Diocesan priest shortage draws questions, criticism
Published:
Not taking into consideration the fact Bishop Cullen refuses to abide by the words of his superior, the pope, who states that there are plenty of priests in other countries who seek the opportunity to come to America and serve the faithful in the United States, which the Bishop refuses to consider.
According to the Allentown Diocesan hierarchy Web site, under the last census of 2006, there were 282 priests in the diocese. Of those, a total of 210 were on “non-parish” assignments (or diocesan priests) such as in Rome, out of the country, leave of absence, or mostly administrative. There were also 44 priests who were retired or at the diocesan retirement villa, many of whom were still capable of serving Masses.
Oh, supposedly there was also substantial money offered already for some of the buildings that were recently closed. I hope the bishop can find enough priests to be cashiers when he starts turning our beautiful buildings into sales transactions.
Catholic activists press cardinal for tougher stance on abuse
Responding to the extraordinary deposition on sexual abuse released by Cardinal Francis George, victims’ advocates on Wednesday demanded more information on abusive priests and assurances that church secrecy would end.
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago agreed on Tuesday to a $12.7 million settlement involving 16 victims and 11 priests. With the settlement, the cardinal also released a 305-page transcript of a court deposition detailing errors, secrets and deception by church officials that kept abusive priests in Chicago churches for several years after allegations were made.
George became only the third American cardinal to be deposed in court for questioning on sexual abuse of children by clergy. The other two leaders are Cardinal Roger Mahony of Los Angeles and Cardinal Bernard Law, formerly of Boston.
Standing in front of the archdiocese offices on Wednesday morning, David Clohessy, of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said although the cardinal apologized, he did not assure parishioners such errors would no longer be tolerated.
“We want him to promise he will never leave a priest in place after four allegations have been made. We want him to promise he will never try to free a convicted child molester from prison early,” Clohessy said.
The deposition included details on the investigation of 11 priests, including Daniel McCormack, Joseph Bennett, and Norbert Maday. The McCormack scandal triggered outrage when it was discovered that the archdiocese failed to remove him from St. Agatha Roman Catholic Church years after initial allegations of abuse were made. According to the document, as many as 23 people have alleged abuse by McCormack, who is serving a 5-year prison sentence.
In the investigation of Bennett, the deposition said the cardinal and church officials received four detailed allegations of sexual abuse dating to 2002. But they did not remove Bennett from his South Holland church until 2006.
Regarding Norbert Maday, the deposition showed that Cardinal George wrote several letters to authorities to facilitate his early release from prison into an offenders program. Maday is accused of abusing between 35 to 45 children and remains incarcerated.
In the deposition, George is asked: “Did it ever occur to you in 2002 what it would mean to the victims … if you had been successful in facilitating early release of this convicted offender?”
George answered: “That fact that he would never function as a priest again was what most of the victims I spoke to were most concerned about, Not whether he was in prison or not.”
The deposition also included heartfelt letters George wrote to Maday. In the most recent letter dated Feb. 4, 2002, George wrote, “We have tried, as you know, a number of avenues to see if your sentence might be reduced or parole given early … I personally hope you will not lose hope.”
When asked about the correspondence, George said, “This is a father’s letter to a son in prison, a sinful son and it was designed to give him some hope and encouragement.”
The cardinal was also asked why he wrote letters to perpetrators and not to victims.
He answered, “Because somebody has to tell me information that I might base a letter on and it isn’t always sure what a victim will make of such a letter. Sometimes, victims resent being addressed by a bishop out of the blue. We ask the victim when can the cardinal apologize, when can the cardinal come into the process. That is asked right at the beginning.”
At the news conference on Wednesday, Therese Albrecht, one of Bennett’s alleged victims, said she would have appreciated a letter or meeting with George.
“I would have loved to receive a letter from the cardinal. I would like to have that chance to ask questions about my case. That would be part of my healing process,” she said [source].
Bosley Wants More Dialogue on Church Closings
Staff reports – August 13, 2008
iBerkshires
NORTH ADAMS — State Rep. Daniel E. Bosley is calling for further dialogue between parishioners, local officals and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield before the diocese implements its plan to close churches in Berkshire County.
Parishes throughout four of the diocese’s districts were informed of the changes during Masses over the weekend; Bishop Timothy A. McDonnell confirmed on Monday the six closings in Berkshire County.
In a news release Tuesday, the North Adams Democrat questioned whether the church officials really listened to parishioners and took into account the historial significance of the churches as religious and community centers. The closings were “short-sighted,” he said.
“My point is that these churches mean more to the community than just as a religious center,” Bosley responded in an e-mail about his call for a moratorium on church closures. “They are a center for our heritage and history. They have a meaning to certain ethnic groups and have an identification to our communities.”
In North County, St. Francis of Assisi and and Our Lady of Mercy churches will close and their parishes merge with St. Anthony’s to become the Parish of St. Elizabeth of Hungary. St. Stanislaus and St. Thomas churches in Adams will close and merge with Notre Dame to become the Parish of Pope John Paul the Great. North American Martyr in Lanesborough will close and its parishioners will attend churches in Dalton, Pittsfield or St. Mary’s in Cheshire.
Bosley, who converted to catholicism for his marriage, said he didn’t know if his plea would have an effect on plans that have been under discussion for at least two years. But he was concerned that the diocese leaders never contacted town and city officials to inform them of the closings.
“The church didn’t consult with or give any heads up to any local officials,” he wrote. “St. Francis is on a major corridor and is part of our skyline. St. Stan’s is one of the most beautiful churches in Massachusetts and means so much to the town and especially the Polish population. We need to take this into account.”
The diocese held several “listening sessions,” first with clergy and parish officials, then with a group of laymen selected to represent each parish. Msgr. John J. Bonzagni, head of pastoral planning, also met with some 300 parishioners at St. Francis two years ago.
McDonnell said on Monday that he knew the closings would be painful but called on parishioners to come together to create new communities of worship. The buildings were full of memories, he said, but the focus of the church should be on people.
“As for the answer that it is the people and not the buildings, shame on them,” Bosley said in his e-mail. “The Catholic Church more than most should know the meaning of symbolism. These buildings are central to the community.”
The news release Bosley issued on Tuesday follows:
For Moratorium and Dialogue on Parish Closings
This week, at a Monday morning press conference, the Diocese of Springfield announced the closing of several parishes and the consolidation of several others. This announcement comes on the heels of a letter from Springfield Bishop Timothy A. McDonnell that was read aloud at masses across the Diocese this past Sunday. This is a concern for many in the community as Church leaders have haphazardly planned the closing of these parishes without holding any formal meetings or contacting public officials.
In response to this announcement and amid public clamor, Rep. Daniel Bosley, D-North Adams, called for a public meeting to discuss the potential parish closings in the Springfield Diocese. “This announcement comes as a shock to many in the community. We need to establish a moratorium on church closings until the members of the respective parishes have had equal opportunity to weigh in on the matter,” said Bosley.
Church leaders have been short-sighted in closing local churches, where families have worshiped for generations, only to centralize under an arbitrary new name that ignores the connection that parishioners have had with their parish church and native Saint. To see St. Stanislaus on the list is a very big surprise to everyone. This is not only a church that has served its community well, but is one of the most beautiful churches in the state.
“A January 1, 2009, closing date is simply not a realistic timetable,” Bosley continued, “this heavy-handed top-down policy has not worked in other areas of the state and it will not work here. It seems strictly financially driven to announce the closing of one of the most beautiful and modern churches in the state. I wonder if this isn’t taking from Peter to pay Paul.”
There is not a true understanding of how certain parishes were chosen over other ones. Concerns exist on the closing and sale of parishes constructed on the backs of local working people. Bosley expressed concern that the nature of the community and its heritage as well as the history of these communities was not taken into account. One of the churches marked for closing is the focal point of a community while another sits on a major corridor to the North Berkshire Community.
According to Bosley, “if attendance is really the issue here, the whole community and other stakeholders should come together and decide which churches, schools and residences to close and which to keep. This decision should not simply be the summation of a tabulation at the bottom of an accountant’s ledger: we are talking about real people.”
N.S. Mounties find Jesus
Truro Daily News
MIDDLE STEWIACKE, N.S. – Jesus has been found – and Rees Rockey couldn’t be happier.
Thieves stole the metre-high concrete statue of Jesus from the grave of Rockey’ brother’s nearly two weeks ago. But when the local RCMP issued a news release on the theft, the stolen statue miraculously turned up this week on a back road in Upper Stewiacke, near Truro.
Const. Brad Wood, of Colchester County RCMP, said a passerby spotted the statue about five minutes after hearing a radio news report on the theft.
The stature wasn’t damaged, he said. “It appears someone had a guilty conscience and brought it back.”
“I was really surprised,” Rockey said. “I didn’t think we would get it back.”
The one-of-a-kind statue, made in Prince Edward Island, has been in a dome at the gravesite of Jim Rees for seven years.
“They must have had a little change of heart,” said Rockey. “I think it’s very nice of them to do that, really.”
Wood said they have no leads on the thieves and the police investigation has ended [source link].
Pedophile priest targeted in lawsuits
A Catholic priest who was recently defrocked after being convicted of child molestation has been named as a defendant in several Delaware child sex abuse lawsuits.
Attorneys for several men suing the Diocese of Wilmington for alleged sexual abuse said Tuesday that they are adding Francis DeLuca as a defendant.
Attorney Thomas Neuberger said the decision to put DeLuca in front of juries is in response to the diocese moving away from an approach aimed at settling the lawsuits. Neuberger claims that the diocese’s new bishop, Francis Malooly, has taken a hard line against alleged abuse victims and ordered that they be deposed by church attorneys.
The diocese did not immediately return a telephone call seeking comment.
DeLuca was convicted of abusing a boy in Syracuse and is among 20 diocesan priests with substantiated allegations of child sexual abuse [source].
Attorney: Diocese had history of ignoring priest sexual misconduct
An attorney for the state’s Roman Catholic diocese told a Burlington jury Wednesday it will have to step back in time in order to fairly decide if the church should pay monetary damages to a former altar boy fondled by a priest in 1978.
“More than one of you on the jury wasn’t alive then,” attorney Tom McCormick told the jury on the opening day of the second priest sexual abuse trial in four months. “How you and we can legitimately put ourselves back then, that is the challenge of this case.”
The case involves claims by a Waitsfield man who alleges that as an altar boy at Christ the King Church in Burlington in 1977 and 1978, he was fondled by the Rev. Edward Paquette between 20 and 50 times.
The man is suing the church, contending it knew Paquette was a pedophile when it hired him and failed to prevent Paquette from molesting him and other altar boys. The Free Press does not identify the victims of alleged sexual abuse without their consent.
Jerome O’Neill, the man’s attorney, told the jury during his opening arguments that the diocese was liable for damages because it ignored evidence of Paquette’s sexual misconduct and had a history of overlooking priest sexual misconduct with children.
“This was part of a larger pattern of practice by this diocese,” O’Neill said of the incidents involving his client.
The trial is expected to continue through next week [source].
Sex abuse lawsuit against Jesuits settled
PORTLAND, Ore. — [source]:
A $15 million sex abuse lawsuit against a pair of Jesuit priests has been settled for an undisclosed amount.
Lawyers for a woman who claimed she was abused as a young girl say they were ready to go to trial after a judge refused to dismiss the case against the Oregon Province of the Society of Jesus.
The woman claimed she was abused by priests James Poole and Frank Duffy between the ages of 6 and 9.
The Jesuits are a religious order of the Roman Catholic Church, whose Portland archdiocese was the first in the nation to declare bankruptcy over sex abuse cases in 2004.
Most of those cases were settled last year for more than $50 million total.
Pastor Charged for Molesting 7 year old Girl
He’s a village pastor but tonight 34 year old Victor Garcia is accused of a hideous case of child molestation. He is the husband of a woman who was babysitting a 7 year old girl. But two weeks ago on the afternoon of July 30th., the child was napping at the babysitter’s home when Garcia allegedly woke her up and took her into the bathroom where he had sex with her and forced her to perform oral sex on him. A doctor who examined the child concluded that she was carnally known.
Late this evening, the pastor was arraigned in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court #1 in front of Chief Magistrate Margaret Gabb-McKenzie where he was charged with one count of unlawful carnal knowledge. In court, no plea was taken and Chief Magistrate Margaret Gabb-McKenzie told Garcia that she could not give him bail.
After his arraignment, the Chief Magistrate ordered that Garcia’s status must be looked into. A call to the Belize Immigration Department was futile as the court could not yet determine his status. Garcia who says he is originally from Guatemala claims he is awaiting Belizean citizenship since he is married to a Belizean. He has been place on remand until September 15 [source].
Sex abuse victim unhappy with apology
August 13, 2008 – 11:34AM
An apology from the Catholic Archbishop of Sydney to sexual abuse victim Anthony Jones is “window dressing” in the face of bad publicity, Mr Jones says.
The former Catholic educator was indecently assaulted by a priest, Terrence Goodall, in 1982.
He has accused Cardinal George Pell of being “deceitful” in his handling of the allegations that led to Goodall being convicted of indecent assault in 2005.
In 2003 Dr Pell wrote to Mr Jones saying the complaint was unsubstantiated and no one else had contacted the church with complaints about Goodall, but he has since admitted being mistaken when he wrote that letter.
At a press conference last month Dr Pell admitted he had wrongly characterised his personal dismissal of rape allegations as the finding of a church investigation.
On Tuesday Mr Jones received a one-page letter from Dr Pell offering an apology for his February 2003 letter and proposing a meeting between the two men.
“I am writing to you personally so that you know directly from me that the commitments I made publicly in relation to you in light of the information that came to my attention following my press conference on July 8, 2008, were genuine,” Dr Pell wrote.
“At the press conference I was asked if I was prepared to apologise to you. I said then, and I wish to repeat to you directly, that I do apologise to you for my letter to you in February 2003, which was poorly drafted and, I regret, open to interpretation which I did not intend.”
On Wednesday, Mr Jones said he would meet Dr Pell on his terms, but added that the contents of the letter did not mean “a great deal”.
“The problem is the truth is still not being told,” he told AAP.
“Cardinal Pell is being deceitful, dishonest and protecting the church and this is nothing but window dressing because they have come under so much pressure over this.”
Mr Jones said past offers from Dr Pell for the pair to meet had come with the condition that the facts and details of the assault would not be discussed.
“Unless he’s prepared to do that, to sit down and hear me and discuss the facts and debate the detail, then there’s no point in meeting,” he said.
“The facts are well and truly established, they have been well aired in the media.”
Mr Jones said his lawyer would reply to Dr Pell’s letter, outlining the grounds on which he was prepared to meet the cardinal.
Sex Abuse Cases against Archdiocese of Chicago
[1st source]:
Settlements name 10 priests, including Daniel McCormack
CHICAGO, Aug 12, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — WHATAt a news conference, survivors of clergy sex abuse and their attorneys will announce and discuss the settlement of child molestation cases involving 10 priests of the Archdiocese of Chicago: Daniel McCormack, Joseph Bennett, Norbert Maday, Robert Mayer, James Hagan, Robert Craig, Robert Becker, Thomas Kelly, James Steel, and Joseph Owens. Additional information will be provided at the press event.
WBM Exclusive: $12M Settlement In Preist Abuse Cases
WBBM780 – Chicago,IL,USACHICAGO (WBBM/AP) — As first reported by WBBM Newsradio, the Archdiocese of Chicago says it’s agreed to pay $12.675 million to settle lawsuits that accused 11 Catholic priests of sexual abuse.
WBBM’s Mike Krauser reports.Cardinal Francis George announced the $12.675 million settlement himself, which involves ten Chicagoland priests and 16 abuse cases.
The Cardinal apologized to the priests’ victims. He says the church is “certainly wounded’ by the abuse and he hopes the settlements will allow the victims to heal.
“In the sense that I’m responsible for the Archdiocese, I have to accept the blame,” George said. “I think the decisions as I made them were based upon what was in front of me at any one time, but I regret with all my heart that I didn’t feel I was able to take (McCormack) out immediately.”
Attorney Jeff Anderson represents some of the victims and praised the mediation process used to reach the agreement. Anderson also said the cardinal has “demonstrated his commitment to healing these survivors.’In a statement, Cardinal George says he hopes the settlements will help the abuse survivors and their families begin to heal.
These abuse cases date back to the 1960s and extend through 2006. All of the priests have been removed from public ministry.
The following is a list of the priests involved and their current status:- Robert C. Becker, died in 1989.
- Joseph R. Bennett, removed from the ministry in 2006.
- Robert Craig, resigned in 1993.
- James C. Hagan, resigned in 1997.
- Thomas F. Kelly, died in 1990.
- Norbert Maday, removed from the ministry in 1993 and now in prison.
- Robert E. Mayer, resigned in 1994.
- Daniel J. McCormack, removed from the ministry in 2006 and now in prison.
- Joseph Owens, resigned in 1970.
- Kenneth C. Ruge, died in 2002.
- James Steel, resigned in 1992.You may recall McCormack is serving a five year prison term for abusing five boys. An allegation he fondled at least one boy was reported by the boy’s mother, who eventually called police herself when Archdiocese took no steps toward removing McCormack.
According to an attorney for the plaintiffs, this is in his words “A pretty historic event.”
Chicago archdiocese settles priest sex-abuse cases for $12.7 million
2 lawsuits involved convicted ex-clergyman Daniel McCormack
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago will pay $12.7 million to settle lawsuits brought by clergy sex-abuse victims, including boys molested by Daniel McCormack, a former priest on the West Side, church officials said Tuesday.
The settlement covers cases involving 16 abuse survivors and 11 priests, including McCormack, who pleaded guilty last year to abusing five boys and has been sentenced to 5 years in prison. Two of the suits settled Tuesday involved McCormack, and the archdiocese said it has now settled four of the five cases against him.
Cardinal Francis George said he hoped the payouts would help bring closure for the victims.
“My hope is that these settlements will help the survivors and their families begin to heal and move forward,” George said. “I apologize again today to the survivors and their families and to the whole Catholic community.
“We must continue to do everything in our power to ensure the safety of the children in our care.”
Lawyers for the victims identified the priests or former priests involved in the settlement as McCormack, Joseph Bennett, Norbert Maday, Robert Mayer, James Hagan, Robert Craig, Robert Becker, Thomas Kelly, James Steel, Joseph Owens and Kenneth Ruge.
As George was announcing the settlement, two abuse victims and their lawyers held a somber news conference a short distance away to thank the archdiocese.
“This goes a long way to help those survivors in their recovery,” said Jeff Anderson, one of the attorneys in the case, during the news conference at the Loop offices of Kerns, Frost & Pearlman.
Still, it was clear from the two victims that the settlement could not provide closure to an ugly chapter in their lives.
“After all these years burying it deep inside, suicide attempts, I know that is wasn’t my fault,” said Bob Brancato, who was abused by Steel, his priest at St. Joseph the Worker Church in Wheeling, when he was 12 and 13. “I now can have a life without the fear and shame that surrounds the abuse that we victims have gone through.”
But there is no amount of time or money that can change what happened, Brancato said.
“The best way I can express this is you never get over this, you get used to it,” he said.
The latest settlements bring the total number of abuse claims settled by the archdiocese to 250 over the last 30 years.
Cardinal Francis George, at Tuesday’s news conference with Jimmy Lago, chancellor of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago, hopes the settlement in the priest sex-abuse cases will help the survivors begin to heal. (Tribune photo by Chuck Berman / August 12, 2008)
More sources:
Chicago Archdiocese to pay $12.6 million to 16 sex abuse survivors
Catholic Weekly – Saginaw,MI,USA
By Catholic News Service CHICAGO (CNS) — The Archdiocese of Chicago has agreed to pay 16 victims of clergy sex abuse more than $12.6 million in a …
Dallas Morning News – Dallas,TX,USA
Catholic News Service has the story about the latest settlement in the clergy sex abuse scandal. Comments limited to 30 words or less are preferred. …
