In a press conference yesterday, on the day that contents of confidential Fort Worth Catholic diocese files on sexually abusive priests hit the papers, FW Bishop Kevin Vann held a press conference. He profusely apologized for the abuse, which took place under the, ahem, leadership of his late predecessor, Bishop Joseph Delaney. But he repeatedly refused to criticize Delaney's handling of the matter. Vann told the press: "Not being here at the time those decisions were made, I can't say that they should have done this or that."
Oh, [barnyard epithet]. Why on earth is it impossible for Bishop Vann to say, "It was wrong for Bishop Delaney to let priests who molest children stay in ministry"? Is the idea that you have to be so loyal to your predecessor, even though his bad decisions put innocent kids and their families at risk, that you can't even find the stones to say that this was wrong? With these guys, it really is about saving face, no matter what. Nobody blames Bishop Vann for what happened before he got here. But now people are mad at him for refusing to say the bleeding obvious, for whatever reason.
This incident reminds me of something a conservative priest told me about running into a well-known conservative Catholic bishop at a large gathering of bishops. The priest remarked to his ideological confrere, "Well, it's good to see a good bishop at last." The bishop didn't think the compliment was funny, chastising the priest thus: "Every bishop is a good bishop."
Loyalty vs. truth
Thursday November 30, 2006
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About Crunchy Con
Rod Dreher is an editorial columnist for the Dallas Morning News, and author of "Crunchy Cons" (Crown Forum), a nonfiction book about conservatives, most of them religious, whose faith and political convictions sometimes put them at odds with mainstream conservatives. The views expressed in this blog are his own.
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Ye, pray ye sinners. Lament ye cravings. Thou art lamenting in thy sin. I say pray away ye evil spirits, and move the a new transcendence o' ye spirit. Take ye hands and place thy faith upon something greater, like a Cock, or Horse.>
The Antiochian archdiocese had a scandal a few years ago with a bishop harassing a woman. I won't go into the details, but the metropolitan took him right out of his diocese.
Then again, in the mid-80s the Greeks here in the US had a hellish scandal. They punished the bishop, but refused to acknowlege his acts. It was a hushed up punishment. That involved a woman, too.
The key to me is that the person is removed from a position where he can hurt others. That is the most crucial point. As a journalist and as a churchman, I would plead for candor.>
These types of scandals have been present in the American (and Irish) hierarchy for centuries now, without any repercussion. For some reason the American bishops feel that they are far enough away from Rome to ignore that which they dislike and teach only that which is non-controversial. Those who remember the scandals involving Cardinal Cody and his female 'friend', even up to the point of taking her to the Vatican to be photographed with the Holy Father (Paul VI) will understand where these scandals are rooted - the American bishops do what they want, and if the Pope doesn't use a heavy-hand, it will continue and get worse. The United States has never forgotten it's protestant roots completely, not even within the Catholic hierarchy and priesthood.>
I am so tired of homosexuals being considered pedophiles. For heaven's sake this is heresy.
I was molested as a young woman by a straight heterosexual man. When talking about molestation these heterosexual men are called - you guessed it - pedophiles. I can't even begin to tell you how many girlfriends I have that were molested by obviously heterosexual men. THEY are everywhere. THEY are creating far more harm everyday than these few pedophile priests.
Cajetan - have you looked at heterosexual pornography? For God's sake there is a HUGE obsession with females looking under the age of 18!>
I think it's called being charitable and also protecting the diocese, and the laity who fund it, from further lawsuits and such...>
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