Allegations plague Pennsylvania diocese [unusually high number of allegations for its size]

National Catholic Reporter ^ | 8/29/03 | CHUCK COLBERT

[Polycarp]

Foster and a small group of Catholics have a Web site, www.dioceseaj.com, posting their own account of the scandal and dissent in the diocese. A lengthy section suggests a link between sexual abuse and sexually active priests, including a “homosexual establishment.”

[Polycarp]

Directly related threads:

Gay priests of Diocese A-J in revolt; demand Bishop conceal molesters, sue Catholic activists

Altoona-Johnstown Diocese muzzles priests [threat of excommunication]: "Bishop must end cover-up" ^

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

How are the local Catholics weathering this storm? Do you see any loss of faith or defection to other denominations?

[Polycarp]

I know some who have stopped going to mass completely, others who have left for evangelical circles. Yes, having a heretical, homosexual-coddling bishop is deleterious to the flock.

[Polycarp]

This is most striking: there are allegations against NINETEEN clergy in our tiny Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown versus only 14 in Philadelphia and only 6 in Pittsburgh!

How can a bishop deny there is a problem when he lies so patholigically outside the curve of rates of abuse in neighboring dioceses?

[Polycarp]

The Roman Catholic Church is Christ's Church.

Of course, Satan is going to attack it. Of course it will have enemies both within and without its walls. Of course, like all churches and all institutions, it will have sinners.

But Satan knows the right address, he knows which Church to attack. Even if you do not.

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

I think your bishop is the heart of the problem, whether he admits to the problem or not. He's a facilitator if not an instigator.

[swarthyguy]

What is the, ahem, "size"?

[SoothingDave]

What is the, ahem, "size"?

111,000 Catholics in several (?) counties in central PA.

SD

[xm177e2]

But Satan knows the right address, he knows which Church to attack.

So the fact that there are so many child-molesting priests is proof that Satan is attacking the Church, which in turn is proof that it is the One True Church. Heh.

In any case, how do you explain the Church leadership's decisions to protect the molesters and facilitate future molestation by moving them when they were discovered? Does that mean that Satan has indeed infiltrated the Catholic Church and some of the Bishops are doing his bidding?

[pgkdan]

Does that mean that Satan has indeed infiltrated the Catholic Church and some of the Bishops are doing his bidding?

Of course Satan has infiltrated the Church, of course there are those in the Church, even in the hierarchy that will do his bidding. But he won't prevail. Satan infiltrated the 12 Apostles and Judas did his bidding...why should today be any different?

[Polycarp]

see post 12

[CaptainK]

Does anyone know of one case where the police were immediately called on one of these abuse cases? It just seems hard to believe that of the numerous cases that have been reported no one ever goes to the authorities.

[thoughtomator]

The Church of Satan is building itself inside the hollow core of the Catholic Church. I'll stand by that statement, I have seen the corruption within it with my own eyes, and I see no recognition whatsoever from the church heirarchy that they understand what is happenning.

Sad but true. The time to rescue the Catholic Church is imminent, if there are any believers left within it.

[Polycarp]

So the fact that there are so many child-molesting priests is proof that Satan is attacking the Church, which in turn is proof that it is the One True Church. Heh.

yeah, Satan knows the right address. And his minions do his bidding wittingly and unwittingly.

When you're equally hated by the liberals, homosexual activists, abortionists, population controllers, the UN, feminists, agnostics, atheists, communists, etc, as well as the fundamentalists and bible only folks, you know ya' just gotta be doing something right ;-)

I makes me realize more than ever we fight alongside Christ, and the forces of anti-Christ are arrayed against His body, the Church. Thanks for strengthening my faith!

[pgkdan]

<...makes me realize more than ever we fight alongside Christ, and the forces of anti-Christ are arrayed against His body, the Church. Thanks for strengthening my faith!

Amen.

[arete]

This is most striking: there are allegations against NINETEEN clergy in our tiny Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown versus only 14 in Philadelphia and only 6 in Pittsburgh!

I'm originally from that Diocese and believe me, it is dead-ends-ville. The church's version of Siberia and as such became a dumping gound for a wide variety of problem priests. I grew up in a small town in W. PA and happened to have Fr. John Boyle as our pastor. Even then I used to ask myself just how bad did any priest have to screw-up to get sent there. I think Boyle started off in Boston. That's how the church worked at the time. Punishment was demotion to the sticks.

Richard W.

[Barnacle]

.
In the words of Frederick William Faber;

Faith of our fathers, living still,
In spite of dungeon, fire and sword;
O how our hearts beat high with joy
Whenever we hear that glorious Word!

Refrain

Faith of our fathers, holy faith!
We will be true to thee till death.
Faith of our fathers, we will strive
To win all nations unto Thee;
And through the truth that comes from God,
We all shall then be truly free.

Refrain

Faith of our fathers, we will love
Both friend and foe in all our strife;
And preach Thee, too, as love knows how
By kindly words and virtuous life.

Refrain

Faith of our fathers, Mary’s prayers
Shall win our country back to Thee;
And through the truth that comes from God,
England shall then indeed be free.

(Faber was an Anglican minister who converted to Roman Catholicism and founded the Brotherhood of St. Philip Neri.)

[Polycarp]

I just sent this to our local paper. They usually print my letters to ed, we'll see on this one:

8/29/03

Letter to the Editor, Johnstown Tribune Democrat:

Responding to recent lawsuits, Bishop Adamec stated "the legal action
alleges that some sort of conspiracy exists within this diocesan church that
allows and even promotes inappropriate behavior on the part of its priests
in regard to minors. I deny and know of no such conspiracy."

Boston's Survivors First, an advocacy group for victims of clergy sexual
abuse, has compiled news of allegations against 19 priests in
Altoona-Johnstown, the highest number in Pennsylvania. The group has tracked
allegations against 14 in the Philadelphia archdiocese, six in Pittsburgh,
and one in nearby Greensburg.

Johnstown has 111,000 Catholics, Philadelphia 1,488,316, Pittsburgh 793,417,
and Greensburg has 189,000 Catholics. Our diocese therefore has 20 times as
many allegations of priest sexual abuse per Catholic as Philadelphia, 25
times as many as Pittsburgh, and 33 times as many as Greensburg PA!

Furthermore, Bishop Adamec must publicly explain at least one abuse case if
he desires to quell diocesan "conspiracy theories." According to local
newspaper articles, Father Robert J. Kelly continues to serve, unsupervised,
as Pastor of St. Peter and Paul parish in Philipsburg, while other priests
such as Fr. Martin McCamley and Fr. Bernard V. Grattan have been
unceremoniously removed. The allegations against Fr. Kelly appear just as
credible as the others.

Privately, many diocesan priests are expressing bewilderment over this gross
inequity, and the laity are scandalized. What does Fr. Kelly know that is
holding the hand of Bishop Adamec?

The grossly disproportionate numbers of molester priests and blatant
disparity in treatment of accused priests and persecution of orthodox
priests are the makings of "a conspiracy" hard to dispel in the minds of
many diocesan Catholics.

Dr. Brian J. Kopp