Catholic bishop of Phoenix arrested

FOXNEWS | 6/16/2003 | John Gibson

[sinkspur]

Roman Catholic bishop John O'Brien was arrested for leaving the scene of a fatal hit-and-run accident, and his car impounded.

[sinkspur]

This happened Saturday night! That means this guy sat around for 36 hours, knowing he'd hit somebody, hard, and made no effort to do anything about it or talk to authorities.

Or, worse, he didn't know he'd hit somebody. Or, somebody else was in the car with him and he doesn't want anybody to find out about it.

Just speculating here why a bishop would hide.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

The drivers of both vehicles fled.

The way things are going for the Catholic Church, the second car was probably driven by a nun.

[thoughtomator]

Especially when you're a Catholic bishop, for God's sake.

Stick a fork in him, he's done.

[Williams]

Who does he think he is, Teddy Kennedy??? Bad enough that TWO cars hit this guy, and both fled the scene. But who would have figured one was Bishop? Wierd thing is the Bishop may not have been initially at fault in the accident.

[hsmomx3]

Personally, I think this is the tip of the iceberg. Did they do a thorough search of his home as well? I have thought for a long time that he has/had much to hide and that he, too, was probably involved in many things that have been circulating in the AZ news lately.

How are church members handling all of this? Do they still leave their children with church leaders for church classes/events,etc.?

[.45MAN]

A drunk Irishman is no joke

[Dusty Rose]

Whew. What got me was the article says he's upset, but doing well. How can he be doing well! I feel upset not even knowing the bishop and being hundreds and hundreds of miles away. Reminds me just a bit of Chappaquidick. The poor family of the victim, and the people of Phoenix who are now wondering what their bishop was up to. Sad, sad. Hitting is most serious, and leaving the scene is unthinkable.

[CatoRenasci]

Anyone can be involved in an accident, and under certain cirucmstances, even a careful drive can hit a pedestrian who darts into the street.

That said, it is IMPOSSIBLE this Bishop didn't know he'd hit someone or something.

For the Bishop to leave the scene, when there was a possiblity that someone was hurt or dying, is an UTTER ABDICATION OF HIS PRIESTLY DUTIES for which he should be DEFROCKED.

[B-Chan]

sad.

Yes, it is.

[The] Catholic church has no credibility anymore.

With all due respect: Sez you.

The Church is full of sinners. I'm one of them. A pectoral cross and a Roman collar is no more a guarantee of personal sanctity than a driving license is a guarantee of good driving skills. We've had Popes in the past whose actions would make those of this bishop look like Fred Rogers at the piano.

Despite their personal wickedness, however, not one of them ever taught error as Truth.

The Catholic Church, like our Lord its Founder, is infallible -- the most credible institution that has ever existed or will ever exist. The people who inhabit it, sadly, are all too fallible indeed. Bishop O'Brien ought to have the book thrown at him -- both the statute book and the Good Book.

Our prayers for the victim of this senseless crime.

[steve8714]

No way...this is the only way a bishop will get pinched...certainly not for demonstrating in front of a deathateria.

[CWW]

Okay, let me get this straight. We have a bad Bishop in Arizona and suddenly the entire Church (which includes 800+ million members) has no credibility?

Please take you Catholic-Bashing elsewhere.

As to the Bishop, he should be arrested, prosecuted and removed from his position.

[cricket]

"Maybe now the Vatican will fire this guy?"

Amen to that. . .

and of course, always 'too late smart' in these situations. . .

[steve8714]

Remember the Church is not infallible in all things, and uses its infallibility best when it uses it least, and for the most important moral cause.

[Desdemona]

What a piece of work.

Well, forget it, excellency. Even the Vatican won't back you on this one.

IS this what it's going to take to get rid of some of these guys?

[Lockbar]

Damn him! He didn't even perform last rites on the guy before he drove away. Some servent of god, I say!

[AgentEcho]

plain-clothes police car

Uh, interesting wording.

Æ

[Cap'n Crunch]

Wow, neither driver stopped?

Where's the love?

[mewzilla]

O'Brien recently avoided possible criminal prosecution for obstruction of justice in connection with alleged sexual misconduct by Catholic priests in Arizona during the past two decades. He has been beleagured by calls for his resignation because of that scandal.

Would it be terribly tin-foiled of me to ask if O'Brien knew the victim?