15-Feb-08 - Alaskan Diocese to Enter Bankruptcy [via EWTN]

[Holland]

I did call the 800 abuse number of the Diocese and was told they needed to talk to either my friend or her son. When I called, my friend was in the process of moving to another state, and none of us at home had her number until she was a little bit settled and she emailed her new numbers. She feels it is more “Christian” not to make a big deal out of it. Her son, who had been living with her on-and-off decided to stay in this state, and I had no idea how to contact him.

Just a few days ago, someone popped into my head who would know how to contact him, so I’m going to call the 800 number again and give them what info I can.

I might not have been as expeditious as I could have been regarding the whole thing, but in my defense, I’ve been very sick the last year and a half.

I think the Diocese is still keeping an eye on him, however, because the parish he now resides in has one of our Auxilliary Bishops as the Pastor.

You have nothing to apoligize for. I can understand why the Diocese did not speak to you about it. What I don’t understand is, if your friend and her son did speak to the Bishop about it, why was it not turned over to law enforcement by the Diocese? That is the policy in our Diocese and they have implemented it on one occasion already that I know of. If your Diocese has a webpage you should check it and see just what exactly their policy is regarding abuse.

 

[goofyjim]

I for one do not have a solution. I can only say that I have no more money to hand over for legal problems. If I donate it I want it spent on schools and churches. Legal expenses should be taken care of by selling the bishops mansion and having him live in an apartment. This could be done in all the dioceses that are facing problems.

 

[GemmaRose]

You have nothing to apoligize for. I can understand why the Diocese did not speak to you about it. What I don’t understand is, if your friend and her son did speak to the Bishop about it, why was it not turned over to law enforcement by the Diocese? That is the policy in our Diocese and they have implemented it on one occasion already that I know of. If your Diocese has a webpage you should check it and see just what exactly their policy is regarding abuse.

That’s just the problem – they didn’t meet with the Bishop. They met with the pastor. My friend is like that… she doesn’t like to make a “big deal” out of things, and I guess her son is the same way. It was his wish not to pursue anything, the only thing he wanted was to “never see [NAME] again.” I’ve never agreed with either of them on the matter, but you can’t knock people over the head with a brick, even when they need it.

I’m hoping when I call the 800 number again this week, that they will be able to speak to the person who knows where the son is and either convince him, or get through to my friend… maybe he will have the words that I don’t have.

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*“I wish that my heart could beat, that I could live and breathe only for Jesus, I wish that my tongue could utter no other name than that of Jesus; that my eye could see only Jesus; that my pen could write only about Jesus, and that my thoughts could soar to nothing but Jesus. I have often wondered where on earth there might be something on which I could center my love. But neither on earth nor in heaven do I find any such thing but only my beloved Jesus… I am the fruit of your passion, Jesus, born of your wounds. O Jesus, seek me in love; I no longer possess anything; you have stolen my heart…” *- St. Gemma Galgani