The Catholic leadership’s cover up of clergy sex abuse takes on epic proportions in Ireland as evidenced in this newly-released report. Read about it on MSNBC. “Irish to Unveil New Report on Catholic Child Abuse,” by the Associated Press, MSNBC, July 13, 2011.
The most interesting fact in this article is the Vatican’s 1997 letter to the Irish bishops.
There is hope, however, read the article on the revolt of Austrian priests in this week’s National Catholic Reporter.
There is hope for real change in our Church.
Elizabeth, you wrote:
“There is hope, however, read the article on the revolt of Austrian priests in this week’s National Catholic Reporter.
There is hope for real change in our Church.”
Do you believe the kind of change the priests are said to advocate will make a difference in how children are abused in the Roman system? Aren’t these priests and the laity who support them only working to make over the Roman church in their own image? Don’t you see that the Roman “church” is a counterfeit of the saving gospel of grace, the Cross of Christ, His resurrection from the dead and salvation to all whom believe?
Don’t be deceived all over again by these false prophets. Learn a lesson. It is past time, and judgment draws near. Eternity is forever; where we go at death is permanent, never ending! Choose now!
Elizabeth, you wrote:
“There is hope, however, read the article on the revolt of Austrian priests in this week’s National Catholic Reporter.
There is hope for real change in our Church.”
Do you believe the kind of change the priests are said to advocate will make a difference in how children are abused in the Roman system? Aren’t these priests and the laity who support them only working to make over the Roman church in their own image? Don’t you see that the Roman “church” is a counterfeit of the saving gospel of grace, the Cross of Christ, His resurrection from the dead and salvation to all whom believe?
Don’t be deceived all over again by these false prophets. Learn a lesson. It is past time, and judgment draws near. Eternity is forever; where we go at death is permanent, never ending! Choose now
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/25/AR2010032502363.html
After reading the first few pages of the report a few things are clear. You only need to subsitute the names Philadelphia,Cardinal Rigali and Bevilaqua and Monsignor Lynn with the Diocese of Coyne,Bishop Magee and Monsignor O’Callaghan and basically it is like reading the Philadelphia Grand Jury reports.
1.74 The principal feature of this report can be simply expressed. The
Diocese of Cloyne ostensibly accepted the Framework Document and
promised to implement it. It did not do so. On the contrary, Bishop Magee
appears to have taken little real interest in its implementation for 12 years. He
allowed the authority of the diocese in this regard to be exercised for that
period by others, in particular Monsignor O’Callaghan. Monsignor
O’Callaghan acted in what he perceived to be the best interests of the
Church. The Commission accepts that he was personally kind in many
respects to some complainants but kindness is not enough when dealing with
criminal activity or with people who have been abused.
Exactly.
This is a world-wide, consistent, organized approach to concealing rampant child sex abuse by Catholic priests. In places where its investigated by outsiders – like Philly, Ireland, and hopefully in Kansas City and a thousand other cities.
It’s organized crime, and should be investigated and prosecuted using RICO statutes. Unlike the mafia, it’s not the job of the church to commit these crimes, but there’s no question whatsoever that they committed thousands of child sex crimes in the United States alone, and covered it up in criminal fashion, although they knew the laws well enough to outlast the statute of limitations.
This makes them an organized crime institution, and they should be investigated like the mafia.
The fact that they continue to ignore or fight the victims, and the fact that they continue to lie and mislead their sheepish congregation makes them a horrible church. God made the laws so simple, yet they don’t follow them, and their congregation can’t figure that out.
If any victims, family members of victims, or supporters would like to join us – Support Group meeting tonight:
Faith Lutheran Church
4150 Woodhaven Road
Philadelphia, PA 19154
Meeting is from 7pm – 9pm
Peace out!
Archdiocesan officials said they received an allegation of abuse against Engelhardt, Jan. 30, 2009 and immediately turned the allegation over to the Philadelphia District Attorney. That same day they ordered Engelhardt to leave his residence at Resurrection of Our Lord parish in northeast Philadelphia where he was parochial vicar, an assistant to the pastor, said Donna Farrell, director of communications for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. The parish includes a school with pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. (delco times)
The grand jury’s charges stem from cases in recent years. The report alleges Avery joined Shero and Father Engelhardt in the abuse of a 10-year-old boy from approximately 1998 to 2000. The Archdiocese received an allegation concerning Father Engelhardt in 2009 and reported it to the Philadelphia district attorney. His ministry was restricted Feb. 10, 2011.
from
http://cst-phl.com/archdiocese-responds-to-indictments-p2344-1.htm
can’t get a straight story from Ireland or the USA. And they will interrogate a victim over a years difference. Sorry, been having a few bad days sorry for the typos
For Ed:
This might help clarify things for you.
http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2011/02/24/news/doc4d65d66270b86211403289.txt?viewmode=comments
Michele
Thank you Michele, I was an Oblate and know how entrench this problem is. My superiors wanted evidence when I had none and probably the kids involve were too young to know what happened( friends didn’t allow me the actual names)
Would like to find at least one news article for each representative to demonstrate how bad it is in PA and why the SOL limitations hurt the cause of stopping child abuse. I am well aware of the many victims that have not had their voices heard and those who tried by were silenced by our legal system. Also, because of people who are close and dear to me I can’t discuss why I get so angry about this.
Wish I could do more, but I am limited from a stroke.Agani thank you, I rarely read the comments from an article.
I am not conpletely honest here. Also refering to a victim who suffered abuse in the 60’s who called the faculty house and confronted a priest weekly on the phone and the priest was found not guilty( not innocent we presume innocence not pronounce innocence). As the trial happened decades latter some of the facts were distorted. There was a two difference that allowed the judge to find the priest not guilty. So survivors, please write down whatever you can remember so when it is your turn you can have the facts ready. Also, in Philly are the sexual victims still sent to Bridssburg/arsennel? Thought that was a terrible place to take a child especially after being molested.
two year difference (two difference) sorry
The New York Times has an article today about the scathing Irish Catholic child sex abuse report. The article says what you already knew – the Catholic church doesn’t care about child sex abuse, and it goes all the way up to the Vatican and the Pope. You knew this, but there is more proof that will diminish the sheep that still defend the Catholic church.
Here’s the important part for us – look at the comments, and sort them by popularity, i.e. http://community.nytimes.com/comments/www.nytimes.com/2011/07/14/world/europe/14church.html?sort=recommended
You see 100 anti-church comments before you one, weak, veiled pro-Catholic comment (saying this is a witch hunt by people who want gay marriage and women priests).
The fact is that the tide is turning quickly, and its getting closer to the time when you’ll be able to protest in front of the church and others will join you. More of the faithful will support criminal investigations, and more of these pedophile priests and bishops will be prosecuted and put in jail.
Fewer Catholics will swing their political clout to intimidate those who try to prosecute the church hierarchy, and justice is getting closer.
Patrick,
I believe it’s been slow moving, but the tide is definitely turning. I too, believe more and more people in the pews will be brought out of (or slapped out of) their denial. No longer will they be able to hide behind, “We just weren’t aware.”
I get waves of tremendous gratitude and humility when I realize just what it took the first survivors to speak out…what it required (and continues to require) to speak the truth and be betrayed, many times, by their own family, but absolutely by the church hierarchy and for the longest time (and still today) by the people in the pews. SLOWLY, the tide turns as the parishoners start to believe the victims and their families and begin to speak up and stand with us. It may not be easy to stand in front of your church, start a blog to speak out about this…but this isn’t the beginning, this is the “FINALLY” moments tainted with thankfulness and anger. Thankful that many finally see, but anger because it means they too chose to look away and betray the victims. I want the people in the pews to admit their complacency allowed the abuse to continue…you (parishoners), just like the parents who couldn’t fathom such a thing, or brother priests and bishops who chose to believe the pedophile priest…you chose to ignore the urgency, you chose to believe your priests, bishops, cardinals and pope over the victims. Yes, the tide is turning and I. AM. GRATEFUL. But, I’m still left wondering , “Where were you when we needed you?” Where is the space for healing in the RCC today? IS the tide turning because it now affects your chidren? or because you finally believe it happened as the victims tell you it did?”
Thank you to every victim who has had the courage to come forward…to stand for truth when it was only one person demonstrating outside a church or chancery!
It’s all coming out now. Something has been terrible wrong in the Church for a very long time.
I don’t think things will ever get better until priests are allowed to marry. It wasn’t until the fourth century that priests were no longer able to be married.
What would Jesus want? Most of His apostles were married.
jm said:”It’s all coming out now. Something has been terrible wrong in the Church for a very long time.
I don’t think things will ever get better until priests are allowed to marry. It wasn’t until the fourth century that priests were no longer able to be married.
What would Jesus want? Most of His apostles were married.”
It appears you believe simply allowing married priests will make everything “the way Jesus wanted.” Sorry to say, you couldn’t be more mistaken/misguided. According to the bible– Christ’s Body the church [assembly called out]has no priests except One– Christ Himself. He once and for all time offered the sacrifice for sin, once. Israel had, and will someday have priests again. Romanism wants to be Israel, that’s why they have their false “priests”, but they are “the synagogue of Satan” and not Jews. Don’t continue down that road if that is the road you are on.