Posted on 04/19/2005 3:42:20 PM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
Subjecting clergy to unannounced searches created 'firestorm'
Archbishop Timothy Dolan has temporarily backed off of a policy that could have required priests to consent to unannounced searches of their homes at any time of the day or night if church officials suspected or knew they had been involved in sexual conduct, alcohol or drug abuse or other behavior deemed inappropriate by the archdiocese.
Calling the reaction to the policy a "firestorm," Father Curt Frederick, vicar for clergy, sent an e-mail to diocesan priests Monday that stated the policy would be placed on hold.
"Given the current firestorm I have suggested to the Archbishop that the documents be held in abeyance for the time being and he has agreed with that suggestion," Frederick wrote. "I am terribly sorry for any and all of the upset and consternation that the untimely release of these materials causes. It is a mess and it reopens wounds, that all of us want healed. I admit it. It wasn't intended to be so."
Sources said the archdiocese has received numerous phone calls and e-mails from parishioners and priests upset about the new policy after the Journal Sentinel published a report about the situation Friday.
In an interview today, Frederick said Dolan acknowledged he made a mistake by approving the policy without consulting with the Council of Priests first. The review by that advisory group will occur April 28, he said. The final decision on whether to implement the policy as written or amend it will be Dolan's, he added.
"The intent of the initiative was good, Frederick said. "To try to help guys lead holy and chaste lives."
Complete coverage of this story will appear online later tonight and in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in the morning
ping
Dolan will not be able to implement this policy now. He screwed up by autocratically attempting to ram it down the priests' throats.
The intent of the initiative was good, Frederick said. "To try to help guys lead holy and chaste lives."
By treating them like children? Come on, VG. You know better than that.
I suspect this has lowered the esteem many priests in Milwaukee had for Dolan, and it will take a long time to build it back.
I suspect that he will put it in anyway after "considering" it for a while -- perhaps modifying it somewhat.
I suspect that he had good reason for writing this policy.
And I suspect that it was a warning shot over the bow of some of those who emulate FORMER Archbishop Weakland too closely.
Dolan is mighty popular around here.
Would he be as popular if he sent ex-cops to your house, demanding a log of every place you've been and checking your odometer without notice?
I'm certain that he has his reasons. Formerly priests lived in communities under the displine of a Pastor. There is no supervison or disipline any more because they mostly live alone.
I suspect that this was a policy not meant to be used -- just the warning of a policy that could be implemented if necessary. This diocese has taken some real financial hits in court recently because of the laissez faire attitude of the FORMER Archbishop. Dolan was sent here to clean this diocese up and put it right. He is very popular with the people and with most of the priests.
When my oldest daughter went away to school and couldn't get a room in the dorm, we moved her into an apartment with a roommate (as a freshman) and laughingly told her that we might show up unannounced so she'd better be where she was supposed to be! Then I did it!
I was driving down the street near the University, and there she was -- crossing the street right in front of me! Was she surprised! She took me home and I spent the night and we went shopping the next day. The lesson was not lost on her, and it was passed down to her younger brothers and sister who all expected me to drop in out the blue at their college domicile. I only had to do it twice.
In the mean time, some of tmy kids suffered roommates who lied about their whereabouts and expected my children to cover for them with their parents. My kids NEVER dared do that and they thanked me afterwards.
Archbishop Dolan is also reported to be angry with himself for approving the policy without consulting the council. That's an appropriate reaction in my mind. He's only human...
I have to wonder about Dolan's judgement. You simply don't treat adult human beings like criminals merely because of "suspicions." It's childish and colossally stupid.
Were I a priest in his diocese, I'd have a hard time putting any trust in him.
I had the same thought about a lapse in judgement. But that's all - and yes, it'll probably stick with me because there was no layer of influence between the former cop turned Deacon and approval. But I'm nowhere near the point of saying I'm gonna have a hard time putting any trust in him, and I won't respect any priest that says that. There's work to be done to repair the damage but publicly acknowledging he's angry with himself over the error is a good start.
He should simply ditch the policy completely and apologize.
I think that's the plan.
We live in interesting times.
Timothy Dolan is a wonderful Archbishop and has the trust of the people. Seminary enrollment is up, contributions are up, church attendance is up since he came to Milwaukee; and we are making plans to build a new high school -- the first in about 30 years. He has also agreed to allow priests and seminarians from other areas of the country to minister here -- something that his predecessor forbade, a policy of exclusion that got us into the mess we were in when Dolan arrived.
You don't live here, so please refrain from criticizing our Archbishop when you don't have to walk in his shoes. He has a difficult job. Just pray for him.
Rumor has it that Bishop Sklba (the auxiliary here, and a MAJOR suspect in all regards) was a signatory to the letter condemning the policy.
The usual bunch of maggot-infested dopesmoking hippies, all in serious need of auto-da-fe...
There's something about this story that smells funny.
If Abp. Dolan really DID read the policy before it was sent out, then why did he retract it? Pouty faced prisses have been seen before. Screw 'em.
Either he thinks what he did was defensible, or he doesn't. If it was defensible, then he should NOT have retracted it, foot-stamping and breath-holding be damned.
If it was NOT defensible, why did it go out?
Ask your police officer sons about the differences between suspicion, reasonable cause, and probable cause.
Who are you trying to kid, Sinky? This Diocese is chock-full of queer priests, and queers are demonstrably the most prone to molesting little boys.
Which will undoubtedly employ the same rotten catechetical program employed at Pius XI and Catholic Memorial.
Dolan's problem is two-fold: 1) he travels too much; and 2) he has retained all the Rembert-era termites at the Puzzle Palace.
You can determine what the solutions should be...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.