NEW YORK BISHOP RESIGNS

AP Wire | June 11,2002

[NYer]

NEW YORK (AP) _ A high-ranking priest in the Archdiocese of New York resigned his positions as church pastor and auxiliary bishop after admitting to several affairs with women, the archdiocese announced Tuesday.

Bishop James F. McCarthy, pastor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Shrub Oak in Westchester County, admitted to the affairs after they were brought to the attention of archdiocesan officials in a letter that arrived Saturday. ``I take this opportunity to express my personal care and concern for all involved in this situation, in particular any women and their families who may have been hurt, and Bishop McCarthy as well,'' Archbishop Edward Egan said in a statement.

The affairs took place over the course of several years, according to the archdiocese. Church officials will cooperate with prosecutors if any legal issues arise from the affairs.

The Westchester district attorney did not immediately return a call about the case.

Just two months ago, McCarthy had spoken about how the ongoing scandal involving sexual abuse by priests had eroded the relationship between priests and their parishioners.

Throughout the metropolitan area, at least 11 priests accused of sexual misconduct have been suspended from front-line duties in Roman Catholic Church parishes and schools. Officials in the New York archdiocese have given prosecutors in

formation on 35 years worth of sex abuse cases. In the neighboring Brooklyn Diocese, officials gave prosecutors information on more than 30 priests accused of sexual misconduct with minors over the past 20 years.

AP-ES-06-11-02 1352EDT

[Salvation]

The tangled webs woven by individuals get tangled up with all the other webs, lies bump into each other, and everything grinds to a halt.

And like the merchants in the Temple, I think Christ would throw them all OUT!

[redhead]

"Some people have asked why they never hear homilies and sermons condeming contraception, homosexuality, sex outside of marriage, masturbation, etc. NOW WE KNOW. These priests have justified there sexual lifestyles by denying Church teachings."

Precisely. A priest who is faithful to his priestly vows has no problem discussing the sexual problems that lead to sin and apostasy. But a sinful priest (if he is even a little bit honest) will be ashamed to preach against the very things he himself is guilty of. Reading this made me realize how VERY BLESSED we are in our priest. He is not much of an administrator, but he is chaste and holy, and preaches thought-provoking homilies against fornication, abortion, and other sexual sins. Go, Father INCE!!

[ThomasMore]

Reading this made me realize how VERY BLESSED we are in our priest.

Same here! My pastor is a very devout and faithful priest. He preaches it like it is. If a homily on homosexuality or contraception or liberalism or anti-catholic agendas is called for, he is more than capable and never fails to deliver a good one.

Please visit my community's Web site at

Christ's Faithful People

also on our site are my Pastor's homilies.

Father Ray's Corner

[Arthur McGowan]

McCarthy's consecration as a bishop was opposed by everyone in the diocese who had a hand in the process, because his multiple affairs were notorious. But he was a favorite of O'Connor's. O'Connor went to Rome, and told the Pope to his face that the allegations were untrue, even though O'Connor knew they were true. The Pope has a major weakness--he believes what Cardinals tell him. O'Connor's stock in Rome today is at zero. His memory is not respected. In future years, his stock in America will also be at zero. He was a fake. He never lifted a finger against the Gay Mafia in the archdiocese. He also left the Archdiocese a complete financial wreck.

[B-Chan]

How do you know that "Bible-based" Christianity is "truer"?

[sinkspur]

He never lifted a finger against the Gay Mafia in the archdiocese.

I've read the same about Spellman.

[livius]

I spent most of my childhood and youth in that diocese (NY), and believe me, if there was a "gay mafia," it sure wasn't visible.

Priests behaved themselves, if only because old Msgr. McGillicuddy was sitting in the rectory parlor with the equivalent of a rolling pin. You probably don't remember, also, that in those days getting into seminary was not a given. People who came from what we now know to be "gay friendly" environments (that is, households headed by women, families where the father was an alcoholic or unemployable, etc.) had a lot of trouble getting into seminaries. I read recently, however, that the majority of modern priests come from single-parent households (that is, headed by women) or homes where there is problem that has made the father more or less absent or powerless.

The big problem in NYC was alcohol abuse, but that was at least partly because most of the priests were Irish. From what I recall, obesity was also a problem. Spellman was known for his fine table, and of course, as anybody who ever saw this little bowling ball emerge from a limo will attest, you could tell it right off.

The other thing that priests had then was a sort of brotherhood that they do not have now. The priests I knew growing up genuinely loved and enjoyed the company of their brother priests (the way cops or health professionals enjoy each other's company, being in the trenches together), but the insertion of homosexuality into this totally destroyed it. Rebecca West wrote that one of the terrible things about homosexuality was that it replaced the comfort of friendship with the anxiety of a sexual relationship. These guys still had the comfort of friendship, and I think Spellman, odd though he was, did everything he could to keep things this way.

[Dec31,1999]

Perhaps if the CC continues to pull itself out of the toilet, it will regain some respect. But not from me. At least they haven't resumed the practice of killing infidels yet.

The Church is rotten to the core, at least in America, and as such, I wouldn't give them a thin dime. The hierarchy of the CC is almost as despicable as the heirarchy of the even more disfunctional Muslim "church". May they rot in hell, both.

[Dec31,1999]

I vaguely recall hearing such homilies as a child. But the priesthood has become overrun with lascivious pederasts.

What you tolerate is what you get.

[mickie]

You seem to be a very hateful, bitter person.
Are you looking for perfection.......here on Earth?

[sinkspur]

The Church is rotten to the core, at least in America, and as such, I wouldn't give them a thin dime. The hierarchy of the CC is almost as despicable as the heirarchy of the even more disfunctional Muslim "church". May they rot in hell, both.

You're a very odd person. You ask for "understanding" on other threads, then post something like this.

Is it any surprise that no one likes you?

[Dec31,1999]

You seem to be a very hateful, bitter person.

I'm much better than that in person, frankly. But you're right in your comment. I'm very bitter, but not hateful.

I reserve my hate for the leaders of those who would deprive people of Freedom. Freedom to grow up without being prematurely sexualized. Freedom to proclaim the truth as one sees it. Freedom to open up businesses without undue government regulation.

BTW, don't you have bigger fish to fry, or have I struck a nerve?

[Dec31,1999]

Is it any surprise that no one likes you?

Not really. Especially because I tend to tell the truth about what I think here. But noone likes you either.

I'm not here to make friends. Some are, but the purpose of my being here is to find the truth about various matters, as opposed to defending pederasts, like you. If I make friends, all well and good. If not, I have my friends away from the keyboard.

[sinkspur]

Some are, but the purpose of my being here is to find the truth about various matters, as opposed to defending pederasts, like you.

You don't spend much time on FR, so I'll forgive you for your ignorance.

I don't defend pederasts; in fact, I condemn them more than you do.

But you don't distinguish between those few who are pederasts and those few who covered up for them, and the vast majority of priests and bishops who are good men.

Generalizations never work.

[oldironsides]

I think you will find that affairs with women are not all that uncommon. Many good men left the priesthood because of it. The one thing that really bothers me is the absolute authority the inner all male circle holds over"no female clergy" and how they spoke out on not allowing women while they knew how bad things really were within the rank and file . No woman would stand still for this bad boy shuffle of priests to unsuspecting parishes.

[Dec31,1999]

You don't spend much time on FR, so I'll forgive you for your ignorance.

I spend a lot of time here, so please don't forgive me. Forge straight ahead. Condemn me as you have to the moderators. I make no apology to pederast defenders.

[Dec31,1999]

But you don't distinguish between those few who are pederasts and those few who covered up for them, and the vast majority of priests and bishops who are good men.

You're probably right. But I still won't take my family to the Catholic Church. Will you take our family to the Catholic Church?

[sinkspur]

Will you take our family to the Catholic Church?

No. That's your job.

As for me, my wife and I are lectors, who read at the 6:00 Mass on Saturday every third week. We also work with engaged couples, helping prepare them for marriage.

My two boys are Dallas police officers, and attend Mass every Sunday or Saturday, depending on their schedules.

[Dec31,1999]

y