Click here to read: “Lawyers for Msgr. Lynn seek dismissal of retrial for prosecutorial misconduct,” by h
by Joseph A. Slobodzian, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Dec. 16, 2016
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20161217_Lawyers_for_Msgr__Lynn_seek_dismissal_of_retrial_for_prosecutorial_misconduct.html
This Bishop is a total Scandal to all of us especially to the Catholic Church!! He had signed the agreement that any priest would be reported who was a pedophile. He obviously chose to hide these priest who were committing crimes, and moved them around! He is NOT A SUITABLE person to be a Bishop and should be defrocked!! Sr. Veronica
It was good to see Rigali’s name make it into an article about the abuse problem in Philly. Granted it was brought up by the defense, but at least it is in the dialogue. I always remember a few weeks after the 2011 Grand Jury report he took a trip to the Holy Land leaving a shocked laity and decimated clergy behind. What a story remains to be told of Rigali’s reign and the betrayal of victims and children left at risk by questionable priests left in ministry. It doesn’t seem like the prosecution or local press seem too interested, and he remains untouched.
Of course a case of a child being harmed would be needed for criminal prosection and I sure hope that didn’t happen between the 2005 and 2011 GJ reports.
Rigali is such a mystery that when he slipped back into town for the official unveling of his portrait, Catholic Philly which officially covers the Archdiocese, did not even know of the event. We informed them from some info that came our way. You cant make this stuff up as they say.
Kathy, thank God we have Simon and Garfunkel to help us out here re Rigali’s operating “under the cover of darkness”:
You know the nearer your destination
The more you’re slip slidin’ away
Wow, a portrait…………
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A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.
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I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.c
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A hired man, who is not a shepherd and whose sheep are not his own, sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf catches and scatters them.d
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This is because he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep.
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I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me,
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just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I will lay down my life for the sheep.e
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I have other sheep* that do not belong to this fold. These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock, one shepherd.f
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This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again
The above is from the Bishops Conference website.
I have been thinking, reading and reflecting on shepherds, their role as protectors, what it means to be a good mom and candy canes. Real shepherds are always on watch, don’t run away and were usually the sons that didn’t inherit the land and wealth of their fathers. I think most moms and dads could say one of the hardest jobs they had was being a parent. There is no vacation from our concern for our children. As for the candy canes…….my youngest came home and told me all about the symbolism of the candy cane……..when I see the candy canes on the Christmas tree and when I am out and about I will be reminded that the good shepherd always protects and doesn’t run away because he loves us anything less is “a hired man”……….
Beth: Thank you for posting this. It really got me thinking. What happens when the shepherds become those we need protection from? It is their job to protect the sheep and the lambs from the wolves. Who is there to protect the lambs and the sheep when the shepherds become the wolves. Isn’t that the story of the sex abuse crisis in the Catholic Church? The shepherds attacked the lambs and the lambs were left to fend for themselves. I hope you, your family and all those who post here have a Blessed Christmas.
Jim, Your are absolutely right. The shepherds have become wolves and thieves. It is disorienting and devastating. The passage doesn’t say anything about shepherds protecting other shepherds either. They are suppose to protect the most vulnerable …..the sheep and lambs. I was reading the bishops are suppose to visit the remains of St. Peter and Paul every 5yrs. I understand the reason more after returning from Rome in Oct.myself. The trip made my faith stronger by the concrete evidence of the faithful men and woman of the catholic church. Under every altar in Rome which has about 500 churches is the body of a Saint. Saints like Catherine of Sienna, St. Monica, St. Peter, St. Paul and on and on. I have no idea there were so Saint ‘s bodies in Rome. There were also artifacts/relics brought back from Saint Helen ……Constantine’s mother. Everytime you went into a church in Rome you were reminded that some man or woman gave their life for Jesus. It was very powerful and moving. There were supposedly pieces of Jesus cross and the manger even the handcuffs Saint Paul had on when he was led to prison. Going to Rome for the bishops I believe is a reminder that they too are to lay down their life if necessary. Sadly the passed couples years I have been thinking upon entering a church in the USA of the innocent children some that I have even become friends with as adult survivors that have been violated by priests and bishops. I have been reading the bible and the job description of the bishops they are suppose to be “faithful” and to create “unity” and “communion” and be the “visible sign” of Christ. They have failed and many will end up in Hell. Many Saints have said similar things of their bishops also. Bishops and priests have more responsibility for souls then the average lay person their judgement by God will be more severe. My dad use to say “life is not fair or easy” ………this is while he was dying of cancer but he always had hope…….I do too and that hope is Jesus Christ…….I still believe that if we let him use us he can do amazing things thru us…….Thankyou Jim for your friendship and I also wish you a Blessed Christmas and a Happy New Years and I know and believe your voice on this site is a blessing to so many people. Peace.
“I had no idea…’
Here’s what’s really going on:
http://www.bigtrial.net/2017/01/lead-detective-in-billy-doe-case-didnt.html
And Chaput gave this fraud $5 million.
Ralph, that’s probably about the same amount of parishioners’ cash that he will be spending to block and defeat Rep. Rozzi’s SOL legislative proposals in Harrisburg…………
Then, there is the big cash Chaput will be spending to develop the valuable commercial real estate in and around archdiocesan HQ and the Basilica in the exclusive Logan Square area…….
Michael Skiendzielewski
Susan, No question that Billy Doe’s story has a great deal of inconsistency in it. Over the last approximately 5 years Ralph and others have done a good job of uncovering that fact. The other fact is that if I recall correctly Billy Doe was on the witness stand for more than a day and when all was said and done his family was saying something like “They didn’t lay a glove on him” If all his testimony was that inconsistent how come the defense attorneys like Bergstrom & McGovern couldn’t find a way to raise a reasonable doubt in the jury’s mind? I find this almost as hard to believe as some of Billy’s wild tales. Many unanswered questions in my mind and we’ll probably never get the answers. LLW
LLW in the Lynn trial Billy Doe was not cross examined because Avery had already plead guilty. The jury was not allowed to know of the guilty plea which of course could have influenced their decision on the Lynn child endangerment charge if they knew that info. My recollection is that if the defense cross examined and cast doubt on the Avery guilt then the prosecution could either disclose the guilty plea or call Avery to the stand..not sure which but it would have revealed the guilty plea.
The mood in the courtroom was subdued. He only testified to the alleged abuse by Avery. A witness before testified to his abuse by Avery and the case was shown where that victim had alerted Lynn by letter of the danger Avery posed. So with no cross examination ,the other victim testimony and evidence produced, it was not at all the fireworks one might expect. That all came later, not so much in the Lynn case testimony.
The demeanor of Doe and his family was consistent with what you would expect,no arrogance or swagger. We actually bumped into Doe in the stairwell and a survivor with us said something like “I understand” as we passed , he gave what seemed like a sincere nod.
I don’t think Ralph’s blog of that day called him out as a liar.
He was cross examined in the Shero/Englehardt case I believe.Ralph can fill in on that,we were not present