Bishops' Report Proves Revealing

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The statistics do show a decrease is sexual abuse. But there is still some activity. Thanks for your post and links.
 
Did you see that this report says the majority of cases were boys between the ages of 10-14? Am I understanding this correctly?–these ages are younger than I had heard.
 
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Fortiterinre:
Did you see that this report says the majority of cases were boys between the ages of 10-14? Am I understanding this correctly?–these ages are younger than I had heard.
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This report only covers new cases for 2004. THe Jay report covered several DECADES and thousands of victims. It probably gives a more representative age range over a larger population.

The young age reported this year makes me wonder about “repressed memories” about which I am very skeptical. I am afraid of false claims, with many of the accused long since dead. A friendly acquaintence said he was solicited by several attorneys asking if given a bit of a prod could he possibly “remember” incidents when an altar boy. I am not belittling the real victims just concerned that now lawyers are seeing these potential claims as easy money.

I think clearly the acute crisis is passed and now we are in a clean up mode.

Lisa N
 
Until the Church puts in preventative measures (e.g., a priest cannot be alone with a boy), I won’t believe the crisis is past.
 
Lisa N said:
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A friendly acquaintence said he was solicited by several attorneys asking if given a bit of a prod could he possibly “remember” incidents when an altar boy. I am not belittling the real victims just concerned that now lawyers are seeing these potential claims as easy money.
Lisa N
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Yes, I’ve often suspected as much myself. Very easy money. The formula is simple:

Shyster attorney + carefully coached pseudo-victim + friendly judge

= Huge settlement + lots of free anti-Catholic publicity

= Impoverishment of the Church + Blackening of a good man’s good name and that of the Church he serves.

Of course, some priests are guilty - the ones who were deliberately recruited to work this kind of mischief - but I’m sure that many others were simply tragic victims.

BTW - No prize for guessing who dreamed this scam up. . . .
 
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gilliam:
Until the Church puts in preventative measures (e.g., a priest cannot be alone with a boy), I won’t believe the crisis is past.
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Other than limited and short period such as confession, I am not sure priests should be alone with children of either sex. It seems like the opportunity not only for real problems but also false accusations could result.

I’m involved in an organization that advocates for abused and neglected children. We are never to be alone with the child in any kind of secluded or closed area. IOW we can be alone with them in a room but the door must be open and there must be other adults present in the home/building. That prevents even the HINT of a problem.

Lisa N
 
the report I am waiting for is the one that lists the monetary payout by diocese, with a rundown on how much went to each victim and how much went to the lawyers. I would tithe 20% of my gross income and pray the rosary while walking on my knees around the church every day for the rest of my life if I thought a dime of it would go to to assist the victims, rather than enriching their parents and lawyers. I would like to see some evidence from the bishops that any response outreach, healing, counselling, help in any form has been extended to victims without being part of a forced settlement.

I would also like to see some evidence that the seminary formation programs have been overhauled from the top down, that offending priests (and bishops) have been removed to places where they can do no further harm, and that the norms for who can be ordained are enforced: i.e. no one with personality or psychological disorders, including but not limited to homosexuality.

we have a report that all but a few dioceses are “in compliance.” In compliance with what? Because several thousand priests have been accused of grave misconduct and criminal actions, lay volunteers have to participate in a meaningless and valueless orientation called “Protecting God’s Children” which means watching a video where child-molesters get to tell their stories.
 
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puzzleannie:
the report I am waiting for is the one that lists the monetary payout by diocese, with a rundown on how much went to each victim and how much went to the lawyers. I would tithe 20% of my gross income and pray the rosary while walking on my knees around the church every day for the rest of my life if I thought a dime of it would go to to assist the victims, rather than enriching their parents and lawyers. I would like to see some evidence from the bishops that any response outreach, healing, counselling, help in any form has been extended to victims without being part of a forced settlement…
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I agree. THere was just a newspaper article discussing the hundreds of thousands being spent on legal fees in our (bankrupt) archdiocese.

I will say that our Bishop had made public apologies, offered healing services and workshops and is focusing on the victims’ healing as much as possible, and not because this was part of any settlement. Unfortunately I think it’s gotten to the point where lawyers and some would be victims are simply salivating over the money and couldn’t care less about pastoral or spiritual care offerred.
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puzzleannie:
I would also like to see some evidence that the seminary formation programs have been overhauled from the top down, that offending priests (and bishops) have been removed to places where they can do no further harm, and that the norms for who can be ordained are enforced: i.e. no one with personality or psychological disorders, including but not limited to homosexuality…
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Clearly the seminaries were the ones who fostered and protected the homosexual activity. Until the entire attitude changes (hopefully it has?) then we will just create new crops of deviants.

According to at least some of the books and articles on the subject, a number of orthodox candidates were rejected as being “too rigid.” That needs to change. Orthodoxy should not be considered a psychological disorder.
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puzzleannie:
we have a report that all but a few dioceses are “in compliance.” In compliance with what? Because several thousand priests have been accused of grave misconduct and criminal actions, lay volunteers have to participate in a meaningless and valueless orientation called “Protecting God’s Children” which means watching a video where child-molesters get to tell their stories.
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I’ve been spared that experience. OTOH I don’t see how it would be helpful. Few of the abusive priests were true pedophiles or child molestors. Many were simply predatory homosexuals who had the opportunity to exert power and influence over young men.

Lisa N
 
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gilliam:
Until the Church puts in preventative measures (e.g., a priest cannot be alone with a boy), I won’t believe the crisis is past.
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There should be no reason why a chaste and holy priest can’t be alone with a boy.
 
I have to say that any priest who gets accused or caught molesting children after all of the investingations and media hooplah has a serious psychological problem.
 
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gilliam:
Until the Church puts in preventative measures (e.g., a priest cannot be alone with a boy), I won’t believe the crisis is past.
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I don’t believe the crisis is past by any means. I like Donahue but I don’t agree with him here.
 
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gilliam:
Until the Church puts in preventative measures (e.g., a priest cannot be alone with a boy), I won’t believe the crisis is past.
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I would have to disagree with you; priests are “Another Christ”. The Catholic priest is minister of Christ and dispenser of the mysteries of God, a man who represented Jesus Christ. Yes we hold them at a higher moral level but it should be no higher than the trust we give school teachers, coaches, CCD instructors etc.
 
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