Posted on 09/19/2002 7:28:23 AM PDT by Incorrigible
Myers left a 'mess' in Peoria, insider says Thursday, September 19, 2002 By The Associated Press
CHICAGO - The archbishop of Newark is leaving a panel formed to implement the church's new sex abuse rules, a newspaper reported yesterday.
Newark Archbishop John J. Myers, formerly bishop of Peoria, is the latest member to leave the Ad Hoc Committee on Sexual Assault, which drafted a policy to punish and expel abusers, the Chicago Tribune reported. It was previously announced that Auxiliary Bishop A. James Quinn of Cleveland and Bishop John McCormack of Manchester, N.H., would leave the panel.
Myers' successor in Peoria, Bishop Daniel Jenky, removed seven priests for alleged abuse last May, and some parishioners said Myers had left the problem for Jenky. Cleveland and New Hampshire also have undergone extensive investigations of sex abuse.
"We're not saying these are bad men," the Rev. Richard McBrien, a University of Notre Dame theology professor, told the Tribune. "But when we're in the kind of crisis we're in, you have to bend over backwards to make sure that everybody who is representing the church - and in this case the bishops - is carrying no baggage whatsoever.
"John Myers left a very messy situation in Peoria," McBrien added.
David Clohessy, national director for the Survivors Network for Those Abused by Priests, said it was wise to remove the bishops.
"It's simply a smart PR move when you have scores and scores of bishops from which to choose to take men like McCormack and Quinn and Myers out of the spotlight on the sexual abuse issue," Clohessy said. "Given what's come to light about (Myers') tenure in Peoria, I think it would be embarrassing were he to be reappointed."
Myers' spokesman, Jim Goodness, said Myers was not asked to leave the committee.
"The real reason was just that he had a specific purpose for being on the committee at the time - to help draft the (policy) document," Goodness said. "Now that that is drafted, it's time for the committee to move on. It naturally would occur that some others would move onto the committee."
Bill Ryan, spokesman for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, agreed with Goodness.
"It wasn't anything based on any criticism that any of these individuals had received," he said.
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I don't paint all the bishops with the same color. But even the 'good' ones have soiled colors right now in my opinion. I am still outraged that that wonderful bishops conference couldn't even admit that homosexuality has something to do with all of this. Do you realize how dishonest that is? Do you realize that they are treating you and me and all the rest of American Catholics like morons? The reason I push what I see to be the truth about this is that the bishops don't. I firmly believe that if we collectively give the bishops a pass on this (which is what many are already doing), the situation will NOT be cleaned up, and many more kids will be injured. As for what the enemies of the Church think, I could care less. When you wound yourself deeply with a saber, the fact that your enemy is encamped on the other side of the forest seems to be less relevant. Worse yet, we can't even admit to the nature of the saber or of the wound. I'm a devout and loyal Catholic, and that's precisely why I don't feel like giving the apologists and feel-gooders the time of day. I want to see some truth about this situation (which I haven't); I want to see some real results (which I haven't); I want to see some preventive measures for boys who are exposed to priests (which I haven't); I want to see the resignations of the shuffler priests (which I haven't); I want to see crystal clear words from the Pope about what is going to be done about this (I haven't); I want to see the Church dequeerized (which I haven't); I want to be able to trust priests with the care of my children (which I can't); I want to trust the hierarchy and the priests to teach authetic Catholicism (which I can't); I want to be able to trust the Church to teach my kids authentic Catholic sexual morality (which I most certainly cannot). Not too much to ask for, is it?
I'm with you, the Dilg.
I don't want to fight Catholics either. But I think we have all been sheeple for far too long. It's amazing what the bishops have tolerated, and what we have tolerated.
We should be formulating our own agenda,the other side has been travelling across the nation holding their agenda up for disgruntled Catholics to adopt. Most of us know that would be the death knell for the Catholic Church in this country.
We need to use our brains to come up with catchy slogans that reflect the truth because the truth reflects the solution to the scandal.
Number one,the Catechism should be taught and followed.Number two,our Bishops and Cardinals must be in union with the Holy Father and the teaching,universal Magisterium.Number three,official documents from Popes and the sacred Congregations must be obeyed.
And Yendu,I think you have come up with a good number four.The published natterings of the bishops in collectivity should be disregarded,this goes for matters catechetical and liturgical and geopolitical.And since no one should pay the least mind to what they issue the USCCB should be disbanded and their properties sold,ther staffs terminated and the money saved,put in funds to take care of whatever other trouble they may have gotten us into that we don't know about yet.
Yendu,you need to take a positive attitude,we,with the help of our just and merciful God can turn the tables on them and we need to start now.What do you think?
PEORIA, Ill. (CNS) -- After months of negative publicity, it is time for Catholics to fight back against distorted media portrayals of a scandal-ridden church, Bishop Daniel R. Jenky of Peoria told diocesan priests at a gathering Sept. 18. Speaking at the conclusion of the annual Priests Assembly Day in Peoria, Bishop Jenky said the time had come for Catholics to be more "militant" in calling attention to the good the church does and the many faithful priests, religious, and lay people who serve it. He voiced strong objections to the way he and his predecessor in Peoria -- Archbishop John J. Myers, now of Newark, N.J. -- have been portrayed in the secular media regarding their handling of clergy sex abuse cases, and assured the priests of the diocese of his prayer and concern for them. Since late spring, eight priests of the Peoria Diocese have been asked to step down from public ministry after allegations of sexual abuse that were deemed credible. The annual daylong educational gathering drew 135 priests and was primarily devoted to the topic of spiritual direction.
Agreed, ninenot. But even an allegation should be cause for IMMEDIATELY removing the accused from close or sole contact with children (especially teenage boys). If one places the welfare of children first, there is no other morally tenable policy.
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