Posted on 09/08/2012 5:07:45 AM PDT by Renfield
New York - A prominent Catholic priest says he believes “youngsters” are often to blame for sexual abuse by priests and that priests who are first time offenders should not be jailed for their crime.
Father Benedict Groeschel, founder of Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, is well known as the host of Sunday Night Prime with Father Benedict Groeschel, a weekly show on Catholic television network EWTN. It was not what he said on his television show that has sparked controversy however, it is comments he made in an interview with the National Catholic Register that has outraged many. According to a UPI report, Groeschel told the newspaper
"People have this picture in their minds of a person planning to -- a psychopath. But that's not the case. Suppose you have a man having a nervous breakdown, and a youngster comes after him. A lot of the cases, the youngster -- 14, 16, 18 -- is the seducer."....
(Excerpt) Read more at digitaljournal.com ...
"Well, you know, until recent years, people did not register in their minds that it was a crime."
And now we finally realize exactly why Sandusky got away with what he did all these years. He’s got friends like this one.
Can we shoot this sicko as well?
He’s 83 years old, almost died in a car accident a couple of years ago (I’m talking brain injury and in a coma for days) AND he’s already apologized and lost his TV show. Give it a rest already.
Is this man insane?
Hey, as time goes on, and we are forced to endorse and celebrate use of the reproductive organs in more and more ways, it will become “cool and liberating” for kids to participate freely in the sexual compulsions of neurotic adults.
I was surprised by this, and while I’m not a very understanding person, from what I know of this guy he isn’t in his right mind. Years ago he was a sharp priest; I remember the accident, and I know he’s older now as well.
Otherwise, I can’t imagine what he was thinking.
And those priests, teachers, attorneys, judges and social workers are supposed to be responsible adults and not let this stuff happen. Can't believe this guy - protect the adult over the child?
Gives a lot of very good Catholics a bad rap.
OK.. so he`s apologized... for the uproar or for having that opinion? Sounds to me like he`s rationalizing for a few skeletons in his closet.
Sounds like the priest is having an Akin moment. Hey, he’s a Franciscan; isn’t there a monastery where they can stick him until the Second Coming?
A) Check this guy for possible offenses.
B) Even if a young person is 'seducing' you, it is called BEING AN ADULT AND HAVING SELF CONTROL! When I was 20something, a well-developed underager came at me. I had a little FREAKIN RESTRAINT and she remains UN-HIT. Sheesh.
Age is now an excuse to defend child molestation? I disagree.
He’s already apologized for that statement - said something about not being able to express himself properly. I think that was over a week ago.
BEING AN ADULT AND HAVING SELF CONTROL
Not to mention that you are a PRIEST and CELIBATE.
The heathens have taken over....I don’t care if he apologized and lost his show...its a stupid position to take in the first place. It can’t possibly be justified.
Sheesh!
Why is this posted today, a month after it happened??? EWTN has explained in great detail about Father Groeschel’s deteriorating condition following his stroke, but NO, just keep on ragging about the Catholic Church.
Should be posted under ‘Tedious Slander.’
What he said was 100% wrong. He’ll probably retire from making his TV show over it.
I gotta say, the majority of Freepers will always side with the press when it comes to their exploiting the Catholic Church and also cops.
The flamers will not have taken the time to see who this man is and all of the great things he has done, but they’ll take the time to hop on board with the press, here, who are grabbing headlines.
Fr. Groeschel had a massive stroke and has expressive aphasia. He literally has no control over some of what he says. THis is whom the press goes after for headlines and the Church haters her will jump right on the pile.
Please, before you jump on board with the NYT here, read the original account Then take just a moment to see at least a little of this priests history, inluding renouncing his loyalty to eh Democrat party, renouncing (all publicly on his show) his loyalty to the NYT, who, by the way broke the story, for their hatred of him and his causes, and his his spending time in jail for his work against abortion, etc.
Statement of Michael P. Warsaw, President and Chief Executive Officer of EWTN Global Catholic Network regarding Father Benedict Groeschel:
The recent comments regarding clerical sexual abuse of minors made by Father Benedict Groeschel to a news editor of the National Catholic Register should never have been published. In no way do those comments reflect the views of the Register or EWTN. It should have been obvious to the editor that Father Benedict’s physical condition and mental clarity have deteriorated and that the comments were completely inconsistent with his life’s work and witness. We apologize that these remarks were published and ask for forgiveness for this error.
To regular viewers of EWTN, it has been evident for some time that Father Benedict’s health has been declining. For more than a year, the Network has been in discussions with both Father and his Community about his capacity to continue hosting Sunday Night Prime. This is the reason that the program moved from a live to a pre-recorded format last year. In more recent months Father Benedict’s decline has accelerated. After consultation with EWTN and the Community of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, Father Benedict has decided that it is now time to step away from the program. The Sunday Night Prime program will continue and will be hosted by other priests of the CFR community.
Father Benedict has led a life of tremendous compassion and service to others and his spiritual insights have been a great gift to the EWTN family for many years. We are profoundly grateful to him and assure him of our prayers. At the same time, we ask our EWTN family to pray for all those who have been affected by this painful situation and in particular those who have been victims of sexual abuse.
Monday, September 03, 2012
Wow. That doesn’t sound like Fr Groeschel at all. The injuries from that wreck and his age have definitely addled his brain!
“Father Benedict has decided that it is now time to step away from the program.”
As predicted.
And when he takes the long walk bak to the Friary, the NYT journalists and their minions will be joined in spirit by the Catholic haters from FreeRepublic for the long, loud proverbial, rotten tomato-throwing jeer at this man.
Just for example:
I apologize for my comments. I did not intend to blame the victim. A priest (or anyone else) who abuses a minor is always wrong and is always responsible. My mind and my way of expressing myself are not as clear as they used to be. I have spent my life trying to help others the best that I could. I deeply regret any harm I have caused to anyone.[13]
The Franciscan Friars of the Renewal organization also apologized for Groeschel’s remarks, noting that they were out of character for him and stemmed from infirmities due to his 2004 car accident, described in greater detail below, and a recent stroke.[14]
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