Catholic League Just Published Due Process for Accused Priests by Gordon J. MacRae

[Suzanne_Sadler]

Due Process for Accused Priests by Fr. Gordon J. MacRae

Here’s Fr. MacRae’s new blog, These Stone Walls

 

[grampsc]

Due Process for Accused Priests by Fr. Gordon J. MacRae

Here’s Fr. MacRae’s new blog, These Stone Walls

My heart aches for a priest of our parish, falsely accused, accusation retracted and yet this priest has never been invited back to our parish for a liturgy. Shame on those who shun anyone in this circumstance.

 

[Deacon_Ed_B]

This is one of many reasons that we who are ordained always sincerely ask, beg for prayers from the faithful. In addition to many undergoing this purgatory on earth, we also have to remember that for us who are ordained that a greater culpability is imposed for sin, due to the graces received in ordination. Please keep the ordained in your prayers daily.

 

[me_again]

The police have a similar procedure. When an officer is rightly or falsely accused of a crime, he may be placed on administrative leave i.e. he loses all his police authority and must sometimes turn in his badge and gun, until the investigation is completed. You may have heard it on the news i.e. when a policeman shoots and kills someone while on-duty, he is placed on administrative leave while an investigation is conducted. It’s a form of checks and balances (by the agency) to try and maintain a perception of legitimacy and justice. Similarly, if a priest is rightly or falsely accused of a crime, he may not be allowed to practice his priestly duties until an internal investigation is completed. It’s all about maintaining an appearance of impartiality and legitimacy by those in control until the investigation is finished.

 

[grampsc]

The police have a similar procedure. When an officer is rightly or falsely accused of a crime, he may be placed on administrative leave i.e. he loses all his police authority and must sometimes turn in his badge and gun, until the investigation is completed. You may have heard it on the news i.e. when a policeman shoots and kills someone while on-duty, he is placed on administrative leave while an investigation is conducted. It’s a form of checks and balances (by the agency) to try and maintain a perception of legitimacy and justice. Similarly, if a priest is rightly or falsely accused of a crime, he may not be allowed to practice his priestly duties until an internal investigation is completed. It’s all about maintaining an appearance of impartiality and legitimacy by those in control until the investigation is finished.

Thanks however, the investigation was over and done with 2 years ago, the charges in the meantime by the poor deranged youth were withdrawn and yet Father is still not back at our parish even for one liturgy celebration.