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Newark [NJ] bishop off abuse panel
Jersey Journal ^ | 9/19/02 | AP

Posted on 09/19/2002 7:28:23 AM PDT by Incorrigible

Newark bishop off abuse panel

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.

Not for commercial use.  For educational and discussion purposes only.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Illinois; US: New Jersey
KEYWORDS: archbishopmyers; bishopmyers; catholic; catholicchurch; chicagotribune; child; children; coverup; diocese; myers; newark; peoria; priest; setonhall; sexualabuse
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To: ninenot
Finally, on the Myers question, we are treated to the situation where either Myers is a good guy, and therefore has been bumped by bad people from one of the bodies designed to (ha!) address this problem, or he is one of the bad guys who has bamboozled heretofore a lot of people. Both situational possibilities are bad.
41 posted on 09/19/2002 12:50:25 PM PDT by yendu bwam
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To: yendu bwam; ninenot
"Actually, a great many of the bishops in this country remind me of the Germans who stood by while Jews were carted away to the gas chambers. They saw nothing, heard nothing, felt nothing."

No wonder the church is ridiculed.

Both of you are right in your own ways. But, comparing the bishops to the Germans is a little far-fetched, IMHO. Many Germans didn't just stand by while it was happening and actually risked death to rescue Jews. That charge is just a bit out of bounds. Aside from that there is no mass extermination underway. The homosexual abuse problems are not funny at all, but the severity is spotty. One person lives in a bad area and that has an impact. Please, though, don't paint all clergy with one color. It's just not true.

Otherwise, continue bickering. Those who would destroy the church for whatever reason are just eating this up. Divide and conquer. It seems to be working.
42 posted on 09/19/2002 1:02:02 PM PDT by Desdemona
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To: Desdemona; ninenot
Please, though, don't paint all clergy with one color. It's just not true. Otherwise, continue bickering. Those who would destroy the church for whatever reason are just eating this up. Divide and conquer. It seems to be working.

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?

43 posted on 09/19/2002 1:11:30 PM PDT by yendu bwam
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To: thedilg
It seems to me that a serious situation existed around this Bishop. At least this is tha case if he, indeed, left 7 offending priests within his authority to be dealt with by his predessessor. The major scandal is that Bishops look the other way when a priest is caught in a sexual entanglement with a young boy. Until this problem is fully addressed the confidence of the Catholic people will not return. Godspeed, The Dilg

I'm with you, the Dilg.

44 posted on 09/19/2002 1:21:41 PM PDT by yendu bwam
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To: yendu bwam
You're not alone. So don't ever think you are.

Do I know how dishonest this is? Yes. I have a college degree in the field that creates this kind of lies and distortions. It's called public relations only because the Nazis used propaganda. I've been calling it for what it is all along and nobody wants to believe me. The basic morality of human nature is highly overrated.

We don't always get what we want - a life lesson learned the hard way. I don't want to have to go through all this either. I just think that fighting amongst ourselves does more harm than good.
45 posted on 09/19/2002 1:45:41 PM PDT by Desdemona
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To: Desdemona
I just think that fighting amongst ourselves does more harm than good.

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.

46 posted on 09/19/2002 1:48:55 PM PDT by yendu bwam
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To: yendu bwam
Yendu,you are correct about a lot of things but it is now time to be discerning.There is no excuse for the fact that after at least six months of being apprised of this sick situaton most of us have gone on to other things or just keep harping on the opprobriousness of it all.

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?

47 posted on 09/19/2002 3:22:23 PM PDT by saradippity
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To: saradippity
Wow, saradippity, what do I think? I think you're agenda is super great. You are completely right. Part of my anger comes from being so powerless in this situation. I really like the things you suggest. Am leaving on a Boy Scout campout tomorrow, and will be thinking deeply about your suggestions. I actually do have some ideas - though not sure if any of them might qualify as a number four. We'll see and we'll discuss them. Thanks for the positive and constructive ideas. It is what's needed right now.
48 posted on 09/19/2002 3:30:51 PM PDT by yendu bwam
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To: Incorrigible
Thanks, he's no better than the rest of the bums.....

Cover ups are no good.

So, he's pro life then has his subordinates abuse them..Nice isn't it?

The Son of Man is going to die as the Scriptures say he will. But how horrible it will be for that person who betrays the Son of Man. It would have been better for that person if he had never been born."
49 posted on 09/19/2002 7:35:37 PM PDT by Coleus
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To: Incorrigible
Matthew 18:5-11


But anyone who would entice one of these little ones, who believe in me, to sin; that person would be better off if a millstone were hung around his neck and he was thrown into the depths of the sea and drowned.
50 posted on 09/19/2002 8:30:05 PM PDT by Coleus
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To: AlguyA; ninenot
Here's the article I referred to in #16.
51 posted on 09/19/2002 8:38:07 PM PDT by ELS
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To: Incorrigible; Snuffington; CatoRenasci; AlguyA; Desdemona; frogandtoad; Cicero; ninenot; ...
Bishop Urges Catholics to Fight Back When Media Go Too Far on Scandal

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.

52 posted on 09/25/2002 8:13:57 PM PDT by ELS
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To: ELS; sinkspur; Salvation; Polycarp; yendu bwam
It is not over-the-top to presume that the media, in general, is NOT sympathetic to the Catholic Church; and it is legitimate to begin with the assumption that if the media can smear the Church, they will.

It is also clear that there is little discernment utilized by a number of people as to the difference between 'allegations' and 'proven offenses.'

If there are proven offenses, (including such offenses as obstruction of justice on the part of Bishops and/or their staffers) then hard time in jail is appropriate.

Until then, it's better to reserve judgment and let the investigations reach conclusions that are justified with evidence.
53 posted on 09/26/2002 7:53:00 AM PDT by ninenot
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To: ninenot
Until then, it's better to reserve judgment and let the investigations reach conclusions that are justified with evidence.

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.

54 posted on 09/26/2002 7:57:09 AM PDT by yendu bwam
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To: ELS
We all suspected as much but nice to see Bishop Jenky confirm it!
55 posted on 09/26/2002 8:04:50 AM PDT by Incorrigible
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To: ninenot
Precisely!
56 posted on 09/26/2002 9:01:25 AM PDT by ELS
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