How Should the Church Deal with Allegations of Sexual Impropriety Against Clergy?

[Fair_Lady]

What should be done when there is an allegation of sexual impropriety against a member of the clergy?

 

[kage_ar]

On our knees, praying for all our clergy and all the lay people, for all of God’s children.

 

[Seatuck]

What should be done when there is an allegation of sexual impropriety against a member of the clergy?

Done By whom?

As a lay person my role will most likely be prayer and reparation.

 

[Fair_Lady]

What should be done when there is an allegation of sexual impropriety against a member of the clergy?

My edit button isn’t appearing, so I’ll just clarify the poll question. More than one option can be selected.

 

[kage_ar]

Your poll does not have the option I choose, to follow the procedures that are in place.

If you are in the US, you can read the US policy at www.usccb.org, your Diocese policy at your Diocese web site.

 

[Langdell]

I voted for the third one. But I don’t have a problem with the Church allowing a priest to remain ordained as long as he is removed from any position where he would have access to children, and as long as his past conduct is not hidden from those supervising him wherever he may be.

I would have voted for the first one if it were less vague. I wouldn’t report anyone to the police when it merely appears that the person possibly broke the law. But I think the Church should report to police when someone in a responsible position concludes that a priest probably did break the law. I think that actually is the rule now in U.S. dioceses.

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[Fair_Lady]

I voted for the third one. But I don’t have a problem with the Church allowing a priest to remain ordained as long as he is removed from any position where he would have access to children, and as long as his past conduct is not hidden from those supervising him wherever he may be.

What if the clergy was having a relationship with someone who is of age and by mutual consent? Would that not be against church law?

I would have voted for the first one if it were less vague. I wouldn’t report anyone to the police when it merely appears that the person possibly broke the law. But I think the Church should report to police when someone in a responsible position concludes that a priest probably did break the law. I think that actually is the rule now in U.S. dioceses.

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I like to think that the police are the experts when it comes to matters of whether or not the law was broken and it should be up to them and the crown prosecutor (or the crown attorney, as known in the United States) as to whether or not charges should be drawn up.

As Joe Blow Public Citizen, most people aren’t able to make that determination nor can they have the authority or skill to do the investigation that the police do to make a judgment as to whether the matter should go to court.

 

[Lutheranteach]

I would pick 1 and 3, and I would also add fully cooperate in every way possible with civil authorities including turning over all records when requested.

 

[Langdell]

What if the clergy was having a relationship with someone who is of age and by mutual consent? Would that not be against church law?

Sorry, I hastily assumed you were referring only to child sexual abuse. My answer would be the same (mutatis mutandis) for a priest having a consensual affair with an adult.

I like to think that the police are the experts when it comes to matters of whether or not the law was broken and it should be up to them and the crown prosecutor (or the crown attorney, as known in the United States) as to whether or not charges should be drawn up.

As Joe Blow Public Citizen, most people aren’t able to make that determination nor can they have the authority or skill to do the investigation that the police do to make a judgment as to whether the matter should go to court.

Let’s take an example: you, the monsignor of your parish, see one of your priests coming out of the otherwise empty sacristy with his arm around the shoulders of a teenage boy. The boy looks sad and nervous. The priest gives him a hug, and they walk their separate ways.

Based on that event, it appears that the priest possibly has had criminal contact with the boy. So are you going to call the police?

I don’t know about your country, but in the U.S., if you call the police with a suspicion like that, you could easily be setting in motion a chain of events that could ruin the life of an innocent man, with no substantial evidence.

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[Hiskid1973]

Seems a lot of us have the same opinion on the poll…It was the cover up and transfers that really threw gas on the flames

 

[Hiskid1973]

On our knees, praying for all our clergy and all the lay people, for all of God’s children.

Amen

 

[kage_ar]

Let’s take an example: you, the monsignor of your parish, see one of your priests coming out of the otherwise empty sacristy with his arm around the shoulders of a teenage boy. The boy looks sad and nervous. The priest gives him a hug, and they walk their separate ways.

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For a member of the clergy (or a lay employee or volunteer for that matter) it is against the Diocesean rules to be alone with an unrelated teen or child. The confessional has one entrance, that is a public entrance and priests only even hear confessions of teens or children when there is someone else outside in the public area.

The msgr would immediately investigate why the rules were broken (btw, children and teens are made aware of the rules in an annual “Virtus” class as well).

 

[Langdell]

For a member of the clergy (or a lay employee or volunteer for that matter) it is against the Diocesean rules to be alone with an unrelated teen or child. The confessional has one entrance, that is a public entrance and priests only even hear confessions of teens or children when there is someone else outside in the public area.

The msgr would immediately investigate why the rules were broken (btw, children and teens are made aware of the rules in an annual “Virtus” class as well).

Thanks for that additional info.

And I think it’s appropriate for the monsignor to investigate. But I would not call the police based simply on that one observed event.

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[hellopeople]

For a member of the clergy (or a lay employee or volunteer for that matter) it is against the Diocesean rules to be alone with an unrelated teen or child. The confessional has one entrance, that is a public entrance and priests only even hear confessions of teens or children when there is someone else outside in the public area.

The msgr would immediately investigate why the rules were broken (btw, children and teens are made aware of the rules in an annual “Virtus” class as well).

I am not doubting these rules, but what if a child came to the priest with a concern about his family or something looking for guidance? Should he shun this child? I understand why the rule is in place but at certain times it seems a bit unnecessary.

Anyway, there is no doubt that priests should be stripped of their priesthood and prosecuted in criminal courts. People might say that this is bad for the reputation of the church, but being completely open about it will actually help the reputation of the church.

 

[Hiskid1973]

but being completely open about it will actually help the reputation of the church.

You hit the nail head…The cover up and movement fuels it even greater…

 

[kage_ar]

I am not doubting these rules, but what if a child came to the priest with a concern about his family or something looking for guidance? Should he shun this child? I understand why the rule is in place but at certain times it seems a bit unnecessary.

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The Priest would schedule a meeting in his office, during office hours (or would have the office staff stay after hours).

The rules are there because many people have accused innocent priests, and a handful have done wrong. Every man in a collar is guilty until proven innocent in the world today, it is tragic and wrong.

 

[flyingfish]

Sorry, I hastily assumed you were referring only to child sexual abuse. My answer would be the same (mutatis mutandis) for a priest having a consensual affair with an adult.

Let’s take an example: you, the monsignor of your parish, see one of your priests coming out of the otherwise empty sacristy with his arm around the shoulders of a teenage boy. The boy looks sad and nervous. The priest gives him a hug, and they walk their separate ways.

Based on that event, it appears that the priest possibly has had criminal contact with the boy. So are you going to call the police?

I don’t know about your country, but in the U.S., if you call the police with a suspicion like that, you could easily be setting in motion a chain of events that could ruin the life of an innocent man, with no substantial evidence.

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If you see something suspicious, you might talk to the boy first. In order for the authorities to pursue criminal charges, wouldn’t you need for the boy to file a complaint, or for there to be a witness to the crime anyway?

If there are accusations by a boy against a priest or accusations by a witness, then you call the authorities as well as remove the priest from duties that involve being near children as a precaution (if he’s later acquitted, he can be reinstated).

 

[Langdell]

If you see something suspicious, you might talk to the boy first. In order for the authorities to pursue criminal charges, wouldn’t you need for the boy to file a complaint, or for there to be a witness to the crime anyway?

If there are accusations by a boy against a priest or accusations by a witness, then you call the authorities as well as remove the priest from duties that involve being near children as a precaution (if he’s later acquitted, he can be reinstated).

The police don’t need a complaint in order to investigate. They can investigate based on a tip from anyone, or even on their own initiative.

When it comes to charging someone, you are right that they would almost certainly not charge a priest with sex abuse if they didn’t have a victim willing to testify. But by the time they get to the charging decision, a lot of damage has already been done. A former prosecutor once told me that the decision whether to charge someone was never really troubling for him, because by then they either had sufficient evidence or they didn’t. It was the decision whether to *investigate *someone that kept him awake at night – because initiating an investigation would turn someone’s life upside down, and sometimes harm it irreparably, even if they never ultimately charged the person with anything.

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[Hiskid1973]

Something I always wondered is, why so much/many kept quiet for so long…Makes me wonder what still is covered up…The impropriety of leadership is just as damaging to the church as the acts/perpetrators themselves…Couldn’t these people have been put out of the church like they did in Corinth? None are without sin but leadership even more so is accountable…Give an example: Recently our assistant pastor was put out of the church…He was counseling a lady who was going through a divorce who worked in our daycare…Church rules state third party when opposite sex…He chose to “help” her on the side and was spotted by a member while they were out about town…Our bishop pastor met, he was called in and was confronted about it…He was offered rectify the situation, repentance/counciling and allowed back as a member but not in leadership…He chose to reject council and ran off with the woman…Within a weeks period he was gone…People were shocked and saddened as he was a very loving and caring man…We still keep him in prayer…Sin in crouching at our door no matter if we are leadership or layman…peace to you…

 

[Langdell]

Something I always wondered is, why so much/many kept quiet for so long…Makes me wonder what still is covered up…The impropriety of leadership is just as damaging to the church as the acts/perpetrators themselves…Couldn’t these people have been put out of the church like they did in Corinth? None are without sin but leadership even more so is accountable…Give an example: Recently our assistant pastor was put out of the church…He was counseling a lady who was going through a divorce who worked in our daycare…Church rules state third party when opposite sex…He chose to “help” her on the side and was spotted by a member while they were out about town…Our bishop pastor met, he was called in and was confronted about it…He was offered rectify the situation, repentance/counciling and allowed back as a member but not in leadership…He chose to reject council and ran off with the woman…Within a weeks period he was gone…People were shocked and saddened as he was a very loving and caring man…We still keep him in prayer…Sin in crouching at our door no matter if we are leadership or layman…peace to you…

Anyone who is interested in this topic should read the Report on the Crisis in the Catholic Church in the United States. It’s the report by a special task force of high-profile lay Catholics who were charged by the USCCB with investigating the crisis. It’s extremely informative and very reader-friendly.

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