Why won't The Philadelphia Inquirer's editorial board take this strong a stand? Kudos to the Kansas City Star. Even though Cardinal Rigali sent in his resignation papers upon his 75th birthday (as required), our newspapers could do a better job of making him more uncomfortable while he waits. "Kansas City Star Calls for Bishop Finn's … Continue reading Kansas City Star Calls for Bishop’s Resignation
Tag: Catholics4change
Prosecutors’ Prophetic 2006 Letter Begged Cardinal to Consider His Conscience
In July of 2006, Maureen McCartney and Mariana Sorenson, two prosecutors assigned to the 2005 Philadelphia grand jury investigation wrote Cardinal Rigali a letter foreshadowing the 2011 Grand Jury Report. "We are writing to you as private citizens and advocates of legislative reform because we are alarmed by the message – propagated by Church lobbyists … Continue reading Prosecutors’ Prophetic 2006 Letter Begged Cardinal to Consider His Conscience
Spin Control in Philadelphia
"Crisis Control in Philadelphia," by Joan Frawley Desmond, National Catholic Register, May 26, 2011 NCR: "So boundary violations created the discrepancy between the cases in the grand jury report and Cardinal Rigali’s initial insistence that no priests with credible allegations of abuse were still in ministry? That’s why the priests were subsequently suspended? Mary Achilles: … Continue reading Spin Control in Philadelphia
Archdiocese Contracts Out Morality Lessons
Training priests that sex abuse is wrong seems besides the point. The good priests already know this. The abusive priests don't care. More importantly, who is going to teach the Bishops that they shouldn't cover up sex abuse? This is just another PR move. They are getting out in front of the very real shortcomings … Continue reading Archdiocese Contracts Out Morality Lessons
A Bishop Responds to the John Jay Report
"The Bishops' Priorities: Responding to the new John Jay Report on Sexual Abuse," by Blase J. Cupich (Bishop of Spokane, Washington) for America, The National Catholic Weekly, May 30, 2011 "Yet just as the report reinforces what we have done and are doing right in facing the problem, it also calls for additional initiatives to … Continue reading A Bishop Responds to the John Jay Report
Archdiocese Puts Review Board in Context – Their Context
COMMUNICATION FROM THE ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA: THE ARCHDIOCESAN REVIEW BOARD IN CONTEXT May 19, 2011 Documents such as this only serve to infuriate the informed. This offers bits of truth, while omitting important facts. It answers nothing. It certainly puts the Review Board in context, though. Archdiocesan leadership rendered the board completely irrelevant. Note the … Continue reading Archdiocese Puts Review Board in Context – Their Context
Another Bishop Ignores Review Board
Read this story about another Bishop's huge failure to properly utilize his review board and protect children. "One day after newspapers across the nation featured front page articles about a U.S. bishops' sponsored study on the causes of the clergy sex abuse scandal, which blamed much of the crisis on the sexual revolution of the … Continue reading Another Bishop Ignores Review Board
Becoming a Priest Amidst Controversy
"Faith Steels His Resolve," by Phil Gianficaro, Columnist, PhillyBurbs.com "The widespread cover-up of predatory priests rumbled beneath Friel's feet. He needed something to hold on to so he wouldn't fall. It wasn't necessary for him to look far. He held onto that which has never allowed him to fall. His faith in God."
Let’s Hear From the Clergy
Where does the rank and file clergy stand on the sex abuse cover up, Vatican guidelines, Amnesty International's report and the John Jay study? Cue the crickets. Except for a few strong voices, we don't hear from them in our parishes or here on this site. Why? Is it the conservative culture of the priesthood … Continue reading Let’s Hear From the Clergy
How You Can Protect Children and Renew the Church
Many may be visiting our site for the first time today. Thank you and welcome. Please visit the About page to find the mission of this site. We also urge every Catholic to read the 2011 Grand Jury Report. How You Can Help: In PA, there is no statute of limitations on murder. Yet, there … Continue reading How You Can Protect Children and Renew the Church
