NIGHTLINE Tonight: The Big Picture (Dallas Paper to Break BIG Story on Catholic Scandal!)

ABCNEWS | June 11, 2002 | Leroy Sievers

[Timesink]

Subject: NIGHTLINE: The Big Picture

TONIGHT'S SUBJECT: For months now, we've been reporting on the scandal rocking the Catholic Church. But for the most part, we talk about one case here, another there. But just how widespread is the problem? Tonight we'll have the results of an investigation done by our colleagues at the Dallas Morning News. The numbers are actually pretty shocking.

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I'm sitting here, having a little trouble getting started. We have reported on this scandal several times so far. For the most part, the stories are fairly similar, the anguish of the victims, and their anger, and the response by the Church. But it is sort of like profiling each tree, one at a time, and not looking at the forest, to use an old metaphor. Just how widespread is this problem? If it were just one person here, and maybe another there, it might be easier to understand. But there has always been a feeling that this is a systemic problem, that underlying the individual stories that have come into the public eye, and those that have not, is some sort of widespread problem.

Some say the issue is celibacy. Others that the priesthood attracts those disposed towards children. Still others argue that the issue is homosexuality in the priesthood. And there are many other explanations. And they may all be partly true, and party false. But tonight we will address just how widespread this problem is. This week, the bishops are meeting in Dallas to debate a proposed policy to deal with priests who are accused of, or proven to be guilty of molestation. Many of the victims say the policy doesn't go far enough, that it is too lenient. But with the bishops and others beginning to arrive in Dallas today, our friends at the Dallas Morning News came to us with the results of an investigation they conducted. Their story will be in the paper tomorrow, and on their Web site tonight. They tried to track down every credible allegation. And the numbers they found are staggering.

Roughly two-thirds of the bishops have either been accused themselves, actually a relatively small number, or more commonly, are accused of covering up the actions of one of their priests. We'll be reporting on the details of what the Morning News found tonight, but clearly the numbers indicate that the problem is more than just the crimes of isolated individuals. So we'll have a report from ABC News correspondent Bill Blakemore from Dallas on the Morning News investigation, and a preview of what will happen later in the week. Ted will interview the bishop who headed the committee that wrote the proposed policy. But I think tonight's broadcast will make it clear that this is much more than a couple of isolated cases being given too much publicity. Something has gone terribly wrong.

Tuesday, June 11, 2002

Leroy Sievers and the Nightline Staff
Nightline Offices
Washington, D.C.

[DallasMike]

Celibacy is not unbiblical, just unjewish, if by Jewish one refers to the norms that developed in the 2nd Century and following. But in the first century we have the Essenes and, of course, the Baptist--and Jesus. How common was it for a Jewish man approaching middle age not to be married? Not as uncommon as you seem to think.

Did I say that celibacy was uncommon? Last time I checked, 1 Corinthians was in the New Testament, not the old. No one is arguing against celibacy, just against requiring it of the clergy. Such a thing is a human law, not a divine law.

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

Koppel is asking about the role of the culture of homosexuality now.

[Timesink]

Secular priests may stay in a parish for 30 years; religious priests tend to be moved around every three years or so, but they can serve more than one term if the parish demands it.

I'm embarrassed to have to ask this, but: What the heck's a secular priest? How does that position differ from a religious priest?

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

There have been rumors to that effect. Sinister machinations of a similar order of gravity hinted at by Martin do indeed occasionally penetrate Church institutions. Whether he had exact and factual knowledge of real such events is an open question.

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

Archbishop Flynn just punted on the homosexual question. Unbelievable! He suggested the topic would "not come up" in Dallas. He seems like a robot.

[american colleen]

What a waste of time. I'm talking about the program AND the Bishop's meeting. If we believe Flynn, the agenda is really white bread. Who do these guys think they are fooling?

[fatima]

Larry,you told the truth,ups sorry you lied,i am mixed up.

[american colleen]

Noticed no talk at all about the culpability of the Bishops (from Flynn, I mean).

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

THAT was disgusting. How could they NOT discuss homosexuality among the clergy? The vast majority of the abusers ARE homosexuals. Flynn was just outrageously unbelievable - robotic, timid, bland, boring. Didn't even bother to remind viewers that homosexual sex is considered immoral for EVERYONE, especially including priests. This scandal is ALL about homosexual subculture and sodomy. How could any bishop deny that this needs to be addressed? This guy should be retired NOW and sent to the funny farm.

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

Considering that the overwhelmingly vast majority of abuse cases involved homosexual conduct, sodomy with sexually mature male teenagers, it's almost psychotic for anyone to try to separate this from discussion of the scandals. WHAT did Archbishop Flynn think they WOULD be discussing? Heterosexual kissing?

[fatima]

DallasMike,this is a family thread,there is another thread on all this just do a search,we are Catholics here,suffering with our shurch.Do not be a goat but a sheep and pray with us,not to sAY YOU ARE A GOAT UNLESS YOU HAVE A BEARD WHICH i AM SURE YOU DO NOT.

[american colleen]

I'm completely disgusted and demoralized - but, NOT SURPRISED!

Ted K. asked Bishop Flynn about the statement from Navarro (the spokesman for the Pope, my spelling is probably off) regarding homosexuals not being ordained, except Ted worded it "homosexuals not being allowed to practice" or something like that, and Flynn said that it was an unfortunate statement that Navarro made and went on to say it would not be discussed at the meeting. Fluff piece by Koppel, else he would have asked about the 1961 rule from the Vatican about no homosexuals should be ordained - and I'm sure he knows about that. So, we got no answers, didn't put Flynn on the hotplate, and the Church comes off looking stupid and superficial.

[RobbyS]

Would you explain to me what is so unreasonable about celibacy? Especially if one does not expect life-long chastity, what is so wrong with a clergy made up of bachelors? Part of the problem, of course, is what also presents a problem in marriage. People are living so long and are so much more vital in middle and even old age. Foolishness is as often associated with age as with youth, especially in sexual matters

[american colleen]

Considering that the overwhelmingly vast majority of abuse cases involved homosexual conduct, sodomy with sexually mature male teenagers, it's almost psychotic for anyone to try to separate this from discussion of the scandals.

Makes me wonder what Flynn is hiding. I feel bad saying that, but these guys brought it on themselves.

It is outrageous that there is no discussion of the guilt of the Bishops and Cardinals.

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

Unfortunate, yes. Indeed. "Archbishop" Flynn said some crap suggesting there was no "scientific" basis for Navarro's comments. What in God's name is he talking about? What type of "science" does he think establishes that it is OK for practicing sodomites to pretend to be Catholic priests??? The prohibition is in the canon law documents of 1961, for God's sake. It has nothing to do with modern "science" of any kind.

Makes you wonder where "Archbishop" Flynn was educated... The Bozo the Clown School of Theology maybe...

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

He does look a little like that type...

[LarryLied]

Makes me wonder what Flynn is hiding.

Homosexuals. The laity has to take control of the church. The Bishops are beyond redemption.

[RobbyS]

Has homosexuality become the third rail in today's America Church. Are gays become so powerfully placed that the bishops are frightened of them? I am going to attend a seminar in Irving on Friday and I hope that I get a chance to pose that question to the panel--which includes Rose--about this. Of course, I don't know what format they will be using.

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

It looks like they have a homo apologist running the commission that's supposed to address the problem. A classic case of yet another howlingly and mind-bending absurdity from the postmodern wasteland. Are there no sane men left in authority in the American Catholic Church?

[LarryLied]

Are gays become so powerfully placed that the bishops are frightened of them?

Yes. In addition I would suggest that anyone in the church who dodges the homosexual question as Flynn just did is a homosexual himself or is being blackmailed by homosexuals for other behavior.