Posted on 11/12/2002 7:45:51 AM PST by Salvation
Revised Proposal on Clergy Abuse Builds on Dallas Norms, They Contend
WASHINGTON, D.C., NOV. 7, 2002 (Zenit.org).- The president of the U.S. bishops' conference contradicted widespread media reports alleging that the Holy See had rejected the policy suggested by the American bishops last June.
"Contrary to many news reports," Bishop Wilton Gregory said in a statement, "the Holy See did not reject or even 'soften' this work. In fact, it [remains] the foundation for what will become particular law in the United States."
In a letter dated Oct. 14 to Bishop Gregory, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, said the norms approved in Dallas, Texas, last June "can be the source of confusion and ambiguity."
Yet, Bishop William Lori of Bridgeport, one of the four American bishops who participated in discussions of the proposed policy in Rome, agreed the revised proposal -- the product of a mixed U.S.-Vatican commission -- is not a retreat from the zero-tolerance position which came out of Dallas.
"No one remains in ministry who is a threat to children and young people," Bishop Lori said during a press conference Nov. 2.
Bishop Gregory summarized the effects of the law as follows: "This particular law will provide every diocese in the country with standards in canon law for protecting children and young people, reaching out to victims, assessing allegations against clergy, with the benefit of the advice of competent lay persons, and for keeping from ministry anyone who would harm children."
The updated policy calls for tribunals to hear the cases of accused priests and mandates that guilty clerics -- including those who committed offenses years ago -- be removed from Church work.
"Anyone who has committed even a single act of sexual abuse of children is permanently banned from ministry," Bishop Lori said.
Responding to criticisms from some quarters that the new policy would curtail the involvement of lay people in the disciplinary process, Bishop Lori said that lay sexual-abuse review boards would still participate in preliminary investigations of allegations of sexual abuse in an advisory capacity.
Furthermore, he said that the Church tribunals which in most instances would wield the ultimate decision-making power are made up of judges -- usually priests, canon lawyers and assessors -- who may or may not be lay people.
Bishop Lori characterized the revisions to the Dallas policy as a response to concerns from the Holy See about the lack of clear juridical procedure for handling allegations of sexual abuse by a priest.
Saying that the charter approved in Dallas had been drafted "rather hastily," Bishop Lori continued: "If you're going to go forward and deal with this, it's better to have clarity. And I think we now have a much greater degree of clarity. The zero-tolerance policy very much survives."
The revised norms will be presented to the U.S. bishops at their meeting next week.
Yup, the statute of limitations and due process - those are sure scriptural principles to be applied to those who claim to have a calling from God.
If you repeat it to yourself enough, you might even start believing it, and it will be less of a mischaracterization.
But,Bernardin is another story.Despite the fact that one of my very favorite priests,Father Niehaus defends him,I can connect Bernardin with just about every homosexual appeasing bishop in this country.
He headed up the bishops'Conferences during the years that they lied to the Vatican,stonewalled all Catholic pleas for teaching Truth and stopping liturgical abuse,wrecking churches,and destroying tradition. He was a schmoozer and duplicitous.He steamrolled over the orthodox bishops and supported every piece of nonCatholic catholicism introduced.
I have personally attended seminars and classes where bishops praised him to the heavens,Gumbleton was one I particularly remember and all of the Call To Action people were there remembering "our brother Joseph".If I hadn't already suspected his involvement with things unCatholic that particular evening would have convinced me without any other knowledge.I know I cannot convince you,and I would not even want to but be cautious when you use him to exemplify the the possibility of the innocence of some accused priests.We who believe that truth telling is imperative have a much more difficult time when we find information we have used is incorrect than do those,who believe that truth is just one more thing subject to opinion and change according to the way the wind blows.
Have you read all of the many Papal Bulls and Encyclicals and other papal documents about the men with funny hats? The latest canon law about them used "secret societies" rather than calling them by name when saying that membership was forbidden to Catholics. When some priests in this country said there was no longer a proscription against joining them the Vatican responded to the direct question by saying it was still forbidden.
Can you tell me where to confirm that the accuser exonerated Cardinal Bernardin by more than "I can't really remember what happened"?
I have heard so many people I respect (RJNeuhaus is one) say that Bernardin was a wonderful man and loved the church and did so much good.
A few months ago I was in a store located within the world headquarters for Father Patrick Peyton's rosary crusade... now this place is pretty orthodox and the priests are Holy Cross priests and seem fine. I noticed Bernardin's book on the shelf and remarked that Bernardin seems to generate a lot of controversy. The priest was perplexed and said that he has only heard good things about Bernardin... go figure?
Yes, I can understand if he were a practicing homosexual. But, what about the one who recognizes he has that tendency but with the grace of God he is trying to overcome it. Remaining devout to his calling, he sruggles inwardly daily to overcome certain desires. Do we not give this priest an opportunity that he may, again with the grace of God, to overcome his tendency to and become a productive individual. I think compassion should be shown towards these priests and those who openly flaunt their lifestyles should be gone forever, zero tolerance would be the credo. I'm afraid a kind of 'witch hunt' will ensue and any priest who doesn't exhibit a 'certain manner' would be labeled and falsely accused. Yes, do 'tiptoe' for you no not what you are doing. Peace
<> Do you have access to the deposition? I heard it reported as I mentioned - that the gentleman did not say his accusations were lies, rather, he said his memory had been so damaged by his AIDS that he wasn't able to be certain the charges were true.
The other things mentioned in the piece about Card Bernardin are very disturbing. I gues one can just blow them all off and say they are unproven....no pattern heree...just move along.....nothing to see.
I will just speak for myself. I have always opposed the Masons. I do not plan to schedule a homosexual glee club to sing at my funeral. I don not think "listening sessions" with proabortionists are helpful. I do not think encouraging homosexuals to become priests and Bishops is helpful...Call me crazy....<>
Then what have we left?Somewhere, somehow some compassion has to be exercised. What would Jesus do? When he Himself sat with the sinners and the so-called intelligansia of that era riduculed Him for just doing what a lot of us are doing at this moment. I am not defending the militant homosexual, they will have to answer to the Almighty when their time comes. But I'm addressing that small percentage, why not extend that bit of compassion and not bitterness as they struggle to be chaste in their calling. You may think of me as naive when it comes to homosexuality, BUT I am trying to walk in their shoes for the moment and to experience their pain in their personal struggles. At this time prayer would help immensely instead of beratement to these lost souls.
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