Why do some of our diocese shield abusive priests?

[Thomas48]

It disgusts me and I would think anyone with a basic moral compass on how some of our diocese shield abusive priests. I have seen case after case after case of how one of our diocese had received complaints of abuse by a priest but they simply transfer said priest to a new parish where there is a chance that the priest may continue to abuse. These abused youth are scarred for the rest of their lives and in so many cases have yet to receive justice.

The Latin Church does not stand alone on this issue, my Eastern Church has reported instances in which the eparchy does the same exact thing. A diocese is supposed to be a beacon of Christs love and will but yet some of these diocese are doing the exact opposite in these situations. I was very happy at the hardline stance that Benedict Mar Papa took on abuse and the hardline stance that Francis Mar Papa is currently taking on it but is the will of our popes enough? Some diocese still continue to protect these priests at the expense of a child’s life and for what? To save face? For pride?

I understand that this is a controversial issue but it perplexes me to comprehend any legit reasoning and or motive behind a diocese defense of an abusive priest. Why is a child’s life and well being so easily taken for granted.

 

[Casilda]

These abused youth are scarred for the rest of their lives and in so many cases have yet to receive justice.

I know such a person, he is 60 now. Such suffering, the church doesn’t acknowledge.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

I agree that just transferring priests to some other location, perhaps trying to pick one where they felt the priest would not be tempted (example: transferring a priest with a history of abusing a young boy over to an all-girls school) was a bad, high risk strategy and the Church should have known better.

Regarding current cases, while I think there has been more light shed on them now than the cases in the past (in part this has been due to media coverage and victims speaking up, and not entirely the Church’s doing), we have to remember that in USA, people are innocent until proven guilty, and the priest is entitled to a legal defense. The Church will also be looking to limit its financial liability and avoid bad PR. So a bunch of lawyers will be involved and they will advise the Church as well as the individual priest on what steps to take. This is how it works in USA when someone is accused of a crime and his employer may be held liable.

In some cases also, priests have been found not guilty or the accuser recanted the accusation later, so not every priest accused of abuse is automatically guilty. There have been child abuse accusations involving poor investigative procedure or false memories of adults. I know it is not popular to say these things, but it is on the record that they have happened.

 

[PJH_74]

Bishop Dolan, who’s arguable the highest profile and defato leader of the US church, as the Bishop of Milwaukee was involved in some egregious tactics to avoid financial responsibility. Under him something like $50 million was dumped in to their Catholic cemeteries. Generations of my family are buried in them, I can assure you upkeep is not an issue. The Diocese then declared Bankruptcy. It was later determined that the dumping of the money was illegal and the Diocese had to return much of the money. This dragged on over 4 years and consumed who knows how much of the money Catholics made in offerings and any resolution for those involved.

My opinion, Rome should have been involved in the reparation payments to the victims. The Vatican is extremely wealthy and this wouldn’t have hurt them at all. Rome had the ultimate discretion of over how this was addressed and it looks like the local dioceses were left to fend for themselves.

 

[Thomas48]

Reparations to victims of abuse is a positive move on the diocese but I do not think victims of abuse get closure and full justice until their abuser pays for their crimes. I can only imagine how it feels to live with perhaps the life long pain and scarring of abuse while your abuser roams free. No amount of money can change this.

 

[Rau]

It disgusts me and I would think anyone with a basic moral compass on how some of our diocese shield abusive priests.

In which Diocese(s) do you believe this is a continuing problem? Evidence should of course be reported to the police.

 

[Thomas48]

Personally I know of one but would rather not disclose for the reason of privacy of those involved, they have already petitioned to the Church and of course to the authorities. Others are of course from the countless reports on abuse, a great example is of the Father Maskell case at Archbishop Keough Highschool.

My question is simply for a rationale as to why these diocese, anywhere that abuse is going on today or that already occurred in the past, would shield these men. To me there is no viable rationale.

 

[Rau]

My question is simply for a rationale as to why these diocese, anywhere that abuse is going on today or that already occurred in the past, would shield these men. To me there is no viable rationale.

There is no acceptable rationale. If there is evidence that crimes are being concealed, then that must be reported to the police.

 

[Rau]

you are talking about a topic that has come to light in recent decades; that has exposed corruption and injustice from the top down. There are very many speculative answers as to why the Vatican has shielded abusive priests.

There is limited value in factoring the Vatican into the issue. To do so may even be a distraction. Bishops are subject to local laws and local law enforcement has the wherewithal to investigate and where appropriate prosecute those who have shielded priests and placed young people at grave risk.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Others are of course from the countless reports on abuse, a great example is of the Father Maskell case at Archbishop Keough Highschool.

Father Maskell did horrible things, but he has been dead for many years, and he committed his crimes decades ago, so this is not evidence of a continuing problem today.

 

[Thomas48]

That I know, I’m simply giving an example of a case where the diocese was negligent.

 

[spiritualsoldier]

St. Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle.
Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
and do thou,
O Prince of the heavenly hosts,
by the power of God,
thrust into hell Satan,
and all the evil spirits,
who prowl about the world
seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

O Divine Eternal Father, in union with your Divine Son, and through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I beg you to destroy the power of your greatest enemy – Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Cast them into the deepest recesses of Hell and chain them there forever! Take possession of your Kingdom, which you have created and which is rightfully yours.

Heavenly Father, give us the reign of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. I repeat this prayer out of pure love for You with every beat of my heart and with every breath I take. Amen.

August Queen of Heaven, sovereign
Mistress of the Angels, who didst
receive from the beginning the mission
and the power to crush the serpent’s head,
we beseech thee to send thy holy Angels,
that under thy command and by thy power,
they may pursue the evil spirits, encounter
them on every side, resist their bold attacks,
and drive them hence into the abyss of woe.
Most holy Mother, send thy angels to defend us
and to drive the cruel enemy from us. Amen.
All ye holy Angels and Archangels help and defend us. Amen

 

[randomuser888]

My opinion, Rome should have been involved in the reparation payments to the victims. The Vatican is extremely wealthy and this wouldn’t have hurt them at all.

G.W. reportedly granted immunity to the Vatican from any lawsuit. Accordingly, the DOJ (including Obama’s DOJ for those who want to “go there”) can’t do a thing. I believe the immunity granted by G.W. was pontiff-specific – however, I don’t even think Hillary could have ‘undone’ the immunity G.W. granted the Vatican.

 

[BadLt]

Money and the fear of losing parishioners which is also linked to money. The “putting on the blinders” by the laypeople only allows this to continue.

 

[superblue]

it isn’t a limited value or distraction, it is just the truth. An the thing about the truth is that it is neither positive or negative it is what it is.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Money and the fear of losing parishioners which is also linked to money. The “putting on the blinders” by the laypeople only allows this to continue

I’m not sure this is quite true. I think in some instances, at least, the bishop was confused as to what to do, got bad advice from counsel, or maybe even thought the offender could be “cured” by therapy.

 

[Rau]

I think in some instances, at least, the bishop was confused as to what to do, got bad advice from counsel, or maybe even thought the offender could be “cured” by therapy.

I hope none remain confused, and all are clear on what to do now.

 

[MaryT777]

This is an excellent point. The thought that pedophiles could be “cured by treatment” was the prevailing thought of the day when I was in nursing school in the early 80’s, They sent people to treatment of various kinds that proved to be ineffective many YEARS later given the recidivism rate.

Thus the Church would have been advised that treatment would be effective and sent priests for treatment and then transfer them.

Now we know differently, but that wasn’t always the case.

I think the Church has done everything possible to compensate victims for these crimes and now they are reported to the police most hopefully.

I also know several priests falsely accused to 30 year+ year allegations. That was the flip side of the coin as well.

Let us pray that now with safeguards in place here at least in the US, and a better understanding of child sexual abuse these predators will be reported and weeded out.

Certainly a dark spot in the history of the Church the transfer of such priests when the knowledge was there this should have been reported to the authorities but I believe the Church has learned an expensive lesson and is now in a better place regarding this issue.

I pray for the victims they receive the help they need to heal and the Catholic Church as well that it will do everything possible to make sure this happens no more.

 

[StarMapp]

In the paper Dallas Essential Norms, the reason is outlined. I think of the many concerns outlined in that paper, there is the one that concerns all Catholics, that debts to society are paid, and the temptation to extend sentences(double jeopardy) by exposing lives that have long been changed, serves no purpose in our Faith. It is a trademark that separates our Faith from worldly derived faiths that cater to revenge, or policies that suggest issues in this regard can never be resolved. .

This is the sign that the Catholic has moved on past that barrier of lukewarmness that restricts him, and now is freed to attain the epitomy of his Faith, true substantiated forgiveness of the heart.

There is a legal and civil way of addressing the concern, (not necessarily condoning the practice), and that is to elect judges that provide for sentencing, death sentences excluded of course. But to burden the Catholic with temptations that would suggest he attack the very foundations of his Faith is uncharitable.

But to the op, I think this snapshot of what is occuring is not the true picture of the past decade. I would say a very small percentage of new crimes(I’ll venture less than 1% of the world cases) are occuring, and the flames are now fanned by the majority of long past cases that have been addressed. I would like to see this issue ended, and for everyone to take confidence that the issue is being dealt with. Be kind to our Church. It needs to be portrayed in it’s true image, it’s Founder.

 

[iggypkrebsbach]

Hi Thomas,

The reasons for the bishops failure to protect child are numerous. Some bishops took their “kingly” role too seriously. Bernard Law comes to mind. Too lofty to be concerned with such trifles.

Some were dupes of the therapists who, as we now know, were largely informed by Kinsey and their ilk. There is no cure for pedophilia. Judith Reisman wrote on this back in the day.

Some were simply playing the bureaucrat and were more concerned with money and power and reputation.

Some were gay and were just protecting their own. This last category is perhaps typified by Weakland of Milwaukee, who was himself accused of abuse, although the young man was older than 18 at the time. The entrenched gay community in the church cannot be dismissed as explanation for much of the abuse and much of the coverup.