Posted on 04/25/2002 9:18:29 AM PDT by Notwithstanding
Church uncovers file on Shanley NAMBLA activity
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<!SUMM!> In the latest example of the Boston archdiocese's chaotic record-keeping on problem priests, church officials acknowledged yesterday their discovery of new records detailing allegations of the Rev. Paul R. Shanley's involvement in NAMBLA - the North American Man-Boy Love Association.<!ENDSUMM!> The documents, part of a larger group a judge earlier this month ordered turned over to Roderick MacLeish, a lawyer representing several alleged victims of Shanley, were located late last week by an unnamed archdiocesean staff member, the Rev. Christopher Coyne, said an archdiocesan spokesman. ``It's terribly embarrassing at this late date to come out and say this,'' Coyne said in addressing reporters on the lawn of the Brighton Chancery. ``No one knew that the files were around,'' Coyne said. ``It wasn't just one letter that was overlooked. It's another bad thing. It makes us look like we are not being honest. It's just awful.'' The Shanley file released to date - more than 800 pages of secret records - detailed the priest's long history of alleged sexual misconduct, and, on some pages, his admissions of the actions. But more damning were numerous documents revealing that Bernard Cardinal Law, his predecessor, Humberto Cardinal Medeiros, and other archdiocesean officials were aware of Shanley's behavior as far back as 1967, but continued to assign him to posts that put him in direct contact with children. Coyne appeared visibly angry as he revealed the discovery of the documents, saying there is no question now that there had been numerous written complaints made in past years to chancery officials about Shanley's behavior. MacLeish, who will receive the papers today, said he was furious with the discovery. ``If they're NAMBLA materials, as they say they are, then it's absolutely appalling. I can't believe it,'' he said, adding that he intends to investigate how the documents were missed. ``We are taking the deposition of (the church officials) involved in this document retrieval. The truth will have to come out,'' he said. In the initial document release three weeks ago, records showed that Shanley spoke in favor of sex between men and boys at a December 1978 Boston convention that led to the founding of the intergenerational sex advocacy organization. But a Shanley supporter who organized the meeting and later co-founded NAMBLA insists that it has been mischaracterized, and that many different points of view on the subject were presented. ``It certainly was not some kind of a man-boy group,'' said the man, who goes by the pseudonym of Socrates. ``There were social workers, psychiatrists, ministers and even law enforcement personnel. At that time, these issues could be discussed in an objective forum. You can't do that now.'' More germane to the accusations of MacLeish's clients is Socrates' contention that it would have been totally out of character for Shanley to have had violent sex with a 6-year-old. In his suit and in a criminal complaint to Newton police, Gregory Ford, 24, claims that Shanley yanked him out of CCD classes and repeatedly fondled and raped him as a child in the rectory of Newton's St. Jean's Parish for six years beginning in 1984. ``I don't believe it, based on what I know of him,'' Socrates said, insisting that the priest would never have had sex with a pre-pubescent boy. ``I don't believe he ever did anything by force.'' MacLeish vehemently disputed that, saying, ``They say he wasn't violent. That's absolute total nonsense.'' ``I have a forcible rape case against Paul Shanley from 1990 involving a 13-year-old. This notion that you're either interested in pedophilia or ephebophilia (sex with teens) is absolute nonsense,'' MacLeish charged. MacLeish also said Ford and a second alleged victim, Paul Busa, who attended the classes with Ford but hasn't seen him in years, could not have collaborated to fabricate their allegations. ``NAMBLA has as much credibility on this as Ken Lay does on suggestions to reform Enron,'' MacLeish said.
by Maggie Mulvihill and Robin Washington
Thursday, April 25, 2002
First, anyone having sex with children should be prosecuted; priests who have sex with children should be de-frocked. In fact, I would go so far as to say that if priests break their vow of celibacy, they should be removed from parish life and sent to a monestary or far away place to repent.
Second, the laity need to write letters to the bishops and cardinals, demanding that they take firm, solid, uncompromising steps to punish offenders, protect innocent priests, and prevent future sexual crimes.
Third, the Bishops must denounce homosexuality (not the person, but the act of homosexual sex) and tell homosexuals that the Lord will forgive them if they renounce their sin and seek forgiveness, starting in their heart.
Fourth, and most important, we need to stand by our church. The Catholic Church is about Jesus Christ. We worship our Lord, we praise Him, we love Him. The Church IS Jesus. The church may have evil members -- and I think that anyone who would prey on a child and hurt them so deeply is evil -- but the church herself is good. We need to remember that, pray, and take action.
God bless.
Maybe I should become a Catholic priest.....heck, i'd have a more erotic time.FYI, Catholic priests are celibate therefore they do not enjoy erotic time :-)
This has nothing to do with organized religion. It has to do with some individuals within a religion who did not exercise their own responsibility to get rid of known offenders. The Philadelphia diocese has been getting rid of known homosexuals since Cardinal Bevalaqua (sp?) took office. A man who took his responsibility seriously. I am protestant and a Sunday School teacher at my church touched one young girl inappropriately. The response of our pastor? He called the police!
I've been wondering ... and anyone who knows, please enlighten me. How CAN a Cardinal be removed? Does the Pope do it? Is he "voted out" by his fellow Cardinals? I'm curious. I haven't seen any sign that Cardinal Law is seeking to resign ... or at the very least asking to be reassigned. Maybe being assigned to the Vatican would be a good thing. In fact, most of our Cardinals in America should be reassigned ... there are many good Bishops who believe in our Doctrines and teachings who can be promoted in their place.
But again, I don't know exactly how all this happens, so someone please help!
The Sacramento diocese took a strong stand against sexual misconduct -- ALL sexual misconduct -- and reiterated their policy recently. There is no second chance in our diocese: if it is proven that a priest sexually sinned, they are removed from parish life. This has happened to 11 in the last several decades, out of over 650 priests.
Every diocese needs to do the same. But every diocese is different. L.A. is so liberal, so bad, that they need a major purification.
That will depend on how you express it via your behavior. Dependent upon that, we reserve the right to comment accordingly.
man may find some pleasure in ranking sins, all sins are equal before God and have been forgiven through the work of Jesus. Not a subset of sins, all sins.
Actually, this is primarly a homosexual problem. Period.
Here is what they say on their web site:
"In light of recent ongoing scandals being brought to light, many visitors to our site have asked that we make this information about an internet-based homosexual priest ring available once again. It is graphic and offensive. Prayerful discretion is advised."
For those interested HERE is their web site. BEWARE. Believe them when they say the pictures are graphic and offensive.
NAMBLA should be fought as one would fight snakes invading your abode.
HOW THE HELL CAN ANYONE SLEEP AT NIGHT WITHOUT FIRST FIRING A SHOT AT NAMBLA, OR ARAFAT, OR SUDAN, OR RED CHINA, OR ABORTION MURDER........?
Law, among others, I think...There's simply too much covering going on for all these men to be INNOCENT of any participation. My new mantra: "Let's see ALL their records!"
>How's THAT for a euphemism for NAMBLA! Sounds so nice, doesn't it?
>The Boston Herald isn't even good for toilet paper.
That's newspeak at its finest.
They think your assumptions shouldn't go much beyond the intergenerational Anna Nicole Smith affair :-)
Maybe a mass purification, exorcism and just mass firing of all homosexual predators posting as priests will be necessary. I'm sure that the dioceses in the Bay area are as bad if not worse.
Wrongo.
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