Replies

So the pedophile was willing to leave if left in “good standing” but was unwilling to leave if not? And The Vatican was insisting on keeping him because of his transgressions?

Here in lies something that is not really thought out well by many at large. A priest is found to have a credible accusations and my even be charged but put on probation. So the public says, "Defrock him", Bishop. Yet many Bishops don't. On the face of it, it seems wrong but what is better to do? Defrock him, let the accused priest/religious go into the world unabated or to keep him in a place where his contact with potential victims would be limited (usually in a house in a religious order or some other penitential place).

We know that secular society isn't going to care where this person is (as proven over and over again in the papers and on TV) and their chance of corrupting someone again is greater than if they are kept in a location where they are supervised and kept in the priesthood/religious life where they must honor their vow of obedience.

Unfortunately, IF that is what happened, the rest of us, along with the aggrieved parties, are not made aware of such ‘inner-church punishment’. We are also not made aware of any sort of “rehab program” for offenders. We are left with wondering if the Catholic church shuttled this priest into some small parish in Nowhere, IA or is leading other priests, getting a promotion for the wrong-doing.

So, at the very best, the Catholic church has a bad PR campaign. At the worst, well, that's the impression we already have...