Posted on 09/27/2005 6:31:54 AM PDT by NYer
CHICAGO - Eleven priests suspected of sexual misconduct with minors have been permanently removed from public ministries, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago said Monday.
The men are banned from presenting themselves as priests, engaging in a public ministry or acting as an agent of the archdiocese, although they have not been removed from the priesthood, said Chancellor Jimmy Lago, who declined to disclose specific allegations or the priests' names or parishes.
The 11 men were among a group of 14 priests whose alleged sexual misconduct was forwarded to Vatican officials two years ago by Cardinal Francis George, archdiocese officials said. One of the priests has died and two other cases will be decided by pending canonical trials.
The Vatican studied the cases last year and authorized George to conduct a review that included opinions from advocates for the priests and advisers, Lago said.
"Cardinal George has determined, based on the information presented, that sexual misconduct did occur," he said.
The sexual abuse, which allegedly took place 20 to 30 years ago in all of the cases, was reported both to the parishes and civil authorities when the priests were withdrawn, Lago said. The priests also live in restricted settings where their visitors and actions are monitored.
The statue of limitations has expired in all the cases, spokesmen for the Cook and Lake County state's attorneys' offices said.
Victim advocates said George's actions were belated and the church should have made the priests' names public.
"I think that this begrudging, long overdue action, while it might bring some relief to the victims who have been abused and wounded in the Archdiocese of Chicago, I believe it does not relieve Cardinal George of his responsibility," said Barbara Blaine, president of the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests. "There's 11 known child molesters out there that are not going to be found on any sex offender registries."
Blaine also said the archdiocese needed to visit each church where the priests worked and urge victims to contact authorities.
George's actions follow "zero-tolerance" reforms adopted three years ago by U.S. Roman Catholic bishops at the height of the clergy sex abuse crisis. In June, the bishops extended their policy of permanently barring sex offenders from church work.
The crisis erupted in January 2002 over revelations that many bishops had moved guilty priests among parishes without warning parents or police.
The archdiocese paid out $18.2 million to settle legal claims by people alleging sexual abuse by priests in the last fiscal year. Since 2002, 19 of its priests have been removed from ministry, Lago said.
The sexual abuse, which allegedly took place 20 to 30 years ago in all of the cases
That would be between 1975 and 1985, when the big wave of publicity hit. I know that our archdiocese cracked down big time on the problem around 1987 or 1988 when the worst offender here was accused and immediately disappeared. He was located overseas, extradicted, and brought back to trial and conviction. He served hard time in the GA prison system - IIRC 20 to serve 10. There was a particular parish involved that was discovered to be something of a haven for homosexuals (another homosexual priest helped this priest flee the country). Of course this was all over the newspapers at the time, but sunlight was a good fumigant. The recent audit of this archdiocese shows no ongoing problems.
Speaking as a Protestant and a person of decency, AMEN!
And, of course, Marxists must remain Marxists and not become tyrannical oligarchs. They haven't quite managed that little trick yet.
**The statue of limitations has expired in all the cases, spokesmen for the Cook and Lake County state's attorneys' offices said.**
I still give Cardinal George kudos.
A rather elegant solution, actually. Given that the statute of limitations has tolled, there's not much else you can do legally other than what the Cardinal did.
Note that the priests were not removed from the priesthood but were prohibited from presenting themselves as priests, prohibited from public ministry, and prohibited from presenting themselves of agents of the Diocese. What they didn't mention was the very unpleasant jobs these priests are likely to find themselves engaged in for the rest of their lives.
Oligarchy is the soul of socialism/communism.
Yes, I think probably George did all that could be done.
Removing men from the priesthood is quite complicated, but if they are essentially prohibited from presenting themselves as priests, etc., no other bishop can give them permission to function. Priests are technically only the delegates of the bishop, who is the teacher and father of his diocese, and if no bishop can accept them, they cannot operate as priests.
BTW, in Spain years ago, the punishment for a priest who had committed certain crimes was not only that all the ecclesiastical permissions be removed, but that he be mutilated, usually before being put to death for his secular offense. The pads of his fingers were slashed to cut off the parts with which he had touched the Lord and to make him incapable of celebrating the Mass (a priest whose hands are damaged or who cannot hold the Chalice cannot celebrate Mass).
This was done to el cura Merino, the Franciscan priest who tried to assinate la Reina Isabel II in 1852.
That seems to be the way it has played out. The theory and the practice are two different things.
The Archdiocese said that identities 11 men who committed sexual crimes with minors a long time ago will be kept top secret. These secret perverts would be rotting in jail except for the fact that their secret crimes were successfully hidden for decades. The Archdiocese further rejected all requests to reveal the identities, locations or the crimes of the perverts formerly in its employ. Chicagoland is left guessing. Thanks. Great job!
He also confirmed that Rev. Marion Snieg, who also could have faced sanctions, had died. Revs. Thomas Swade and John Calicott await the conclusion of canonical trials.
Chicagoland can stop guessing.
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