Catholic Bishop Says He Was Abused by Priest

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Yes, I know the person who is alleging abuse is Bp. Gumbleton, who I know is no favorite of probably 99% of the people who post here.

However, it would be good if any conversation about this went to the heart of the abuse and his statements about it, not to anyone’s issues with other pieces of his theology.
 
Gumbleton said he felt compelled to speak out now, as victims’ advocates are pressing state legislatures to enact bills to abolish statutes of limitations, which prevent civil lawsuits seeking monetary damages against priests and dioceses for abuse that happened decades ago.
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By abolishing the statute of limitations for sexual crimes, it becomes a he-said/she-said case and nothing more. Priests obviously will have the case stacked against them when the only thing they have to go on is their word. These people have been adults for many years and have had ample opportunities to speak out. I saw a statistic that something like over 50% of the currently alleged cases have no standing whatsoever.

I definitely feel that the cases were handled improperly when they occurred and after, that priests are not outside the law, and that we need to address these issues legally as well as within the church. However, I think it wrong to all of a sudden make up a new law just to be able to prosecute more priests as well.
 
One wonders at his timing. He hasn’t been in the headlines lately; not since his refusal to retire caused no problems.
 
he probably was picked on by a jock priest and was given a wedgie. it’s a age old conflict between nerds and jocks. nerds never seem to get over it.
 
To all,
I do not support abolishing the statute of limitations, but I personally feel this Bishop of the Catholic Church should not be vilified. Abuse in our church is a fact, and your opinion of his philosophy is irrelevant to the conversation.
Truth is truth…is he telling the truth? Only he knows…give him the benefit of the doubt.

John
 
It goes to show that there was a lot of unreported abuse way back in the good old days…

I’m not sure about the law involved. I think that there are some jackpot seekers who make up accusations in order to get generous settlements. But, I do believe this Bishop’s statement about him being a recipient of unwanted touching. I also think that using his disclosure of this painful event from the past in order to say denigrating things about him, is lacking Christian charity.
 
Joe Kelley:
One wonders at his timing. He hasn’t been in the headlines lately; not since his refusal to retire caused no problems.
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Yes, there’s a thing I’d love to see the Holy Father crack the whip on. The Bishop as a victim certainly deserves our sympathy and compassion, the Bishop as a bishop, well…
 
Out of curiosity, does anyone know as to whether this particular Bishop has done anything prior to this in order to fight abuse? I don’t know enough about him or what he’s done in the church really, but, as a victim of this type of abuse AND as a relatively higher ranking cleric, he would be able to provide insight as to the abuse situation. Has he done so? He says “I could make a difference for the victims at this point.” (quoted from the Detroit Free Press Article). He’s been a Bishop for 38 years now, he could have made HUGE differences a long time ago. I don’t wish to sound insensitive, because if what he says is true, than its a truly terrible thing that happened to him that I wouldn’t wish on anyone. But he has had some degree of power which he could have used to bring this to someones attention a LONG time ago. That attention could have quite possibly saved another person from being abused like him. He may have been working behind the scenes. If he has then hopefully he has done a lot of good. But if he hasn’t, I can’t even fathom the damage that could have been avoided.

I know a lot of abuse victims feel powerless and subsequently don’t bring their claims into the public eye for quite a while (if ever). A Bishop however, is not powerless. Have I missed something?
 
Give me Gumbleton and $5, and I can get a great cup of coffee at Starbucks.

He has discredited himself so many times, and choosen to be affiliated with so many non-Catholic groups, that only the secular media listen to him.

If it happened, that is sad. What is sadder is what has happened to this priest, this bishop.
 
There’s no reason to suggest he isn’t telling the truth.

Say what you will about his theology, but he’s never been one to shy away from saying exactly what he thinks about something.

Sadly, his forceful advocacy for peace and justice throughout the world gets clouded by those who can’t let go of his positions on the lack of justice in some corners of our own church.
 
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pm1853:
Out of curiosity, does anyone know as to whether this particular Bishop has done anything prior to this in order to fight abuse? I don’t know enough about him or what he’s done in the church really, but, as a victim of this type of abuse AND as a relatively higher ranking cleric, he would be able to provide insight as to the abuse situation. Has he done so?
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Yes, Gay Men Should Be Ordained
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By Thomas J. Gumbleton

One major fallout of the current crisis of leadership in the Catholic Church is the scapegoating of homosexual priests and seminarians.

As a bishop for over 30 years, I have worked with and come to know well many gay priests. They are healthy psychologically, and their committed ministry has been very effective. I am inspired by their love of God and of the people they serve so well and generously. I also know the struggle they now face as they see the bishops deal with the current crisis in the church.

But the problem confronting us is not a problem of homosexual priests among us. It is a problem of seriously underdeveloped priests. … This must include healthy psychological development for both homosexual and heterosexual persons. Various psychological studies indicate homosexual persons are as healthy as anyone else.

A further gift gay priests bring to our church is an exceptional ability and courage to proclaim the truth—something demanded by the prophetic nature of the priesthood. This can happen because of the often arduous “coming out” process homosexuals must undertake. Gay and lesbian people have had to identify, accept and affirm a truth about themselves that others have defamed.

Gay priests also can offer a depth of compassion not always shared in a comparable way by heterosexual priests. Gay people have often been treated as outcasts by society, church and even family.

For all of these reasons, I urge our church leadership to rejoice in the blessings that can come to us by recognizing and supporting gay priests rather than shunning or rejecting them.

The church hierarchy needs to accept the help of her gay and lesbian members as ministers of healing, rather than making us scapegoats for a problem that we did nothing to create.

The Most Rev. Thomas J. Gumbleton is an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Detroit, Mich.

**http://www.americamagazine.org/gettext.cfm?articleTypeID=1&textID=2508&issueID=403
Posted: March 17, 2002
1:00 a.m. Eastern

By Allyson Smith
© 2002 WorldNetDaily.com

At a Friday pre-symposium conference for parents of homosexual children and pastoral ministers, Detroit Bishop Thomas Gumbleton told parents, “The first thing that I think needs to be said that’s very, very important if we’re going to love our children is simply to recognize that homosexual people are not disordered people. They are psychologically healthy people. … Homosexuals are as healthy as anyone else.”

Gumbleton added, “Homosexuals are able to function and grow at least as well as heterosexuals. They are able to be creative, put in a hard day’s work, act as citizens, help their neighbor. Somewhat surprisingly, they make love more humanely, largely because they are better able empathetically to feel what their partner is feeling.”
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worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=26848

**
Church in Crisis
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This is an edited transcript of the presentation given by Bishop Thomas Gumbleton on May 25, 2002 in Lexington, MA.

**natcath.com/crisis/gumbleton.htm
 
Wow, this Bishop sounds seriously confused. :eek:

“make love more humanely”? Oy vey… :rolleyes:

Nevertheless, if he were molested by a priest, maybe that contributed to his problem, eh?
 
I read this very early this morning and I thougth about it on the drive to and from work. Since he was abused, got over it or beyond it, then are we sure he did not then abuse others as a result? Is he preparing us for the fact that he might be accused by some? Also, if he lived a complete chaste life after knowing he was once propositioned or groped by a priest, then can we assume that some people get over this and don’t then turn to abuse or a horrible life? I am not in any way excusing, just trying to think this through.

Do you think that there was any good reason for him to disclose this information? I am questioning if his information will help any survivor of abuse. It is not as if getting money would help him, for instance, if he were to sue the church for reparations. I am confused by his actions now. I am not doubting that this happened. I know that most people get propositioned at one point in their adult life. Is this always so devastating? Most adults move beyond it and avoid the source. Most women I know have had unwanted advances made by men at some point in their lives.

Do you all understand why he would do this now? What will be gained?
 
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spiritblows:
It goes to show that there was a lot of unreported abuse way back in the good old days…
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…unreported abuse in all walks of life…not just Church and not just the good ol’ days…I suspect much goes unreported even today. Children are vulnerable and adults know it…nothing much has changed.
 
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MrS:
Give me Gumbleton and $5, and I can get a great cup of coffee at Starbucks.

He has discredited himself so many times, and choosen to be affiliated with so many non-Catholic groups, that only the secular media listen to him.

If it happened, that is sad. What is sadder is what has happened to this priest, this bishop.
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Well said.
 
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spiritblows:
It goes to show that there was a lot of unreported abuse way back in the good old days…

.
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…unreported abuse in all walks of life…not just Church and not just the good ol’ days…I suspect much goes unreported even today. Children are vulnerable and adults know it…nothing much has changed.
 
I’m not sure what to think. This whole thing has been so terribly sad for so many people. One would hope that in this case, particularly because it was a clergyman and a bishop who went public about his own experience as a victim, some of the other victims may draw at least a little bit of consolation.

That being said, if the bishop did indeed make those remarks about homosexuality, I cannot agree with him on that. The more I think about the abuse scandal, the more I am convinced that the root of the problem was homosexuality and therefore the latest Vatican directive is right on the mark.
 
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Toni:
Well said.
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Wait a minute…

Someone is agreeing with the idea that it’s “sadder” that the bishop has a theology that you don’t agree with than that he was molested as a child?

That’s a seriously confused point of view.
 
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