There are a variety of perspectives on the papal visit and perhaps no one event has elicited more response than the pope's time with the 5 survivors of clergy sexual abuse from Boston. I've already provided this link to an interview with three of those survivors (Olan Horne, Faith Johnston and Bernie McDaid) in which they discuss their own histories and their meeting with the pope. Here's a link to Jim Braude's interview of abuse survivor and author Gary Bergeron and Anne Barret Doyle of BishopAccountability.
-ConcordPastor
Dear ConcordPastor- Thank you for all the blogpostings throughout the Pope's visit. So much to absorb. Therefore, I will reserve comment until some degree of absorption has taken place.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the links, commentary and photos.
When it was first announced that the Pope was going to visit, I was totally disinterested and unenthusiastic. However, even though I am not totally on the bandwagon, I have been very impressed by what the Pope has said and done. I think we have been shown another side of this man, a side that appeared totally sincere and human and honest. I hope the Bishops all listened with both ears and take it to heart! It is an excellent beginning and I pray that new doors open and the Holy Spirit is allowed in.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the info you have given us over the past week - it was most helpful.
Father, I ahve really enjoyed your posts the past week. They have been very insightful.
ReplyDeleteA question or questions. THe Pope mentioned in his talk to the Bishops that the sex scandal had cause problems btween Bishops and his priests. This was rarely examined as to what the Holy Father could mean. I think it means many things. However I do know some Priests down here are scared if any accusation hits them that the Bishops will thrown them to the wolves. Everyone is guilty if it hits the papers according to the public so perhaps the Bishops will just have them fend for themselves
As a convert I realize that Catholics are very used to a Celibate Clergy they don't have to pay to support a family. Thus at times they don't put themselves in their shoes
I am very curious if there has been a understanding or a procedure or Deacons(with families) Priest, or Lay workers in the Church that might be accused but are innocent. TO be moe precise has there been a uniform standard to protect the rights of Cleric, Religious, or Lay person that is not just not a facade on paper
It is one of those things that don't get examined but it a important flip side to this Scandal and how we handle it.
Allegations of Sexual abuse are thrown about as to Teachers and in divorce cases all the time. At least a Teacher has a Union to pay for things.
Again I know this might not be what Benedict is talking about. However, When I hear everyone saying "Amen" about tinkering with Statute of Limitations as to time , I do wonder if people are even examing the facts.
I hear this concerns from Priests and yes I even someone know that might become a Deacon but is worrying about this.
Anyway I enjoyed your viewpoint this week
What a compelling and powerful visual. How very sad to think so many young children were abused by such sick men. I pray and hope the steps taken with the vist from the pope, lead to further steps. Steps that prevent this from ever happening again.
ReplyDeleteJamesH: Thanks for your good questions.
ReplyDeleteI'll not try to second guess what the pope was thinking when making that comment but here's what I know from my experience in Boston. An allegation is determined to be "credible" if the person making the allegation appears to be compos mentis and if, indeed, the priest was stationed in the parish the accuser names at the time the accuser indicates. When you hear a priest say that he is "one phone call away" from such an allegation, he's telling the truth. Upon deeming an allegation credible, the accused priest is removed from the parish (including his home, the rectory) and placed on administrative leave. At that point he must find housing for himself (not in another rectory) and must fend for himself in terms of securing counsel (canonical/civil) for his defense. While priests are supposed to have canonical rights in such a process, the perception of most priests is that those rights are often not observed. My own estimation is that Rome is better at defending the rights of a priest than the average diocese.
Bear in mind that these are my observations: I am not a canon lawyer.
I think there may be a word missing in your fourth paragraph, James, and thus I'm unclear about the question you pose there. If you can clarify that paragraph, I'll try to respond.
Whether any of this was what the pope was trying to address - I'm not sure. But these are some of the issues that priests face today.
Thanks Father you pretty much answered my question.
ReplyDeleteIn the end one just has to hope that good people that not only are "good" but more importantly are "competent" to decide if a complaint is credible are in palce from Diocese to Diocese I suppose