The Pope and the Murphy case: what the New York Times story didn't tell you

[lemonbeam]

Today’s front-page story in the New York Times suggests that the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF), under the direction of then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, failed to act against a Wisconsin priest who was accused of molesting scores of boys at a school for the deaf.

Is the story damaging? Yes. Should the Vatican have acted faster? Yes. Should the accused priest have been laicized? In all probability, Yes again.

Nevertheless, before assigning all blame to the Vatican, consider these factors:

1. The allegations of abuse by Father Lawrence Murphy began in 1955 and continued in 1974, according to the Times account. The Vatican was first notified in 1996: 40 years after Church officials in Wisconsin were first made aware of the problem. Local Church leaders could have taken action in the 1950s. They didn’t.

1. The Vatican, following the standard procedures required by canon law, kept its own inquiries confidential. But the CDF never barred other investigations. Local Church officials could have given police all the information they had about the allegations against Murphy. Indeed they could have informed police 40 years earlier. They didn’t.

1. Milwaukee’s Archbishop Cousins could have suspended Father Murphy from priestly ministry in 1974, when he was evidently convinced that the priest was guilty of gross misconduct. He didn’t. Instead he transferred the predator priest to a new diocese, allowing him to continue pastoral work giving him access to other innocent young people. And as if that weren’t enough, later Archbishop Weakland made sure that there was no “paper trail.” There was certainly a cover-up in this case. It was in Milwaukee, not in Rome.

1. Having called the Vatican’s attention to Murphy’s case, Archbishop Weakland apparently wanted an immediate response, and was unhappy that the CDF took 8 months to respond. But again, the Milwaukee archdiocese had waited decades to take this action. Because the Milwaukee archdiocese had waited so long to take action, the canonical statute of limitations had become an important factor in the Vatican’s decision to advise against an ecclesiastical trial.

1. In a plea for mercy addressed to Cardinal Ratzinger, Father Murphy said that he had repented his misdeeds, was guilty of no recent misconduct, and was in failing health. Earlier this month Msgr. Charles Scicluna, the chief Vatican prosecutor in sex-abuse cases, explained that in many cases involving elderly or ailing priests, the CDF chooses to forego a full canonical trial, instead ordering the priest to remove himself from public ministry and devote his remaining days to penance and prayer. This was, in effect, the final result of the Vatican’s inquiry in this case; Father Murphy died just months later.

1. The correspondence makes it clear that Archbishop Weakland took action not because he wanted to protect the public from an abusive priest, but because he wanted to avoid the huge public outcry that he predicted would emerge if Murphy was not disciplined. In 1996, when the archbishop made that prediction, the public outcry would–and should–have been focused on the Milwaukee archdiocese, if it had materialized. Now, 14 years later, a much more intense public outcry is focused on the Vatican. The anger is justifiable, but it is misdirected.

This is a story about the abject failure of the Milwaukee archdiocese to discipline a dangerous priest, and the tardy effort by Archbishop Weakland–who would soon become the subject of a major scandal himself–to shift responsibility to Rome.

Read more here: catholicculture.org/commentary/otn.cfm?id=629

 

[OriginalJS]

We know from common experience, that whoever is at the helm when problems become known gets the blame. Nobody is blaming John XXIII, Paul VI, John Paul I, or John Paul II although a lot of abuse and covering up went on during their reigns.

 

[Tsuwano]

Lemonbeam, thank you for bringing the above information to my attention. It helps to place the events of this particular abuse into perspective and, at least for me, lessens the sense of pain and disbelief I feel as a Catholic. I find it all so incredulous! I do pray for the Church and the Holy Father, but indeed, my prayers are mostly for the victims of this grevious sin, who must have felt abandoned and betrayed by the Church in their suffering. Perhaps the Holy Father should call for a year of repentance on the part of all the Church, and especially her leaders, for these great sins of neglect.

 

[RSD]

It is also worth noting that during the time in question the civil authorities did not act on child abuse cases very often or diligently. I recently read the first hand account of a girl who suffered repeated abuse from a neighbor, who told her that he would shoot her mother and sister if she ever told. The man had molested many children, and had photos. He finally was accused. The little girl was interviewed by two policemen, with no lawyer or parent or social worker present. The 2 policemen suggested that she was just making everything up. In spite of the resistance from the police, the molester was convicted. He served 3 months, and then came right back to the neighborhood, and found more children to molest. I do not know why police chiefs, mayors and governors from this time period are not getting the same kind of grief that our Holy Father is.

 

[silentstar]

It is also worth noting that during the time in question the civil authorities did not act on child abuse cases very often or diligently. I recently read the first hand account of a girl who suffered repeated abuse from a neighbor, who told her that he would shoot her mother and sister if she ever told. The man had molested many children, and had photos. He finally was accused. The little girl was interviewed by two policemen, with no lawyer or parent or social worker present. The 2 policemen suggested that she was just making everything up. In spite of the resistance from the police, the molester was convicted. He served 3 months, and then came right back to the neighborhood, and found more children to molest. I do not know why police chiefs, mayors and governors from this time period are not getting the same kind of grief that our Holy Father is.

They get grief from me. Please don’t get me started on this; it makes me too angry. The molester could be a “nice, respectable” member of the community with money or influence. When that is the case, the police often do very little.

Too often crimes against women and children are not taken seriously. It has been pointed out by child abuse advocates that on the other hand, crimes involving money such as burglary, insider trading, etc. are often taken much more seriously. It shows what some people really value.

 

[piejesu]

I do not know why police chiefs, mayors and governors from this time period are not getting the same kind of grief that our Holy Father is.

Precisely because they are NOT the Holy Father. Neither are they, in most cases Christ’s disciples, nor members of His body.

As a fallen away Protestant who was being stirred again to faith by the Holy Spirit around the time the priest scandals were moving into high gear in the US, I was struck by the thought…“Why is the Catholic Church suffering this great attack?”

I think amid the pain and confusion and messiness of all that surrounds the scandals, legitimate and otherwise (damage is done in either case), it is paramount that the people of God recognize this whole thing for what it is…an unadulterated, no holds barred, attack on Christ’s own Church.

Render the shepherds helpless and attack the sheep at will.

Someone, somewhere is laughing at us, as we churn in our false sense of indignation, point fingers are one another, forsake mercy and forgiveness, and allow ourselves to get caught up in the secular media’s feeding frenzy.

 

[BMerciful]

It is time for the Church to take responsibility for Her lack of action in regards to much of the abuse scandals, especially in regards to Fr Murphy. Only then, can healing take place, but we must admit our failings, our sins, repent and ask the Lord to be merciful upon us. This is a grevious, henious crime, and the Human Institution has failed, but Christ will never fail us…He will continue to sustain the faithlful through the Sacraments. Lord Jesus cleanse your Church, its’ members, help us to take on the Penance we justly deserve.

 

[CradleCath]

Read more here: catholicculture.org/commentary/otn.cfm?id=629

Thank you SO much for these links, Lemonbeam. They explain a lot:

1. The allegations of abuse by Father Lawrence Murphy began in 1955 and continued to 1974, according to the Times account. The Vatican was first notified in 1996 That would be 41 years after the first offense!!???

We all know that Rembert Weakland paid hush money, out of diocesan funds, to his “former male lover”. It’s now evident that he was afraid of exposure. The question is, now that his legacy is causing trouble for the Pope…will he come forward & take responsibility for what he has done. I doubt it. Why try something new:

…In an interview, Archbishop Weakland said that he recalled a final meeting at the Vatican in May 1998 in which he failed to persuade Cardinal Bertone and other doctrinal officials to grant a canonical trial to defrock Father Murphy. (In 2002, Archbishop Weakland resigned after it became public that he had an affair with a man and used church money to pay him a settlement.)

freedomeden.blogspot.com/2010/03/fr-lawrence-murphy.html
The New York Times is getting desparate!!!

old.nationalreview.com/dreher/dreher052402.asp

 

[whatevergirl]

This whole thing is so horrible. The mere fact that the Pope is being brought up, bothers me. It bothers me on many levels, but it bothers me just the same. The highlight of any of this, is that Pope Benedict did put into action more protocol than anyone before him, in dealing with abuse…so, to that, he deserves great kudos. But, this is going to be with us for a long time, and I just pray for the healing of everyone involved. Every victim, every parent, every parishioner out there like me who has wept bitterly over this. It’s so tragic. The who and what and when…it matters, but just the fact that we’re hearing about this over and over and over every week, it seems for months, is so troubling. But, we must unite and pray. This is still Christ’s Church, and He will bring restoration.

 

[CradleCath]

*This whole thing is so horrible. The mere fact that the Pope is being brought up, bothers me. It bothers me on many levels, but it bothers me just the same. **The highlight of any of this, is that Pope Benedict did put into action more protocol than anyone before him, in dealing with abuse…so, to that, he deserves great kudos. ***But, this is going to be with us for a long time, and I just pray for the healing of everyone involved. Every victim, every parent, every parishioner out there like me who has wept bitterly over this. It’s so tragic. The who and what and when…it matters, but just the fact that we’re hearing about this over and over and over every week, it seems for months, is so troubling. But, we must unite and pray. This is still Christ’s Church, and He will bring restoration.

Whatever Girl, It hurts me too. I hurt for the real victims & sometimes I’m angry at their parents, also. I know that, if I or any of my brothers had told our Father that a priest had molested one of us, he would have beaten the priest to a pulp, gone to law enforcement & THEN called the Bishop. But, the shame, the tears & the anger have only hurt me. The worst offenders are gone, I think, & I, like you, have turned to prayer. Prayer for the victims, for the laity, for the good priests among us & especially for our good Pope Benedict. He knew, he knew what would happen & that’s why one of his first messages was to us, the laity. He asked:
"Pray for me, that I may not flee for fear of the wolves."

The wolves are circling & some of them are part of the Church.

God Bless you & be with you this Holy Week. I know your pain.
However, as we prepare to celebrate the fact that Christ rose from the dead, let us know that, through Him…the Pope & the Church will rise from this horror, stronger than ever.

 

[lemonbeam]

This whole thing is so horrible. The mere fact that the Pope is being brought up, bothers me. It bothers me on many levels, but it bothers me just the same. The highlight of any of this, is that Pope Benedict did put into action more protocol than anyone before him, in dealing with abuse…so, to that, he deserves great kudos. But, this is going to be with us for a long time, and I just pray for the healing of everyone involved. Every victim, every parent, every parishioner out there like me who has wept bitterly over this. It’s so tragic. The who and what and when…it matters, but just the fact that we’re hearing about this over and over and over every week, it seems for months, is so troubling. But, we must unite and pray. This is still Christ’s Church, and He will bring restoration.

Why is the media not bringing up the fact that Pope Benedict has done more than anybody to create reforms in the Church! There are so many stringent protocols, and child protection systems in place now!

Reforms: forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=440812

 

[whatevergirl]

Why is the media not bringing up the fact that Pope Benedict has done more than anybody to create reforms in the Church! There are so many stringent protocols, and child protection systems in place now!

Reforms: forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=440812

I know, right? It would seem the ‘‘news’’ should change its name to ‘‘bad news.’’ But, I do not blame the media. I think it has an agenda…but the Catholic Church didn’t help things with scandals dating back to who knows when. But, I hear you…

 

[whatevergirl]

Whatever Girl, It hurts me too. I hurt for the real victims & sometimes I’m angry at their parents, also. I know that, if I or any of my brothers had told our Father that a priest had molested one of us, he would have beaten the priest to a pulp, gone to law enforcement & THEN called the Bishop. But, the shame, the tears & the anger have only hurt me. The worst offenders are gone, I think, & I, like you, have turned to prayer. Prayer for the victims, for the laity, for the good priests among us & especially for our good Pope Benedict. He knew, he knew what would happen & that’s why one of his first messages was to us, the laity. He asked:
"Pray for me, that I may not flee for fear of the wolves."

The wolves are circling & some of them are part of the Church.

God Bless you & be with you this Holy Week. I know your pain.
However, as we prepare to celebrate the fact that Christ rose from the dead, let us know that, through Him…the Pope & the Church will rise from this horror, stronger than ever.

:hug1: Praying for you, too. This post touched me so!

 

[timotheos]

It is interesting to me the evolution of the reaction to this behavior of pedophilia. When I was a kid in the '60s and '70s, there was no direct talk of it. I remember the admonition never to take candy from strangers, but I didn’t know why; there must have been something more to it than eating a tootsie roll from some guy in an old car and getting a cavity. I can only speculate that perhaps pedophiles were around, and our parents knew it, and maybe they were concerned because there was a disparity between the disgusting behavior of pedophiles and the ability of the law at the time to protect kids. Was it even a crime at the time? I don’t know.

But now it is a crime, a horrific one, and seemingly on equal par with manslaughter. How has this evolved? I find it perhaps not coincidental that our sensitivity to the heinous nature of this crime has paralleled the sexualization of our culture, and our heightened tension and ambivalence regarding sexual mores. As our culture increasingly encourages the satisfaction of sexual drives (specifically as unlinked to procreation), we have also become more sensitive to the plight of the victims. It is as if we are becoming aware of the selfish, negative consequences this hypersexuality, and we are looking for someone to be an appropriate whipping boy. Who better than errant priests, and the institution that houses them.

I don’t know. I am greatly saddened by this, but in persecution, the Church grows stronger.

-Tim

 

[anode]

The Vatican should have seen that Milwaukee had dropped the ball, that there was a massive cover-up and it was time to rectify this with an investigation, even after Murphy died. Not a formal trial–the perp was dead. But Rome could have interviewed the survivors, determined the nature and extent of the crimes and made some effort to make restitution to the victims. The fact that Murphy was old and dying gave Rome a very convenient excuse to drop everything.

The fact that the civil case was dropped is irrelevant.

I find the apparently massive efforts to defend the Vatican and Cardinal Ratzinger to be pathetic.

 

[anode]

It is interesting to me the evolution of the reaction to this behavior of pedophilia. When I was a kid in the '60s and '70s, there was no direct talk of it. I remember the admonition never to take candy from strangers, but I didn’t know why; there must have been something more to it than eating a tootsie roll from some guy in an old car and getting a cavity. I can only speculate that perhaps pedophiles were around, and our parents knew it, and maybe they were concerned because there was a disparity between the disgusting behavior of pedophiles and the ability of the law at the time to protect kids. Was it even a crime at the time? I don’t know.

But now it is a crime, a horrific one, and seemingly on equal par with manslaughter. How has this evolved? I find it perhaps not coincidental that our sensitivity to the heinous nature of this crime has paralleled the sexualization of our culture, and our heightened tension and ambivalence regarding sexual mores. As our culture increasingly encourages the satisfaction of sexual drives (specifically as unlinked to procreation), we have also become more sensitive to the plight of the victims. It is as if we are becoming aware of the selfish, negative consequences this hypersexuality, and we are looking for someone to be an appropriate whipping boy. Who better than errant priests, and the institution that houses them.

I don’t know. I am greatly saddened by this, but in persecution, the Church grows stronger.

-Tim

Right.

Blame Society.

Blame Satan.

Blame the Media.

Blame everyone except those who are directly and indirectly responsible for these tragedies.

 

[whatevergirl]

It is interesting to me the evolution of the reaction to this behavior of pedophilia. When I was a kid in the '60s and '70s, there was no direct talk of it. I remember the admonition never to take candy from strangers, but I didn’t know why; there must have been something more to it than eating a tootsie roll from some guy in an old car and getting a cavity. I can only speculate that perhaps pedophiles were around, and our parents knew it, and maybe they were concerned because there was a disparity between the disgusting behavior of pedophiles and the ability of the law at the time to protect kids. Was it even a crime at the time? I don’t know.

But now it is a crime, a horrific one, and seemingly on equal par with manslaughter. How has this evolved? I find it perhaps not coincidental that our sensitivity to the heinous nature of this crime has paralleled the sexualization of our culture, and our heightened tension and ambivalence regarding sexual mores. As our culture increasingly encourages the satisfaction of sexual drives (specifically as unlinked to procreation), we have also become more sensitive to the plight of the victims. It is as if we are becoming aware of the selfish, negative consequences this hypersexuality, and we are looking for someone to be an appropriate whipping boy. Who better than errant priests, and the institution that houses them.

I don’t know. I am greatly saddened by this, but in persecution, the Church grows stronger.

-Tim

*Women were also permitted to be beaten behind closed doors once upon a time, and there were no laws protecting them against the violence of their husbands. Thank goodness, we have evolved. Your post makes me very sad that you think some of us are ‘‘sensitive’’ to the nature of these ‘‘heinous’’ crimes. We all should be sensitive to them. *

 

[chaunceygardner]

I am scratching my head over the idea of needing Vatican intervention to do anything. Doesn’t the Bishop have the power to take action? He can’t defrock a priest, but he should certainly be able to control what a Priest does, where he serves, who he has contact with. Or am I wrong? If I would have been Murphy’s Bishop, I would have put him in a room down the hall from my office, counting beans, if that’s what it took to monitor him. And then I would have told him that one misstep and he would be in front of the DA.

This is an aspect of all these abuse revelations that thoroughly puzzles me. Perhaps someone can explain why the Bishops all appear to be so powerless.

 

[whatevergirl]

I am scratching my head over the idea of needing Vatican intervention to do anything. Doesn’t the Bishop have the power to take action? He can’t defrock a priest, but he should certainly be able to control what a Priest does, where he serves, who he has contact with. Or am I wrong? If I would have been Murphy’s Bishop, I would have put him in an office down the hall from mine counting beans, if that’s what it took to monitor him. And then I would have told him that one misstep and he would be in front of the DA.

This is an aspect of all these abuse revelations that thoroughly puzzles me. Perhaps someone can explain why the Bishops all appear to be so powerless.

Not sure if they appear powerless, they appeared afraid, maybe. I’m sure they were stunned to hear the abuse allegations, and in their defense (even though it angers and troubles me) they probably feared what they should do. And fear of public panic. You make some good points. I’m not sure why the Vatican would need to get involved at those times either, except for guidance. So, good questions.

 

[timotheos]

Right.

Blame Society.

Blame Satan.

Blame the Media.

Blame everyone except those who are directly and indirectly responsible for these tragedies.

Hey, I was just pointing out the difference in “then” vs. “now”. My own opinion regarding these pedophile priests is that they ought to be taken out back, lined up and … (well, this is a Catholic site). But indirect involvement? Hindsight is 20-20, granted, but in retrospect the bishops should have publicly defrocked every “errant” priest and turned them over to the authorities when each scandal became known. Would there have been criticism of the Church if they had done this? Almost certainly! Such as, have they now stepped onto the slippery slope, and secular authority is called in to take care of Church matters?

The whole matter is despicable. But calling for the Holy Father’s head like some are doing is terrible. Just because he has not personally delivered up each of these pedophiles throughout his tenure to satisfy the crowd’s appetite for blood, doesn’t mean he should be treated as one of them.