Posted on 04/22/2002 2:43:14 AM PDT by kattracks
Edward Cardinal Egan's stand-in at St. Patrick's Cathedral pointedly blamed the priest sex abuse scandal yesterday on homosexuality, a "sex-saturated" society and a constant assault on celibacy by liberals.In a 15-minute homily from the most prominent Roman Catholic pulpit in the city, Msgr. Eugene Clark labeled the United States "probably the most immoral country" in the Western hemisphere. He also called homosexuality "a disorder" and said gay men shouldn't be allowed to become priests.
Clark, 76, a longtime key player and conservative voice in the Archdiocese of New York, delivered his stinging homily as Egan and other U.S. cardinals left for Rome to meet with the Pope about priestly pedophilia.
After preaching about forgiveness, Clark detailed reasons he believes some priests victimized children. He appeared to place most of the blame on homosexuality, saying the theory that people are born gay "is not true."
"The tendency to homosexuality is a disorder, not a sin," he said. "But the practice of homosexuality is truly sinful."
Some parishioners in the packed pews shifted uneasily, others nodded in agreement and a few walked out. But Clark continued, arguing that it was a "grave mistake" to allow gays in the priesthood. He blamed American society for being "very protective" of homosexuality.
"Homosexuality became in the American exchange of views a protected area," he said. "And unfortunately ... homosexual students were allowed to pass through seminaries. Grave mistake. Not because homosexuals in anyway tend to criminality, but because it is a disorder."
'The Most Immoral Country'
Clark also criticized what he called "the campaign of liberal America against celibacy."
He theorized that priests who have a tendency toward sexually abusing children a group he pegged at 3% of the nation's clergy were affected by a barrage of sinful images in society.
"Liberated sex is offered to people all day long, all evening long," he said. "There is nothing quite like it."
"We know we won't mention it outside the cathedral we are probably the most immoral country certainly in the Western hemisphere and maybe the larger circle because of the entertainment we suffer and what it's done to our [country's] morals ...," Clark said.
Christine Schubert of St. Paul dashed out of the cathedral midway through the homily. "I left because I realized I have no desire to be connected with the institution of the Catholic Church," said Schubert, 27. "I thought, wouldn't it be great if the entire church walked out?"
But few did. Most parishioners stayed, and many applauded Clark after his sermon.
Marianne Duddy, executive director of Dignity/USA, the nation's largest organization of gay Catholics, called Clark's comments linking the sex scandal with homosexuality "incredibly horrifying and irresponsible."
"This is a poor attempt to deflect attention away from the church's culpability for the sexual abuse of minors by priests and its attempt to cover it up for decades," she added.
But Catholic League President William Donohue praised Clark. "He makes a great deal of sense and to have this said so articulately by one of the brighter priests in the New York area is very encouraging," Donohue said.
"The internal problem in the church is a lack of governance and due to diligence," he added. "But there is no question about it this is a societywide problem that goes way beyond the Catholic Church."
With Gretchen E. Weber
probably the most immoral country
Donahue
...he makes a great deal of sense...one of the brighter priests
Blame the United States of America??? You liberal pigs in a pulpit need to get your head examined. CRIMINAL and their ENABLERS (which you have apparently become) are INDIVIDUALS. All of the blame goes to the CRIMINAL INDIVIDUAL. Victims can't catch a break with these immoral, morons masquerading as thinkers.
And ,"Neanderthal!!!" will the rest of the media call him.
The ones that have a problem with this and the Msgr's Homily are the ones that have a problem.
"Homosexuality became in the American exchange of views a protected area,"
Wow, what an absolute breath of fresh and truthful air! He is so spot on. Particularly the "protected area" comment. How many people here have been called homophobes at some time for merely disagreeing with a homosexual lifestyle or promotion of it?
I am waiting for either the media, or the church leaders, to begin to call this crime by its name, "Homosexual Statutory Rape".
Legions of underage boys were raped by clerics. And many church leaders were (are) "co-conspiritors, after the fact".
But they didn't Christine...because most Catholics and I suspect most Americans, have the moral clarity of those who applauded after, but are too scared of being pegged as a homophobe in thier jobs, lives, etc to actually come out and say what the Msgr did. Fact is, you are in the minority, and I hope clergy, rabbi, etc like this, give people the courage to put homosexuality back where it belongs...in the abnormal psychology books. The real disgusting thing is that there are people out there with this condition that can be treated, but they are being denied that treatment by gay apologists like you and in turn ruining more lives that could have been treated for this condition.
Yes, as people point out, administrative negligence led to the specific opportunities for these crimes to take place. But, at the root of the problem is the liberal permissiveness that allowed a culture of homosexuality to develop and thrive within the priesthood.
In order to protect the young men and boys who have overwhelmingly been the victims of these crimes, the problem of homosexual priests must be addressed. To ignore this would be every bit as negligent as the decision to transfer the guilty priests around to various parishes.
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