Cardinal Egan and Cardinal Mahony...mentioned as "problems" in The Catholic Review Board Report:
Although this was an ambitious agenda, the Ad Hoc Committee did not have as great an impact as some of the bishops had hoped it would have. One bishop claimed that this was owing to the fact that the committee "had no teeth" and was not supported by some influential bishops, out of concern that it was an intrusion on a bishop's authority and it would increase litigation against the Church.20
Problems continued to fester in other dioceses. Litigation was filed against the Diocese of Bridgeport and then-Bishop Egan in 1993 alleging that the diocese had been aware of complaints against certain priests since at least 1982 but had failed to take actions to remove the priests from ministry. For example, according to published reports, a 1990 diocesan memorandum indicated that there was a "developing pattern of accusations" that Father Charles Carr had abused young boys. (Significantly, Carr had been admitted into a seminary years earlier despite the fact that a priest who had known him for years reportedly had recommended against his admission, asserting that he lacked the emotional maturity required for the priesthood.) Nevertheless, Carr was not suspended until 1995. Indeed, Carr was actually reinstated in 1999 and served as a chaplain in a nursing home until Bishop Egan's successor, Bishop Lori, removed him in December 2002 and instituted laicization proceedings. Shortly after Bishop Egan left Bridgeport and was installed as Archbishop of New York, Bishop Lori settled pending litigation against the diocese for more than $12 million.
Another troubled diocese was the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. After allegations were made that Cardinal Mahony, the Archbishop of Los Angeles, had allowed numerous predator priests to remain in ministry, the Archdiocese engaged in a very public spat with law enforcement authorities who questioned his level of cooperation in the criminal investigation of sexual molestation charges. The Archdiocese resisted grand jury subpoenas seeking priest personnel files by arguing that communications between a priest and his bishop were privileged. This argument did little to enhance the reputation of the Church in the United States for transparency and cooperation.
Friday, February 27, 2004
The Catholic Review Board Report
A research study conducted by the John Jay College of Criminal Justice...Catholic Review Board | Reports:
Why did so many priests sexually abuse minors?
Although it is not possible to pinpoint any one "cause" of the problem of sexual abuse of minors by priests, there were two overarching contributing factors:
Dioceses and orders did not screen candidates for the priest¬hood properly. As a result, many sexually dysfunctional and immature men were admitted into seminaries and later ordained into the priesthood.
Seminaries did not form candidates for the priesthood adequately. As a result, seminarians were not prepared for the challenges of the priesthood, particularly the challenge of living a chaste, celibate life.
In addition, although neither the presence of homosexually-oriented priests nor the discipline of celibacy caused the crisis, an understanding of the crisis is not possible without reference to these issues. There are, no doubt, many outstand¬ing priests of a homosexual orientation who live chaste, celibate lives, but any evaluation of the causes and context of the current crisis must be cognizant of the fact that more than eighty percent of the abuse at issue was of a homosexual nature. Likewise, celibacy does not cause sexual abuse; but the Church did an inadequate job both of screening out those individuals who were destined to fail in meeting the demands of the priesthood, and of forming others to meet those demands, including the rigors of a celibate life.
Why did so many priests sexually abuse minors?
Although it is not possible to pinpoint any one "cause" of the problem of sexual abuse of minors by priests, there were two overarching contributing factors:
Dioceses and orders did not screen candidates for the priest¬hood properly. As a result, many sexually dysfunctional and immature men were admitted into seminaries and later ordained into the priesthood.
Seminaries did not form candidates for the priesthood adequately. As a result, seminarians were not prepared for the challenges of the priesthood, particularly the challenge of living a chaste, celibate life.
In addition, although neither the presence of homosexually-oriented priests nor the discipline of celibacy caused the crisis, an understanding of the crisis is not possible without reference to these issues. There are, no doubt, many outstand¬ing priests of a homosexual orientation who live chaste, celibate lives, but any evaluation of the causes and context of the current crisis must be cognizant of the fact that more than eighty percent of the abuse at issue was of a homosexual nature. Likewise, celibacy does not cause sexual abuse; but the Church did an inadequate job both of screening out those individuals who were destined to fail in meeting the demands of the priesthood, and of forming others to meet those demands, including the rigors of a celibate life.
Author of "Jesus the Christ"
Congratulations to Father Weinandy! I worked with him on a book that Our Sunday Visitor published called "Jesus the Christ."
From U.S. Catholic Bishops - Office of Communications:
"Father Thomas G. Weinandy, O.F.M., Cap., of the Faculty of Theology, Oxford University, has been named Executive Director of the Secretariat for Doctrine and Pastoral Practices, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).
He will succeed Msgr. John Strynkowski who has held the post since 2001.
The appointment, which is effective January 1, 2005, was announced by Msgr. William Fay, USCCB General Secretary.
'Father Weinandy is a leading scholar in the Church today, and a prolific writer, at both the academic and popular levels,' Msgr. Fay said. 'He is held in the highest esteem by his colleagues and the students who have taken his courses in this country and abroad. He has inspired numerous people through the days of recollection, retreats and parish missions he has conducted in the United States, Canada, Ireland, England and Scotland. I am confident that his work with the Bishops' Conference will make an enormous contribution to the life of the Church in our country.'
'I also want to pay tribute to the dedicated service and accomplishments of Msgr. Strynkowski,' Msgr. Fay continued. 'The USCCB will remain in his debt for many years to come.'"
From U.S. Catholic Bishops - Office of Communications:
"Father Thomas G. Weinandy, O.F.M., Cap., of the Faculty of Theology, Oxford University, has been named Executive Director of the Secretariat for Doctrine and Pastoral Practices, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).
He will succeed Msgr. John Strynkowski who has held the post since 2001.
The appointment, which is effective January 1, 2005, was announced by Msgr. William Fay, USCCB General Secretary.
'Father Weinandy is a leading scholar in the Church today, and a prolific writer, at both the academic and popular levels,' Msgr. Fay said. 'He is held in the highest esteem by his colleagues and the students who have taken his courses in this country and abroad. He has inspired numerous people through the days of recollection, retreats and parish missions he has conducted in the United States, Canada, Ireland, England and Scotland. I am confident that his work with the Bishops' Conference will make an enormous contribution to the life of the Church in our country.'
'I also want to pay tribute to the dedicated service and accomplishments of Msgr. Strynkowski,' Msgr. Fay continued. 'The USCCB will remain in his debt for many years to come.'"
A New Era?
Passion of Christ the top movie, radio stations dropping Howard Stern and Bubba the Love Sponge, partial birth abortions banned...could it be that we are entering a new era?
Of course at the same time we see Rosie O'Donnell and her "wife" appearing on the courthouse steps splashed all over television...
Of course at the same time we see Rosie O'Donnell and her "wife" appearing on the courthouse steps splashed all over television...
Thursday, February 26, 2004
A Post on the Beginning of The Passion of the Christ
I've posted some comments about the beginning of the movie, along with the Gospel accounts and Anne Catherine Emmerich's account for your enrichment. They are over here.
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