[Cicero]

It seems to me that the bishop hasn't handled this very well. IF he said that Father Bierschenk had 30 days to get into compliance, then he should have kept his word. If things had changed--presumably someone putting pressure on the bishop--then he should have handled the matter quietly. Maybe the bishop should not have given him that 30-day offer, but having given it, he couldn't expect compliance earlier.

Normally, a priest accepts reassignment by the bishop and that's that. But when he is openly accused of this kind of horrific lapse, then the whole can of worms fall out, and a priest has a right to ask for fair and just treatment.

I haven't yet seen any denial that the bishop gave him 30 days to straighten it out. The impression I get from this is that Fr. Bierschenk made a mistake but that the bishop has panicked under pressure and has made a bad situation worse.

[sinkspur]

The impression I get from this is that Fr. Bierschenk made a mistake but that the bishop has panicked under pressure and has made a bad situation worse.

Complicating the issue is the fact that the Bishop of Dallas, Charles Grahmann, made the 30 day offer, and the Coadjutor, Galante, decided to make the transfer after discovering that there were NO records of ANY background checks EVER being done.

I'm sure Steve's embarrassed, but he ought to just take his lumps and move on. He's not going to win this thing, especially when the bishops are erring on the side of caution.