God has said in His Word, the Bible. For example, the idea of "forced celibacy" for priests is considered a doctrine from hell in 1Timothy 4:1-3: "Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to ...doctrines of demons, 2 ..., 3 forbidding to marry,". Besides, the Apostle Paul clearly states that church leaders are to be the "husband of one wife" in 1Timothy 3:2. God has made us sexual beings and being married, having sex within the context of a marital,monogomous relationship between a man and a women is blessed by God, not considered "unspiritual". I believe you'd see a lot less abuse if they followed this truth. For some, Paul does suggest (not command) to remain single in 1Cor. 7
Mike Hill, Aberdeen , Idaho USA
The Pope's appeal is welcome. Divine power will lead to the unmasking of some of the perpetrators, perhaps give some of the victims greater courage to speak out, and enable those who might damage children to withstand their temptations.
Many people assume there is some link between celibacy and paedophilia, but the vast majority of paedophilia assaults are perpetrated by family members: stepfathers, elder brothers, Mum's new boyfriend, favourite uncles etc.
Those churches which have a married clergy - Anglicanism and Methodism - have hardly been immune to child abuse cases, although the media have homed in on the Catholic church to an unprecedented degree. Even Richard Dawkins (The God Delusion) says he thinks the Catholic Church has been unfairly treated by the media in this respect.
The appalling repeat-repeat-repeat cases in some US and Irish dioceses have not really been paralleled to the same extent at all in the UK. But even one case is bad enough...
Bernard O'Callaghan, Chorley, England
Is it too cynical of me to point out that if prayer helped it would not need to be perpetual? No, I don't think it is.
Gatz, Chelmsford, UK
The pope does well to call attention to this issue and to as catholics to address it through serious community prayer.
Allowing priests in the Latin rite to marry wouldn't solve anything. The number of priests who have been involved in paedophilia (less than 1%) is lower than the global overall statistic.
Chris Dela, Cambridge,
As ever the Pope either misses the point or is, much more likely, a hypocrite when his answer to child-abuse in this church is for Catholics to "pray in perpetuality" or for candidates with deep-seated homosexual tendencies to be banned from entering the seminaries (scurrulously suggesting homosexuals and paedophiles are one and the same thing) . The inability to see that allowing men to fulfil their perfectly human sexual needs within a loving relationship with a male or female partner, possibly in the context of marriage and children or a pax is the only way forward highlights what many of us have known for a long time: that ultimately dangerous, irrational dogma still rules.
Paola, Milan, Italy
Praying is talking to yourself. The best solution to this perverted priests problem is fire them and make them get real jobs. An even better solution would be to close down the entire Catholic religion, which after all is nothing but childish nonsense.
BobC, Margate, Florida
It's not about God, it's about people. Jesus did not die for some people, but for all to give hope that each human can have the chance to go to heaven. And the fact that some do not choose God and, what's more, make awful harm to others, means that these people consciously choose hell.
Pope shows that he is really interested in this matter and he is not going to hide away from it.
Monica, Warsaw
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Slow Healing in the Church
ROBERT C. BORDONE AND ROBERT J. BOWERS
Slow healing in the Catholic church
By Robert C. Bordone and Robert J. Bowers | January 1, 2008
AS THE CATHOLIC community continues the difficult process of healing and reconciliation in the wake of abuse scandals, church closings, and critical social issues, the decision by Pope Benedict XVI to avoid Boston on his US visit next spring is a missed opportunity. A face-to-face meeting with Catholics in Boston would have signaled a desire to begin honest and open dialogue on the hurt, anger, separation, and alienation many still feel.
If history teaches us anything, it is that avoidance of conflict rarely leads to reconciliation or healing. Failing to face those on the opposite side of the breach tends to breed more resentment, bitterness, and misunderstanding. The resulting alienation poisons people's hearts, stunting generosity and feeding cynicism that leads to hopelessness.
Years after the revelation of clergy sexual abuse, the Catholic community struggles to understand how such crimes could have happened - and been tolerated by the church hierarchy. In the wake of the Boston Archdiocese's church closings and hurtful statements made during the gay-marriage debate, the Roman Catholic Church finds itself at a crossroads. The leadership of the church and those aggrieved by it can continue down the current path - a slow but constant parting of ways. They can pretend that the hurt never happened, clinging desperately to the fallacious notion that "time heals all wounds."
There is another way. Church leaders and Catholics on all sides of the divide can choose to engage with each other openly, honestly, and courageously. They can examine the hurt and listen to the aggrieved, in order to begin the too-long-delayed process of healing and reparation. It is the only way to mend the breach.
Examples abound of people coming together across bitter divides through such a deliberate, difficult, but liberating process. After the brutal injustice of apartheid, the Truth and Reconciliation Commissions in South Africa brought the victims and perpetrators of that evil system together to find ways to move forward. Closer to home, criminals and victims are brought together by groups such as the Restorative Circles in Concord and the peacemaking circles led by ROCA Inc. in Chelsea. These gatherings convene criminal offenders, their victims, and members of the community to examine what can be done to repair the harm. The Public Conversations Project of Watertown enables conversation among conflicting groups over tough social issues, including facilitating dialogue between pro-life and pro-choice forces. The Catholic Church should look to these examples and take similar steps to heal its own deep rifts.
Over the past 18 months, we have worked to develop a model for genuine listening, open dialogue, and honest exchange that can help Catholics move from bitterness and resentment to renewed understanding, from pain and separation toward peace and reconciliation. The Office of Outreach and Reconciliation at the Paulist Center has worked with teams of students at the Harvard Law School Negotiation and Mediation Clinical Program to bring together church leaders and disaffected Catholics to discuss the hurt, broken trust, and intense disappointment felt by many of the faithful.
The project aims to combine the solutions-oriented approach of truth commissions with the best spirit of open, facilitated dialogue. Participants agree to be respectful of each other, while at the same time vowing to speak truths that can be hard for others to hear. The project presents a hopeful path forward, and has already enjoyed the support of a cross-section of Catholic constituencies, including the vicar general of the Boston Archdiocese, Father Richard Erikson, and other members of Cardinal Sean O'Malley's cabinet.
The creation of this reconciliation program is a valuable first step toward reconciliation. The leadership of the church - including the cardinal - along with Catholics who feel the most alienated, should take the next step and join in these dialogues.
Hope is found in active listening and active participation, not in avoidance and recrimination. Only when we can engage one another, unafraid of what needs to be said and must be heard, can we open the pathway to peace and reconciliation. Then, perhaps one day, we all might approach true forgiveness, and live the peace and justice sought by all of us who call ourselves Catholic.
Robert C. Bordone is the Thaddeus R. Beal Assistant Clinical Professor of Law at Harvard Law School and director of the Harvard Negotiation and Mediation Clinical Program. The Rev. Robert J. Bowers serves as consultant for Outreach and Reconciliation at the Paulist Center of Boston.
Slow healing in the Catholic church
By Robert C. Bordone and Robert J. Bowers | January 1, 2008
AS THE CATHOLIC community continues the difficult process of healing and reconciliation in the wake of abuse scandals, church closings, and critical social issues, the decision by Pope Benedict XVI to avoid Boston on his US visit next spring is a missed opportunity. A face-to-face meeting with Catholics in Boston would have signaled a desire to begin honest and open dialogue on the hurt, anger, separation, and alienation many still feel.
If history teaches us anything, it is that avoidance of conflict rarely leads to reconciliation or healing. Failing to face those on the opposite side of the breach tends to breed more resentment, bitterness, and misunderstanding. The resulting alienation poisons people's hearts, stunting generosity and feeding cynicism that leads to hopelessness.
Years after the revelation of clergy sexual abuse, the Catholic community struggles to understand how such crimes could have happened - and been tolerated by the church hierarchy. In the wake of the Boston Archdiocese's church closings and hurtful statements made during the gay-marriage debate, the Roman Catholic Church finds itself at a crossroads. The leadership of the church and those aggrieved by it can continue down the current path - a slow but constant parting of ways. They can pretend that the hurt never happened, clinging desperately to the fallacious notion that "time heals all wounds."
There is another way. Church leaders and Catholics on all sides of the divide can choose to engage with each other openly, honestly, and courageously. They can examine the hurt and listen to the aggrieved, in order to begin the too-long-delayed process of healing and reparation. It is the only way to mend the breach.
Examples abound of people coming together across bitter divides through such a deliberate, difficult, but liberating process. After the brutal injustice of apartheid, the Truth and Reconciliation Commissions in South Africa brought the victims and perpetrators of that evil system together to find ways to move forward. Closer to home, criminals and victims are brought together by groups such as the Restorative Circles in Concord and the peacemaking circles led by ROCA Inc. in Chelsea. These gatherings convene criminal offenders, their victims, and members of the community to examine what can be done to repair the harm. The Public Conversations Project of Watertown enables conversation among conflicting groups over tough social issues, including facilitating dialogue between pro-life and pro-choice forces. The Catholic Church should look to these examples and take similar steps to heal its own deep rifts.
Over the past 18 months, we have worked to develop a model for genuine listening, open dialogue, and honest exchange that can help Catholics move from bitterness and resentment to renewed understanding, from pain and separation toward peace and reconciliation. The Office of Outreach and Reconciliation at the Paulist Center has worked with teams of students at the Harvard Law School Negotiation and Mediation Clinical Program to bring together church leaders and disaffected Catholics to discuss the hurt, broken trust, and intense disappointment felt by many of the faithful.
The project aims to combine the solutions-oriented approach of truth commissions with the best spirit of open, facilitated dialogue. Participants agree to be respectful of each other, while at the same time vowing to speak truths that can be hard for others to hear. The project presents a hopeful path forward, and has already enjoyed the support of a cross-section of Catholic constituencies, including the vicar general of the Boston Archdiocese, Father Richard Erikson, and other members of Cardinal Sean O'Malley's cabinet.
The creation of this reconciliation program is a valuable first step toward reconciliation. The leadership of the church - including the cardinal - along with Catholics who feel the most alienated, should take the next step and join in these dialogues.
Hope is found in active listening and active participation, not in avoidance and recrimination. Only when we can engage one another, unafraid of what needs to be said and must be heard, can we open the pathway to peace and reconciliation. Then, perhaps one day, we all might approach true forgiveness, and live the peace and justice sought by all of us who call ourselves Catholic.
Robert C. Bordone is the Thaddeus R. Beal Assistant Clinical Professor of Law at Harvard Law School and director of the Harvard Negotiation and Mediation Clinical Program. The Rev. Robert J. Bowers serves as consultant for Outreach and Reconciliation at the Paulist Center of Boston.
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