Breaking News - Boston's Cardinal Law Offers His Resignation

Fox News | 12/12/02 | Fox News

[SuziQ]

Here's to hoping Boston gets somebody orthodox, conservative

Sorry, he just resigned. That has been one of Bernie Law's problems. He has ALWAYS been hated by the Boston Globe and the elitists in town for his conservative views. I'm sure that is one reason why this story has gotten so much press whereas stories about public school administrations doing the same thing Law did seem to have gotten a pass from the Globe.

What doesn't seem to have been covered in this story is the responsibility of the psychologists upon whom the Bishops relied for guidance in the problems with the offending (and offensive) priests. But the problem is that the Bishops let their dependence on the 'experts' trump their basic common sense and decency. Another problem with the complete dumping of this in Law's lap is that there were police and prosecuters in Boston who refused to bring charges against some of these priests because they were buddies of the men. I wonder why that hasn't been mentioned?

Please do NOT assume that I approve of what the Bishops did; I certainly do not! But the beginnings of all this were the professional opinions upon which decisions to accept those priests back into the Dioceses. This was compounded by the compassion that the Bishops had for their priests. Unfortunately, many didn't seem to extend that compassion to the victims. and for that they DO deserve the severe criticism they are receiving today.

[SuziQ]

And also those 58 priests who wrote that letter. They are lead by a dissident priest who was censured by Cardinal Law. Surprise, surprise.

Does any one know why this priest was censured? Could have been for good reason.

[Desdemona]

What doesn't seem to have been covered in this story is the responsibility of the psychologists upon whom the Bishops relied for guidance in the problems with the offending (and offensive) priests.

This has been bothering me, too. Without widespread acknowledgement of this little tidbit, I'm very afraid for the future.

[livius]

There was a murder of a pastor in Cleveland over the week-end, a seminarian who was being removed is the alleged perp

Yes, I read about that, and it is curious the way it disappeared after a couple of reports. Not strange that it disappeared from FR (because people most often tend to post only on whatever is most current), but that it disappeared from the press. I guess that's because the seminarian was gay, had been involved in "inappropriate" behavior with a teenage boy, and the pastor was orthodox. The press, as much as they love to criticize the Church and its clergy, have so much loyalty to the gay world that they can't even bring themselves to discuss this case.

That said, I don't think keeping Law around is helpful, simply because the press is never going to discuss the real problem. Move him out and get a real "hammer of the heretics" in there, and see what happens!

[sitetest]

Dear livius,

"I guess that's because the seminarian was gay, had been involved in "inappropriate" behavior with a teenage boy,..."

Has this been reported by reputable news sources, or is this speculation?


sitetest

[Desdemona]

Has this been reported by reputable news sources, or is this speculation?

I saw it the other day. I think an AP story and I believe Saradippity posted it. I'll have to look.

[Tadhg]

I agree. Phychologists all over the country gave poor advice to the Bishops about homosexuals who were "recovered" and were fit to go back to parishes. It did not create the problem, but it assited in spreading the problem.

[SoothingDave]

The rise of para-Church organizations is an ominous development which could easily lead to schism, but Law's behavior and decades of poor catechesis are to blame for this.

Don't forget decades of tiptoeing around in fear of a de jure schism, while allowing a de facto one to develop anyway.

SD

[anymouse]

The irony of that statement is too funny. :)

I presume Cardinal Law knows that his final judgement lays in greater hands than those carrying the pitchforks and torches to his doorstep.

Why such arrogance is tollerated in organized religion in a free society is a mystery to me. One would think that those that are supposed to be the earthly defenders of piety would not tolerate in their ranks such aborations from what they believe.

[IrishRainy]

Sorry but that is incorrect...Bishop O'Brien is NOT looking for an immunity deal. His lawyer said it but the bishop denied that he was seeking immunity over the weekend.

[Romulus]

I'll have to look.

Please ping me if you find it.

[xJones]

God help us all, it must be a tough liberal dilemma. Here's a real chance to attack the Catholic church but the majority of the sins committed were done by homosexuals, the liberals' pets. And this is in the archdiocese of Boston, where local voters would vote "for the divil himself" if he ran as a Democrat. Just look at Barny Franks and ask why Boston Catholics who vote Democratic are complaining. But a better Cardinal might have made a real differance.

[Desdemona]

From the thread "Seminarian arrested in death of priest". I hope you don't mind, sara.

I was up very early this morning to baby sit a grandaughter while my grandson had tubes put in his ears. I was watching NBC or Fox News. They said "it was reported that Father Gulas had disciplined the seminarian for an indiscretion with a teen age boy".I believe the seminarian was being removed,he was definitely leaving,or had left the parish that Father Gulas was pastoring.

...

13 posted on 12/10/2002 3:31 PM CST by saradippity [ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies | Report Abuse ]

[sitetest]

Thanks.

[livius]

When the event happened (Friday night, I think?), it was first reported that no motive was known. The next day, other priests in the rectory reported that the seminarian had just been told on Friday that he could not remain at the rectory, and in fact that he was going to be expelled from the program (a Franciscan seminary program that seemed to involve residence in rectories rather than a seminary). This was because of his "inappropriate actions" involving a teenage boy.

I saw this in the mainstream press, even in my local paper. And then the story just sort of disappeared. I'm going to "Google" for it now and see if I can turn it up.

[livius]

Correction, it happened on Saturday. Here is more info, this from Cleveland's CH. 5 news station:

"Daniel Montgomery, 37 (pictured, left), was charged Monday with aggravated murder and aggravated arson in the death of 68-year-old the Rev. William Gulas. Montgomery is believed to have acted alone in the murder, based on physical evidence and statements from witnesses, police said.


Montgomery moved from a Franciscan Brothers home in the Chicago neighborhood of Hyde Park to St. Stanislaus Church, in Cleveland, last August to train as a Franciscan brother. But he was told last month that his internship was over, police said.

The Cleveland internship was Montgomery's last step before final acceptance to the Franciscans, NBC5's Mary Ann Ahern reported.

Ahern said Gulas (pictured, right) may have been the one to tell Montgomery that his internship was over because of allegations of "inappropriate conduct with a young male parishioner." "

[sitetest]

Dear livius,

Thank you for this information. I followed the story for a few days, but never saw this information.

* sigh *

Why am I not surprised??

sitetest

[ninenot]

For a while. I suspect that VOTF will fade after a few years--IF and only IF the Churchmen act like MEN and toss the perps to the wolves.

Without the "lead issue" VOTF will become just another Call to Action bunch, aging and few.

[Aliska]

It's posted now further on down and it is my personal opinion that the priest is a Christian martyr, if I got the story straight. With the facts such as they are, it would be a delicate matter to have him elevated to sainthood. Oh well, he's a saint to me. I take my saints where I find them.

So far it is interesting that the scandalous conduct has been occurring primarily in English-speaking countries which may be neither here nor there. In English-speaking countries things have been easier to expose perhaps, although there was one case in Poland, one is Austria, can't think of any others offhand.