There are new and tragic stories in the media of the abuse of children by clergy and religious. Some of those stories concern the Church in Ireland and more recently there have been reports of abuse from the Church in Germany.As usual, Rocco Palmo at Whispers in the Loggia has solid, trustworthy, up to date reports on these stories. If you're interested in following this news I recommend Whispers as a reliable source of information. Just in the last couple of days Rock has published on the story from Germany here, here, here, here and here.
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Father I know one shouldn't bury their head in the sand concerning this issue but I find it very sad and I hate how some people will use it against my beloved church. It seems the breath of Satan has entered the sanctury of the church in the form of these horrible acts........:-) Hugs
ReplyDeleteThis sounds all too familiar. Here's a summary of Rocco's articles.
ReplyDeleteIn January, 1980 the Diocese of Essen transfers H. to the Archdiocese of Munich. It was known at the time that he had to undergo therapy presumably on account of sexual relations with a teenager.
In 1980 it was decided to provide accommodations in a rectory to H so that he could undergo therapy. The then Archbishop Ratzinger approved this decision.
H. was assigned by the then Vicar General to assist with pastoral care without restriction care in a Münich parish.
??? They know this guy has undergone treatment for sexual abuse of teenagers and they put no restrictions on him?????
From February 1, 1980 to August 31, 1982 there are no complaints or accusations against H. on file.
From September, 1982 to the beginning of 1985 H. was active assisting with pastoral care in Grafing. After reports of accusations of sexual abuse and the initiation of a police inquiry, January 29, 1985 H. was removed from service by decree.
In June, 1985, Chaplain H. was convicted by the court of Ebersberg and sentenced to 18 months of imprisonment with probation, fined 4000 marks, and the probation period was set at five years
From November, 1986 to October, 1987 H. was assigned as the curate in a senior citizens’ home.
Finally, until September, 2008, he served in a parish in Garnach/Alz, first as curate [parochial vicar/associate], later as priest administrator. Apparently the relatively mild punishment of the Ebersberg court and the completion of the psychological therapy were decisive in returning him to pastoral ministry.
After the sentence in 1986 no further incidents were reported to the archdiocesan administration [chancery].
On May 6, 2008 H. was removed from his assignment as priest administrator in Garching and from October 2008 he was assigned to spiritual care in health work and tourism/to health spas and travelers. He was given the restriction that he was no longer permitted to work with children, youth or altar servers. A forensic assessment produced at the request of the new Archbishop Reihnard Marx justified the decision of the administration [chancery] not to leave H. in pastoral ministry.
???So they know he has a sexual abuse problem in 1980. In June 1985, he’s convicted and sentenced to 18 months in jail. The Vicar General doesn’t bring this to the Cardinal’s attention??? Huh???
18 months after he’s convicted, they send him to a senior citizen home for 11 months, then back to a parish for 21 years with NO RESTRICTIONS!!!
??Finally in 2008, 23 years after he’s CONVICTED OF SEXUAL ABUSE, they restrict him from working with children, youth, or altar servers. Unbelievable, and Cardinal Ratzinger didn’t know anything about this, in his own former diocese, when he was in charge of handling sexual abuse allegations for JPII??? Are you serious???? Do YOU believe this???
This has now been revealed as a worldwide scandal and cover-up; the US, Australia, Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Austria, and Germany.
ReplyDeleteBut only 2 comments? I wonder why.