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
“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]
>>Father Benedict’s physical condition and mental clarity have deteriorated
Yeah, he basically said the same thing himself. I’m not Catholic (or Christian) so I don’t have any special sympathetic feelings about him, but it was obvious he was really broken up - embarrassed and ashamed about what he said and about his condition as well. It’s all here on FR if someone wants research it.