N.H. Bishop: Priest Sex Is Less Serious if Is Not With a Parishioner

AP ^ | 12-23-2002 | J.M. Hirsch

[Cagey]

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - Questioned under oath about the church abuse scandal, New Hampshire's bishop suggested that it is less serious for a priest to have sex with someone from outside the parish than with a parishioner.

In depositions this fall, Bishop John B. McCormack said he knew the Rev. Roland Cote had had sex with a teen-age boy but noted that the boy was not a parishioner.

"You know, one is an activity where you have a trusted relationship with a parishioner. The other is an activity where you're away from the parish and you're off on your own," McCormack said in depositions obtained by The Associated Press on Monday. "I'm very concerned about that; he was a young person. But it's quite different from being with a parishioner."

McCormack spokesman Patrick McGee said Monday that a priest having sex with a parishioner involves exploitation.

"Even if it's consensual, with a parishioner, there's probably an exploitation of the office there," McGee said.

Questioned in connection with lawsuits filed in Massachusetts, McCormack also acknowledged Cote paid for the sex.

Cote has acknowledged a five- or six-year affair with the boy during the 1980s. In June, McCormack assigned Cote to a parish without informing the church about Cote's history, later saying it was a private matter.

After the AP reported details of the investigation, Cote acknowledged the affair and resigned last month.

"Was it brought to your attention that Father Cote had paid for sex with this adolescent?" lawyer Robert Sherman asked McCormack in a deposition Oct. 1.

"It was not brought to my attention at the time. I think I learned this later, probably even last week," McCormack said.

Sherman gave no details of the payment and did not say how he learned about it. Calls to Cote were not immediately returned.

The Diocese of Manchester considers anyone under 18 a minor. McCormack has pledged that a single credible allegation of sex with a minor will bar a priest from active service in New Hampshire.

Cote has said the boy was 18 when the relationship began. In the deposition, McCormack initially hesitated, then said he also believed the boy was 18.

McCormack, who became bishop of New Hampshire in 1998, has been dogged for nearly a year by criticism of how he handled allegations of abuse while he was a top aide to Cardinal Bernard Law in Boston. Law's resignation on Dec. 13 intensified calls for McCormack to step down.

Also this month, McCormack averted unprecedented criminal charges against the New Hampshire diocese in a settlement with the state. As part of the agreement, he acknowledged the church's handing of abuse allegations had harmed children.

AP-ES-12-23-02 1839EST

[Cagey]

"I'm very concerned about that; he was a young person. But it's quite different from being with a parishioner."

It's statements like this that demonstrate some Bishops are just out of touch with reality and is part of the reason this has become such a shameful mess.

[lexington minuteman 1775]

Sex with pagans is ok but sex in the parrish isn't?That is PC but not biblical.For a priest who has taken a vow of celibacy to have sex with anybody is wrong.Otherwise why have the vow?I can't remember the amount of times I have been in arguments with folks during the Clinton debacle where they stated, "well hes an adult he can have sex with whomever he chooses."My response was.Anybody who forsakes the covenental marriage vow and lies about it will lie about anything else, whether it be in business or society.That is about the only sacred vow any of us take.So if it means nothing.Then there are no rules.And anarchy will result.We end up with a Clinton who is a totally self absorbed, selfish person who has no regard for Hillary, Chelsea, or his nation.

[Pushi]

If my son had been involved in something like this as a child, I would hasten the priest's meeting with his maker.

[dighton]

"Even if it's consensual, with a parishioner, there's probably an exploitation of the office there," McGee said.

Get me outta here.

[JoeFromCA]

Statements like this no doubt contributed to the State Attorney General's decision to threaten this diocese with criminal charges. We need to see more criminal proceedings brought against representatives of the Roman Catholic church who have engaged in this behavior, condoned it, or covered it up.

[zarf]

EARTH TO CHURCH:

If masaturbation is a sin;
If oral sex is a sin;
If intercourse is a sin

Then give these poor guys a break and cut their stones off so they can get on with spreading gods word.....!!

[Jhoffa_]

"You know, one is an activity where you have a trusted relationship with a parishioner. The other is an activity where you're away from the parish and you're off on your own,"

"I'm very concerned about that; he was a young person. But it's quite different from being with a parishioner."

No, it's not "quite different" It's just less embarassing for you when you get caught.

If this guy knew what he was talking about then he would have to say that he hurt one of God's Children.. and it doesn't matter if he's outside the church.

Teachers are going to be judged more strictly, it's very clear on this point. They are there to minister to those "outside the church" and not to pork them in the backside, or act like they are non-persons because they aren't (yet) Christians.

I am not a Catholic, but I feel sorry for the Catholic church. I think they still have allot of rough weather ahead..

[Fury]

This Bishop should be removed from the Catholic Church. His statements indicate an beliefs contrary to Holy Scripture and the principles that Christ espoused and commanded us to abide by.

What is a concern is that you now wonder how many other Priests under the Bishop share his views. Disgusting...

[ladylib]

The Catholic Church has become a laughingstock, something that is joked about on Jay Leno. It's time for the faithful to take the church back from the priests, bishops, and cardinals who condone criminal behavior (child molestation for one), whether it occurs in their parish or out of their parish, regardless if the sex object is an adult or not.

Forget the ROMAN Catholic Church. Break away and start your own churches -- the AMERICAN Catholic Church perhaps? The Pope is an enabler.

[Cicero]

Actually what he said was true, although dreadfully tactless. Sex with a young boy is bad, but sex with a young boy in your parish is worse. It breaks a relationship of trust. In the same way, if a teacher has sex with one of his pupils that is worse than sex with somebody else.

But the bishop was truly insensitive and stupid to get into such moral technicalities in a situation like this. If he was asked if it was better or worse he should merely have said that it was unacceptable in either case, and that the priest has been fired.

[ladylib]

This is what happens when the average lowly person is told to put bozos on a pedestal -- from the Pope, to priests, to nuns, to bishops, to cardinals, to political figures, cops, The Supreme Court, teachers, principals, school superintendents, school boards and anyone else in "authority."

DON'T EVER PUT ANYONE ON A PEDESTAL. NO ONE IS BETTER THAN YOU ARE, EVEN THOUGH THEY MIGHT LIKE TO THINK THEY ARE. THEIR S---- STINKS TOO.

[csvset]

When I was a lad, there was a scandle involving a priest and a teenaged girl at our church. The girl's father kicked the priest's ass. The priest was soon transferred, black eyes and all.

[Cagey]

Sex with a young boy is bad, but sex with a young boy in your parish is worse

I'm having trouble buying that, Cicero. Who is it worse for? The man was a priest and there should be no parish boundries for him or any other priest when it comes to something like this. Even if he turned his collar around, he was a priest no matter where he went and it was his responsibility to harbor trust. He failed that trust, whether in his parish or on the other side of the earth and the Bishop should know that.

[RLK]

In depositions this fall, Bishop John B. McCormack said he knew the Rev. Roland Cote had had sex with a teen-age boy but noted that the boy was not a parishioner.

-----------------------------

McCormack needs to join Cardinal Law in retirement. In fact, he should be excommunicated so as to lend an atmosphere of seriousness about this business. Oh for a return of Cardinal Spellman.

[xm177e2]

The Bishop is right. It is worse for a priest to abuse the trust given to him by his flock than to have sex outside his base of parishioners.

[ladylib]

He obviously should removed because he is too stupid (no survival skills) to be in the position he is in.

Several months ago, on a radio talk-in show, a woman who was in her 60's called in to protest what was going on in the Catholic Church with the clergy. She was so angry, she was actually sputtering. She was told that she had to go to mass on Sundays, that she would go to Hell if she ate meat on Friday, that her sister-in-law was going to to to Hell because she remarried after a horrendous first marriage, and all along, these bozo priests, cardinals, and bishops were screwing around and having a fine old time of it, laughihg behind her back.

It's the older generation is who affected by this and feels that they've been sold out. The younger people could care less and aren't outraged in the least.

[Itzlzha]

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - Questioned under oath about the church abuse scandal, New Hampshire's bishop suggested that it is less serious for a priest to have sex with someone from outside the parish than with a parishioner.

"You know, one is an activity where you have a trusted relationship with a parishioner. The other is an activity where you're away from the parish and you're off on your own," McCormack said in depositions obtained by The Associated Press on Monday. "I'm very concerned about that; he was a young person. But it's quite different from being with a parishioner."

( And from lexington minuteman 1775)

Sex with pagans is ok but sex in the parrish isn't?That is PC but not biblical.For a priest who has taken a vow of celibacy to have sex with anybody is wrong.Otherwise why have the vow?

I would like some of the smug, pious, Blinders Mk-I wearing RCC defenders (you know who you are) to tell me how...
"What the RCC does in it's inner workings doesn't concern non-RCC members"...
again!

Is that your FINAL answer?

Seems your homo/pedophiles in Cassocks have something in common with Islamazis...they think everyone else other than other Islamazis are dogs and targets too!

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

Forget the ROMAN Catholic Church. Break away and start your own churches

That already happened in the 16th century.

-- the AMERICAN Catholic Church perhaps?

That's already been done and that outfit would probably gladly welcome McCormack and Cote with open arms.

I'm curious, did you renounce your citizenship because of the Clintons?

[Itzlzha]

Actually what he said was true, although dreadfully tactless. Sex with a young boy is bad, but sex with a young boy in your parish is worse. It breaks a relationship of trust. In the same way, if a teacher has sex with one of his pupils that is worse than sex with somebody else.

Uh oh...do I smell a series of apologies that do nothing but dig deeper and deeper coming on?

But the bishop was truly insensitive and stupid to get into such moral technicalities in a situation like this. If he was asked if it was better or worse he should merely have said that it was unacceptable in either case, and that the priest has been fired.

(in my best Airport announcer voice)
Trent Lott, White Courtesy Phone...Trent Lott, White Courtesy Phone!

Sound Familiar?

[cherry]

what happened to celebacy?

aren't priests and nuns supposed to be chaste?