Posted on 05/02/2002 7:48:10 AM PDT by history_matters
ATLANTIC CITY - Three years before his death in 2001, a priest said he wanted to end "the silence of the decades" regarding alleged sexual abuse by his colleagues in the Camden Diocese.
So Monsignor Salvatore J. Adamo, then 78, went to the office of an attorney who had filed a class-action suit on behalf of victims and gave an affidavit in which he said the diocese promoted homosexual priests and ignored allegations of abuse to avoid moral responsibility and financial liability.
He said the late Bishop George Guilfoyle - who he said was known as "the Queen of the Fairies" - put his lovers in high positions in the diocese.
"As the years of my earthly journey are ebbing, I am compelled to speak the truth as to the germination of tragic incidents of pedophilia and sexual abuse that is known to have become incessantly rampant within the Diocese of Camden throughout the decades," Adamo said.
"I share years of personal knowledge and observations as a priest of the Diocese of Camden and servant of the Lord in rendering my opinion. I do so not to disgrace anyone or anyone's memory. I do so in the interests of disclosing the truth, to the extent that I know it, and in the interests of vindicating the victims of abuse," Adamo said.
The suit, which is being litigated in Superior Court, was filed in 1994 by 18 people who say they were molested by priests. It accused the diocese of covering up the abuse and in at least one case, transferring an accused priest to a new parish as a show of faith in his innocence.
Among the defendant priests is retired Monsignor Philip Rigney, 85, who allegedly molested two altar boy brothers for years.
Adamo's 1998 affidavit contains no details of firsthand knowledge of the alleged abuse and was barred from being admitted as testimony in the case.
It does appear in court documents.
"It is full of unsubstantiated claims and untruths," said Andrew Walton, a diocesan spokesman. Adamo was an "angry, bitter man" who had lingering resentment over having been passed up for promotions, Walton said.
Adamo served as executive editor of the diocese's weekly newspaper - the Catholic Star Herald - before being fired by Guilfoyle in 1977. He left the priesthood in 1991. He died in January 2001 of pneumonia.
According to his affidavit:
* Once Guilfoyle became bishop, there was a noticeable change in regard to "sexual expression in the Diocese. ... Guilfoyle's sexual preference was apparent. [He] came to be referred to as the 'Queen of the Fairies.' He was ... prone to promote his alleged male 'lovers.'"
* His "spiritual adviser" was the Rev. Patrick Weaver, an alleged pedophile who Adamo said was protected by the diocese "to avoid scandal and to cover up the record in Rome."
* Rigney served as Guilfoyle's "pimp," using his position as director of vocations for the diocese to fill vacancies with "priests having a homosexual propensity."
* Guilfoyle's successor, Bishop James T. McHugh, coerced Adamo into remaining silent on the topic, threatening to remove him as pastor of St. Vincent Palloti parish in Haddon Township and withhold pension money.
Walton would not comment Tuesday on the Adamo affidavit's allegations specifically, but disputed the assertion that McHugh tried to silence Adamo.
"Bishop McHugh wrote to him to insist that he stop writing about some of these issues because he so consistently and repeatedly misrepresented and mischaracterized the church's position on a whole range of issues," he said.
Walton noted that after Guilfoyle died in 1991, Adamo praised him as a gentleman and a model Christian in a newspaper column.
"Bishop Guilfoyle goes into eternity with the sign of the cross etched on his soul. He deserved to be loved more than he was," Adamo wrote in the column.
Rigney could not be reached for comment. A woman who answered the telephone at his home in Palm Beach County, Fla., hung up.
Unfortunately, there are also mentally unbalanced people who allege really wild fantasies. Sorting out the real from the schizo-affectively imagined fantasy can get tricky. If someone came forward, say, with allegations like the ones about Shanley and claimed that a priest you know well, like, and think is fine, did them, you tend not to believe that kind of thing. That it is possible for some individuals to be so compartmentalized that they can do outrageous things and then resume a routine, mundane, appearance of normality, makes it all the more confusing.
I will guess that part of the whole sex abuse problem has something to do with the fact that very wholesome, innocent, orthodox people have trouble realizing that such outrageous and profane conduct does take place. Evil can be bizarre.
The settlements, over the years, do give some credence to the allegations. I understand that sometimes the Church may have settled, just to prevent what is happening in the news now. But, we live in an age where there cannot be secrets of this nature.
The fact that the lawsuits--civil in nature, are coming into play, one must realize that there could be false accusations. Deep pockets, you know. To me, the position of the Church should be that when there are accusations, the accuser should take the case to the DA, and the DA could decide whether it should be filed, just lie any other molestation case. It is more reasonable inasmuch the burden of proof is much greater.
I have read most of your posts, and you are helpful to the Church, but you are right that you do not need hatemail right now. You need to concentrate on your health. I am so sorry to hear about your battle with cancer, and I shall include you in my prayers.
AND be a willing participant. HE should be sued IMHO for his failure to warn...how's that for turning the tables?
A truly hateful and offensive September 19 column by Monsignor S.J. Adamo in the Philadelphia Daily News claims that "Gay people cannot beget children together. They can adopt, but it is not the same thing. [In a heterosexual marriage] the child is the living, continuous evidence of their love....Marriage distinguishes people from the animal kingdom....But let's be honest about it: Homosexuality and marriage do not mix."
hey - I resemble that comment ;)
Like I said before - If anyone slanders my dear wife, or blasphemes the Body of Jesus Christ, I WILL play "whackamole" with the abuse button. Will I have a potty mouth in the process - perhaps - and while not to excuse, my upbringing plays a large part. I will add, the hand of God has worked in my life in the past six years as I was completely mired in sin beforehand. He has delivered me from alcohol, pills and severe depression. Today - we pray for my temper and speech. Amen Jesus. So yes Brian, by all means go through the posts woody, ma and myself have shared over the past several days. I will direct you here
Did I smile when I said that ? It was intended in good fun And note I did not post links to humping dogs and masterbation while typing comments ....
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