Catholic Archdiocese Files for Bankruptcy over Abuse Claims

[tjones80]

usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2014/01/31/22524555-catholic-diocese-in-helena-mont-files-for-bankruptcy-to-resolve-sex-abuse-lawsuits

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Helena, Mont., filed for bankruptcy protection on Friday to pave the way for a $15 million settlement of lawsuits alleging clergy members sexually abused 362 children over five decades, according to a diocese spokesman.

:banghead:

 

[Caladrius]

Sometimes I wonder if a lot of these claims aren’t just made up in order to destroy the Church. I simply don’t believe that so many children were abused by so many priests - and this is coming from a pretty cynical and bitter (former) cradle atheist. It just doesn’t seem plausible anymore. Human beings are sinful, but this series of abuse scandals is so widespread, so uniform, and so vague at times, that you wonder if it’s all true. It has more the characteristic of a demonic attack than of spontaneous sin… I don’t know.

Perhaps the Holy Spirit is using all this to divest the Church of amassed wealth that is not necessary for the Gospel: for the sake of humility. Perhaps we are entering an age of darkness in the eyes of the world, so we may emerge with credibility, producing saints once more.

 

[LegoGE1947]

Sometimes I wonder if a lot of these claims aren’t just made up in order to destroy the Church. I simply don’t believe that so many children were abused by so many priests - and this is coming from a pretty cynical and bitter (former) cradle atheist. It just doesn’t seem plausible anymore. Human beings are sinful, but this series of abuse scandals is so widespread, so uniform, and so vague at times, that you wonder if it’s all true. It has more the characteristic of a demonic attack than of spontaneous sin… I don’t know.

Perhaps the Holy Spirit is using all this to divest the Church of amassed wealth that is not necessary for the Gospel: for the sake of humility. Perhaps we are entering an age of darkness in the eyes of the world, so we may emerge with credibility, producing saints once more.

rrstar.com/article/20140131/NEWS/140139785 Here is another alleged sex abuse claim, against the Diocese of Rockford, Illinois for something that supposedly occurred some 35 years ago. Like you, I have wondering whether these things aren’t an attempt to destroy the Church. In this case, one of the priests isn’t even alive any more.

 

[VanSensei]

These claims are not made up in order to destroy the Church. The same thing is happening in the Archdiocese where I live in, and there’s lots of claims including some that the Archbishop, John Nienstedt, has been hiding from county officials.

It is not right, and these are real sexual abuse cases. To even INSINUATE that they aren’t harms those who’ve been damaged forever by these out of line clergy.

If there are any priests left who’ve abused people, let them be defrocked and put out of ministry, and the people higher up charged with obstruction of justice and hopefully resign. That is the only way to ensure that they’re contrite for the harm done.

 

[LegoGE1947]

These claims are not made up in order to destroy the Church. The same thing is happening in the Archdiocese where I live in, and there’s lots of claims including some that the Archbishop, John Nienstedt, has been hiding from county officials.

It is not right, and these are real sexual abuse cases. To even INSINUATE that they aren’t harms those who’ve been damaged forever by these out of line clergy.

If there are any priests left who’ve abused people, let them be defrocked and put out of ministry, and the people higher up charged with obstruction of justice and hopefully resign. That is the only way to ensure that they’re contrite for the harm done.

I have no doubt that there are real cases of abuse and even ONE child being hurt by a priest, minister, teacher or anyone is one too many. The sad thing is what about accusations brought against those who are no longer among the living? I would hope that those who are still living and being shielded from justice will be found out and defrocked so the Church can put all this garbage behind Her.

 

[rightofcenter77]

If there are any priests left who’ve abused people, let them be defrocked and put out of ministry, and the people higher up charged with obstruction of justice and hopefully resign. That is the only way to ensure that they’re contrite for the harm done.

You are correct - those involved in the acts and cover-ups should be punished. But for someone to be reasonably suspicious about the motives behind some of these suits is not at all unhealthy.

It is not right, and these are real sexual abuse cases. To even INSINUATE that they aren’t harms those who’ve been damaged forever by these out of line clergy.

So we should all just assume that anyone who comes forward has a REAL case? Why? The particular diocese should not be allowed to defend themselves against illegitimate suits? Why not?

This is an extreme position.

Sean

 

[RC_Sojourner]

A friend forwarded this to me today:
themediareport.com/fast-facts/

The abuse is not as widespread as people think. In fact, no group of men abuses less than Catholic clergy. That includes rabbis and Protestant clergy btw. Anyways, this will be my only contribution to this thread though. The facts basically exonerate the Church insofar as it shouldn’t be portrayed as the most abusive institution (which it is portrayed as), when in fact it has learned from its mistakes, and is now the least abusive institution.

And, again, rather than respond to people on this thread, I encourage you to read the facts. Also the John Jay Report (which was the first comprehensive report done by a third party on the abuse scandals of the Church).

 

[AClaire11]

You are correct - those involved in the acts and cover-ups should be punished. But for someone to be reasonably suspicious about the motives behind some of these suits is not at all unhealthy.

So we should all just assume that anyone who comes forward has a REAL case? Why? The particular diocese should not be allowed to defend themselves against illegitimate suits? Why not?

This is an extreme position.

Sean

It is very difficult to know where to draw the line in cases of sexual abuse/assault. Everyone has the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty. However, I do not think it’s charitable to assume that most people are making false claims, aka lying, unless we know more details and/or until the cases are taken before a court and transcripts/verdicts are released.

 

[Sarabande]

It is very difficult to know where to draw the line in cases of sexual abuse/assault. Everyone has the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty. However, I do not think it’s charitable to assume that most people are making false claims, aka lying, unless we know more details and/or until the cases are taken before a court and transcripts/verdicts are released.

I agree with this. One of the things I learned in my mandated reporter training for our diocese was that only about 5% of the abuse accusations and reports end up being false. They are almost always true. While I’m sure there have been false accusations, it is always more prudent to not automatically assume that they must be liars, especially when you are dealing with the mental state of the potential victims/survivors. We have to remember that for decades people were afraid or even ashamed to say anything. And when you are a child and it happens to you, it is extremely confusing, shameful and frightening. There are reasons that it often doesn’t come out until they are adults or teens.

That said, care should also be taken for those priests who have been falsely accused. As we all know, once you are accused (and even if you are truly innocent and are found innocent) people will always look at you askance.