Replies

As I read the allegations from the Dallas newspaper, complicity of law enforcement was alleged in many of them.

The culpability is many pronged, but IMOHO, the basic guilt for this monumental scandal lies with our Hierarchy and in some cases, the local lawmen must also be investigated for "CONSPIRACY".

I e-mailed Brother Van Houten, President of Malloy High School on Friday and received this in reply on the weekend.

Subj: RE: Thank You Father Van Houten for ...
Date: 6/23/02 9:37:32 AM Pacific Daylight Time
From: president@molloyhs.org
To: *************

ARCHBISHOP MOLLOY HIGH SCHOOL
83-53 Manton Street
Briarwood NY 11435-1697
(718) 441-2100
President@molloyhs.org

Dear **********,

Thank you for your e-mail. For all the polarization that has sadly divided our Church for four decades, every good Catholic, indeed every good person, can recognize the evils of sexual impropriety and theft. Each of us must take a stand against both the misdeeds of some of our priests and the lack of accountability by those who supervise them. Mrs. Samide, the Principal of St. Elizabeth's, took a courageous step to insist on truthfulness and accountability, and I believe the Church owes her a debt of gratitude for her insistence that wrongs be righted.

With best regards,

Br. Richard Van Houten
President

Outstanding American High School - U.S. News & World Report
Exemplary School - Federal Department of Education
Accredited by the Middle States Association
Chartered by the Regents of the State University of New York

-----Original Message-----
From: **************
Sent: Friday, June 21, 2002 11:51 AM
To: president@molloyhs.org
Subject: Thank You Father Van Houten for ...

Your acceptance and defense of the charges made against Monsignor Spengler by Elizabeth Samide.

I belong to a Catholic Caucus on the FreeRepublic.com, conservative, online forum and as Faithful, practicing and ACTIVE Catholics who remain loyal to His Holiness and the Magisterium, we hope to be a lay Apostolate for a return to His Charge of our Faith.

We are, collectively, less than satisfied with the USCCB decisions which neglect accountability and have been being informed of gross violations within many of the biggest Archdioceses. This affirmation from you for another lay person, in Elizabeth, of her right to exercise her indignation in a just and viable manner, is one of the postive small steps that give us hope for success.

~>**********<~
St. Mary's Parish
Archdiocese of Los Angeles

My point is I think that if we do want to have a voice as lay persons, that our next "move" should be an overwhelming appeal and outline of solutions that is suggested in e-mail or in snail-mail to Frank Keating ... with our "solutions".

I think the disorder of homosexuality should NOT automatically disqualify any chaste man from the priesthood.

Flame away if it suits your fancy to do so, but I was brought up to be tolerant of those who are different from myself and don't believe in blanket indictments.