Murdered Catholic Priest Knew Too Much?

Catholic Online ^ | March 3, 2004 | Matt Abbott

[NYer]

The Rev. Alfred J. Kunz was a priest known and consulted by many in the Catholic Church. He was a canon lawyer, meaning he had thorough expertise in the laws of the Church -the Code of Canon Law, as it is known. He also was a staunch defender of orthodoxy, not much liked by Catholic liberals (at least, those who actually knew of him), and a thorn in the side to those who desire to see authentic Christianity wiped off the face of the earth.

In March of 1998, Fr. Kunz was found murdered. Brutally murdered. And his murder remains unsolved. For a little background of the case, I give you the following text, provided by Detective Kevin Hughes of the Dane County Sheriff's Office:

"On March 4, 1998, at 7:00 a.m., the body of Fr. Alfred J. Kunz, DOB 4/15/30, was found in the hallway of St. Michael School. The school is in the Village of Dane, population approximately 600, located in rural Dane County 5 miles northwest of Madison, Wis., the state capital.

"Fr. Kunz was the victim of a homicide. His throat was cut with an edged weapon severing the carotid artery. He died as a result of blood loss. The body was discovered by a teacher arriving at the school and was found lying in the hallway near the door to the father's living quarters in the school. All the doors to the school were locked and there was no sign of forced entry.

"Fr. Kunz was a traditional Roman Catholic priest, who had served at St. Michael Church for 32 years. He had strong traditional orthodox Roman Catholic views that were evidenced by the fact that he conducted Latin Masses as well as English Masses. He was an expert in canon law, the law of the Church, and as such many people nationwide consulted with him.

"On the night prior to the homicide, Fr. Kunz participated in the taping of a religious radio talk program, which was to be aired at a later date. After the taping, at 10:00 p.m., he was dropped off at St. Michael Church/school by another priest. Subsequent to that, at about 10:30 p.m., he had a phone conversation with another priest.

"Investigators believe the killer is someone that Fr. Kunz knew and is familiar with the village and St. Michael's. Fr. Kunz was probably not fearful of the killer. The attack was cowardly, unprovoked, and unexpected. The particular motive is unknown but may be related to jealousy, revenge, betrayal, or any other issue which was personal to the killer...."

There are, of course, at least a few theories about who, or what, might have been behind Kunz's murder. The prominent theory is that Kunz was killed because he "knew too much." About what? About the sexual misconduct of some men of the cloth. Men who were able to cover up their misdeeds for years, even decades. Men who formed the underbelly of the American church.

A significant aspect of that underbelly is the homosexual network, a network that has existed for a long time but is seldom if ever discussed in politically correct circles. Actively homosexual priests who seek to destroy the Church from within. This is the homosexual network. "Never underestimate the power of this network," Kunz reportedly once told a close associate.

Kunz was an advisor to the Illinois-based Roman Catholic Faithful (RCF), headed by lay Catholic activist Stephen Brady. RCF investigated the misdeeds of the now-former bishop of Springfield, Ill., Daniel Ryan. (For more information about RCF's work, visit www.rcf.org.)

The police are, understandably, very tight-lipped about the status of their investigation into the Kunz homicide. But, to my knowledge, the investigation continues. In fact, press reports have stated that the police have interviewed over 2,000 people during the course of their ongoing investigation.

So if and when the case is finally solved, we'll know for sure. We'll know the full story. But, until then, all we have is speculation. Educated speculation, that is. And, I would submit, a little educated speculation - coupled with a lot of prayer - can go a long way.

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

Because our Church, like our government has been infiltrated and compromised by evil people. 16 posted on 03/04/2004 7:58:17 AM PST by Barnacle

Indeed. I can confirm that from direct personal experience.

[johnb2004]

I follow the RCF website. I agree with you.

The Vatican only acts against prelates when confronted with bad publicity--or when the individuals involved are traditionalists.

It seems that way to me.

[Barnacle]

I'll second that.

[PeterdeVerona]

Don't be silly, the Vatican does investigate things. But, they usually have to do thing secretly. There aren't any papal army's around to just send where ever they fell it's necessary. I can't prove it, but I now people who have been secretly reporting to the Vatican on these things. One of them whom I knew (Or rather my mom knew) was a very famous Jesuit theologian who died recently. But I can't say more than that, since some of his former colleges didn't know what he was really doing, or know that he was frequently make secret trips to Rome after talking with them.

[Desdemona]

I wonder...this being the second advisor to RCF that's turned up dead and the first's death was investigated by the FBI, what are the chances that that's where the autopsy report went?

I've been watching too much Law & Order myself. It's only on 24 hours a day.

[Siobhan]

From what my son tells me, we can surmise that an investigation is underway. It may also mean that very quietly a federal agency is involved. If there is anything linking Fr. Minkler to Fr. Kunz in the investigation I wonder if that triggers the FBI's involvement.

[Barnacle]

I believe the FBI gets involved only in cases involving federal crimes or interstate criminal activity. There may be evidence that this case qualifies.

(Please correct me if this speculation is wrong.)

[Siobhan]

I see we are thinking in the same vein.

[TheSpottedOwl]

Maybe they know something the rest of us don't? I sure hope they clear up both deaths.

Sometimes reality is stranger than fiction.

[Desdemona]

See, with everything being so quiet, and the RCF connection, it just seems like there's something else going on.

Another dead priest's death WAS investigated with the FBI, that's why I'm wondering if they're looking at this.

[Deo volente]

You know, I can't recall a single liberal priest who has died in mysterious and unexplained circumstances. Not a single one.

Odd, isn't it?

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

From what my son tells me, we can surmise that an investigation is underway. It may also mean that very quietly a federal agency is involved. If there is anything linking Fr. Minkler to Fr. Kunz in the investigation I wonder if that triggers the FBI's involvement. 26 posted on 03/04/2004 8:52:37 AM PST by Siobhan

Excellent question. The Church really should have its own criminal investigation unit at this point. Various dioceses have had to pay out enough in settlements, it's absurd.

With the possibility of more than one priest involved with reporting on sexual abuse being murdered, it would logically follow that law enforcement authorities should look into every possible angle. With the abusers themselves, people need to get past thinking about them as "Catholic priests" and face the fact that we may be dealing with a very anti-Catholic outside criminal element which, for whatever bizarre reasons, chooses to hide in the Church. That's disturbing, but it's a real consideration.

[NeoCaveman]

Note to priests working with Stephen Brady: Beware of the Lavender Mafia.

Now we know why they call it a mafia.

[Desdemona]

It would be nice to have a Vatican "crimes unit," but would they have the jurisdiction and power to tap phone lines? Trace e-mail? Subpoena phone records?

We're talking about murder. In canon law, does church law supersede local law for punishment of this crime? I seriously suspect this might be connected to maybe an investigation of on-line homosexual porn or something similar. That being the case, any Vatican "crimes unit" would have a rough time.

[Barnacle]

You know, I can't recall a single liberal priest who has died in mysterious and unexplained circumstances.

I've heard of several that have been explained - AIDS.

[ultima ratio]

No, the silly one is yourself if you believe this. How many years did it take to crack down on FSSP? --How does around two weeks grab you? It took all of that long to exert discipline on a whole order of priests and its seminary when the principles are devout traditionalists. So much for investigations and acting slowly.

The RCF waited YEARS for the Vatican to act on the Springfield matter. In that time, in addition to his own corruption, the bishop had introduced in his parochial schools explicit sex education in even the lowest grades, including specifics on sado-masochism and oral sex. The RCF hand-delivered a dossier of evidence of sexual abuse and corruption to the Vatican and was in continual contact through Cardinal George who assured RCF action would be taken. Nothing happened. So RCF went public.

Ultimately, the proof is this: HOW MANY BISHOPS HAVE EVER BEEN FIRED IN OVER TWENTY YEARS OF WORLD-WIDE CORRUPTION AND MALFEASANCE? Answer to date: none. Second question: What's wrong with this picture?

But even if we grant for the sake of argument your contention that the Vatican secretly investigates these matters. You would suppose that after twenty some-odd years of absolute failure, some new structure would be put in place to deal with the rising tide of scandals here and abroad. Tens of thousands--perhaps hundreds of thousands around the world--of young kids have been sexually assaulted by clerics--yet nothing has happened for two-and-a-half decades to change the picture. It is business as usual. This is unacceptable. We don't need a Pontiff who organizes youth rallies and prays with Buddhist monks, we need someone who protects his Church from encompassing evils and acts with dispatch against them.

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

Good point. They do crack down (when they want to). Why don't they want to crackdown on liberal dissenters and the homosexual mafia in the Church? That's the problem. What's going on?

[Barnacle]

The Church really should have its own criminal investigation unit at this point. Various dioceses have had to pay out enough in settlements, it's absurd.

For Immediate Release

November 7, 2002 Washington D.C.

FBI National Press Office

(202)324-3691

FBI Director Robert S. Mueller, III, today announced that Executive Assistant Director Kathleen L. McChesney is retiring from the FBI after 24 years as a Special Agent to accept a position with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops...

http://www.fbi.gov/pressrel/pressrel02/110702b.htm

[Desdemona]

Why don't they want to crackdown on liberal dissenters and the homosexual mafia in the Church? That's the problem. What's going on?

They'll end up dead. The lavendar mafia has no shame, no morals and no compunction about removing obstacles (orthodox priests investigating them). I think the pope is well aware of this and has warned people not to push too hard, least they end up dead, too. It would be better to bring the whole cabal down at once and if the "undercover agents" keep getting themselves killed, it's not going to happen.

[ninenot]

advisors to RCF

Hanging around with the "pizza man" may be fatal.