An alleged victim is called negligent

The Boston Globe ^ | April 29, 2002 | Walter Robinson

[american colleen]

The cardinal's claim, filed in court by his attorneys, is boilerplate legal defense language. But a lawyer who is not involved in the case and has handled other cases involving allegations of clergy sex abuse said last night that the decision to use such a claim in so sensitive a case showed poor judgment.

[american colleen]

There is nothing worse than a stubborn old man who does not recongize that his time has passed.

Well, I think he is probably gone in June, before the Cardinal's meeting - I just wish he'd go quietly.

"It is better to keep your mouth shut and let people think you're an idiot, than to open it, and remove all doubt..."
Mark Twain

[CatoRenasci]

I think your reference to Talleyrand is brilliant, not only for the quote itself, which is so apt, but for evoking the Bishop of Autun who represented the clergy in the Estates General in 1789, and played an active role in the revolution, empire, restoration and finally the bourgeois monarchy of Louis Phillipe.

[sneakypete]

Can the Church in America really survive most Catholics believing they can't trust their kids with a priest? I don't think so.

I do,because most won't allow themselves to believe this. We are talking about issues of faith here,not reality. Most people are brainwashed into religion when they are very young,and these are hard chains to break. Especially when you are told over and over that if you break these chains you will spend eternity being tortured in fire by your "benelovent God".

Mounting a significan defense to liability only reinforces the perception that the Catholic hierarchy is out of touch with the laity and interested only in personal power.

That IS all organized religions are about,and they have never really tried to make this a secret. There is not only the personal power acquired by the leaders,there is also the power and wealth acquired by the sect/cult itself. The Vatican is a prime example of this.

What we have is a large number of men placing personal gain above the honor of the Church.

It doesn't matter because it will end up being ignored and forgotten. Most Catholics will never even hear of it,and this is especially true of all the illegal alien Mexicans who are coming into the country now.

[american colleen]

"Bernie Cardinal Law is a very sad old man who sold his soul for some reason he thought was worth doing so."

My father says the very same. I think he sold his soul for power and prestige in the secular world. Well, he's got the prestige, but not in the way he thought. He now represents each and every evil priest in the Catholic Church.

[chatham]

Where do you go to avoid all the dirt?

The clergy may have to wear I.D. Badges which react to good or evil so we can know the good guys from the bad.

[sneakypete]

The Red Mass is celebrated each year for those in the legal profession including judges and attorneys.

Seriously? Is it supposed to somehow absolve them of all the legal and moral wrongdoing they have done all year?

[history_matters]

My new guide on this is if the pastor has Perpetual Adoration in his parish, preaches and teaches the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, and loves the Blessed Mother, then he is a good guy. Some on FR tell me that I am naive in this, but it is the best guide I have found. I don't even hazard a thought about the others.

[history_matters]

No, just to invoke God's blessing and guidance upon their work. Some need exorcisms rather than blessings IMO.... but never mind ....

[CatoRenasci]

Where we disagree greatly is whether this crisis of leadership will turn into a crisis of faith: I think it will, you don't (but it sounds like you think it should).

If I am correct that this will turn into a real crisis of faith, where parents simply don't trust priests with their kids, it will be the end of the Church in its present form in the US. If you can't trust a priest to be alone with your kid, why would you ever give money to the church (which supports said priest) or trust him or those who back him about anything?

[Biblebelter]

Cardinal Law: "It all depends on what the meaning of victim is."

[homeschool mama]

Thank you for the ping.........so grieved over this.

[american colleen]

You bring up an interesting (and true) analogy. We didn't lose faith in the Presidency of the USA just because Clinton was/is corrupt and Catholics shouldn't lose faith in Catholicism just because there are *some* Clintonian Cardinals at the helm.

[history_matters]

COPPER SUNDAY ALERT!

[maryz]

That's what happens when you forget that Jesus' Church isn't supposed to be "pc" - She is in the business of salvation and nothing else.

Ralph McInerny had an article in Crisis that touches on this theme: The Shame of the Shepherds. (They don't put current articles on their website, so I had to type it in; I probably should have tried a ping list, but I didn't.)

[mombonn]

But a lawyer familiar with the church's legal strategy said last night that the cardinal would likely not have been consulted about the negligence claim against the plaintiffs.

Let me get this straight - the cardinal doesn't even know what his attorneys are saying? Give me a break.

[american colleen]

My new guide on this is if the pastor has Perpetual Adoration in his parish, preaches and teaches the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, and loves the Blessed Mother, then he is a good guy.

I'm with you on this. In fact, yesterday my parish priest actually talked about the "Real Presence" yesterday during his Homily. It was a first for him in my memory, and I think that quite a few priests are starting to figure out that we have to get back to the basics of Catholicism as a start to rooting out the evil.

[maryz]

. . . the cardinal doesn't even know what his attorneys are saying?

I've worked for years as a legal secretary and paralegal in litigation. The only clients who ever wanted to see or have input into court filings were attorneys themselves. (Obviously, for affidavits, answers to interrogatories, client input is essential; but this was apparently an answer to a complaint.) Some attorneys send copies to the client of anything filed; some don't.

[Dr. Scarpetta]

First year law students would also know right from wrong, and it seems that immersion in the law strips many of that faculty.

I wholeheartedly agree with you.

[Mike Fieschko]

Is it supposed to somehow absolve them of all the legal and moral wrongdoing they have done all year?

No.

A Mass never does that, for anyone or any mortal/grave sin.

Only individual confession for each person would do that, provided all the requirements for a confession are present (genuine contrition, firm purpose of amendment, etc.).

[mombonn]

Thanks for the info. If I were a client and my attorney made such an egregious argument on my behalf, I'd be furious.

I would hope the cardinal would take the attorney to task, but I don't hold out much hope.