Commonweal Editors do not Get It

Commonweal takes the easy road in its April 29, 2009 "Seeking Justice" on the proposed law in New York advocating the extension of the Statute of Limitations so that justice can be attained by those abused by priests long ago. Never in the forefront in defending victim's rights, Commonweal has been part of exposing bishops and insisting on tranparency in this area as well as others. Who can forget Margaret O'Briens stirring rebuke to the bishops at the Dallas Conference!

Nevertheless, Commonweal many times fail when it is most crucial. For example this is the conclusion to the present editorial: "Eventually lawyers on both sides will have to get out of the way so that the hard work of reconciliation and healing can begin."

If that advice had been followed bishops would still be sending priest pedophiles out to harm more children. Unfortunately, Commonweal in trying to be fair cops out at a crucial time. Does Commonweal have a plan or suggestion of one for reconciliation?

The "Pedophile's Paradise"

The "Pedophile's Paradise"ALASKA

The Stranger by Brendan Kiley

One spring afternoon in 1977, 15-year-old Rachel Mike tried to kill herself for the third time. An Alaska Native, Rachel was living in a tiny town called Stebbins on a remote island called St. Michael. She lived in a house with three bedrooms and nine siblings. Rachel was a drinker, depressed, and starving. "When my parents were drinking, we didn't eat right," she says. "I just wanted to get away from the drinking."Rachel walked to the bathroom to fetch the family rifle, propped in the bathtub with the dirty laundry (the house didn't have running water). To make sure the gun worked, Rachel loaded a shell and blew a hole in her bedroom wall. Her father, passed out on his bed, didn't hear the shot. Rachel walked behind their small house. Her arms were too short to put the rifle to her head, so she shot herself in her right leg instead.Rachel was found screaming in a pool of blood by her Auntie Emily and flown 229 miles to a hospital in Nome. The doctor asked if she wanted to see a priest. She said yes. In walked Father James Poole—a popular priest, radio personality on KNOM, and, according to allegations in at least five lawsuits, serial child rapist. Father Poole has never been convicted of a crime, but the Jesuits have settled numerous sex-abuse claims against him since 2005, in excess of $5 million, according to an attorney involved in four of those five lawsuits. Exact figures aren't available because some of the settlements involve confidentiality agreements. The Jesuits have never let a single case against Father Poole go to trial.To read the full story click on this url:http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102445625705&e=001nmSmtPQ5OJSus7EnTVuDF4hruFSZFs7CJkjI2HeCRGyBfbw2VAVISb7nWg7icn4oADKzMQPiwr8TmG4e4-4ujqTF9CNHYjzCO8hRXBP7Rhn_lrCb2iR7XzKPVTxAR_xh18YmwBIPKSLjTgeD7n65j_wdXSpQcyISfE57Fugu2NfpuzA0k4-L232HQx8b_pBXlyGDF3u17qU=