Posted on 06/16/2002 6:37:37 PM PDT by Lady In Blue
www.petersvoice.com
CFAR's response to Dallas Morning News
By: Camille De Blasi
Over the next few day, millions of people are tuned in to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops meeting in Dallas. The conference's Ad Hoc Committee on Sexual Abuse is, at this writing, hearing the lengthy testimony of numerous experts, victims, and concerned laymen. Much of the testimony is heartbreaking, all of it is vital to the construction of a national set of policies that will will seek to resolve the problem, redress past wrongs, and renew the Church. The seriousness and concern with which the bishops are receiving each person's comments is testimony unto itself.
Unfortunately, not everyone is facing this crisis with the same degree of seriousness or concern for authentic reform. Wednesday's Dallas Morning News (DMN) ran a story with the headline "Two-thirds of bishops let accused priests work." At first, one is likely to shake one's head in disgust, and think that this is just "one more expected revelation" about a problem that seems to keep getting worse. But a serious evaluation of this report raises some serious concerns.
First of all, the review conducted by the DMN later claims that "at least 111 of the nation's 178 mainstream, or Roman rite, Catholic dioceses are headed by men who have protected accused priests or other church figures, such as brothers in religious orders, candidates for the priesthood, teachers and youth-group workers." So, apparently, the headline, which wrongly states that all of the cases involved "priests" is either a misprint, a confusion of who constitutes a "priest," or a deliberate attempt to mislead.
In any case, this problem is representative of the current reporting environment which hesitates to acknowledge what the leading priest-abuse authority, author of "Priests and Pedophiles, and non-Catholic, Philip Jenkins notes, that: "there is no evidence that the rate of sexual abuse and misconduct among Catholic clergy is any higher than the rate among clergy of non-Catholic Christian denominations, or among clergy of non-Christian religions, or among non-clergy professions involved with children, such as teachers and scoutmasters."
Secondly, some bishops, acting according to the best medical judgments available at the time, moved accused priests to situations where no harm could be done, such as administrative roles or nursing home chaplaincies. The DMN report lumps these cases together with those who really did transplant guilty priests into areas where abuse could continue. This standard is not only unfair, it is ridiculous.
Thirdly, the DMN report uses the word "cover-up" in what many would consider to be an irresponsibly loose manner. While some cases, we have learned, truly were inexcusable instances of covering up abuses, many of the cases referred to by the DMN involved accusations that they admit were never substantiated. Also, the majority of abuse cases being reported are not cases of pedophilia, but homosexual acts with adolescents. Many cases, in fact, involved boys who were of legal age at the time of the sexual activity. And some even involved relations with adults. While any violation of a priestly vow to celibacy is always a serious matter, to lump all of the above cases together and imply that bishops were guilty of "criminal cover-up" is irresponsible, at best.
As compassionate, clear-thinking, and civilized people, most Americans would like to see the bishops emerge successfully from their meeting this week, having crafted a proposal that will truly seek healing and authentic reform. We do far better to support them in this time of difficult decision-making, and not to perpetuate the problem with sensationalistic headlines that serve neither the victims, nor the people who are trying to help them.
Camille De Blasi is a spokesman for the national organization, Catholics for Authentic Reform (CFAR) and the Director of the Center for Life Principles in Redmond, Washington.
Copyright @ 2002. Peter's Voice
(http://www.petersvoice.com)
To the extent that the bishops tried to keep these incidents hidden from civil authorities and paid hush money to keep victims quiet, they were guilty of a cover-up, pure and simple.
I wanted to post a rebuttal to one accusation in the Dallas Morning News' listing. As the Dallas Morning News said on its website, the listing is based on other papers' stories; DMN did not do any investigating on their own. The Rockford paper quoted by them did a hatchet job on Archbishop Doran, and I wanted to post his response.
In response to media inquiries regarding allegations of sexual abuse against a priest of the Diocese of Rockford, Bishop Thomas G. Doran issued the following statement at a news conference Tuesday, May 7, 2002 at St. Peter Cathedral in Rockford.
I can also confirm that these charges were brought to the attention of the Diocesan Intervention Committee more than five years ago, in December 1996, and that the Diocesan Intervention Committee acted promptly to address them.
The Diocesan Intervention Committee investigated the charges, determined that they were credible, and recommended immediate removal of the priest from his pastoral assignment. I approved that recommendation and he was removed on Jan. 8, 1997.
We take charges of sexual abuse of minors by anyone affiliated with the diocese very seriously, and I want to take this occasion to express my personal sorrow and apologies to the family involved.
Although the incidents occurred long before I was bishop of this diocese and the Diocesan Intervention Committee acted quickly to address the grievous wrong and protect children, it is obvious that some deep hurt and pain remain on the part the victims. Words cannot express my sorrow for the toll this has taken on the victims.
We do not normally discuss any personnel issues. However, in recent days reporters from two local news media approached the diocese with questions about specific allegations which they said came from Kevin Misslich, one of the victims, and his mother, Arlene Misslich. As long as the family wants to make the misconduct known, I see no reason not to acknowledge it.
As reprehensible as sexual abuse is, if publicly acknowledging the wrongdoing will help the victims heal, I welcome the opportunity to acknowledge the incidents today.
Let me be clear. Sexual abuse of anyone - but most especially innocent children - is both an unspeakable sin and a serious crime. I find it despicable and repugnant. It is both a travesty and a tragedy, and any perpetrator will have to answer to his or her God for such a truly awful and horrible breach of trust and faith.
I do want to point out however, that in one sense this case is different than most of those making headlines in other parts of the country. This is not a case of a priest doing wrong, then being assigned to another pastoral post, and now finally being removed from that post.
In fact, Father Clapsaddle was removed promptly more than five years ago - as soon as we had probable cause to believe the charges were true - and he has never again been given a pastoral post that would give him access to children.
In the meantime, the family members who said they were abused were offered counseling services. I am told that they declined at the time and have not approached the diocese about obtaining such services since that time.
For our part, the diocese entered into a settlement with the family members that provided them with $80,000. I assume it was for them to use to seek whatever relief from the pain and injury that they could obtain. The cost of the settlement was covered by our diocesan insurance.
In accord with our policy, Father Clapsaddle was removed immediately from his pastoral post. He then underwent evaluation and treatment for several months. In accord with diocesan policy, when he returned to the diocese, his faculties as a priest were severely restricted to assure that children would be protected, and he was not given a new pastoral assignment. Since his return to the diocese he has lived in that restricted situation and provided sacramental services to the elderly at Provena Cor Mariae in a supervised setting.
For a time, he also performed administrative duties under the supervision of Catholic Charities. In that capacity, his activities were limited to the floor of the Seton Center that houses that agency's administrative offices. When on rare occasions his duties took him from the building, he never carried out his functions except in the company of a supervisor.
The statute of limitations for both civil and criminal proceeding had long expired when the case was presented to the diocese more than five years ago. Nevertheless, diocesan officials advised the victims of their right to report their allegations to civil authorities. At that time, they told us they did not want to do that and they wanted to avoid publicity. We have respected their wishes for confidentiality until this time, when it is clear from their recent contacts with reporters that they wish to make this case public.
Despite the fact that the statute of limitations for both civil and criminal proceedings had long expired, the Diocesan Intervention Committee was able to act. "There is no statute of limitations on our policy - and that is no accident."
Sexual abuse of minors is a problem - in society and in the Church. Protecting the welfare of children must be our first priority, and that is why the Rockford Diocese has a tough policy.
If anyone alleges sexual abuse by anyone affiliated with the diocese - clergy, religious or lay employees or volunteers - I urge them to call the police first and then to contact our Misconduct Officer at 815-962-9347. We are committed to acting quickly and decisively to protect the welfare of children - just as we did in the case of Father Clapsaddle.
If anyone alleges that a case has been handled in a way that does not meet our standards, let me assure you that I want to know about it so that I can personally investigate it. If it turns out that our performance has not measured up to our standards, I will apologize to the aggrieved party and make amends.
I take allegations of abuse seriously. I take our policy seriously. I will do whatever is necessary to protect children and to see that everyone associated with the diocese adheres strictly to our policy. In this case, on the basis of what I know today, I am convinced that the diocese acted responsibly in accord with our own policy.
The conspiracy: Is this an organized attack on the Church by the Militant Homosexual Community? Even more farfetched: We're these offending Priests set up...actually the seduced, rather than the seducers?
I believe that this is a conspiracy, but not of human origans, but that of Satan. We are looking at the physical nature or this scandal, but scripture tell us..."We wrestle not against Flesh and Blood, but against principalities, powers and rulers of the darkness of this world and spiritual wickedness in high places". These are words from a prayer I like to pray, authored by Rollin Hill entitled, "Prayer to Put on the Armor of God". But does anyone believe that there may be also an actual "Mortal" attack on the Church, much the same as the Gay groups have attacked St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City?
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