Posted on 09/19/2002 7:28:23 AM PDT by Incorrigible
Myers left a 'mess' in Peoria, insider says Thursday, September 19, 2002 By The Associated Press
CHICAGO - The archbishop of Newark is leaving a panel formed to implement the church's new sex abuse rules, a newspaper reported yesterday.
Newark Archbishop John J. Myers, formerly bishop of Peoria, is the latest member to leave the Ad Hoc Committee on Sexual Assault, which drafted a policy to punish and expel abusers, the Chicago Tribune reported. It was previously announced that Auxiliary Bishop A. James Quinn of Cleveland and Bishop John McCormack of Manchester, N.H., would leave the panel.
 |
Myers' successor in Peoria, Bishop Daniel Jenky, removed seven priests for alleged abuse last May, and some parishioners said Myers had left the problem for Jenky. Cleveland and New Hampshire also have undergone extensive investigations of sex abuse.
"We're not saying these are bad men," the Rev. Richard McBrien, a University of Notre Dame theology professor, told the Tribune. "But when we're in the kind of crisis we're in, you have to bend over backwards to make sure that everybody who is representing the church - and in this case the bishops - is carrying no baggage whatsoever.
"John Myers left a very messy situation in Peoria," McBrien added.
David Clohessy, national director for the Survivors Network for Those Abused by Priests, said it was wise to remove the bishops.
"It's simply a smart PR move when you have scores and scores of bishops from which to choose to take men like McCormack and Quinn and Myers out of the spotlight on the sexual abuse issue," Clohessy said. "Given what's come to light about (Myers') tenure in Peoria, I think it would be embarrassing were he to be reappointed."
Myers' spokesman, Jim Goodness, said Myers was not asked to leave the committee.
"The real reason was just that he had a specific purpose for being on the committee at the time - to help draft the (policy) document," Goodness said. "Now that that is drafted, it's time for the committee to move on. It naturally would occur that some others would move onto the committee."
Bill Ryan, spokesman for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, agreed with Goodness.
"It wasn't anything based on any criticism that any of these individuals had received," he said.
Not for commercial use. For educational and discussion purposes only.
Myers was terrific at reintroducing orthodoxy to the Peoria diocese. I lived there under his predecessor and during the early part of Myers' run there. There was a LOT of heterodoxy going on when Myers came in. He spent most of his time and energy combatting it, and making Peoria one of the most orthodox dioceses in the Midwest.
That being said, this commitee isn't about orthodoxy. t's about properly disciplining priests in specific and notorious circumstances. I don't know all the details, but circumstantially it does appear that he neglected his duty to properly discipline the seven priests in question. Since the thrust of this commitee is to devise policies for properly dealing with situations like Jenkins found when Myers left, Myers would be better served learning from the commitee rather than directing it.
I think Myers has removed some priests from duty in the Newark archdiocese. I don't hear him whining that McCarrick left a mess for him to clean up. Sheesh.
THIS IS A LIE!
Sorry to be so blunt, but I live in the Diocese of Peoria and Archbishop Myers is one of the best men, one of the most well-formed priests, I've ever had the pleasure to meet.
Let's just start with the numbers. Seven. Seven priests out of somewhere around two hundred priests. Moreover, a couple of the priests had already retired, several face accusations stemming from long ago(a decade) before Myers took over, and, I believe, of those who face charges stemming from the time frame of Myers tenure, most, if not all, had already been removed from positions involving children. Fianlly, one of the seven I know faces accusations stemming from a relationship with an adult woman.
But seven? There's been probably around four hundred priests who have served in the Diocese the last forty years. Seven would represent less than 2%. Not perfect, but a heck of alot better than most dioceses I would wager.
Archbishop John Myers is a good and holy man. Perhaps that's why someone like McBrien feels compelled to lie about him.
And I haven't even touched on all the good things he's done for our Diocese such as dramatically increasing vocations, standing firm against heterodoxy, etc.
May God always bless him and may all our Dioceses be similarly blessed.
Do you know what these priests are accused of? When they were accused? Who did the accusing? How it was reported to Myer? When it was reported? What canonical options Myers had available based on the actual evidence he had?
I truly don't know any of the above, so I'm unwilling to start name calling and frothing at the mouth about the situation. Especially in the midst of a media-hyped feeding frenzy.
I recently had the opportunity to meet him and found him to be quite down-to-earth and sincere. He approved a petition for an indult for the Tridentine rite, I thanked him personally for it and he said he hoped it was going well. His sermons are always solidly orthodox.
Yes, and this is key. 'Some parishoners' didn't like Bishop Myers. They were the Call to Action types who were banned from using Church facilities for the purposes of promoting schism and heresy.
With respect to Bishop Jenky, the article makes it sound like Jenky agrees he was left with a messy situation. But I wonder why the reporter didn't ask him his opinion?
I'll tell you why. Because Bishop Jenky has made it clear he feels like he has been extraordinarily blessed to have followed Bishop Myers. He's made it clear in public on numerous occasions.
ELS mentioned that Myers removed priests in Newark.
I don't trust the press and this article smelled of a hit job.
Yes, and just wait until you start getting the priests he gets for his Dioceses'. Solid men in love with Holy Mother Church intent on righting the Ship which has veered off course the last couple of decades. And, yes, he is, shall we say, very tolerant of the Tridentine Mass.
Yes, I forgot to mention that. I had posted an article last year when Myers was appointed archbishop. It quoted both those who agreed and disagreed with Myers. I'll see if I can dig it up when I get home tonight.
Bishop Jenky has made it clear he feels like he has been extraordinarily blessed to have followed Bishop Myers.
Interesting. It appears that the AP reporter is trying to ruin Myers' reputation with innuendo. In the second paragraph the reporter quotes the Chicago Tribune. Is the Trib like the NYT (anti-Catholic agenda)?
Your welcome. Not to worry, we're all on edge during this crisis. Thanks for your most gracious post.
I must say, I don't read the Trib that much. I know it's pro-abortion.
I pray and hope you are right. But then, it is extremely disturbing that he would be bounced from the commission.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.