Fort Worth priest removed from ministry

Dallas Morning News ^ | 6/29/2002 | Susan Hogan/Albach

[sinkspur]

The Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth has removed a priest from ministry in response to the U.S. bishops' new policy on child sexual abuse adopted June 14 in Dallas.

The Rev. Rudolf Renteria, who had been serving as a chaplain at several Fort Worth and Dallas hospitals since 1987, was told by Bishop Joseph Delaney this week that he could no longer serve in the ministry.

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Father Renteria, who was ordained in 1979, was accused of sexual misconduct with a minor in 1981, according to a news release from the diocese. The allegations involved at 14-year-old boy who attended St. Matthew Parish in Arlington.

When confronted by the bishop at the time, Father Renteria was unable to confirm or deny the incident due to the influence of alcohol, the news release said. He went on to serve parishes in Wichita Fallas, Vernon and Lewisville. The diocese said it receive no complaints of sexual misconduct at those parishes.

However, after a series of incidents at St. Philip Parish in Lewisville involving disruptive behavior and alcohol abuse, the priest was sent to the Southdown Institute, a treatment facility for priests in Canada.

"Based on the recommendations from therapists at the treatment facility, it was determined that though Renteria should not be involved in parish work, he could do effective ministry as a chaplain of some kind," the news release said.

The diocese said Father Renteria had "functioned effectively" for 15 years as a hospital chaplain. Even so, he would no longer be allowed to minister in any capacity, lead public worship, wear clerical garb or present himself publicly as a priest.

"Although this action is tough, especially in light of Father Renteria's effectiveness as a hospital chaplain, our priorities are with the victim," Bishop Delaney said in a written statement. "I am deeply sorry for what happened to this young person over two decades ago, and I deeply regret that I did not act more firmly and decisively in dealing with Father Renteria at that time. Although this action may be late, it is never too late to do the right thing."

[sinkspur]

Rudy was a barber at Holy Trinity Seminary in my final four years there.

Well, barber is what we called them then.

[johniegrad]

If your barber is truthful, he probably abused a 14 year old in an alcohol blackout. He then had a series of incidents at St. Philip Parish in Lewisville involving disruptive behavior and alcohol abuse and was sent to treatment. No incidences since? Other unreported incidences? Something about this doesn't quite add up. Anything to add?

[sinkspur]

No incidences since? Other unreported incidences? Something about this doesn't quite add up. Anything to add?

I don't know. Of course, I didn't know anything about the original incidents either.

Rudy appears, to me, to be an immature guy who used alcohol around minors and engaged in inappropriate behavior. He's not a classic abuser.

There doesn't appear to be any further occurrences over the last 15 years.

Lots of young priests abusing, acting inappropriately, drinking. If no one stops them, the actions continue.

The priesthood fosters immaturity. Priests have all their material needs satisfied, and never have had to worry about a paycheck.

Until now.

I doubt that the IBM company, with 200,000 employees, has as many sexual abusers as the Catholic Church does, with 45,000 priests.

What's wrong with this picture?

[John W]

Well,for one thing,what would you estimate to be the percentage of IBM's 200,000 employees who are homosexuals?Then,percentage of the 45,000 priests?

[sinkspur]

Well,for one thing,what would you estimate to be the percentage of IBM's 200,000 employees who are homosexuals?

Are you one of those who contends that every homosexual is a child abuser?

[John W]

No.But after reading Good Bye Good Men I have a better appreciation of how we've ended up where we have with regard to the priesthood.And,it isn't because of celibacy,no mortgage payment or a housekeeping allowance.

[Concerned]

JOHN W WROTE: "...after reading Good Bye Good Men I have a better appreciation of how we've ended up where we have with regard to the priesthood. And,it isn't because of celibacy,no mortgage payment or a housekeeping allowance."

Give us a hint...what IS it because of?

[John W]

From the books introduction:
Goodbye!Good Men does...give evidence that the root of this problem (clerical sex abuse) goes back to the very place where vocations to the priesthood germinate.Too often men who support the teachings of the Church,especially the teachings on sexual morality,are dismissed for being "rigid and uncharitable homophobes" while those seminarians who reject the Church's teaching or "come out" as gays to their superiors are wined and dined,given preferential treatment,and then ordained to the Catholic priesthood.In other words,a protective network starts in many seminaries where gay seminarians are encouraged to "act out" or "explore their sexuality" in highly inappropriate way.Court documents and news reports also suggest that sexual abuse of teenage seminarians by faculty priests has been widespread over the last three decades.
At the same time,seminary "gay subculture"...desensitizes heterosexual priests to the problem of transgressions against clerical celibacy and the further problems these transgressions effect.
The trouble starts in the seminary,and gross sexual immorality is only one of the major issues that needs to be addressed by the shepherds of the Catholic Church...