Posted on 03/08/2003 2:27:36 PM PST by Land of the Irish
This Diocesan Church is currently being subjected to disinformation. In contrast to misinformation, disinformation is the deliberate or irresponsible presentation of untruth as fact. Some recent examples are as follows. There have been others.
I am supposed to have placed our priests under a “gag order”. What that refers to, I presume, is not a “gag order” but a verbal presentation that was made last Fall at a Clergy Conference. That presentation explained the laws of the Church relative to someone encouraging public dissent against the Church. The rule is not mine but that of the Universal Church, and has to do with the stirring up of hatred or hostility against the Church and its authority. This law applies particularly to the priests and deacons who are an extension of the Bishop’s teaching authority. Neither this case nor the case of the reported precept against a certain priest has anything to do with the abuse of minors on the part of priests or the reporting thereof.
I did not “cancel” a press conference in connection with “Protecting God’s Children”, as was reported. The conference took place as planned, even though I could not be there. Others were able to explain to the public what that program is all about just as well as I or even better. “Protecting God’s Children” has been in development for some years and is the best such program in the nation. The training of our teachers was covered extensively in the news media elsewhere, but was hardly mentioned by one of our critic newspapers.
We Bishops have committed ourselves to reporting to civil authorities cases that need to be reported. I voted for that and I subscribe to that. We continue to be in contact with the lead District Attorney within the eight counties of the Diocese. It is our understanding that he feels that we are in compliance with his expectations. Yet, it continues to be reported that I have gone back on my word in that regard.
The reported information concerning some of our accused priests has not been accurate or current. A simple check shows that an individual no longer lives where it is said that he does, that he is no longer in public service when it is said that he is, or that he has been dead when it is said that his whereabouts are unknown.
Elsewhere in this issue, you will find a more extensive response to the allegations that have been made against me and this Diocese. In my role as a Diocesan Bishop and shepherd of this Particular Church, I am called to act as a kind father, all the while staying within the framework of the Code of Canon Law, as well as civil law. I honestly try to do that. It has been a challenge, to say the least.
I worry about what effect all this has on the members of our Diocesan Church. It is, therefore, tremendously encouraging to me to find that a great preponderance of our Faithful understand the Church to be the sinful Assembly of Believers striving for holiness.
Allow me to conclude with an excerpt from my response found elsewhere in this issue. No matter what or how much I do, it is not going to be the right thing or enough in everyone’s eyes. Nor, can we undo what may or may not have been done in the past. What we can do, should do, and are doing is to take the actions required of us today, on the basis of what we know today, whether that involves allegations from the present or the past. And, of course, we need to provide a safety net for our children in the future.
Kind father, eh? Why does this sound like a lie? Could it possibly be the bureaucratic babble with which it is surrounded? Does this guy even speak English?
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