Posted on 04/12/2011 10:17:57 AM PDT by Dr. Eckleburg
It was one of the more searing allegations in the recent Philadelphia grand jury report on clergy sex abuse:
A Bristol Township man killed himself after the Archdiocese of Philadelphia refused to believe that a priest had molested him when he was an altar boy.
On Wednesday, relatives of the man, Daniel Neill, became the latest to sue the archdiocese over its response to abuse victims. Neill shot himself in June 2009.
"It's a wrongful death is what it is," said Jeff Anderson, a lawyer for Neill's family.
The grand jury cited the handling of Neill's complaint as one of three examples of the archdiocese's failure to act on complaints that seemed credible. The report identified Neill by the pseudonym "Ben."
That report has spawned criminal charges against four current or former priests, four lawsuits by alleged victims, and the suspension of more than two dozen priests while the church reexamines complaints against them.
One of those on administrative leave is the Rev. Joseph J. Gallagher, the priest Neill said had repeatedly molested him at St. Mark's in Bristol in 1980 and 1981.
According to the lawsuit, Neill reported the abuse to the school principal at St. Mark's in 1980, but his complaint was ignored. The principal instead allegedly "called Daniel a liar and threatened Daniel that his family would be disgraced if he persisted" with the accusations.
The lawsuit does not identify the principal by name.
Neill, a department store worker and aspiring actor who had bit parts on TV shows, reported the attacks to the archdiocese's victim-assistance program in 2007. It was the second complaint against Gallagher in about a year, according to the grand jury report.
Neill gave church investigators vivid details about the abuse and names of other altar boys, the grand jury found.
One told investigators that the priest had "improper relationships" with students but wouldn't elaborate, the grand jury said.
Others allegedly confirmed aspects of Neill's accounts - such as the priest's habit of hearing boys' confessions in a church loft and asking them about masturbation - although not the abuse itself.
When confronted by archdiocesan investigators, Gallagher at first denied the allegations, then became "more evasive" in his answers, according to the grand jury report.
An independent archdiocesan review board ruled that it could not substantiate the complaints. In July 2008, a victim-assistance coordinator told Neill of the decision.
Thank you for your consideration of this issue, once again.
Interesting that it keeps coming up, in different forms, week after week, month after month, year after year.
Again, my personal prayers for you to be blessed in all ways.
Thank you.
Yes I complained because of failure to respond to Dr E’s contention that Catholics (which would include me) fail to denounce pederast priests. Nothing I wrote supported that claim. In my opinion there was only one purpose to her post and that was to flame bait.
I am extremely vexed and dissapointed. So you are fine with the claim that Catholics on this forum and me personally by implication do not denounce pederast priests?
Good to know where Catholics stand here. I will take this as an allowance to say anything I dang well please to those anti Catholic bigots whether such is warranted or not. Any calumny is permitted. Any flame bait to be tolerated. I will give out sauce that will season the goose quite tastily.
Unfortunately personal integrity does not allow me to respond to Dr. E in kind. I know you have a hard task but I am truly saddened and disheartened by your acceptance of her claims about Catholics and me personally.
The moderator has weighed in. You are right. I do support pederast priests and approve of the steps taken by the heirarchy to shield them. I fully agree that sexual immorality on the part of priests should be excused because they are alter Christs. That any accusations against priests must only be heard by the Vatican and that the victims are forbidden from going to the police.
As a Catholic I must approve of immoral sexual behavior because priestly celibacy is a core doctrine of my Church. This leads to a priest seeking out sexual outlets in unwholesome and vile ways. But it is not their fault.
I figure I might as well go all out and agree with you 100% since the mod will not tell you that making such accusations is flame bait. I must therefore conclude that he agrees with your statement. In light of such evidence of Catholic guilt I must yield.
Let all Catholics take note. Stating that we do not denounce Pederast Priests is a neutral statement that can neither be shown to be true or false. It is not a personal attack. It is not flame bait. It is the same as disputing whether we worship Mary.
Such a sttatement is a mere matter of perception. It is a simple misconception of Catholic teaching. It was made without motive or guile or any ill intent.
It must be true. For why would someone make a false statement of such wicked claims?
If you do not say what she wrote is false then you are indeed letting her implication stand which argues that you believe her statement can not be shown to be wrong.
Dr E is permitted to write anything she wishes against Catholics. Her word is sacrosant. If she says Catholics do not denounce pederast priests it shall be accepted as truth and not open to moderation.
I would just let it go, if I were you. Some posters are actually infamous in the cyberworld for their anti-Catholic bigotry. I know a lot of protestants who read the religion forum and laugh at them. Some of them even post here on Free Republic. ;-D
I should have included Dr E in my reply to you. Apologies for the oversite.
BTW, a grand jury hands up indictments...indictments are never handed down.
As a Catholic I must approve of immoral sexual behavior because priestly celibacy is a core doctrine of my Church. This leads to a priest seeking out sexual outlets in unwholesome and vile ways. But it is not their fault.
I figure I might as well go all out and agree with you 100% since the mod will not tell you that making such accusations is flame bait. I must therefore conclude that he agrees with your statement. In light of such evidence of Catholic guilt I must yield.
Let all Catholics take note. Stating that we do not denounce Pederast Priests is a neutral statement that can neither be shown to be true or false. It is not a personal attack. It is not flame bait. It is the same as disputing whether we worship Mary.
Such a sttatement is a mere matter of perception. It is a simple misconception of Catholic teaching. It was made without motive or guile or any ill intent.
It must be true.
Noted.
Shame you have no sarcasm meter.
They may pretend to be Protestant, which is a joke as Protestants are our Christian brothers, but under this mask, this group of leftists says the following about Christians and Jews (more details on my profile page)
:
This an entire cover-up of religion to keep their group's true agenda of fomenting discord -- just like the Westboro Baptist Club
Replying back to trolls is also playing their game.
I know Dr. E has a sarcasm meter shame that you don’t. If you read my last sentence that it is sarcasm is clear. Further more if you cut and paste any of what I wrote and use it to support the idea that I actually do support pederast priests I will hit the abuse button so many times that you and the other mods will duck at the incoming salvos.
I was making a point that the most outrageous statements are tolerated and in face of such tolerance by neutral disinterested parties a conclusion is made that favors the outrageous statement. That such statement is allowed to stand means it must indeed be neutral That there is no calumny involved at all. Any debate arising from the statement is a debate of perception. Mistaken perhaps but honest and arrived at by a non prejudiced examination of the facts presented in evidence to those debating.
Over and over again Dr. E has entered such facts regarding my support of pederasts. I countered with facts showing that her statements were wrong. That such statements were a direct personal attack on my character. The mod disagreed and concluded this was not the case. Well for such foul statements to be permitted to remain means that they will meet any challenge to their veracity. I can not imagine the mods ever permitting a flame bait personal attack to remain unless those remarks are true. Truth can never be a personal attack. If one is offended by truth the answer is not to silence truth but to let the truth remain for all to see.
Now if Dr E’s claim is true I have no choice but to agree. After all truth is not relative. The mods obviously have chosen to take as a truth worthy of respect and support that Catholics and by implication me support pederasts.
How could I argue with this conclusion?
After all the principled behavior of anti Catholics is well known here and a cause for respectful admiration. None of them would ever post anything malicious or untruthful. Their character is in all things above reproach. When faced with such evidence by such virtuous individuals the honest person must yield and conclude that what they write is indeed true.
It is helpful also to remember that I am not allowed to say anyone is a liar. So followint that admonishment it must be that it is not a lie that I support pederasts. See how that works?
The rules are set up in such a way that lies can be posted with boldness and without fear of consequences. Calling someone to task for outright false statements is forbidden. Not disagreements or difference of opinions but outright false statements. Statements which can be shown to be false. Vile statements, hateful statements, libelous statements. All are protected.
How does one respond in such an Orwellian atmosphere? By joining the insanity of course. Thus my post.
But just so you are very, very clear obviously I do not support pederasty from any source. I have shown again and again that I do not do so. I have been very clear in my condemnation of such behavior. If you use my sarcasm to libel me I will not let it go unchallenged. The mods I hope would understand the use of my sarcasm in such a matter as abuse.
If such exist here I am very sad for they risk their very souls. Those who do so are not just posers they are evil. They are not Christian. They are blackards, knaves, curs and scoundrels. They mock Christ. They mock His salvation. They mock His love. They have much to answer for and they shall answer for it.
They stand condemned before the throne of heaven. They shall tremble before the wrath of God on the last day. It would do well for them (and for Christians as well) to recall this great hymn Dies irae
Dies irae, dies illa
solvet saeclum in favilla:
teste David cum Sibylla.
Quantus tremor est futurus,
quando judex est venturus,
cuncta stricte discussurus!
Tuba mirum spargens sonum
per sepulcra regionum,
coget omnes ante thronum.
Mors stupebit et natura,
cum resurget creatura,
judicanti responsura.
Liber scriptus proferetur,
in quo totum continetur,
unde mundus judicetur.
Judex ergo cum sedebit,
quidquid latet apparebit:
nil inultum remanebit.
Quid sum miser tunc dicturus?
Quem patronum rogaturus,
cum vix justus sit securus?
Rex tremendae majestatis,
qui salvandos salvas gratis,
salva me fons pietatis.
Recordare, Jesu pie,
quod sum causa tuae viae:
ne me perdas illa die.
Quaerens me, sedisti lassus:
redemisti Crucem passus:
tantus labor non sit cassus.
Juste judex ultionis,
donum fac remissionis
ante diem rationis.
Ingemisco, tamquam reus:
culpa rubet vultus meus:
supplicanti parce, Deus.
Qui Mariam absolvisti,
et latronem exaudisti,
mihi quoque spem dedisti.
Preces meae non sunt dignae:
sed tu bonus fac benigne,
ne perenni cremer igne.
Inter oves locum praesta,
et ab haedis me sequestra,
statuens in parte dextra.
Confutatis maledictis,
flammis acribus addictis:
voca me cum benedictis.
Oro supplex et acclinis,
cor contritum quasi cinis:
gere curam mei finis.
Lacrimosa dies illa,
qua resurget ex favilla
judicandus homo reus.
Huic ergo parce, Deus:
pie Jesu Domine,
dona eis requiem. Amen.
When posting in a foreign language, include an English translation so all Freepers can read your posts.
Well do just looking for the best translation. Though I did not know that Latin was a foreign language. Being Catholic and all. Wink.
THAT day of wrath, that dreadful day,
shall heaven and earth in ashes lay,
as David and the Sybil say.
What horror must invade the mind
when the approaching Judge shall find
and sift the deeds of all mankind!
The mighty trumpet’s wondrous tone
shall rend each tomb’s sepulchral stone
and summon all before the Throne.
Now death and nature with surprise
behold the trembling sinners rise
to meet the Judge’s searching eyes.
Then shall with universal dread
the Book of Consciences be read
to judge the lives of all the dead.
For now before the Judge severe
all hidden things must plain appear;
no crime can pass unpunished here.
O what shall I, so guilty plead?
and who for me will intercede?
when even Saints shall comfort need?
O King of dreadful majesty!
grace and mercy You grant free;
as Fount of Kindness, save me!
Recall, dear Jesus, for my sake
you did our suffering nature take
then do not now my soul forsake!
In weariness You sought for me,
and suffering upon the tree!
let not in vain such labor be.
O Judge of justice, hear, I pray,
for pity take my sins away
before the dreadful reckoning day.
You gracious face, O Lord, I seek;
deep shame and grief are on my cheek;
in sighs and tears my sorrows speak.
You Who did Mary’s guilt unbind,
and mercy for the robber find,
have filled with hope my anxious mind.
How worthless are my prayers I know,
yet, Lord forbid that I should go
into the fires of endless woe.
Divorced from the accursed band,
o make me with Your sheep to stand,
as child of grace, at Your right Hand.
When the doomed can no more flee
from the fires of misery
with the chosen call me.
Before You, humbled, Lord, I lie,
my heart like ashes, crushed and dry,
assist me when I die.
Full of tears and full of dread
is that day that wakes the dead,
calling all, with solemn blast
to be judged for all their past.
Lord, have mercy, Jesus blest,
grant them all Your Light and Rest. Amen.
Thomas Of Celano – Dies Irae – English Translation.
A foreign language is one that is not used in the USA. Latin is arguably used as an official languae right down to legalese speak.
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