Priest Found Hanged

Nando Times ^ | 05/16/02 | Stephen Manning

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

Accused priest apparently takes own life at Maryland hospital
Copyright © 2002 AP Online

By STEPHEN MANNING, Associated Press

SILVER SPRING, Md. (May 16, 2002 7:57 p.m. EDT) - 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.

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

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."

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[yendu bwam]

And there's also probably castration..... or the 'threat of'. At least that would stop the perps from potentially impregnating young girls.

"If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell."

[Orbiter]

This guy was the epitome of selfishness right up to the very end -- he robs disposable young boys of a normal life and then throws his own in the toilet. Anything else to contribute, Father?

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

As I said, it is a little complicated sociologically and intellectually. The basic fuzzy concept fulfils a couple of delusional fantasies. One is that personal sinful conduct doesn't really matter. If Catholicism just becomes socialism or some other type of secular humanist liberalism (with a little Jesus symbolism thrown in for dramatic effect), then you don't need to worry about your sins, right? People can then do whatever they want sexually. What's REALLY important, according to this point of view, is solving global poverty (or getting Gore elected depending on the trendy emphasis currently fashionable). It also has something to do with intellectual pride because the theory itself (Secularization of Christianity)is suited for a certain "new class" elite type who wants to be accepted in all the right circles, especially elite liberal or left-wing academic ones. The "Death of God" school of theology back in the 1960s was a classic example. By the time people had finished reading Bultmann, Bishop Robinson, Altizer, and all the various neo-Freudianisms, they would be fairly smug and condescending armchair liberal lotus eaters. You can still find these types in Divinty Schools, certain seminaries, and some Catholic universities.

[yendu bwam]

This guy was the epitome of selfishness right up to the very end -- he robs disposable young boys of a normal life and then throws his own in the toilet. Anything else to contribute, Father?

Either selfishiness at not owning up to what he had done and making amends (with the boys he harmed and with God), or perhaps total despair. No way to know.

[yendu bwam]

It also has something to do with intellectual pride

I personally think it has a lot to do with pride - particularly that worst of all pride of seeing yourself as smarter and more important than your maker - the same sin as that committed by you-know-who.

[yendu bwam]

You can still find these types in Divinty Schools, certain seminaries, and some Catholic universities.

But what I still don't understand is, why are these types allowed to be in certain seminaries and Catholic universities?

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

There probably can be the synthesis - selfishness and despair. I agree though that there's no way to know what is running through the head of any psychologically disturbed person who opts out of life (particularly without specifics on the context and mental state at the time). If he had done horrible things and was ashamed, it's not a stretch to assume there may have been quite a bit of emotional negativity going on there at the end. And keep in mind, there is indeed a demonic dimension to this type of assault on someone's soul.

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

A little bit of Pandora's Box. The door was opened in Catholic universities in the late 1960s and weird things flew in. Many of them are modelling themselves on liberal trends in secular colleges and universities. And, of course, you end up with some professors trained in places like Harvard and Yale. Same type of nonsense.

[yendu bwam]

And keep in mind, there is indeed a demonic dimension to this type of assault on someone's soul.

There is a demonic dimension to giving priests compulsions to sexually abuse children. But priests have the greater power on their side. How tragic that so many were not able to avail themselves of it.

[Governor StrangeReno]

Silver spring where else.

[yendu bwam]

How strong the desire to be accepted by others must be that one would place that need higher than that to love God.

[ChadGore]

Thoughts and prayers to all men of the cloth in these trying times.

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

The sociology of values afflicting any liberal is a Witch's cauldron of pride, gnostic fantasy, and various other delusional temptations. The temptation to invent reality out of fantasy - literally, to just make stuff up. "The Portrait of the Liberal Secular Humanist as a Young Man" (or woman)involves a number of bizarre motivating and psychological forces. The desire for peer acceptance, career honors, and the feeling that they are part of some crusading social justice mission. The feeling they are part of a special elite which is smarter and more sophisticated than most people, etc. That type of nonsense.

[Barnacle]

I was responding to your post 12 on this thread, not to what you may have written in the past. No doubt, you and I share many similar views. However, your Post #12 struck me as just a bit too sympathetic toward the criminals who use clerical authority to take sick advantage of trusting children.

You said, “It's sad and tragic that some of these cases were NOT stopped earlier.” Stopped, by whom? The victims? The perpetrators should have stopped themselves. It’s more than a tragedy; it’s a crime.

"And if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck.”

Those are Jesus’ words, and I agree with him.

[sarasmom]

"It's a tragedy that he gave up on himself"

I think you have a somewhat misdirected sense of sympathy.God can and will forgive in his own infinite wisdom.No human has that ability.

I only regret this priest didnt give up on himself before he sexually abused children while pretending to be a man of God.

May 9,2002. Welcome to Free republic.

[yendu bwam]

The desire for peer acceptance, career honors, and the feeling that they are part of some crusading social justice mission. The feeling they are part of a special elite which is smarter and more sophisticated than most people, etc.

This so aptly describes a disease which greatly affects so many segments of society today.

[Don Myers]

"Suicide is an unauthorized escape"

I believe that suicide is one of those unpardonable sins in the Catholic Church.

[yendu bwam]

Thanks for the welcome. I guess what I meant was that he may have forgotten that with repentance and forgiveness he could still find value in his life before God. One of the most beautiful parts of Christianity for me is that even the most horrible sinner can find his way back to and be accepted by God. My three kids' favorite parable of Christ is that of the prodigal son. When they told me that I was surprised. It had always been my favorite too.

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

OK. That's fine. Fair enough. I meant that if proper policies had been in place in the past such individuals would not have been given the opportunity to continue as priest abusers. My perspective on this (based on the continuing revelations)focuses somewhat on the "pass-the-buck" mentality that seems to have been at work in the administrative bureaucracy of some in the church in America. That a man in his 60s ends up in a psychiatric institution for sex offenses is the end of a long line of excuses and fantasy-laden decisions about what to do with such a person. He probably needed psychiatric attention much earlier (like in his 20s or 30s). Probably even before he became a clergyman. I have no problem with your challenging my emphasis or assessment on this. Thanks for the input. God Bless.

Let's hope and pray the right decisions are made to prevent this in the future.

[yendu bwam]

Thoughts and prayers to all men of the cloth in these trying times.

Hear, hear.