Posted on 03/31/2010 7:49:02 AM PDT by ADSUM
Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome Listecki on Tuesday defended Pope Benedict XVI's handling of the clergy sex abuse scandal. And he absolved him of any blame in decisions involving Father Lawrence Murphy.(42)
"The Holy Father has been firm in his commitment to combat clergy sexual abuse, root it out of the church, reach out to those who have been harmed and hold perpetrators accountable," Listecki told the hundreds who gathered at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist for the annual Chrism Mass, a Holy Week service in which he blessed the oils the church will use for sacraments in the coming year.
Listecki drew applause for a wide-ranging statement in which he apologized for the sex abuse scandal, reached out to victims and spread the blame for the mishandling of the Murphy case, citing Milwaukee church officials, civil authorities and the journalists who first brought victims' stories to light.
http://www.jsonline.com/features/religion/89519542.html
Full text of Archbishop Listecki’s remarks:
The comments below were shared by Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome E. Listecki Tuesday night at the end of the Chrism Mass at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist.
Dear Friends,
This Lent throughout the archdiocese, we celebrated a Season of Mercy, acknowledging our sinfulness and our need to reconcile with our God. This Season of Mercy is a stark recognition of the presence of sin in our world, in our Church, amongst our people, and, yes, within priests and bishops. That sin has never been more present to us as a Church than through the sin and crime of clergy sexual abuse.
As a bishop, a priest, and as a man of faith, I apologize to anyone who has been a victim of clergy sexual abuse. This crime, this sin, this horror, should never occur, especially by a priest. Those who committed these crimes and those, including some bishops, who didn’t do everything in their power to stop it, go against everything the Church and the priesthood represent. For those actions, I offer my sincere apology.
So many people have suffered – first and foremost victims and their families. Because of the actions of the few priests who committed these crimes, all of us continue to suffer today.
This past week our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI has come under criticism for the way he has handled past cases of clergy sexual abuse of minors, including a case here involving Lawrence Murphy. The allegations against him, as well as the facts supporting him, are widely available.
The Holy Father does not need me to defend him or his decisions. I believe, and history will confirm that his actions in responding to this crisis, swiftly and decisively and his compassionate response to victims/surviovrs, speak for themselves. The Holy Father has been firm in his commitment to combat clergy sexual abuse; root it out of the Church; reach out to those who have been harmed; and hold perpetrators accountable. He has been a leader, meeting with victims/survivors and chastising bishops for their lack of judgment and leadership.
Mistakes were made in the Lawrence Murphy case. The mistakes were not made in Rome in the 1996, 1997 and 1998. The mistakes were made here, in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, in the 1970s, the 1980s and the 1990s, by the Church, by civil authorities, by Church officials, and by bishops. And for that, I beg your forgiveness in the name of the Church and in the name of this Archdiocese of Milwaukee.
Because of those who have come forward — those who have been harmed in a most egregious way; those who have been relentless in their criticism of the Church; those who have pushed and prodded – some say even forced — the Church to change; those brave victims-survivors who have had the courage to come forward and publicly tell their story even after decades of feeling ignored — because of their persistence and perseverance, we know the Church HAS changed.
We owe these victims/survivors our deep gratitude and we acknowledge our own actions have not always expressed that gratitude adequately.
We know that today the policies and procedures in place in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and across the United States, ensures to the best of our God-given ability, that no priest with a substantiated allegation of sexual abuse of a minor can ever serve as a priest again in our Church.
Still, we know it is not words, but actions that will demonstrate our resolve. And, in some ways, regardless of what I say, tonight or any other time, our critics will say it is not enough. But that cannot and will not prevent me from making every possible effort at moving forward toward healing and resolution with those who have been harmed, and, determined, to make sure nothing like this can ever happen again.
To you gathered here tonight – our pastors, priests, deacons and lay ecclesial ministers – through your vigilance at our parishes and schools, we now have in place the mechanisms to effectively combat the scourge of child sexual abuse. Through the formation and training of our safe environment initiative, we know that you, in your parishes, schools and institutions, have put in place the necessary safeguards and practices to ensure our children are protected. Thank you. Remain vigilant.
Even though some do not want to hear it or accept it as truth, mistakes were made by law enforcement, medical professionals — even reporters who helped bring initial stories to light and grappled with how to deal with perpetrators. We have ALL learned so much.
We cannot deny the past, but because of all of it, during these past years we have become a more prudent Church. We have taken significant steps to purge this abuse from our Church and even from the larger society. We hope and pray our actions have become a model for what TO do after decades of what NOT to do.
We are a Sacramental Church. Tonight, in this holiest of weeks, we consecrated the holy oil of the sick. This oil will be used this next year for anointing and healing throughout our archdiocese. Healing we all need.
So, tonight, my dear brothers and sisters, as we renew our commitment to love and serve Jesus Christ and his Church, may we also pledge that that very renewal start from within. Our hope is in Jesus Christ, given to us through his death and resurrection.
May God bless you.
the pope needs to resign immediately. he is not above the law. the longer this goes on the worse it will become. The Pope is wrong and should take the consequences of his inactions.
It’s because of the Pope’s actions when he was Cardinal that action was finally taken.
Perhaps you didn’t read this post:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2482959/posts
Fr. Thomas Brundage, JLC
Judicial Vicar for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee from 1995-2003
http://www.freerepublic.com/%5Ehttp://catholicanchor.org/wordpress/?p=601
We proceeded to start a trial against Father Murphy. I was the presiding judge in this matter and informed Father Murphy that criminal charges were going to be levied against him with regard to child sexual abuse and solicitation in the confessional.
In the summer of 1998, I ordered Father Murphy to be present at a deposition at the chancery in Milwaukee. I received, soon after, a letter from his doctor that he was in frail health and could travel not more than 20 miles (Boulder Junction to Milwaukee would be about 276 miles). A week later, Father Murphy died of natural causes in a location about 100 miles from his home.
Second, with regard to the role of then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI), in this matter, I have no reason to believe that he was involved at all. Placing this matter at his doorstep is a huge leap of logic and information.
Third, the competency to hear cases of sexual abuse of minors shifted from the Roman Rota to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith headed by Cardinal Ratzinger in 2001. Until that time, most appeal cases went to the Rota and it was our experience that cases could languish for years in this court. When the competency was changed to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, in my observation as well as many of my canonical colleagues, sexual abuse cases were handled expeditiously, fairly, and with due regard to the rights of all the parties involved. I have no doubt that this was the work of then Cardinal Ratzinger.
This is another example of bigotry and hatred against the Church, their enemies are in a campaign to destroy and slander His Holinnes,Benedict XVI as they did with a very Saintly man, His Holiness Pius XII.
The MSM is down to telling outright lies about the case at this point.
And in 1,2,3...
So when can we expect the usual suspects?
The Church is under attack but we hold to Christ’s promise and not to the sinfullness of some of our Bishops, clergy and members.
Facts don’t intefere with your opinion do they? By the way are you calling for the resignation of the current chief of police and the D.A for the failure of the civil authorities to levy charges?
Perhaps your brain will be able to comprehend the letter from the Judicial Vicar on the Murphy case.
http://catholicanchor.org/wordpress/?p=601
This is a big step for the media. Wonder if they will swallow it or still believe the NYSlimes??
The Pope is and was not wrong. Have you not read the evidence? Or are you one of those people that should you be on a jury would do as jurors did in a case I know of.
“He’s a Catholic priest; He has to be guilty; now let’s find him guilty.”
Fortunately in that case, there were also state records because the priest was connected with serving those imprisioned — and none of the state’s dates matched up with the accusations.........hence, not guilty. Three attorneys from the priest’s home parish attended the trial and were able to talk to a juror.
So why are you so ready to condemn?
Didn’t the Good Lord tell us to “Do unto others and you would have them do unto you.”??????
Where is your Christian justice?
From your profile page:
**My education has been in US History undergraduate and graduate, Constitutional law(graduate). Plus I have a Masters in Theology. **
So you are not well versed in canon law then?
You say you are a conservative Lutheran, but I am wondering, then, why you are bashing the Pope — at least that’s the way it seems to me.
If you are a ‘learned’ man as you claim, I believe you would be considering ALL the information. Correct?
I’ll believe the Church has changed when they require that only married men can serve as parish priests. Until then, we have to assume that it’s more of the same old same old - the largely gay clergy mollifying the laity as much as they have to (and no more than that) so they can continue enjoying their committment-free gay sex lives. Just speaking from experience here.
Milwaukee WI Archbishop defends Pope Benedict
Defending the Pope against Hot Air
Catholic Caucus: Accusations that Pope Complicit in Abuse Cover-Up Fall Flat
Setting the record straight in the case of abusive Milwaukee priest Father Lawrence Murphy
Former Milwaukee Archbishop Rembert Weakland Admits He's Gay
Long Applause for New York Prelate Who Defends Pope
NYT UNFAIRLY CITES POPE'S ROLE [Catholic Caucus]
Scoundrel Time(s)
The Pope and the Murphy case: what the New York Times story didn't tell you
Who's "we", Kemosabe?
You go ahead and believe or assume what you like, regardless of the facts. You go ahead and render judgment on the basis of falsehoods, half-truths and distortions if that's what floats your boat.
You'll have to answer to God for that.
But do NOT presume to speak for anyone other than yourself.
YOU DO NOT SPEAK FOR ME.
The most probable pedophiles in order are:
Fathers
Teachers
Coaches
Protestant ministers
Priests are way down on the list.
So if a father is a teacher of mid-high history, coaches the girl’s basketball team and is a youth minister at his church on weekends/Sundays — watch out! He would be much more prone to pedophilia that any priest.
Sexual Abuse of Children by Protestant Ministers
Report: Protestant Church Insurers Handle 260 Sex Abuse Cases a Year
Abuse by Protestant Ministers of Every Denomination
Child Sexual Molestation by Various Protestant Clergy
"Yeshiva" of Brooklyn also Guilty of Child Abuse
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Teachers and Pedophilia - In YOUR Backyard
Washington Post -- D.C. school officials reported 220 abuse allegations against teachers
Sex Abuse by Teachers Said Worse Than Catholic Church
WHEN BOYS ARE MOLESTED BY TEACHERS AND OTHERS IN POSITIONS OF AUTHORITY
These priests were shunted from place to place over years. Their respective bishops knew these guys were pedophiles and they did nothing. Why did the bishops cover up for them? Simple - because they're sympathizers and they're watching out for them. Archbishop Weakland is a case in point. He did nothing about Lawrence Murphy because he empathized with him and covered for him until his crimes became too much to ignore. Only then did he take action.
As the Russians say "a fish rots from the head." I hope that the press does keep digging. Hopefully, we'll get to the truth untimately as to why John Paul II ignored and obfuscated as long as he did. Don't believe that? Then why is Mahoney still around? Why isn't weakland laicized? Why was Law given a cushy retirement?
Talk is cheap.
And the leftist press does a lot of talking.
Why anyone with a brain believes them, I do not know.
No more. No more silence. I don't like the NYT as a conservative, but as a long-suffering Catholic I wish personally to thank Laurie Goodman for forcing these pips to squeak. The hierarchy has proved itself utterly incapable of change absent some existential crisis. I want change so I say bring on that existential crisis. I want to see all complicit in this - from Pope Benedict on down - face the full brunt of the law (including a fair and public trial, of course). I want all talk of the canonization of JPII to STOP IMMEDIATELY until we figure out why he covered up so much of this filth during his long watch.
And I want them to admit finally that living a celibate life is for the great majority of people, and while recognizing celibacy as a real vocation for a few, unnatural and the source of much spiritual disease. After all of this we the laity have a right to demand married parish priests and and absolute end to these perverts in Roman collars.
I want the hierarchy to see that their privileged positions are contingent wholly on their service to Catholic families. They are there for us, we are not there for them. Having so many of them gay creates an us-versus-them mentality. They're all just so vewy misunderstood, you see. Scumbag Weakland comes to mind. Recently in Milwaukee, my brother tells me, Weakland said mass at the Cathedral he ruined with his pastels (yes, the drag queen gutted a Christian cathedral and painted the insides pastels, no surprises there). They had a mural with Weakland leading a group of kids. (!!!) My brother was shocked. He said that he took it as a real finger in the eye, as if to say "hey, you dumb breeders, you exist to support us gay artistes, so STFU and hand over your money and your pretty boys."
To hell with Weakland and to hell with any Pope who could allow such an affront to the laity.
I'm a Catholic, and I remain one. But I gotta tell you, after all I've seen, I'm getting a real soft spot in my heart for Martin Luther.
I think you're seriously barking up the wrong tree, there. I think it's absolutely wrong to conflate the ancient discipline of clerical celibacy with the deliberate attempt by various leftists to infiltrate the clergy with homosexual predators. Perverts entered the ranks of the clergy not because of the rules, but because the rules were not enforced.
After all of this we the laity have a right to demand
There you go again.
Demand away. In your own name.
YOU DO NOT SPEAK FOR ME.
Quit trying to do so.
I completely disagree with your apparent fetish for protestant-style married clergy.
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