Priest Found Hanged

Or, maybe following the designated authorities is the problem. It was certainly a problem for many innocent young boys/victims.

That problem arises from not following scripture. If people didn't accept everything they were taught out of hand and searched the scriptures to be certain that what is being taught was scriptural, priests could not get by with such things and would be caught long before they could do harm. Worse yet is the fact that priests can be that spiritually bankrupt and their congregations are bankrupt themselves to the extent of being blind to the fact that their minister is. That's pretty sad.

re:"Myers-Briggs"

Another questionable psychological category presented almost as gospel which can lead to confusion and stereotyping. The concept of fixed and rigidly defined personality categories is debatable even within the paradigmatic confines of psychology itself. That this clergyman apparently killed himself while in the custody and care of the professional psycho-mafia may not just be a coincidence.

You don't know what the hell you're talking about. Stay off the Catholic threads, OK? We don't need bizarre Calvinism here.

First of all, I do know, as the son of a Pastor schooled under Lester Summerall, what I'm talking about. Second of all, this ain't a catholic thread it is a news thread. And third, why so hot and bothered when someone states the obvious? And lastly, I ain't a calvanist. One day you might guess the right label - "Christian".

Come now, Wallace Ward (a.k.a Dr Frank Wallace, a.k.a John Flint) was a crook who spent time in jail. He invented Neo-Tech.

He didn't invent Neo-Tech, he discovered the Neo-Tech matrix.. Yes the political-agenda justice system and an ego-justice judge sent Dr. Wallace Ward to prison for ten months? Why did they send him to prison? For not paying his fair share of income tax. The major problem is that he actually overpaid his income tax for all the years in question -- I've seen the tax filings for those years. Mostly on the part of the judge, he knew that Dr. Wallace was innocent but sent an innocent man to prison nonetheless. The judge is the crook, not Dr. Wallace.

Dr. Wallace has several pen names that he publishes under. Use of pen names is common in the book publishing industry. I didn't miss your attempt to make the a.k.a.s look ominously like a criminal hiding behind aliases to hide a criminal identity. A little honesty on your part would be welcome.

Also, Wallace never used Neo-Tech to hide any crimes. It cannot be done. If you read the Neo-Tech Discovery you would know why it is impossible. Wallace has used Neo-Tech several dozen times to protect his interests from neocheaters' attacks. Neo-Tech expose criminals but cannot hide them.

The new priest taking over our parish was told some friends of mine that he did not believe in the transubstantiation.

It's like having a president of the United States who doesn't believe in the Bill of Rights. Oh wait, we've had a few of those too.

If I were the devil and I wanted to destroy the priesthood I don't think I could think of a better way to injure it tremendously than to infect the Church with men who are abhored even by the worst criminals in the toughest prison.

And how devilish it is to inure Catholics to this - so that we now accept this as commonplace and just one of those things we're supposed to live with.

( ACTUAL TOPIC ):

Priest accused of sexual misconduct apparently commits suicide at hospital

By Stephen Manning, Associated Press, 5/16/2002 23:16

SILVER SPRING, Md. (AP) A 64-year-old priest who resigned from his parish in Connecticut amid allegations of sexual misconduct apparently killed himself Thursday at a Catholic psychiatric hospital, church officials said.

The Diocese of Bridgeport, Conn., identified the priest as the Rev. Alfred J. Bietighofer, who was stripped last month of his priestly powers and ordered to undergo psychiatric evaluation.

It's the second apparent suicide of a priest since the sex abuse scandal engulfing the Roman Catholic Church erupted in Boston early this year. Last month, a priest in Ohio shot himself to death after being accused of molesting a girl.

Two men told diocesan officials Bietighofer abused them when they were boys in the late 1970s and early 1980s, church officials said.

The Connecticut Post has reported that four men accused Bietighofer of fondling them when they were children when he was assigned to Blessed Sacrament Church in Bridgeport.

Bietighofer told the Post last month that he did not know anything about the allegations.

Bietighofer was found hanged in his room Thursday at St. Luke Institute, according to Prince George's County police and hospital officials.

''I am profoundly saddened by the tragic death of Father Alfred Bietighofer,'' Bridgeport Bishop William Lori said in a statement. ''To parishioners and to all those whom Father Bietighofer assisted during the course of his priestly ministry, I extend my sincere sympathy and prayers.''

Lori removed Bietighofer from his priestly duties just hours after meeting with two men who claimed the priest had abused them.

Bridgeport attorney Jason Tremont, who represented the men, said about eight others also have claimed Bietighofer abused them. He is investigating their allegations.

Tremont said his clients had mixed emotions upon learning of the priest's death.

''It's certainly something we're not happy about. The victims think that any loss of life is unfortunate,'' Tremont said. ''The victims are still glad they came forward. Their goal was to prevent sexual abuse from happening again to any minor.''

The Rev. Stephen Rossetti, a psychologist who directs the center in suburban Washington, said Bietighofer was at the hospital for evaluation.

''This is a tragic event for all of us,'' he said.

St. Luke treats priests and nuns for a variety of mental health problems, including alcoholism, depression, and pedophilia. About a quarter of the institute's 65 beds are used by clergy undergoing treatment for sexual abuse problems. Its residential programs are open to the religious; outpatient programs are open to anyone.

It has become one of the best-known treatment centers and is used heavily by U.S. and some international dioceses.

At the time of Bietighofer's resignation April 29 from St. Andrew Parish in Bridgeport, Lori said the allegations against him were ''credible enough to warrant immediate action.''

Church officials did not report the allegations to authorities, but said they would cooperate if asked for information.

Father Robert J. Crofut, pastor of St. Andrew Church, declined comment Thursday night.

Bietighofer had served in the Bridgeport diocese since he was ordained in 1965, except for two yearlong stints in Peru in the 1970s and 1980s.

More than 177 priests have been dismissed or resigned across the country since the sex abuse scandal erupted in Boston early this year.

Last month, the Rev. Don Rooney, 48, of the Cleveland Diocese shot himself to death after being accused of molesting a girl. On Monday, the Rev. Maurice Blackwell was shot and seriously wounded outside his Baltimore home, allegedly by a man who accused him of abuse nine years ago.

Let's see..."Mysticism is bad."

Not my words, but I do agree with that.

"The Catholic Church is mysticism."

If that's what you think so be it. They're not my words.

"The Catholic Church is bad."

If that's what you think so be it. They're not my words.

I do make note that you put those into quotes in attempt to somewhat veil yourself putting words in my mouth. I bet you consider yourself a good Christian, right?

Amy insights on the Spanish Inquisition, the Crusades, the Trial of the Knights Templar, Galileo, parish Bingo scandals, the papal porno collection, John XXIII's trans-Atlantic tunnel to JFK's Oval office, or the sacred flying monkeys of Oz in the Vatican gardens, you would like to share?

I leave that to people steeped in mysticism since it is right up their alley. Besides, your intent was not a real interest rather, it is your attempt to minimize Neo-Tech. You probably think of yourself as a good Christian, right?

Anyhow, the core foundation of Neo-Tech is the three Articles of the Neo-Tech Constitution. Here are the three Articles followed by three simple questions for you to answer. Which a person of your lofty intellect should have no problem answering in easy to understand terms.

Article 1
No person, group of persons, or government may initiate force, threat of force, or fraud against any individual's self or property.
Article 2
Force may be morally and legally used only in self-defense against those who violate Article 1.
Article 3
No exceptions shall exist for Articles 1 and 2.

Questions:
Whose rights do you want to violate by initiating force against them?

Or are you so cowardly that you would petition government agents to initiate force on your behalf?

More importantly, what person, group or government do you want to violate your individual-property rights?

Good riddance to a perverted biological mistake.

I'm actually on another thread now. (HERE).

You know the people on that Zimbabwe thread listed on the menu might find these ZonTech sermons more interesting. You might try them.

Come now, you must need mountains of faith to believe the nonsense penned by Wallace Ward.

So you think that denouncing the initiation of force is nonsense. Apparently you are an advocate of the initiation of force.

No doubt clamoring for copies of Wallace Ward's Poker, A Guaranteed Income for Life by Using the Advanced Concepts of Poker.

The best selling poker book of all time. And that was published thirty years ago and taken out of print about twenty years ago. And what have you accomplished that even comes close to writing a best seller? Yet it is so easy and seemingly natural for you to attack another man's work. Pip!

NETIQUETTE:TOPIC TEST: TOPIC TEST:

PRIEST FOUND HANGED

KEYWORDS: Catholic Church, Sex Abuse

I notice you have avoided applying your Zonpower/Neo-Tech constitutional principles to this scenario:

Wrong. I didn't avoid it. I answered it a couple of hours ago. I just now reached your post that I'm now replying to. If you look at post #252 you'll see that I did reply. Again you have made an erroneous assertion/claim.

NETIQUETTE:TOPIC TEST: TOPIC TEST:

PRIEST FOUND HANGED

KEYWORDS: Catholic Church, Sex Abuse

273 posted on 5/17/02 4:47 AM Pacific by HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity

Md. Cardinal Apologizes to Victims

AP/Leslie E. Kossoff [20K]

BALTIMORE (AP) — Cardinal William Keeler apologized for the first time to those sexually abused by Roman Catholic priests and said he regrets reinstating a priest who was shot this week by an alleged abuse victim.

In an opinion piece published Friday in The (Baltimore) Sun, Keeler said he takes ``full responsibility'' for the decision he made in 1993 to reinstate the Rev. Maurice Blackwell after the priest spent three months undergoing psychiatric evaluations.

Blackwell remained a pastor until 1998, when he admitted having a consensual relationship with a teen-ager in the 1970s before he was ordained.

``In light of what has occurred and of what was revealed in 1998, I would not make the same decision today,'' Keeler said.

Dontee Stokes, then 17, accused Blackwell of sexually abusing him in 1993. Stokes, now 26, allegedly shot Blackwell on Monday.

His mother, Tamara Stokes, said her son became frustrated when Blackwell refused to apologize to him. Blackwell was listed in fair condition Thursday at a Baltimore hospital.

Keeler said in the piece that the 1993 allegations against Blackwell were credible. He said Stokes was offered treatment and counseling, a claim Stokes' family denies.

Ray Kempisty, a spokesman for the Baltimore archdiocese, said Keeler does not plan to apologize personally to Stokes or his family.

``We know that there have been painful breaches of trust, and have dedicated ourselves to seeking solace for victims and fair punishment for perpetrators, goals which we have pursued but have not always succeeded in achieving, for many years,'' Keeler wrote. ``I apologize for instances in which our efforts have failed.''

Police records show that investigators believed Stokes but didn't have enough evidence or any witness accounts to charge Blackwell. Keeler said he restored Blackwell to his post at the urging of parishioners at St. Edward Church, where Blackwell was pastor.

Blackwell was allowed to stay at the church under several conditions, which included him moving out of the rectory and in with his mother, not participating in ministry with young people and meeting regularly with a group of priests for supervision.

Blackwell also was told he would be fired if another abuse allegation against him surfaced. Keeler's reinstatement of Blackwell was criticized by an independent review board made up of Catholic and non-Catholic lay persons.

I asked politely before about posting this philosophical discussion on a thread dedicated to the topic. In the spirit of civility, I am asking again. The inner theology and propositional metaphysics of Zonology, however fascinating, is not that relevant to this issue (Catholic priest scandals). I have not raided a Zon thread to weave in discussions about the Holy Trinity or the nature of the Eucharist, so...ahem...please, if you could...

So your idea of civility is to ridicule by creating your own belittling terminology -- "Zonology".

is not that relevant to this issue (Catholic priest scandals)

It is relevant as you so duly noted. Just not relevant to your liking.

I have not raided a Zon thread to weave in discussions about the Holy Trinity or the nature of the Eucharist, so...ahem...please, if you could...

You didn't because there has been no Zon thread for you to raid. Leastwise none that I have posted. That's the reason that you haven't raided -- you can't raid what doesn't exist. Also, I made one simple cut and paste quote -- which is unusually for me as I almost always prefer to use my own words -- and a bunch of people jumped on that post and responded. I didn't expect or intend for that to happen.

http://www.sunspot.net

Cardinal explains decision on Blackwell

By Cardinal William Keeler

May 17, 2002

THIS WEEK, Baltimore saw first-hand the tragic fallout from the sexual abuse issues facing our American society today. The Catholic Church and all segments of society face multiple challenges related to this painful concern. In any case of abuse, the individual abused suffers enormously, and, if there is a breach of trust involved, that suffering is magnified. We know that there have been painful breaches of trust, and have dedicated ourselves to seeking solace for victims and fair punishment for perpetrators, goals that we have pursued but have not always succeeded in achieving, for many years.

I apologize for instances in which our efforts have failed. What happened last Monday, when a young man shot a priest whom he had once trusted, underscores how grave the issue is for our community, both as a community of faith and as a part of the society in which we live.

We acknowledge, and the very public record of those days supports, that in 1993, Father Maurice Blackwell was credibly accused of abuse. The accusation was the center of media attention for days. In keeping with our policy, the young man who was the victim was offered treatment and counseling, and Father Blackwell was immediately placed on administrative leave and sent away for psychiatric and physical evaluation.

There was a huge outcry from his supporters in the parish, St. Edward's, where his ministry was much loved and appreciated. Meanwhile, his case was appropriately in the hands of the state's attorney and the Baltimore Police Department. In time, the authorities decided not to pursue charges.

Our pleas for other accusers to come forward received no response. Father Blackwell completed his stay at the mental health facility in Connecticut, and I received a lengthy report from the facility. The report echoed what visitors had told me, about how he had entered the program of personal reform and renewal, in both the psychological and spiritual arenas, with an unusual level of energy and commitment.

The report also concluded that Father Blackwell was not "a danger to young men in a sexually predatory fashion." When Father Blackwell returned to Baltimore, Bishop John Ricard and I met with him to discuss possible next steps. One option, clearly, was that he would not return to ministry. Our commitment as an archdiocese is to not put anyone in danger of harm from a person acting in the name of the church.

Father Blackwell, while again asserting his innocence, pleaded his commitment to living chastely and his great eagerness to minister to the people whom he deeply loved. His already existing peer group of priests, including pastors of the parishes surrounding St. Edward's, came forward with strong support for his return and committed themselves to be in regular contact with Father Blackwell, giving him personal and spiritual encouragement and bearing witness to his healthy ministry.

After extended discussion and consultation among ourselves, Bishop Ricard and I agreed that Father Blackwell might return to St. Edward's, where the accusation was well known, under the condition that he continue the psychological counseling and spiritual direction programs he had begun during his time away. We also stipulated that he would give up any direct ministry with minors and young adults, move from the rectory to reside with his mother, meet faithfully with the support group of pastors from neighboring parishes and report regularly to Bishop Ricard.

The Parish Council and other parish leaders were informed of this agreement, and Father Blackwell returned to his assignment. Also, I specified that, should further allegations arise, his assignment would be terminated.

Several months later, members of the Independent Review Board indicated in writing their disagreement with my decision. As they themselves said in their letter to me, they wrote without knowledge of the confidential report I had received from the treatment facility and without having met personally with Father Blackwell.

Although there was this disagreement from the review board, there had been wide public discussion of Father Blackwell's reappointment, and no relevant information was hidden from anyone. I contacted the treatment facility and received permission to refer publicly to the confidential report.

Also, I drafted a reply to the review board and invited Father Blackwell and the leader of his support group, Father Robert M. Kearns, now the superior general of the Josephite Fathers, to meet with me. Father Kearns and the parish council leadership volunteered additional letters to affirm publicly that any potential risks had been considered. These letters were published.

There have been no events involving Father Blackwell from September 1993 to the present, but, sadly, in 1998, another accusation from 20 years earlier surfaced. In light of the previous discussions with Father Blackwell, I immediately relieved him from his office as leader of a parish.

I take full responsibility for the decision I made in 1993 given the facts and circumstances before me; in light of what has occurred and of what was revealed in 1998, I would not make the same decision today.

To the Lord, I am grateful for the policy developed here over time and to other discussions in which I have participated. We grieve and pray for the victims of abuse, a situation underscored by comments to me from the many faithful and trustworthy priests I met with earlier this week.

We have no confusion among us that we must put first the safety of children, followed closely by outreach and pastoral care for the victims. God grant us the ability to translate into action this conviction, so well stated by Pope John Paul II: "People need to know that there is no place in the priesthood and religious life for those who would harm the young."

Cardinal Keeler is the archbishop of Baltimore.

It took lots of court money and public scandal in Boston. A shooting here. Disturbing.