Posted on 02/01/2011 3:24:15 PM PST by steve86
Note from Editor: When asked if Fr. Thomas Euteneuer had permission to release a statement, the diocese of Palm Beach informed LifeSiteNews that the diocese was aware that Fr. Euteneuer may release publicly a statement regarding the circumstances of his departure from ministry. Bishop Gerald Barbarito believes it best given the present circumstances that Fr. Tom Euteneuer should himself disclose the details of his case. The bishop said he is very happy to hear that Fr. Euteneuer is expressing contrition in this statement.
The following is the complete text of Fr. Euteneuer’s statement.
Statement of Fr. Thomas Euteneuer: setting the record straight
January 31, 2011
It is with great sadness, but also with a certain measure of relief, that I can now respond to the many inquiries about my departure as president of Human Life International (HLI) at the end of August 2010. It has been painful for me to remain silent in light of the ongoing speculation, particularly when much of it assigned blame to those who were, in fact, blameless. I am thankful to be able to set the record straight so that speculation can stop and blame can be placed right where it belongs - with me.
The circumstances that led to my departure from HLI were related exclusively to my own decisions and conduct within the ministry of exorcism that I carried out independently from my responsibilities at HLI. The vast majority of my decisions and conduct, both personally and in this ministry, were morally sound and consistent with all standards of pastoral care of persons. Moreover, they were all motivated exclusively by my desire to give priestly assistance to people in great spiritual distress. I must acknowledge, however, that one particularly complex situation clouded my judgment and led me to imprudent decisions with harmful consequences, the worst of which was violating the boundaries of chastity with an adult female who was under my spiritual care.
I take full responsibility for my own poor judgment, my weakness and my sinful conduct that resulted from it. I offer no excuse for my professional or moral failures, nor do I shift the blame to anyone else. I state without reserve that I am deeply sorry for my actions. I have personally apologized, where possible, to anyone I have harmed. I am saddened beyond words for my fall, not only because of the harm done to my priesthood and my family, but also because of the harm done to all others who are affected, to the faith of those who placed so much trust in me and our Church, and to the pro-life movement so populated with heroic, faithful people. I must face and make amends for the disappointment I have caused. I have, of course, asked for God’s forgiveness and I have confidence in his boundless mercy. I am now grateful to be able to publicly ask for all of yours as well.
As to my departure from HLI, Church officials are completely without blame, having dealt in a timely and appropriate manner with a crisis that was not of their making. I offer this statement as a matter of justice to vindicate Church officials who have been unjustly criticized by those writing and speaking in ignorance of the facts.
While I would much prefer to allow this public act of contrition to stand alone, I regret having to address the malicious falsehoods that were published this past week on various internet sites. I can only say that I am shocked to the depths of my being at the malicious efforts by supposedly faithful Catholics to destroy a priest who has served the Church faithfully for 22 years. The campaigners have made intolerable attempts to contact my family, to defame innocent co-workers and even to solicit and to persuade others with whom I have prayed that they are victims despite their unequivocal statements to the contrary. Some have even claimed falsely and maliciously that there is a possessed person living in my family’s home. No one should have to endure such malevolence or such treatment of innocent family members. Despite the rhetoric of justice and truth-seeking, the sinful campaign has not made one single positive contribution to the resolution of this difficult situation that has already been handled appropriately by Church authorities for nearly six months.
While I would otherwise willingly suffer calumnies in silence to atone for my sins, and knowing how pointless it is to respond to every crackpot with a website, I cannot remain silent when such falsehoods threaten to damage the Church, the priesthood, and other innocent persons and organizations that are or have been linked to me. I therefore affirm and will never deviate from my affirmation that the following are true:
•My violations of chastity were limited to one person only, an adult woman;
•The violations of chastity happened due to human weakness but did not involve the sexual act;
•The accusation that I “targeted” vulnerable women or otherwise sought them out for spiritual direction is utterly false and a serious defamation of my character and ministry;
•With rare exceptions, my exorcism/prayer ministry was always conducted with prayer helpers (third parties) present; situations where prayer or pastoral care occurred without helpers present were exceptional situations where I believed it was necessary for me to act quickly in order to help the afflicted person; while not proper protocol, these departures from the norm were never done with a motive to be alone with vulnerable women;
•I repudiate any allegations of financial impropriety in conducting my prayer/exorcism ministry; I never, under any circumstances, solicited money for the ministry other than travel-related reimbursements, nor did I use HLI donor funds to carry out this work; any gifts offered to me were unsolicited and only accepted so as not to offend the giver and in most cases immediately given to those more needy than myself;
•I have no knowledge of any persons who received any financial settlement in this matter, nor have I asked for that to be given.
I pray that my two decades of faithful priestly ministry and my efforts in the defense of life will be seen in the light of the good fruits they have produced and not denigrated because of my moments of weakness in a most challenging ministry. I also wish to state that I have never entertained even the slightest thought of leaving the holy priesthood or the Roman Catholic Church as a result of my failings. Currently I am under obedience to my bishop who has allowed me to make this statement and in whose hands I leave all questions of continuing priestly ministry. I conclude with an expression of deepest gratitude for the prayers of the many generous supporters of my priesthood and of the prolife movement.
This is truly heartbreaking to hear about!
I will be praying for him.
I went to see Father Corapi speak just recently and he said just that. “Don't put me up on a pedestal.”
He went on to explain that he still has never gotten used to people coming up to him in awe and the celebrity aspect of his ministry. He is a very humble person and does what he can to keep it that way.
I will pray that Father Corapi isn't attacked by the Devil in the same way that Father E. was attacked. Man in general is weak by nature. Even the best priests can succumb to temptation.
God help them all, and may God help Father E.!
Fr. Tom is repentant.
Fr. Cutie is unrepentant, arrogant ... and now protestant.
He is a good looking fellow and has a positive spirit. Doing exorcisms cannot be an easy road to hoe either.
He didn’t target women. That one’s a real crock.
I tire of Hannity giving our adversaries so much air time on tv and radio. He's already practicing the fairness doctrine.
Stack up the years he kept his vows vs. the new revelations.
I repeated St. Michael’s Prayer before entering my relative’s nursing home. It was the only way I could go in there. Florida has terrible nursing homes and pricey but so so assisted living places.
Hannity is such a big baby...He was whining about Father on his Feb 2nd show. Father was merely applying Church teaching. Hannity needs to practice humility...and take what Father told him to heart...
Really childish...
True. And the failure is on the part of the big-headed individual, but in the case of this man, the big-headedness was fostered and fed by many on this site. (Not you).
(BTW, now that we are setting the record straight, is it now okay to read Harry Potter?)
From what I've heard, Hannity just couldn't help himself on his show tonight (2/2).
Only those without a sin should cast a stone.
He’s repented. He deserves redemption.
And I’m just glad he likes women. Not boys, men, or little girls.
I don’t know ... could reading Harry Potter cause us to be unfaithful to our spouses?
That’s too bad. If a person expected others to grow up at some point, that person would be pretty disappointed.
Oh, I’m well aware that there are religious groupies. They really create problems when they start accusing priests of indiscretions that occurred only in their minds.
Well, Fr. Tom WAS involved in doing exorcisms, so Satan has a direct reason to go after him, in every way possible.
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