Posted on 12/15/2002 7:36:36 PM PST by Zviadist
Nineteen Roman Catholic bishops, nine of them Americans, have resigned since 1990 in the context of sex scandals.
U.S. cases:
--Cardinal Bernard Law, archbishop of Boston, on Friday, following months of criticism for his mishandling of sex abuse claims against priests.
--Bishop J. Kendrick Williams of Lexington, Ky., on June 11, following allegations he abused two minors and an 18-year-old decades ago, which Williams denied.
--Auxiliary Bishop James McCarthy of New York, on June 11, after apologizing for affairs with adult women.
--Archbishop Rembert Weakland of Milwaukee, following May 23 news that his archdiocese paid $450,000 to a man claiming Weakland attempted to sexually assault him. Weakland admitted an "inappropriate relationship" but denied abuse.
--Bishop Anthony O'Connell of Palm Beach, Fla., in March, after admitting repeated abuse of an underage student at the Missouri seminary he led. Others filed later suits.
--Bishop G. Patrick Ziemann of Santa Rosa, Calif., in 1999, when a priest claimed sexual coercion after Ziemann learned he had stolen parish funds. Ziemann said their relationship was consensual.
--Bishop J. Keith Symons, O'Connell's predecessor in Palm Beach, in 1998, after admitting past molestation of five boys in three parishes.
--Archbishop Robert Sanchez of Santa Fe, N.M., in 1993, after confessing relationships with adult women.
--The late Archbishop Eugene Marino of Atlanta, in 1990, upon admitting involvement with a woman parishioner.
Elsewhere:
--Archbishop Edgardo Storni of Argentina, on Oct. 1, after a book said he abused at least 47 seminarians, though a 1994 Vatican investigation found insufficient evidence to act. Storni said his resignation did not signify guilt.
--Auxiliary Bishop Franziskus Eisenbach of Germany, in April, after a woman accused him of sexual abuse and injuries during an exorcism. The Vatican said resignation was no admission of guilt.
--Bishop Brendan Comiskey of Ireland, in April, after apologizing for not preventing a priest's serial abuse.
--Archbishop Juliusz Paetz of Poland, in March, amid allegations he had sexually harassed several priests, which he denied.
--Archbishop John Aloysius Ward of Wales, in 2001, after charges he ignored warnings about two priestly molesters.
--Bishop Hansjoerg Vogel of Switzerland, in 1995 after admitting he had impregnated a woman following his appointment to the hierarchy the preceding year.
--Cardinal Hans Hermann Groer, Austria's primate, sent into exile in 1995 following molestation claims from former high school boys. Neither Groer nor the Vatican directly admitted guilt.
--Bishop Hubert O'Connor of British Columbia, Canada, charged in 1992 and imprisoned in 1996 for sexually assaulting two teenage girls as principal of a boarding school.
--Bishop Eamonn Casey of Ireland, in 1992, upon admitting he fathered a child and used church offerings to pay the mother secret child support.
--Archbishop Alphonsus Penney of Newfoundland, Canada, in 1990, after a church commission criticized him for failing to prevent
Copyright 2002 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Not very deep and not very high according to this article. I don't know the numbers worldwide, but in the U.S., probably the most notable location of sexual scandal, there are approximately 305 bishops. So if nine were forced out, you have less than 2.9 percent. Of course, this is in a period of twelve years, or one bishop forced out every 1.3 years. That would be .3% every year. Probably even less, because more men have actually served in those positions in the time period.
How high? One cardinal for mishandling others' sexual sins. Not very high either.
"We're number one, we're number one...."<>
Congratulations! My diocese must be tied in dead last with about 280 other dioceses, with zero resignations by prelates. Remember...it's lonely at the top. We have lots and lots of company down here in last place.....Deo gratias.
In the Vatican's eyes there is nobody that's guilty????
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.