Reporting Priests

[cccw2009]

Are priests to be reported to the bishop if they’ve done something wrong? Who and where to turn to to report a priest that needs to be reported?

Sorry if this thread is in the wrong place.

 

[Corki]

It depends on what they have done wrong and whether you have actual knowledge or just a suspicion.

If a priest does something wrong in celebrating the Mass - doesn’t follow the rubrics, it is usually not something to be reported but rather to be discussed with the priest.

If a priest does something illegal or immoral like have an inappropriate sexual relationship, there is an office in your diocese that handles this.

If your priest does something wrong with the finances of the parish, there is a department in your diocese that does audits that you can speak to.

If this is a priest in your parish other than the pastor you should talk to the pastor.

 

[YoungTradCath]

What, exactly, went wrong?

 

[sw85]

It depends on what they have done wrong and whether you have actual knowledge or just a suspicion.

If a priest does something wrong in celebrating the Mass - doesn’t follow the rubrics, it is usually not something to be reported but rather to be discussed with the priest.

Good stuff from Corki. Just to expand on that last sentence some, there is a chain of events that should follow in the event of liturgical abuse: first speak to the priest personally; if that fails to resolve anything, write to the bishop; if that fails, there is a commission in Rome that deals with these things that can be written to as a last resort. As always, written letters to higher authorities should be specific and contain evidence, at the very least letters written by other parishioners corroborating one’s report of abuse.

 

[YoungTradCath]

Good stuff from Corki. Just to expand on that last sentence some, there is a chain of events that should follow in the event of liturgical abuse: first speak to the priest personally; if that fails to resolve anything, write to the bishop; if that fails, there is a commission in Rome that deals with these things that can be written to as a last resort. As always, written letters to higher authorities should be specific and contain evidence, at the very least letters written by other parishioners corroborating one’s report of abuse.

And I would also like to emphasize the necessity of looking for a liturgical aberration again. It is very possible that, if the problem is liturgical, it is a simple mistake. The next time you go to Mass–assuming that this is a liturgical problem–if you still see it, then it is probably a problem. If it doesn’t happen, it was a mistake.

 

[sw85]

And I would also like to emphasize the necessity of looking for a liturgical aberration again. It is very possible that, if the problem is liturgical, it is a simple mistake. The next time you go to Mass–assuming that this is a liturgical problem–if you still see it, then it is probably a problem. If it doesn’t happen, it was a mistake.

Yes, this is true. I really doubt any diocesan bishop (and certainly not the CDW, which has bigger fish to fry) will investigate a single aberration, but a documented pattern of abuses will get their attention.

I would, however, bring it up immediately with the priest if the aberration is sufficient to invalidate the sacrament (i.e., grossly altering the words of the consecration in mass or the absolution in confession). Even if it was an error or mistake, he needs to be made aware of it so he can be attentive about it in the future.

 

[ZxM]

If a priest does something illegal or immoral like have an inappropriate sexual relationship, there is an office in your diocese that handles this.

and law enforcement first if its kids. dont let him get away.

 

[Corki]

and law enforcement first if its kids. dont let him get away.

Absolutely. Providing there is real knowledge and not just suspicion or heresay.

 

[EasterJoy]

and law enforcement first if its kids. dont let him get away.

Absolutely. Providing there is real knowledge and not just suspicion or heresay.

Actually, if you have reason to suspect even that someone–anyone!–might even be grooming a child for emotional or sexual or any other kind of abuse, tell the authorities. If someone tells you they have reason to suspect, they ought to tell an authority. If they won’t, then you tell. If it is not a matter about which to call the police, tell your person designated in your parish. If it is one of the priests, also call the diocese immediately and tell the vicar of clergy what you know. It is not your job to judge, but just to alert those whose job it is to keep vigilance.

If people speak up when they suspect, then a perpetrator who is grooming a child but has not yet violated the child’s innocence may be stopped before he or she gets the opportunity to commit their crime. Preemptively shining light on a predator can save a child from the worst trauma of his or her life. That is why we have all these rules. Let’s face it: they can be cumbersome and can feel very artificial, but the rules intended to keep kids safe are there for a very good reason, which is to prevent the abuse from ever happening in the first place.

If your priest or anyone els breaks those rules intended to keep children safe, don’t rush to judgement, but always object and report the incident to an appropriate 3rd party. Don’t judge the person, but do stand up for the boundaries. All you have to say is, “I saw Father X breaking this rule, so I mentioned it to him, and he said of course, he ought not do that, but I also know you need to be told when there may be an issue to watch. These mistakes are usually nothing, but I want you in the loop, because light is still a good thing.” If a priest’s superiors keep getting lots of little calls like this or if a school principal or pastor keeps hearing about some volunteer who just can’t stay in bounds, that could be the red flag that saves a vulnerable child.

If you think a crime may have been committed, call the police, or else go through the channels set up in your parish or diocese and then follow up to make sure the police were called.

 

[Tarpeian_Rock]

A plea for common sense here, where the identification, reporting, and level of agita concerning “liturgical abuse” tends to, well, you know . . .

Our pastor was “reported” to our bishop (in a strongly-worded letter) for wearing brown shoes on the altar. Really. So some perspective and common sense, huh? And before “reporting” anything, one has an obligation to determine whether what was experienced was a legitimate, but lesser-used, option in the Roman Missal. That’s where speaking to the priest comes in.

 

[EasterJoy]

Our pastor was “reported” to our bishop (in a strongly-worded letter) for wearing brown shoes on the altar.

If anyone needs proof that we ought to pray for our bishops and our vicar of clergy every day, this is it. It is a wonder they don’t all end up locked up in an asylum.

(Well, that is provided that this priest wasn’t literally standing on the altar, in which case the color of his shoes would hardly have been the main issue…but that would still put the vicar of clergy on his way to a secluded place with nice quiet rooms and a gentle pace of life! )

 

[englishredrose]

Are priests to be reported to the bishop if they’ve done something wrong? Who and where to turn to to report a priest that needs to be reported?

Sorry if this thread is in the wrong place.

Yes the Bishop.

They will then decide how to deal with it according to what is wrong but you have no fear in taking it to the Bishop yourself though you could ask the church wardens to take it to the Bishop as that is apart of their role but if you prefer anyone can contact the Bishop and they will follow it through. Regardless whether its minor or serious. They will appoint the appropriate ‘chaplin/team’ to deal with it and you can do so anonymously if you prefer. Look it all up in the Church Wardens Handbook if you like

 

[Tighty_Whitey]

Absolutely. Providing there is real knowledge and not just suspicion or heresay.

I very much disagree with your qualification. If the past decade has taught us anything it is that these matters must be brought to the police to investigate.

 

[cccw2009]

Thanks for all the answers. It doesn’t involve kids (I surely hope not). Someone helped to report the priest to the office that deals with this kind of issue and haven’t heard anything back. It’s been nearly three months. This must be taken serioulsy and needs to be heard so that is why I’m asking here. I’m just at a lost at what do do. Maybe I should give it more time before I take this to the bishop myself.

Thanks again.

 

[Oneofthewomen]

Thanks for all the answers. It doesn’t involve kids (I surely hope not). Someone helped to report the priest to the office that deals with this kind of issue and haven’t heard anything back. It’s been nearly three months. This must be taken serioulsy and needs to be heard so that is why I’m asking here. I’m just at a lost at what do do. Maybe I should give it more time before I take this to the bishop myself.

Thanks again.

Based on how things work in my diocese, you may never hear anything back from the office that you reported it to. For the most part, unless the incident involves the breaking of a “civil law”, what comes of the investigation and the resolution of the problem are not public knowledge.

 

[maryjk]

Thanks for all the answers. It doesn’t involve kids (I surely hope not). Someone helped to report the priest to the office that deals with this kind of issue and haven’t heard anything back. It’s been nearly three months. This must be taken serioulsy and needs to be heard so that is why I’m asking here. I’m just at a lost at what do do. Maybe I should give it more time before I take this to the bishop myself.

Thanks again.

Could it be that it has already made it to the bishop and any action has already taken place? Not knowing the problem, I don’t know if this is possible. But just because you haven’t heard anything doesn’t mean that nothing happened.

It also could be that it isn’t as serious as you think and it has made it to the bishop and nothing is going to be done.

 

[couponfit]

Are priests to be reported to the bishop if they’ve done something wrong? Who and where to turn to to report a priest that needs to be reported?

Sorry if this thread is in the wrong place.

If I have a sacramental issue, I address it to the rector, and then the Bishop (directly by certified mail to him), and in theory if that fails, then I file a letter to the Vatican with the copy of the letter sent to the Bishop and any received replies. I’ve never had to write to the Pope about any Bishop. I never name the priest, or point fingers, I just outline the issue and concerns and my desired outcome. I also address any requirements for the sacrament that I meet or do not meet or that the person meets or does not meet.

You may never hear back on a complaint. But normally, issues involving the sacraments are handled seriously, promptly and correctly, and there is usually a review of canon law on the matter by a person well versed in it, usually the vicar or the head of the seminary will do this.

If you just don’t like the priest, or think he’s a idiot, a mean person, a thief, an addict, etc. Then yeah, that’s usually written by each person who has a concern. So if you feel there is a concern, you should write independent and separate from your friend or other members of Th.e parish but you should write for yourself and with what you know and have seen. Normally you would have gone through the rector first. And it should be a very serious issue. so it’s ok to be clear and precise in your wording.

 

[englishredrose]

I know through training as a teaching assistant we have been told once we have passed the issue on, we may never hear anything more about it… that is a natural part of the process. This could be the same what is happening for you.

If you are concerned however, give that office a quick ring. Some things do take a long time in investigating circumstances etc. But by giving them a quick ring will hopefully helpl reassure you that they are responding, just not to you because your role has finished as such. Unless the matter that you have reporting is still happening. If that is the case you are certainly legimate to ring up and ask to speak to whoever dealing with it etc and say that it is still ongoing, nothing has altered your end so to speak. The matter that is still on going is a reasonable sign though not fullproof by any means that the matter hasn’t actually been dealt with - adequately. Unless of course they think that its not an issue…

 

[EasterJoy]

I know through training as a teaching assistant we have been told once we have passed the issue on, we may never hear anything more about it… that is a natural part of the process. This could be the same what is happening for you.

Yes.

Unless the issue is very serious (and therefore requires those in authority to make certain serious responses that you could not have missed) or the problem is recurring, you report the problem to those with the office to deal with these things, and then you wash your hands of it.

For instance, if the church bookkeeper was running a money-laundering operation out of the parish office, you found proof and reported it, and nothing whatsoever happened, that would give cause for a follow-up. IOW, we’re talking about something serious enough that seeing nothing would be evidence of a cover-up. We’re not talking about the situation where the person’s superior chose to do less than you had hoped or didn’t tell you what was done.

As you say, englishredrose, unless there was something else that gave the reporter a right to know (for instance, if they were the victim of a serious transgression), the superior is not going to report back to the person who alerted them of the problem.

 

[felsguy]

If I have a sacramental issue, I address it to the rector, and then the Bishop (directly by certified mail to him), and in theory if that fails, then I file a letter to the Vatican with the copy of the letter sent to the Bishop and any received replies. I’ve never had to write to the Pope about any Bishop. I never name the priest, or point fingers, I just outline the issue and concerns and my desired outcome. I also address any requirements for the sacrament that I meet or do not meet or that the person meets or does not meet.

.
Just out of curiosity, may I ask how often have you written so?