A human problem: The sexual abuse of minors is vile, but it's not simply a Catholic affliction

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ^ | Sunday, May 26, 2002 | Ann Rodgers-Melnick

[Polycarp]

I spent my childhood in an Episcopal parish where the alcoholic rector and another priest had sex with the same underage girl in the congregation. Both priests were married. Although the rector's behavior was known, the lay leaders and bishop did not oust him until the girl's father threatened legal action. The rector then moved to another parish in the same diocese.

[Polycarp]

A decent editorial from an author who, unfortunately, also spread the lie that the Vatican hints condoms OK against AIDS

[maryz]

The writer makes some excellent points, especially about lack of even-handedness in the media and understanding how difficult it must be in many cases to judge the validity of a claim, especially a single claim from someone whose word in other things is questionable.

However, I don't think she give sufficient emphasis (even in her own background thinking) to the apparent fact of the huge bulge in allegations dating to the late 60s, the 70s (oh, how I hated the 70s!) and the early 80s. There are allegations earlier and later, but from what I read there is a vast difference in volume.

Allegations of decades-old abuse are, of course, especially problematical. I wonder about the allegations against the Rev. Marcial Maciel Degollado. Fr. Richard John Neuhaus wrote that he explored them as well as he could and found that the "ringleader" of the accusers and at least some of the others had left the order under a cloud. I can't find the reference now, but I believe he said it appears some of the accusers were talked into making allegations. Of course, Neuhaus believes Bernadin was innocent, but I don't think he made any effort to look into that.

[ChiMark]

Seems like another attempt to excuse homo activity in the catholic church. It's the everybody does it mentality where the solution is basically nothing. Psychiatric counsel is not effective in but a hand few of cases molestors. The frustration is that clergy in general seem to get a pass. Interesting that the other group mentioned is the episcopal church.

[Polycarp]

I can't find the reference now, but I believe he said it appears some of the accusers were talked into making allegations.

If I remember correctly, of the 7 individuals making the allegations against the LoC founder, one has since recanted, stating the others encouraged him to make the false allegations. Its not surprising that whenever secular writers repeat these charges they are remiss in including this important piece of the story.

[LarryLied]

Click here to see an institution with as severe a problem as the Catholic Church but one which recieves little national attention.

[Polycarp]

another attempt to excuse homo activity in the catholic church

Definitely not. Did you even read the column, or just the headline? This author is not Catholic. She is a known homosexual sympathizer. This writer is otherwise very liberal/anti-Catholic in her tone and style, having helped perpetuate one of the biggest frauds regarding the Vatican's position on AIDS in the last decade. See her column Vatican hints condoms OK against AIDS as well as an in depth refutation of it that appeared in the Wanderer examining the level of deception in her story at the time.

[Polycarp]

Seems like another attempt to excuse homo activity in the catholic church

Geez, I read your post wrong...Sorry. I agree, she's excusing homosexuality in the Churches. You wrote attempt to excuse homo activity and my eyes saw attempt to excuse pedophile activity .

I need to read more carefully regarding this whole issue. Mea Culpa.

It's the everybody does it mentality where the solution is basically nothing. Psychiatric counsel is not effective in but a hand few of cases molestors. The frustration is that clergy in general seem to get a pass. Interesting that the other group mentioned is the episcopal church.

I agree, my apologies for my knee jerk initial reaction to your post.

[maryz]

Its not surprising that whenever secular writers repeat these charges they are remiss in including this important piece of the story.

I wouldn't blame the writer too much; she doesn't claim that it's an exhaustively researched piece. She does cover examples from her own experience and from media coverage. Many of her points show a great deal of thoughtfulness. I doubt it ever occurred to her to try track down the source of those particular charges against LoC (and she probably couldn't have unless she reads First Things).

[Polycarp]

The author sharers your concern at least in this regard:

Why did a 1999 [Post Gazette] series on public school teachers who transfer from district to district despite a track record of child molestation fail to provoke the same uproar as the Boston Globe reporting on two priests?

Sounds like our government schools have an even bigger problem.

[Polycarp]

and she probably couldn't have unless she reads First Things

I know from previous columns she reads the liberal Catholic rags such as Nat'l Catholic Reporter and America (the liberal Jesuit rag.) Guess its too much to expect the Pittsburgh Post Gazette's Religion Writer to read any real Catholic periodicals.

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

It was an exceptionally galling claim because the biggest scandal waiting to explode on the Vatican's doorstep is documented in Spanish. Nine Mexican and Mexican-American former priests and seminarians of the Legion of Christ religious order have said that its Mexican founder, the Rev. Marcial Maciel Degollado, molested them when they were teen-agers. The Vatican has known of these accusations since 1979 but done nothing to address them. And because Maciel is the head of his order, only the Vatican can address them.

One of the nine has recanted saying the other eight pressured him to lie about Maciel. Maciel has denied the charges. Maciel was investigated by the Vatican on charges of money mismanagement, drug and substance abuse and drug trafficking in the 1950s. It seems unlikely that if he was doing little boys at the seminary that he wouldn't have disappeared back then when Pius XII and John XXIII were Pope, although nothing is absolute. Things may not have been resolved to the satisfaction of Melnick (she wouldn't have already made up her mind would she?) but that doesn't mean it hasn't been looked into.

[Polycarp]

One of the nine has recanted saying the other eight pressured him to lie about Maciel

Any word on the other eight's motives in this?

[maryz]

I don't recall ever hearing of her before, so I was willing to give her the benefit of the doubt. (Have you thought of having First Things send her a sample issue, with your compliments, as they offer in every issue?)

[Salvation]

Thanks for this article.

I know of two instances where ministers abused over 100 children each. Certainly did not make national headlines.

[Salvation]

Thanks for putting that link on here. When I saw this thread I thought of you.

[bimbo]

I must sadly acknowledge that the Leaders of the Boy Scouts exercise more moral courage and conviction the the Leaders of the Catholic Church.

Where are those critics of the Boy Scouts who condemned the organization for refusing to allow homosexual scout masters? Are they are out there now criticizing the Catholic Church for allowing homosexual priests? The answer doesn't matter that much, as long as people realize that the abuse of adolescent boys is a main recruiting technique of the homosexual community. These "recruiters" need to be prosecuted for their crimes without regard for their station in life. And in jail, they can be as queer as they want to be.

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

Don't know the answer to your question.

Here is a link which includes Neuhaus' article: http://www.legionaryfacts.org/

[DoughtyOne]