Bishop: Keep It Private Daily insists accused priests' names stay secret

Newsday ^ | 3/29/02 | Ron Howell

[areafiftyone]

After celebrating a special Mass for priests from Brooklyn and Queens, and marking his own 50th anniversary in the priesthood, Bishop Thomas V. Daily said yesterday he has no intention of turning over names of priests accused of abusing minors.

The bishop's declaration came one day after Bishop William Murphy of Long Island's Diocese of Rockville Centre said church officials there would give law enforcement authorities names of all priests accused of sexual misconduct with minors.

[areafiftyone]

I am sorry but as a Roman Catholic I feel that Bishop Daly should go. The Catholic Church needs a good cleaning even if it means getting rid of hundreds of priests.

[Antoninus]

Bishop Thomas V. Daily said yesterday he has no intention of turning over names of priests accused of abusing minors.

Bad move, your eminence. I think there's a growing consensus among the laity (and hopefully many in the clergy) that any bishop who utters such words should be removed without delay. I would urge the Vatican to take immediate and drastic action. This is getting ridiculous.

[uncbob]

Daily added that he had serious concerns about a state legislative proposal that would require the clergy to report cases of child abuse to authorities.

Talk about arrogance

This guy must feel he has a lot of support from the laity to make a statement like or else he is a meglomaniac

[areafiftyone]

Between what is happening in Israel and what is happening in the Catholic Church I feel so overwhelmed. I pray for the people of Israel so that they will finally have peace and I pray for the Catholic Church that so it will rid itself of this disease infecting it. I am so saddened by this all. :-(

[rbmillerjr]

this Bishop is contributing to a possible major schism is the Church...my wife and through away the Lenten Appeal this year in symbolic gesture to the throwing away of the care for the children who pay for the Church's arrogance.

The Church is acting no differently that a bunch of damn statist governments do to protect the leadership.

Stunning.

[heyheyhey]

...he is a disgrace to the Roman Collar.

As if you care.

[William Terrell]

Bishop Thomas V. Daily said yesterday he has no intention of turning over names of priests accused of abusing minors.

If the names are kept secret, won't that lead people to suspect their own priest? If there are known wolves in the flock, it is only prudence to suspect any sheep as a wolf in disguise. The alternative is to stupidly place yourself in danger.

Methinks that should this Daily's IQ be one point lower, he wouldn't be able to keep his heart beating.

[rbmillerjr]

They hide deviant homosexuals like this,,,,then your point is totally germane about suspecting other priests, but they rely on the faithful to believe that "their" priest couldnt do this.

The faithful will not be listened to until we protest by withholding money temporarily. My wife and 4 others at her workplace are doing this.....zero money at offerings and appeals for 4 months,,,,,,,until the Church leadership wakes up.

[William Terrell]

Hit 'em where it hurts, in the coin purse! You know, that little pop-open kind that looks like a little. . . .coin purse (apoligies to Brother Dave Gardner).

(Sorry)

[curmudgeonII]

Does Bishop Daly believe that this scandal is going to go away by his inaction?

It seems to this non-Catholic that this refusal will inflame the feelings of many, Catholic and non-Catholic alike, that much of the hierarchy of the Catholic church is completely out of touch with reality.

[areafiftyone]

that much of the hierarchy of the Catholic church is completely out of touch with reality.

In alot of ways the Catholic hierachy is still living in the days when the Pope ruled Europe.

[Romulus]

"Some of these guys are dead. A man's got a right to his reputation even when he's dead."

The argument for shooting spies in wartime is not so much pragmatic as moral: by misappropriating their innocence, spies endanger non-belligerents without their consent. This doesn't mean I'm calling for bad priests to be shot, btw. But it does mean that neither good priests nor the faithful they serve deserve the associative guilt that belongs to the evil few.

[Antoninus]

This guy must feel he has a lot of support from the laity to make a statement like or else he is a meglomaniac

Or else, he's guilty of some misdeeds himself and is being blackmailed by the priests he's protecting. The solution? Perhaps some members of the laity need to hire private investigators to tail suspected homosexuals/molesters. If enough evidence is compiled, go public with it, have civil authorities grant some sort of limited immunity to the offender if he testifies and watch the whole house of cards come crashing down.

Unless the hierarchy acts quickly and decisively, I don't see what option the laity are left with, other than to continue to worry that their sons may become prey to homosexual priests. This said, I pray to God for all our good, righteous priests and bishops out there. May Christ strengthen them to endure the coming trials brought on by their wayward brethren.

[CoolH2OH]

I am not a Catholic, but they do a lot of good in the name of Christ. If this is not resolved it is going to seriously hurt the ability of the Catholic church to minister in the future. A sound policy is not to have religious leaders spending inordinate time, if any, alone with children of either gender. There are ways for religious training to be done in groups of children or counseling sessions with parents present or the door open with the secretary nearby.

[CoolH2OH]

For example, if you have the door open and a nun nearby, she wouldn't be able to hear details of a conversation, but I bet there wouldn't be the temptation to engage in seduction or molestation.

[mickie]

Just because a priest has been 'accused' doesn't neccessary mean he is guilty.
And if some are dead, why drag their names thru the mud........there may be families who are left, and unless he is proven guilty, it would only hurt them.
Any priest who is guilty should be arrested, thrown in jail and the key lossed away!
And any Cardinal, Bishop or whatever that covers up such a crime is just as guilty!