[Just Posted] Holy See: Full text of final communique of US cardinals

The Holy See - www.Vatican.va ^ | 4-25-2002 | Vatican

[Notwithstanding]

1) The sexual abuse of minors is rightly considered a crime by society and is an appalling sin in the eyes of God, above all when it is perpetrated by priests and religious whose vocation is to help persons to lead holy lives before God and men.

2) There is a need to convey to the victims and their families a profound sense of solidarity and to provide appropriate assistance in recovering faith and receiving pastoral care.

3) Even if the cases of true pedophilia on the part of priests and religious are few, all the participants recognized the gravity of the problem. In the meeting, the quantitative terms of the problem were discussed, since the statistics are not very clear in this regard. Attention was drawn to the fact that almost all the cases involved adolescents and therefore were not cases of true pedophilia.

4) Together with the fact that a link between celibacy and pedophilia cannot be scientifically maintained, the meeting reaffirmed the value of priestly celibacy as a gift of God to the Church.

5) Given the doctrinal issues underlying the deplorable behavior in question, certain lines of response have been proposed:

a) the Pastors of the Church need clearly to promote the correct moral teaching of the Church and publicly to reprimand individuals who spread dissent and groups which advance ambiguous approaches to pastoral care;

b) a new and serious Apostolic Visitation of seminaries and other institutes of formation must be made without delay, with particular emphasis on the need for fidelity to the Church’s teaching, especially in the area of morality, and the need for a deeper study of the criteria of suitability of candidates to the priesthood.

c) it would be fitting for the Bishops of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to ask the faithful to join them in observing a national day of prayer and penance, in reparation for the offenses perpetrated and in prayer to God for the conversion of sinners and the reconciliation of victims.

6) All the participants have seen this time as a call to a greater fidelity to the mystery of the Church. Consequently they see the present time as a moment of grace. While recognizing that practical criteria of conduct are indispensable and urgently needed, we cannot underestimate, in the words of the Holy Father, "the power of Christian conversion, that radical decision to turn away from sin and back to God, which reaches the depths of a person’s soul and can work extraordinary change". At the same time, as His Holiness also stated, "People need to know that there is no place in the priesthood and religious life for those who would harm the young. They must know that Bishops and priests are totally committed to the fullness of Catholic truth on matters of sexual morality, a truth as essential to the renewal of the priesthood and the episcopate as it is to the renewal of marriage and family life".

[SoothingDave]

Why can't the bishops just do this? If there's anything which stops them, I'm not aware of it.

Because this wasn't a meeting of all of the bishops. That happens in June. The Cardinals can not make a decision for the whole assembly of bishops. Only the assembly of bishops can.

(Apostolic visitation = the bishop or his delegate going in and investigating, no?)

More like representatives from Rome investigating. That is, an outside investigation.

Why does it have to be 'proposed'?

So the bishops meeting in June can act upon it.

SD

[SoothingDave]

If not, why then perhaps some irate lay Catholic activists in the ranks are liable to employ their own undercover PI's to get to the 'bottom' (sorry for the double entendre) of this mess in the most 'notorious' lavender seminaries.

My suggestion is that the Vatican establish a program whereby men are sent undercover to the various seminaries.

SD

[Campion]

Exactly.

Mike F. thinks this is weak. I'm not so sure. It tacitly admits that they haven't been teaching the truth about sexual morality, and their seminaries haven't been teaching it, either.

That, in the delicately-phrased nuances of Vatican diplomacy, is basically giving the American bishops their heads on a silver platter.

I think that Cardinal Law will not resign now, because it would appear to be caving in to media pressure. Look for Rome to wait a couple of months for the story to get old, then appoint a coadjutor bishop to watch over Law's shoulder. He'll resign later, for "personal reasons". Strictly a guess on my part.

[SoothingDave]

Mike F. thinks this is weak. I'm not so sure. It tacitly admits that they haven't been teaching the truth about sexual morality, and their seminaries haven't been teaching it, either.

That, in the delicately-phrased nuances of Vatican diplomacy, is basically giving the American bishops their heads on a silver platter.

A lot of people expect to hear from the Vatican in language they might hear from Bill O'Reilly. It's just not going to be that sledgehammer. The message, first of all of being summoned to Rome, then of the Pope's message and this message, is very clear to those listening.

The only remaining question is will the bishops do what they have said they will? Or will we need to find someone who can, like a papal legate?

SD

[Diago]

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[Myrddin]

I'm disappointed in the weak wording. Something simpler, and more direct would have been appropriate. In particular,
Homosexuality (male or female) and service in the clergy are incompatible.
All clergy for whom the church has evidence of sexual misconduct will be immediately dismissed.
All cases of criminal behavior for which the statute of limitations has not expired will be reported to the local district attorney for evaluation and/or prosecution.
The church promises to immediately report any future incidents of criminal sexual misconduct upon determination of the validity of the incident.

[SoothingDave]

Gay and Lesbian Family Ministry Catholic Diocese of Cleveland

Yes, this is likely an example of: groups which advance ambiguous approaches to pastoral care

SD

[Mike Fieschko]

Looks pretty strong to me.

I typed that it's weak because it's a commitment to proposals, not actions.

The bishops, by making these 'proposals', are pretending.

Are awaiting approval (which are unnecessary)? Are they awaiting direction/guidance (which in these instances are incompatible which their function as bishops to govern their flock)?

[SoothingDave]

The bishops, by making these 'proposals', are pretending. Are awaiting approval (which are unnecessary)? Are they awaiting direction/guidance (which in these instances are incompatible which their function as bishops to govern their flock)?

See my number 21. Asked and answered.

SD

[Diago]

The rainbow colors, which appear on the Cleveland Diocese's website, did not show up on my post.

Pray and fast for the Catholic Church.

[MarkWar]

>My suggestion is that the Vatican establish a program whereby men are sent undercover to the various seminaries.

I once read a non-fiction account of a PI investigating a missing young boy. The PI established a link to the "gay scene" in a small town, but there was no way to follow up the link because to get access to the gay scene you have to actually prove yourself to be gay and willing to do the things those guys do... (The PI couldn't make progress until he consulted with a gay PI, who did go in and fit in. Eventually, with the help of the inside guy, the missing boy was tracked down and returned to his family.)

In order for a Vatican undercover guy to win the trust of the scum he'd be investigating, he'd have to be willing to do the same stuff the scum does to prove himself trustworthy...

Mark W.

[a_witness]

2) We will propose that the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops recommend a special process for the dismissal from the clerical state of a priest who has become notorious and is guilty of the serial, predatory, sexual abuse of minors.

3) While recognizing that the Code of Canon law already contains a judicial process for the dismissal of priests guilty of sexually abusing minors, we will also propose a special process for cases which are not notorious but where the Diocesan Bishop considers the priest a threat for the protection of children and young people, in order to avoid grave scandal in the future and to safeguard the common good of the Church.

Any idea why they won't dismiss any priest guilty of having sex with a minor ?

Is the priesthood that compromised ?

I think any member of the clergy who had sex with a minor should be dismissed immediately. Run, don't walk. Period.

[Mike Fieschko]

The Cardinals can not make a decision for the whole assembly of bishops. Only the assembly of bishops can.

Except Cdl Dulles, each and every cardinal who made the trip is a bishop.

I am sorely disappointed that each and every bishop didn't simultaneously state, that he was going to do these things in his own diocese.

[SoothingDave]

In order for a Vatican undercover guy to win the trust of the scum he'd be investigating, he'd have to be willing to do the same stuff the scum does to prove himself trustworthy...

He doesn't have to go deep undercover. He merely has to present himself as an orthodox young man and report how he is treated and what he observes. From the tales told in Rose's book, the gays are not exactly hiding in the seminaries. They are upfront and bold.

SD

[SoothingDave]

I am sorely disappointed that each and every bishop didn't simultaneously state, that he was going to do these things in his own diocese.

One would think that making these proposals and desiring that they be approved as a national norm was an approval of them for one's one see. If you're not looking for bad guys, they ain't there.

SD

[Mike Fieschko]

A lot of people expect to hear from the Vatican in language they might hear from Bill O'Reilly.

I'm looking not for language from the Holy See. I'm looking for strong words from each bishop about what he's going to do in his own diocese.

The only remaining question is will the bishops do what they have said they will?

Some will. The ones who will, do not need a meeting with the curia to do so.

[Mike Fieschko]

One would think that making these proposals and desiring that they be approved as a national norm was an approval of them for one's one see.

Time will tell, and the past 30 - 40 years' track records of these American cardinals isn't encouraging.

My ordinary is Abp Myers, and Cdl Egan is just across the river. There's a lot to be done in both sees, and both ordinaries will have many allies if they move to clean up problems.

[anniegetyourgun]

"...it would be fitting for the Bishops of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to ask the faithful to join them in observing a national day of prayer and penance, in reparation for the offenses perpetrated and in prayer to God for the conversion of sinners and the reconciliation of victims."

I note that this comes under that which has been "proposed." While I'm not a Catholic, it is unclear to me why this isn't a command, and why it isn't first before all things. It seems to me that the should be both public and private confession and repentance happening all over the place.

In other words, the statement appears to be quite forward-looking, without first looking back and agreeing with God that the RC has itself sinned in hiring, retaining, and protecting such sin in the camp.

[uncbob]

One sure way to put a stop to this is for parents to GO TO THE POLICE and then they can go to the rectory together