Priest Faces Removal from Arlington Diocese

The Washington Times ^ | Nov 13, 2002 | George Archibald

[Maximilian]

The Roman Catholic bishop of Arlington has told a local priest that he will be permanently suspended from the diocese for obeying a subpoena to testify in a civil lawsuit about another priest's adultery with a parishioner's wife.

Bishop Paul S. Loverde informed the Rev. James R. Haley in an Oct. 28 formal notice that he is being removed for violating a gag order a year ago, which barred him from disclosing wrongdoing by priests in order "to avoid scandal, to maintain ecclesiastical discipline and to protect the reputation and privacy of both the faithful and priests of this diocese."

[Maximilian]

Here is a follow-up piece to the article that generated quite a bit of discussion over the last few days. Bishop Loverde has proceeded to suspend Fr. Haley, the priest who had uncovered sexual and financial corruption in 3 consecutive parishes to which he was assigned.

It is noteworthy that Loverde took this action "to remove Father Haley permanently without any judicial proceeding within the church." Being heterosexual and honest is now such a crime that the accused are not even allowed normal procedures.

On the same day that the bishops are voting down the "one strike" policy, Loverde is instituting a "one strike" policy of his own for any priests who dare to speak out against the corruption in his diocese, even when they are obeying a court-ordered subpoena.

[yendu bwam]

It is noteworthy that Loverde took this action "to remove Father Haley permanently without any judicial proceeding within the church." Being heterosexual and honest is now such a crime that the accused are not even allowed normal procedures. On the same day that the bishops are voting down the "one strike" policy, Loverde is instituting a "one strike" policy of his own for any priests who dare to speak out against the corruption in his diocese, even when they are obeying a court-ordered subpoena.

My guess is that rampant homosexual activity will continue in the priesthood for many years to come, that the American bishops will totally ignore the Vatican's coming ban on homosexual priests, and that most parents will NEVER trust a priest to be alone with their kids (especially their sons) again.

[Aquinasfan]

It is noteworthy that Loverde took this action "to remove Father Haley permanently without any judicial proceeding within the church."

Anyone who subverts canonical procedure should be suspect.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

The head guy in Rome can't bring himself to do anything against any bishop who obstructs justice, covers up crimes, intimidates victims and transfers pederasts, the conservative RCs on this board whimper and wring their hands for relief and divine guidance from the same hierarchy which they are cowed by and submissive to, the hierarchs whimper that they have to safeguard the "rights" of priests, complete with due process and statutes of limitation, and some dioceses pay hundreds of thousands to priests who are relieved from their duties because of molestation. Meanwhile, they can hammer a guy who dares to speak the truth in very short order.

Y'all have been sold a bill of goods.

[Siobhan]

On the same day that the bishops are voting down the "one strike" policy, Loverde is instituting a "one strike" policy of his own for any priests who dare to speak out against the corruption in his diocese, even when they are obeying a court-ordered subpoena.

Loverde is a law unto himself. I am not certain what action if any the laity can take under the new Code of Canon Law but there must be some recourse for Fr. Haley.

[Maximilian]

Here is the previous article which gave the details of the situations Fr. Haley had encountered:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/787395/posts

Here's an article from the Washington Post which tells the whole story of the situation in Manassas, where Fr. Haley was Asst Pastor and was called to testify in the trial:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A53256-2002Aug23?language=printer

[Siobhan]

First, what on earth is a Y'all?

Second, you can now return to the Dark Side of the Force.

[Seruzawa]

A smart detective would begin to inpect the past of a "child molester protector" very closely.

He is not acting to "avoid scandal, to maintain ecclesiastical discipline and to protect the reputation and privacy of both the faithful and priests of this diocese." What he is doing will not achieve those goals.

What he is really doing is protecting criminals. BETTER CHECK THIS GUY OUT REAL CLOSELY.

The priest/penitent does not apply to the bishop's relation to the priests under his jurisdiction. I say investigate this guy for obstruction of justice AT LEAST.

[Antoninus]

Bishop Paul S. Loverde informed the Rev. James R. Haley in an Oct. 28 formal notice that he is being removed for violating a gag order a year ago, which barred him from disclosing wrongdoing by priests in order "to avoid scandal, to maintain ecclesiastical discipline and to protect the reputation and privacy of both the faithful and priests of this diocese." The action prompted a national Catholic watchdog group to call for a local investigation of the bishop for intimidation of a witness in a civil proceeding.

If he's really being removed because he testified against an abusive priest, Bishop Loverde may require a Freeping.

"[The] public availability of extremely scandalous and defamatory material in his deposition warrants immediate action."

If only they were as tough on abusive and homosexual priests as they are on whistle-blowers...

The bishop said he had consulted with experts in canon law and "the field of psychology, and have also sought fraternal advice from other diocesan bishops" before taking the step to remove Father Haley permanently without any judicial proceeding within the church.

Uh oh. "Psychologists"? There's a giant red flag... I wonder what other diocesan bishops he consulted? Mahoney? Law? McCormick? Hubbard? Clark?

This stinks to high heaven. I hope Catholics in the Arlington diocese are ready to put some heat on Bishop Loverde. Sounds like he needs it.

[Gerish]

My prayers go out to Father Haley for speaking out - at least we know he has a conscious.

This Bishop has pulled a "reward the sin, punish the truth" attack here. This just reinfoces my faith so much more in our morally corrupt American Bishops!

[nina0113]

Here's a link to Fr. Haley's deposition:

http://www.rcf.org/docs/loverde/deposition_menu.htm

I read the whole thing - it's pretty sickening.

[ELS]

The bishop said he had consulted with experts in canon law and "the field of psychology, and have also sought fraternal advice from other diocesan bishops" before taking the step to remove Father Haley permanently without any judicial proceeding within the church.

Gee, the bishop didn't pray to help discern a course of action. He sounds more like a CEO than a shepherd of souls.

[RobbyS]

Father Haley has the right of appeal to the same sort of tribunal that is being set up now. He would face the same sort of c___ if he were a whistle-blower in the federal civil service.

[RobbyS]

He is a CEO who is larning hard lessons. Father Haley will hire a lawyer to sue under civil law for failure to deny him due process under "company policy." The abuse of discretion by bishops undermines the Church's ability to act independently.

[RobbyS]

Y'all is second place plural in proper English--that being English as spoken in the South.

[Unam Sanctam]

What a pathetic bunch of goons are our bishops! Have they totally forgotten about their roles as successors of the apostles? They do anything to cover up clerical child abuse and sexual misconduct and breach of vows by priests, and then this bishop throws the book at a good faith whistleblower on clerical misconduct. Holy Spirit, please come quickly! We need you!

[malakhi]

Y'all is second place plural in proper English--that being English as spoken in the South.

Yep. But I thought the preferred placement of the apostrophe was ya'll.

[RobbyS]

Nope.

[Desdemona]

Depending on where you live, you're both right.