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isabella R

Religion News Service | Blogs | Mark Silk - Spiritual Politics | Cardinal Dolan fibbed ... - 0 views

www.religionnews.com/...dolan-fibbed

cardinal dolan sexual-abuse scandal pedophile priest abuse of power lies corruption vatican Roman Catholic catholic payout politics religion news

shared by isabella R on 01 Jun 12 - No Cached
  • isabella R on 01 Jun 12
     
    Timothy Dolan, when he was the Archbishop of Milwaukee a while back, approved a number of $20,000 settlements to rid the Church of abusive priests in a more time-efficient and expeditious manner - without long, drawn-out canonical or civil proceedings. The problem the story poses for Dolan is not that he did such a thing, however, but that he didn't tell the truth about it back in the day.
isabella R

Bilgrimage: From the Blogs: Bishops' "Religious Liberty" War, Attack on Nuns, and More - 0 views

www.bilgrimage.blogspot.com/...bishops-religious-liberty.html

catholic abuse of power Roman Catholic vatican corruption abuse scandal bishops sexual-abuse vatileaks politics church and state

shared by isabella R on 10 Jun 12 - No Cached
  • isabella R on 10 Jun 12
     
    The bishops claim liberty for themselves, and for the large institutions they control, while also fighting to restrict the liberty of others with respect to abortion, emergency contraception, and same-sex relationships.
isabella R

Philadelphia Priest Abuse Trial Blog: The Cardinal Sin: Disobeying the Big Guy - 0 views

www.priestabusetrial.com/...cardinal-sin.html

Monsignor William J. Lynn sexual-abuse scandal philadelphia trial crime

shared by isabella R on 23 May 12 - No Cached
  • Because in the archdiocese of Philadelphia, that's the one unpardonable sin for which there is zero tolerance.
  • So what was Msgr. Picard's unpardonable sin? When he got the news that Cardinal Bevilacqua had just approved the transfer of Father Mills to St. Andrew's, Picard got on the phone with Msgr. Lynn and said no way
  • Lynn became "very upset because the die was cast, the letter was written," Msgr. Picard told the jury
  • ...10 more annotations...
  • It's hard to overstate what happened next. A meeting of the priest personnel board was convened by Msgr. Lynn and Cardinal Bevilacqua. All 15 board members unanimously agreed that Father Picard had disobeyed the archbishop. Father Picard had now landed somewhere in between double secret probation and the Inquisition.
  • the cardinal, saying that Picard had committed a grave offense. "He did disobey the archbishop, and this is what's out on the street,"
  • n the secret archive files, Cardinal Bevilacqua stated, "He will not tolerate even the appearance of disobedience by any priest."
  • The cardinal's men discussed having Father Picard write a letter of apology to Father Mills, another letter of apology to Cardinal Bevilacqua, and finally a third letter of apology to every priest in the archdiocese. At the end of the meeting, the records noted, the cardinal thanked the members of the priest personnel board for their "wisdom and support."
  • The cardinal told Picard he was weighing several punishments. They included taking away Picard's pastorate at St. Andrew's, and transferring him to another parish. Since Father Picard had turned down the transfer of Father Mills, he was told not to expect any replacements at St. Andrew's for the foreseeable future. A church deacon, a seminarian in his eighth and final year of studying for the priesthood, had been sent to St. Andrew's, to help out.
  • But after the flap over Father Mills, the cardinal decided that Picard might be a bad influence on the deacon, and so the deacon was shipped to another parish.
  • Father Picard was told that his reputation had been tarnished by his disobedience. And that when he was through with his penance, he was told he could seek another meeting with the cardinal,
  • t was noted in the secret archive files that "there is no remorse on the part of Father Picard at all." But after he went on his retreat, it was noted in the secret archive files that Father Picard "exhibited more contrition"
  • The archdiocese secret archive files say that besides disobeying Cardinal Bevilacqua, Picard had also injured the reputation of Father Mills.
  • Catholic priests are like the gang of losers that are the pitiful, petty, freak fraternity from any high school. No one would care, except they rape children, lie about it, bully the victims, and try to convince people that they have the only free tickets to heaven, as if God would put these freaks in charge of tickets.
  • isabella R on 23 May 12
     
    If you're a priest in the archdiocese of Philadelphia, you can "act out sexually" all you want. You can get away with it for years, even decades at a time, while they transfer you from parish to parish, in between recuperative stays at St. John Vianney's, the friendly archdiocese clinic for sex abusers. Just make sure that you don't disobey an order from the archbishop. Because in the archdiocese of Philadelphia, that's the one unpardonable sin for which there is zero tolerance. To make that point Wednesday, the prosecution had Detective James Dougherty read into the record 34 formerly confidential documents regarding the case of Monsignor Michael C. Picard. And then, the prosecution brought the monsignor to the witness stand to tell his story.
isabella R

A history lesson in papal pettiness and misogyny - 0 views

www.patheos.com/...n-papal-pettiness-and-misogyny

misogyny LCWR abuse of power Roman Catholic

shared by isabella R on 23 May 12 - No Cached
  • isabella R on 23 May 12
     
    It seems the all-male hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church was aggrieved and threatened simply by the fact that the Leadership Conference of Women Religious had the audacity to include the word "leadership" in the name of a women's organization. The misogyny is that deep and that visceral:
isabella R

Attack on Girl Scouts shows current law isn't working | National Catholic Reporter - 0 views

ncronline.org/...shows-current-law-isnt-working

shared by isabella R on 23 May 12 - No Cached
  • isabella R on 23 May 12
     
    The question is, Where has all this energy for empirical destruction come from in a church now projecting its own serious problems with sexual issues onto everything that moves?
isabella R

America Magazine Dear Pope Benedict - 0 views

www.americamagazine.org/...entry.cfm

pope WTF catholicism

shared by isabella R on 01 Jun 12 - No Cached
  • isabella R on 01 Jun 12
     
    Dear Pope Benedict, I've just read your 1989 paper reprinted in Communio in the review's featured, "Retrieving the Tradition." In "Difficulties Confronting the Faith in Europe Today" you explain your future papacy's resistance to change on the "interlinked" issues of contraception, homosexuality, divorce and women's ordination.  At the end of your analysis you make a plea for more theological development of the doctrine of creation.????????
isabella R

America Magazine Fixing the System That Put Monsignor Lynn in Jail - 0 views

www.americamagazine.org/...entry.cfm

abuse of power Roman Catholic catholic abuse sexual-abuse scandal corruption bishops

shared by isabella R on 17 Aug 12 - No Cached
  • In this elite environment there are few priests who are willing to oppose the   bishop’s wishes for fear of falling out of favor
  • “You keep the rules and the rules will keep you.”
  • A great sign of success for a priest is to be invited to join the Diocesan   Curia, the bishop’s circle of collaborators in the administration of the diocese. The position of Vicar for the Clergy, the post held by Lynn from1990 – 2002, is just such a sinecure.
  • ...10 more annotations...
  • “You keep the rules and the rules will keep you.”
    • isabella R
      isabella R on 17 Aug 12
       
      "You keep the rules and the rules will keep you."
  • Camaraderie is strongly impressed upon priests. We often refer to our fellow priests as our brothers. The fact is that we do have a real dependency on each other since we do not have an immediate family of our own.
    • isabella R
      isabella R on 17 Aug 12
       
      THIS is the sticking point of what the celibate culture creates....it has nothing to do with sex....it has everything to do with being so cut off from the whole community--its kind of a Stockholm Syndrome....you end up believing you have no choice but to go along with what you are told or you will be out in the cold with nothing, no one, homeless, friendless......and that is the harm of celibacy. "Camaraderie is strongly impressed upon priests. We often refer to our fellow priests as our brothers. The fact is that we do have a real dependency on each other since we do not have an immediate family of our own. "
  • Priests rely on each other for acceptance, for sharing the work load and even living arrangements. If a priest deems any of these to be inadequate or unjust he may be, rightly or wrongly, labeled a malcontent or a problem. This perception can follow   him throughout his priesthood.
  • Very often a priest, may have some very serious concerns, yet simply “Go   Along to Get Along.”
  • Because a priest’s circle is often limited to fellow priests his vision may   also be limited. Therefore, if there is a problem, in certain cases, the advice he receives from them does not always come from fresh or unbiased eyes. Defense mechanisms can also easily set in; denial, rationalization and silence for self preservation.   As one wizened old priest said about speaking up or speaking out, “Who needs the aggravation?
    • isabella R
      isabella R on 17 Aug 12
       
      So many parallels to the cycle that results in families that are imprisoned by domestic violence....how could he do what he did?  If you can answer that you will have the answer to the age-old question "why do women stay with men who clearly will end up killing them." "Because a priest's circle is often limited to fellow priests his vision may   also be limited. Therefore, if there is a problem, in certain cases, the advice he receives from them does not always come from fresh or unbiased eyes. Defense mechanisms can also easily set in; denial, rationalization and silence for self preservation.   As one wizened old priest said about speaking up or speaking out, "Who needs the aggravation?"
  • Therefore, I make the following suggestions:
    • isabella R
      isabella R on 17 Aug 12
       
      NOTherefore, I make the following suggestions: First, that Diocesan Pastoral Councils be given greater prominence in dioceses. This group is comprised of clergy, consecrated religious and laity elected by the people of the diocese. Second, that Diocesan Boards of Consulters (BOC), a canonically established group of priests who advise the bishop on administrative matters, include men and women religious and laity. Presently the BOC is comprised of a representation of   priests chosen by the bishop who are elected by their peers to serve on the Diocesan Presbyteral Council (Priests' Council). Third, that the priests and lay people of the diocese have recourse to the BOC in areas of   concern.... NO, NO, NO, AND NO.....IT IS ALREADY BEEN PROVED OVER AND OVER AGAIN THAT IT CANNOT BE HANDLED IN HOUSE.....YOU DON'T SEND THE PATIENTS WITH A LITTLE EXTRA "MORAL SUPPORT"EXPECTING THEM TO SUDDENLY BECOME A COHESIVE, EFFECTIVE TEAM OF DOCTORS....IT'S NOT MAGIC. ROOT OUT THE WHOLE INFECTION...ANTI-BIOTIC....NOTE THE ANTI-TOTALLY OTHER....EVEN VACCINES ARE MADE FROM A DEAD VIRUS
  • isabella R on 17 Aug 12
     
    "You keep the rules and the rules will keep you."
isabella R

America Magazine LCWR: Praise for The Process - 0 views

www.americamagazine.org/...entry.cfm

LCWR truth gospels

shared by isabella R on 17 Aug 12 - No Cached
  • the ‘collective wisdom’ of  God’s spirit moving within and among the group, so that they might, in the end, make a response that would be “for the good of the church, for the good of the LCWR, for the good of religious life throughout the world, and ultimately for the good of the human family,” as LCWR President Sister Pat Farrell put it. 
  • My prayerful hope is that the assembly’s call to the LCWR officers to conduct their conversation with Archbishop Sartain from “a stance of deep prayer that values mutual respect, careful listening and open dialogue,” will be met, as it seems that it might be from Archbishop Sartain’s initial response: "Along with the members of the LCWR, I remain committed to working to address the issues raised by the Doctrinal Assessment in an atmosphere of prayer and respectful dialogue.”
isabella R

Philadelphia Priest Abuse Trial Blog: Judge Denies Bail for Monsignor While Archdiocese... - 0 views

www.priestabusetrial.com/...-bail-for-monsignor-while.html

abuse of power Roman Catholic Phiadelphia Monsignor William Lynn child-abuse

shared by isabella R on 26 Aug 12 - No Cached
  • isabella R on 26 Aug 12
     
    Lindy cited extraordinary circumstances, namely that Lynn had been the first supervisor in the history of Pennsylvania to be charged under the 1972 state statute for endangering the welfare of a child. Normally, those charged under the child endangerment statute had direct contact with children, such as teachers, parents or guardians. Lynn, however, never laid eyes on the victim in this case, the former 10-year-old altar boy, until he took the witness stand. But Assistant District Attorney Patrick Blessington told the judge that this was the third time the defense was trying to get their client out on bail, and that under the law, Lynn wasn't entitled to it
isabella R

In defense of our women religious | National Catholic Reporter - 0 views

ncronline.org/...defense-our-women-religious

abuse of power Roman Catholic catholic corruption oppression

shared by isabella R on 28 Jul 12 - No Cached
  • By comparison, this reflects badly on the hierarchy, fixated on retrieving their own image and power by dragging the Church backward in time. They fuss about obedience, dogma, retro-liturgical maneuvers, the charade about religious freedom, women’s reproductive behaviors, and who marries whom. American nuns find such issues to be counterproductive to the works of the Gospel, at worst; and mere distractions at best. Hence, they refrain from pursuing them. There is so much to do in helping “the neighbor” survive in human dignity that nuns have no time for what is surely not on the Holy Spirit’s agenda. And, therein lies the danger! Today these issues are foremost on the hierarchical agenda.
  • Exhibit A, entered by the defense: The Gospels.
  • Exhibit B, entered by the defense: Teaching from Vatican Council II
  • ...10 more annotations...
  • Exhibit C entered by the defense: Statements from the Catechism of the Catholic Church
  • Exhibit #D entered by the defense: Papal statements quoted in opening paragraph, above.
  • It seems very disingenuous for Pope Benedict XVI and his predecessor, John Paul II, to “appeal” for a greater participation of women in the formal leadership and missions of the Church. It is in the Pope’s power to accord equality to women, and he can bring it about whenever he chooses to do so.
  • It is reasonable to think that this accusation of doctrinal unfaithfulness would not have been directed to the LCWR if women provided balance in the Vatican tribunals and bureaucracies. Women, with their “superiority” and “genius” would surely help the males prioritize issues according to appropriate judgment concerning their importance for the common good and the mission of the Church.
  • Exhibit #5E entered by the defense: Warnings and indictments addressed by Jesus to those in power.
  • : Jesus detested hypocrisy. In the light of recent public exposure of deplorable behavior and practices by the hierarchy, for which they have yet to assume public responsibility, I submit that these words of Jesus should be entered into the court documents as reflecting on a lack of integrity in the prosecution. The Defense Rests
  • Catholic theologian Regina Schulte is one of the reasons our church is in trouble today. Years ago she went off and got educated. For a while she served the church as a Catholic sister. Eventually she left the religious life and married. For years she and her late husband, Jim, earned their livings as Catholic theologians. Jim died eleven years ago. Regina continues reflecting on life, church, and the human condition while living in partial retirement.
  • Pope Benedict XVI expressed an appeal for women to have a more visible role within the Church. In two earlier instances, the Pope also spoke of the need to expand roles of women. “Women’s spiritual power will know how to make their own space. And we will have to try and listen,” he said on one occasion. On the other: “[Women], and we with them, must look for their right place, so to speak….I believe that women themselves, with their superiority…will know how to make their own space. We’ll try not to stand in their way.”
  • Condescending though they be, these remarks seemed to have handed a blank check to women. But, in the case of U.S. women’s religious congregations, the Vatican is now placing a “hold” on that check. Not only has their “space” been closed, but bishops (as in “men”) have been given control of what nuns have created in that space. The Vatican’s actions speak louder than their words (as in “false prophecy”) It isn’t that nuns were awaiting permission to pursue their modern apostolates; the above-quoted words of Benedict merely endorse what they have been doing in their own inspired way since Vatican Council II. But, perhaps they became too successful “in their space.”
    • isabella R
      isabella R on 28 Jul 12
       
      Pope Benedict XVI expressed an appeal for women to have a more visible role within the Church. In two earlier instances, the Pope also spoke of the need to expand roles of women. "Women's spiritual power will know how to make their own space. And we will have to try and listen," he said on one occasion. On the other: "[Women], and we with them, must look for their right place, so to speak….I believe that women themselves, with their superiority…will know how to make their own space. We'll try not to stand in their way." Condescending though they be, these remarks seemed to have handed a blank check to women. But, in the case of U.S. women's religious congregations, the Vatican is now placing a "hold" on that check. Not only has their "space" been closed, but bishops (as in "men") have been given control of what nuns have created in that space. The Vatican's actions speak louder than their words (as in "false prophecy") It isn't that nuns were awaiting permission to pursue their modern apostolates; the above-quoted words of Benedict merely endorse what they have been doing in their own inspired way since Vatican Council II. But, perhaps they became too successful "in their space."
  • isabella R on 28 Jul 12
     
    They [the hierarchy] fuss about obedience, dogma, retro-liturgical maneuvers, the charade about religious freedom, women's reproductive behaviors, and who marries whom. American nuns find such issues to be counterproductive to the works of the Gospel, at worst; and mere distractions at best.
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