[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

For the record, Fr. Bierschenk did not lie to anyone. Through the diocesean audit it was found that a few members of the staff, were missing their background checks.

From this story, Diocese won't change decision on Dallas priest it appears that there were more than a few missing background checks. I wonder if the bookkeeping records are as well documented.

"The on-site audit, completed March 19, said the parish business manager reported that the church implemented the Safe Environments Program in 1999. The assessment also found no documentation of criminal background checks, interviews, screening forms, reference contacts, acknowledgement forms or Safe Environment training for employees or volunteers." (emphasis added)

[Slyfox]

The Safe Environments Program in 1999, from what I understand, was instituted by the parish itself. St. Thomas was the first parish to do anything like that in the wake of the Rudy Kos fiasco. The March 19th audit was conducted by the diocese and found, through an oversight, that a few staffers had not been checked. Father was given one month to complete the checks and was working on them when he was called to see the bishop in order to be fired. The bishop claims that it was tough-love, but it was actually a point used to dislodge a conservative priest from a successful parish.

On the same note, George W. Bush was totally within his right to address a grievence and have a court rule in the matter. It is no different in this case. There was no lie except in the fact that HE was lied to when he said he would be given one month to complete the checks.