Replies

Actually, in all 3 cases the bishop did take action and disciplined the offending priests. The real question is, "What does this say about the diocese of Arlington when an assistant priest is sent to 3 consecutive parishes where the pastor is involved in sexual and financial immorality?"

By his actions, Bishop Loverde has admitted that all 3 pastors were guilty as charged. The case of the priest who married the parishioner has become a nationally-reported scandal. Even today, the ex-priest who married the guy's wife still has custody of the guy's kids.

If these situations were a small percentage, then what are the chances that a "straight" priest would be sent to live with 3 of them in a row? Let's say that 10% of pastors are engaging in homosexual pornography, stealing church funds, etc. Then the odds that Fr. Haley would be sent to 3 in a row equals 1 in a thousand. Such odds are not impossible, but must be considered highly improbable, to say the least.

Here's another scenario that's more in keeping with the facts: A straight-arrow priest finally gets fed up with looking the other way, and starts blowing the whistle on corruption. He finds (and conclusively documents) such corruption in EVERY parish to which he's sent. The fact that he is now living in a trailer park is evidence that there are no parishes to which he could be sent where he wouldn't encounter the same thing. The manner in which he has been treated indicates that the reports he received about the corruption going right to the Chancery office may be correct.

Remember also that the Diocese of Arlington is routinely held up as an example of one of the most conservative and best run diocese in the US.

Remember also that the Diocese of Arlington is routinely held up as an example of one of the most conservative and best run diocese in the US.

Good Lord, can this statement and the original story both be true?

Remember also that the Diocese of Arlington is routinely held up as an example of one of the most conservative and best run diocese in the US.

Yes, but Bishop Loverde, who took over recently, had nothing to do with that, if I remember correctly.