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BBC: Pope orders talks on US sex scandals
BBC.com/Americas ^ | 15/04/02

Posted on 04/15/2002 12:11:55 PM PDT by history_matters

Pope orders talks on US sex scandals

Pope John Paul II

The Pope has spoken out against "evil" abusers

Pope John Paul II has summoned leaders of the Roman Catholic church in the United States to the Vatican to discuss recent disclosures of sex scandals, which have rocked the church.

The Vatican says the meeting with American cardinals will probably take place next week.

demo

Demonstrators have been calling for Archbishop Law to go

The Archbishops of New York and Boston - traditionally the two most important posts in the Catholic church in the US - have been under pressure to resign because of their alleged role in covering up cases of abuse involving priests.

The Archbishop of Milwaukee has also been accused of suppressing information about cases of alleged abuse.

The Catholic Church has also faced similar allegations in a number of other countries.

The Pope last month made his first public denunciation of guilty priests.

Time for action

Boston Archbishop Cardinal Bernard Law, 70, has been at the epicentre of a scandal in which he is accused of knowing that a few priests in his archdiocese were serial child molesters, but he did not discipline them - he simply moved them from parish to parish where they preyed on new victims.

The affair is similar to problems in St Louis, Florida, California, Philadelphia and Detroit.

Our correspondent says it has severely undermined the credibility of the church and clearly the Vatican now believes it has to take action.

Cardinal Law did not turn up to mass at his cathedral on Sunday because there were protesters outside the cathedral and he thought they would disrupt the service.

Heavy criticism

Across the whole country, 3,000 priests face allegations of child abuse.

law

Archbishop Bernard Law: Under pressure

Cardinal Law has been heavily criticised since former priest John Geoghan was convicted of child molesting.

He has acknowledged that he transferred Geoghan to another parish despite knowing of sexual misconduct allegations against the now-defrocked Boston priest.

Geoghan is believed to have abused more than 100 people over a 20-year period.

The scandals are also a huge financial burden for the church. They have settled out of court in many instances and the cost of that has been more than $1bn.

There is talk that some archdioceses will be bankrupted by the scandals.

Commentators suspect that the Pope will have to get rid of a layer of the Catholic hierarchy, starting with Cardinal Law.



TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: cardinallaw; catholic; catholicbashing; catholiccaucus; catholicchurch; catholiclist; popejohnpaulii; scandal; sexcrimes
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To: history_matters
I had no idea that the number of priests accused equals 3,000. The Pope is correct to call this meeting to show its concern for this issue. When the Pope spoke out last month, there was a lot of criticism in the press that it appeared His Holiness was indifferent.

The Church will survive this scandal no matter what, but its faithful do need strong leadership. I listened to a priest on this topic, and he stated the problem well. "We live in an age where there are no secrets anymore." He aslo suggested that those priests with this problem should be moved to a monastaic atmosphere, where they can pray and do penance for the rest of their lives. Although not accused, I do hope that this is the fate of Cardinal Law. He appears in denial and defiant, unappreciative to the severe harm his decisions have damaged so many victims.

There is one issue that I have feared from the outset, and that is there will be a sort of witch hunt, along with many who will take advantage of the situation for financial gain. After all, lawyers are now involved.

This meeting brings great hope to me.

81 posted on 04/16/2002 12:15:07 AM PDT by Angelique
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To: history_matters
Lord Jesus Christ, thou Good Physician, heal thy Church, we beseech thee.

The Church cannot be healed with out our help! This is not just "The Church" we all are the Church and we all must do our part to Heal it.

82 posted on 04/16/2002 12:45:29 AM PDT by .45MAN
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To: tiki; Angelique
The number 3000 is derived from a report that says one percent of all priests have sexual attraction to minors or are in fact pedophiles. The Jenkins Report (Jenkins is a non-Catholic) for the Archdiocese of Chicago actually said the number of pedophiles in the priesthood accounted for .01 per cent of the priests in America with his number at about 470 priests. Of course, that is 470 too many -- 470 who should have been weeded out along the way. But the number of homosexual and homosexually active priests is really unknown although everyone knows there is a "lavendar mafia" and a homosexual sub-culture within the Church in America. I pray the Pope will declare that homosexuals cannot ever be ordained to Holy Orders. And I pray for divine chemotherapy for the Church to irradicate this homosexual and liberal cancer.
83 posted on 04/16/2002 5:35:41 AM PDT by history_matters
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To: EODGUY
I pray that our Holy Father, guided by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, will not only quickly implement a solution to the abhorrent crisis our Church faces due to the despicable behavior of a small percentage of our clergy, but also heal the victims of this assault, including devout Catholics who may be facing a faith crisis.

Amen.

84 posted on 04/16/2002 8:58:13 AM PDT by Gophack
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To: Lemonhead
I am a practicing Catholic and very conservative to boot. I would be opposed to returning to the Latin Mass simply because if no one understands what is being said they won't get as much out of Mass as they do today. I took three years of Latin and have a basic understanding of Latin (I can generally translate basic Latin, but I wouldn't be able to understand it if it was spoken!)

I believe that God intended for people to hear and read His Word in the language they are most comfortable in. The purpose of the Catholic Church is to convert all sinners to Christianity, to worship our Lord, to teach the commandments and show the infinite love and grace and mercy of our Lord. It would be difficult to do so if no one understands Mass.

God bless.

85 posted on 04/16/2002 9:03:39 AM PDT by Gophack
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To: marajade
I am Catholic and I happen to agree with you. See my post above.

God bless.

86 posted on 04/16/2002 9:04:46 AM PDT by Gophack
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To: goldenstategirl
Very, very well summarized. You said in three paragraphs what would have taken me six!

God bless.

87 posted on 04/16/2002 9:07:56 AM PDT by Gophack
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To: AmishDude
When the Cardinals meet (this would refer more to, say, the meeting that will announce the next pope rather than this one) what language do they speak in? Latin? English? Italian?

I don't know what the situation is now, but I recall reading that when Vatican II opened, the "normal" bishops were still getting used to the Latin that would be used, while the left pushed their pre-planned agenda through.

But, as I said, I don't know what it is now -- maybe translators.

88 posted on 04/16/2002 9:24:06 AM PDT by maryz
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Comment #89 Removed by Moderator

To: Lemonhead
I liked what goldenstategirl said -- that there should be more options. Like now, we have one Spanish Mass in my parish on Sunday; we should have the option of attending Latin Mass as well.

Thanks. :-)

90 posted on 04/16/2002 10:11:25 AM PDT by Gophack
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To: .45MAN
"The Church cannot be healed with out our help! This is not just "The Church" we all are the Church and we all must do our part to Heal it."

Amen! And, we want OUR Church BACK.

St. Michael the Archangel, intercede for us. Send your holy angels to do battle for this Church.

91 posted on 04/16/2002 10:22:01 AM PDT by redhead
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Free Republic Prayers for Priests
92 posted on 04/16/2002 6:23:24 PM PDT by BlessedBeGod
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To: redhead
I think I will also write to Montalvo tomorrow. I want to ask him why Paul Shanley was receiving monthly payments from the Archdiocese of Boston for living expenses and medical expenses at the same time he was co-owner of the Cabana Club in Palm Springs. He owned the property, part of a resort for gay men, with another priest from Boston, John White. Both were supposedly on medical leave at the time.

The Cabana Club catered to homosexuals who were invited to have sex out in the open, by the pool, in the gardens, anywhere the mood struck them. Nudity was the norm. At the same time he was running and living at this Sodomite Playground, Paul Shanley was saying Mass on weekends at St. Anne's in San Bernardino, and was running "youth retreats".

After White sold the Cabana Club for $185,000, Shanley and his "longtime companion", Dale Lagace, 20 years his junior, moved to a pricey neighborhood in San Diego, Santa Fe Villas, paying $900 a month rent. It is assumed that Shanley was still receiving his stipend from the archdiocese at this time.

Shanley has disappeared from San Diego with Lagace, and is said to be hiding out in Thailand.

How about THAT, Montalvo???

Facts from an article by Nick Madigan in today's New York Times. Madigan investigated Shanley out in Palm Springs, where Shanley was very much a part of the gay scene.

93 posted on 04/16/2002 6:44:06 PM PDT by Palladin
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To: goldenstategirl
Thanks for the history lesson but how about clearing something up for me okay? Can the Catholic Church document the Pope's lineage from Peter to your current Pope? My guess is you can't.
94 posted on 04/16/2002 7:08:15 PM PDT by marajade
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To: marajade

The List of Popes

  1. St. Peter (32-67)
  2. St. Linus (67-76)
  3. St. Anacletus (Cletus) (76-88)
  4. St. Clement I (88-97)
  5. St. Evaristus (97-105)
  6. St. Alexander I (105-115)
  7. St. Sixtus I (115-125) -- also called Xystus I
  8. St. Telesphorus (125-136)
  9. St. Hyginus (136-140)
  10. St. Pius I (140-155)
  11. St. Anicetus (155-166)
  12. St. Soter (166-175)
  13. St. Eleutherius (175-189)
  14. St. Victor I (189-199)
  15. St. Zephyrinus (199-217)
  16. St. Callistus I (217-22)
  17. St. Urban I (222-30)
  18. St. Pontain (230-35)
  19. St. Anterus (235-36)
  20. St. Fabian (236-50)
  21. St. Cornelius (251-53)
  22. St. Lucius I (253-54)
  23. St. Stephen I (254-257)
  24. St. Sixtus II (257-258)
  25. St. Dionysius (260-268)
  26. St. Felix I (269-274)
  27. St. Eutychian (275-283)
  28. St. Caius (283-296) -- also called Gaius
  29. St. Marcellinus (296-304)
  30. St. Marcellus I (308-309)
  31. St. Eusebius (309 or 310)
  32. St. Miltiades (311-14)
  33. St. Sylvester I (314-35)
  34. St. Marcus (336)
  35. St. Julius I (337-52)
  36. Liberius (352-66)
  37. St. Damasus I (366-83)
  38. St. Siricius (384-99)
  39. St. Anastasius I (399-401)
  40. St. Innocent I (401-17)
  41. St. Zosimus (417-18)
  42. St. Boniface I (418-22)
  43. St. Celestine I (422-32)
  44. St. Sixtus III (432-40)
  45. St. Leo I (the Great) (440-61)
  46. St. Hilarius (461-68)
  47. St. Simplicius (468-83)
  48. St. Felix III (II) (483-92)
  49. St. Gelasius I (492-96)
  50. Anastasius II (496-98)
  51. St. Symmachus (498-514)
  52. St. Hormisdas (514-23)
  53. St. John I (523-26)
  54. St. Felix IV (III) (526-30)
  55. Boniface II (530-32)
  56. John II (533-35)
  57. St. Agapetus I (535-36) -- also called Agapitus I
  58. St. Silverius (536-37)
  59. Vigilius (537-55)
  60. Pelagius I (556-61)
  61. John III (561-74)
  62. Benedict I (575-79)
  63. Pelagius II (579-90)
  64. St. Gregory I (the Great) (590-604)
  65. Sabinian (604-606)
  66. Boniface III (607)
  67. St. Boniface IV (608-15)
  68. St. Deusdedit (Adeodatus I) (615-18)
  69. Boniface V (619-25)
  70. Honorius I (625-38)
  71. Severinus (640)
  72. John IV (640-42)
  73. Theodore I (642-49)
  74. St. Martin I (649-55)
  75. St. Eugene I (655-57)
  76. St. Vitalian (657-72)
  77. Adeodatus (II) (672-76)
  78. Donus (676-78)
  79. St. Agatho (678-81)
  80. St. Leo II (682-83)
  81. St. Benedict II (684-85)
  82. John V (685-86)
  83. Conon (686-87)
  84. St. Sergius I (687-701)
  85. John VI (701-05)
  86. John VII (705-07)
  87. Sisinnius (708)
  88. Constantine (708-15)
  89. St. Gregory II (715-31)
  90. St. Gregory III (731-41)
  91. St. Zachary (741-52)
  92. Stephen II (752)
  93. Stephen III (752-57)
  94. St. Paul I (757-67)
  95. Stephen IV (767-72)
  96. Adrian I (772-95)
  97. St. Leo III (795-816)
  98. Stephen V (816-17)
  99. St. Paschal I (817-24)
  100. Eugene II (824-27)
  101. Valentine (827)
  102. Gregory IV (827-44)
  103. Sergius II (844-47)
  104. St. Leo IV (847-55)
  105. Benedict III (855-58)
  106. St. Nicholas I (the Great) (858-67)
  107. Adrian II (867-72)
  108. John VIII (872-82)
  109. Marinus I (882-84)
  110. St. Adrian III (884-85)
  111. Stephen VI (885-91)
  112. Formosus (891-96)
  113. Boniface VI (896)
  114. Stephen VII (896-97)
  115. Romanus (897)
  116. Theodore II (897)
  117. John IX (898-900)
  118. Benedict IV (900-03)
  119. Leo V (903)
  120. Sergius III (904-11)
  121. Anastasius III (911-13)
  122. Lando (913-14)
  123. John X (914-28)
  124. Leo VI (928)
  125. Stephen VIII (929-31)
  126. John XI (931-35)
  127. Leo VII (936-39)
  128. Stephen IX (939-42)
  129. Marinus II (942-46)
  130. Agapetus II (946-55)
  131. John XII (955-63)
  132. Leo VIII (963-64)
  133. Benedict V (964)
  134. John XIII (965-72)
  135. Benedict VI (973-74)
  136. Benedict VII (974-83)
  137. John XIV (983-84)
  138. John XV (985-96)
  139. Gregory V (996-99)
  140. Sylvester II (999-1003)
  141. John XVII (1003)
  142. John XVIII (1003-09)
  143. Sergius IV (1009-12)
  144. Benedict VIII (1012-24)
  145. John XIX (1024-32)
  146. Benedict IX (1032-45)
  147. Sylvester III (1045)
  148. Benedict IX (1045)
  149. Gregory VI (1045-46)
  150. Clement II (1046-47)
  151. Benedict IX (1047-48)
  152. Damasus II (1048)
  153. St. Leo IX (1049-54)
  154. Victor II (1055-57)
  155. Stephen X (1057-58)
  156. Nicholas II (1058-61)
  157. Alexander II (1061-73)
  158. St. Gregory VII (1073-85)
  159. Blessed Victor III (1086-87)
  160. Blessed Urban II (1088-99)
  161. Paschal II (1099-1118)
  162. Gelasius II (1118-19)
  163. Callistus II (1119-24)
  164. Honorius II (1124-30)
  165. Innocent II (1130-43)
  166. Celestine II (1143-44)
  167. Lucius II (1144-45)
  168. Blessed Eugene III (1145-53)
  169. Anastasius IV (1153-54)
  170. Adrian IV (1154-59)
  171. Alexander III (1159-81)
  172. Lucius III (1181-85)
  173. Urban III (1185-87)
  174. Gregory VIII (1187)
  175. Clement III (1187-91)
  176. Celestine III (1191-98)
  177. Innocent III (1198-1216)
  178. Honorius III (1216-27)
  179. Gregory IX (1227-41)
  180. Celestine IV (1241)
  181. Innocent IV (1243-54)
  182. Alexander IV (1254-61)
  183. Urban IV (1261-64)
  184. Clement IV (1265-68)
  185. Blessed Gregory X (1271-76)
  186. Blessed Innocent V (1276)
  187. Adrian V (1276)
  188. John XXI (1276-77)
  189. Nicholas III (1277-80)
  190. Martin IV (1281-85)
  191. Honorius IV (1285-87)
  192. Nicholas IV (1288-92)
  193. St. Celestine V (1294)
  194. Boniface VIII (1294-1303)
  195. Blessed Benedict XI (1303-04)
  196. Clement V (1305-14)
  197. John XXII (1316-34)
  198. Benedict XII (1334-42)
  199. Clement VI (1342-52)
  200. Innocent VI (1352-62)
  201. Blessed Urban V (1362-70)
  202. Gregory XI (1370-78)
  203. Urban VI (1378-89)
  204. Boniface IX (1389-1404)
  205. Innocent VII (1406-06)
  206. Gregory XII (1406-15)
  207. Martin V (1417-31)
  208. Eugene IV (1431-47)
  209. Nicholas V (1447-55)
  210. Callistus III (1455-58)
  211. Pius II (1458-64)
  212. Paul II (1464-71)
  213. Sixtus IV (1471-84)
  214. Innocent VIII (1484-92)
  215. Alexander VI (1492-1503)
  216. Pius III (1503)
  217. Julius II (1503-13)
  218. Leo X (1513-21)
  219. Adrian VI (1522-23)
  220. Clement VII (1523-34)
  221. Paul III (1534-49)
  222. Julius III (1550-55)
  223. Marcellus II (1555)
  224. Paul IV (1555-59)
  225. Pius IV (1559-65)
  226. St. Pius V (1566-72)
  227. Gregory XIII (1572-85)
  228. Sixtus V (1585-90)
  229. Urban VII (1590)
  230. Gregory XIV (1590-91)
  231. Innocent IX (1591)
  232. Clement VIII (1592-1605)
  233. Leo XI (1605)
  234. Paul V (1605-21)
  235. Gregory XV (1621-23)
  236. Urban VIII (1623-44)
  237. Innocent X (1644-55)
  238. Alexander VII (1655-67)
  239. Clement IX (1667-69)
  240. Clement X (1670-76)
  241. Blessed Innocent XI (1676-89)
  242. Alexander VIII (1689-91)
  243. Innocent XII (1691-1700)
  244. Clement XI (1700-21)
  245. Innocent XIII (1721-24)
  246. Benedict XIII (1724-30)
  247. Clement XII (1730-40)
  248. Benedict XIV (1740-58)
  249. Clement XIII (1758-69)
  250. Clement XIV (1769-74)
  251. Pius VI (1775-99)
  252. Pius VII (1800-23)
  253. Leo XII (1823-29)
  254. Pius VIII (1829-30)
  255. Gregory XVI (1831-46)
  256. Blessed Pius IX (1846-78)
  257. Leo XIII (1878-1903)
  258. St. Pius X (1903-14)
  259. Benedict XV (1914-22)
  260. Pius XI (1922-39)
  261. Pius XII (1939-58)
  262. Blessed John XXIII (1958-63)
  263. Paul VI (1963-78)
  264. John Paul I (1978)
  265. John Paul II (1978—)

Copyright © 1999 by Kevin Knight

95 posted on 04/16/2002 7:22:07 PM PDT by BlessedBeGod
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To: marajade;Antoninus;Romulus;history_matters;nickcarraway;Dr. Brian Kopp
Absolutely we can.

Friends, how about some resources for marajade's question?

96 posted on 04/16/2002 7:24:26 PM PDT by Canticle_of_Deborah
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To: BlessedBeGod
Wow you're quick!;)
97 posted on 04/16/2002 7:25:35 PM PDT by Canticle_of_Deborah
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To: BlessedBeGod
I clicked on the first one and there is a dispute as to accuracy...
98 posted on 04/16/2002 7:38:34 PM PDT by marajade
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To: marajade
Oops I mean after Peter.
99 posted on 04/16/2002 7:39:44 PM PDT by marajade
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To: marajade
I clicked on the first one and there is a dispute as to accuracy...

Pope Linus is mentioned in the canon of the Mass ("Linus, Cletus, Clement, Sixtus...") so they must be pretty darn sure now (with modern scholarship) or they would never include it. This encyclopedia is from 1910, and further scholarship

Irenaeus
"The blessed apostles [Peter and Paul], having founded and built up the church [of Rome] . . . handed over the office of the episcopate to Linus" (Against Heresies 3:3:3 [A.D. 189]).

Eusebius of Caesarea
"Paul testifies that Crescens was sent to Gaul [2 Tim. 4:10], but Linus, whom he mentions in the Second Epistle to Timothy [2 Tim. 4:21] as his companion at Rome, was Peter's successor in the episcopate of the church there, as has already been shown. Clement also, who was appointed third bishop of the church at Rome, was, as Paul testifies, his co-laborer and fellow-soldier [Phil. 4:3]" (Church History 3:4:9-10 [A.D. 312]).

Epiphanius of Salamis
"At Rome the first apostles and bishops were Peter and Paul, then Linus, then Cletus, then Clement, the contemporary of Peter and Paul" (Medicine Chest Against All Heresies 27:6 [A.D. 375]).

Augustine
If all men throughout the world were such as you most vainly accuse them of having been, what has the chair of the Roman church done to you, in which Peter sat, and in which Anastasius sits today?" (Against the Letters of Petilani 2:118 [A.D. 402]). "If the very order of episcopal succession is to be considered, how much more surely, truly, and safely do we number them from Peter himself, to whom, as to one representing the whole Church, the Lord said, 'Upon this rock I will build my Church' . . . [Matt. 16:18]. Peter was succeeded by Linus, Linus by Clement, Clement by Anacletus, Anacletus by Evaristus . . . " (Letters 53:1:2 [A.D. 412]).

And the other 263 ? ;-)

100 posted on 04/16/2002 7:50:25 PM PDT by BlessedBeGod
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