Posted on 05/02/2002 7:48:10 AM PDT by history_matters
ATLANTIC CITY - Three years before his death in 2001, a priest said he wanted to end "the silence of the decades" regarding alleged sexual abuse by his colleagues in the Camden Diocese.
So Monsignor Salvatore J. Adamo, then 78, went to the office of an attorney who had filed a class-action suit on behalf of victims and gave an affidavit in which he said the diocese promoted homosexual priests and ignored allegations of abuse to avoid moral responsibility and financial liability.
He said the late Bishop George Guilfoyle - who he said was known as "the Queen of the Fairies" - put his lovers in high positions in the diocese.
"As the years of my earthly journey are ebbing, I am compelled to speak the truth as to the germination of tragic incidents of pedophilia and sexual abuse that is known to have become incessantly rampant within the Diocese of Camden throughout the decades," Adamo said.
"I share years of personal knowledge and observations as a priest of the Diocese of Camden and servant of the Lord in rendering my opinion. I do so not to disgrace anyone or anyone's memory. I do so in the interests of disclosing the truth, to the extent that I know it, and in the interests of vindicating the victims of abuse," Adamo said.
The suit, which is being litigated in Superior Court, was filed in 1994 by 18 people who say they were molested by priests. It accused the diocese of covering up the abuse and in at least one case, transferring an accused priest to a new parish as a show of faith in his innocence.
Among the defendant priests is retired Monsignor Philip Rigney, 85, who allegedly molested two altar boy brothers for years.
Adamo's 1998 affidavit contains no details of firsthand knowledge of the alleged abuse and was barred from being admitted as testimony in the case.
It does appear in court documents.
"It is full of unsubstantiated claims and untruths," said Andrew Walton, a diocesan spokesman. Adamo was an "angry, bitter man" who had lingering resentment over having been passed up for promotions, Walton said.
Adamo served as executive editor of the diocese's weekly newspaper - the Catholic Star Herald - before being fired by Guilfoyle in 1977. He left the priesthood in 1991. He died in January 2001 of pneumonia.
According to his affidavit:
* Once Guilfoyle became bishop, there was a noticeable change in regard to "sexual expression in the Diocese. ... Guilfoyle's sexual preference was apparent. [He] came to be referred to as the 'Queen of the Fairies.' He was ... prone to promote his alleged male 'lovers.'"
* His "spiritual adviser" was the Rev. Patrick Weaver, an alleged pedophile who Adamo said was protected by the diocese "to avoid scandal and to cover up the record in Rome."
* Rigney served as Guilfoyle's "pimp," using his position as director of vocations for the diocese to fill vacancies with "priests having a homosexual propensity."
* Guilfoyle's successor, Bishop James T. McHugh, coerced Adamo into remaining silent on the topic, threatening to remove him as pastor of St. Vincent Palloti parish in Haddon Township and withhold pension money.
Walton would not comment Tuesday on the Adamo affidavit's allegations specifically, but disputed the assertion that McHugh tried to silence Adamo.
"Bishop McHugh wrote to him to insist that he stop writing about some of these issues because he so consistently and repeatedly misrepresented and mischaracterized the church's position on a whole range of issues," he said.
Walton noted that after Guilfoyle died in 1991, Adamo praised him as a gentleman and a model Christian in a newspaper column.
"Bishop Guilfoyle goes into eternity with the sign of the cross etched on his soul. He deserved to be loved more than he was," Adamo wrote in the column.
Rigney could not be reached for comment. A woman who answered the telephone at his home in Palm Beach County, Fla., hung up.
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Exactly. I do agree that more restraint is needed, especially avoiding personal attacks. I also would hope people would not use the abuse button tactically against people with opposing views.
Personally, I have appreciated the dialogues and have built some friendships. I have been misunderstood by others. But that is very American -- the essence of what attracted me to FR.
Given the fact that some aspects of the sex abuse situation in the church are related to homosexual subculture and the politics of the gay rights movement, the scandal story does relate to other issues active on the American political scene. While it is certainly likely that anti-Catholic bias of elements of the big media has played a role in the way the story has been spun by spin doctors, that is not the only reason why this has been a front-page item in major newspapers. The story raises issues of how we think about religion, sexuality, and institutional power. All three of these areas will continue to stimulate lively and spirited discussion in American society. Whatever damage may result, you can bet in the next national election candidates from both major parties will court Catholic voters in their efforts to proceed to high office. Whether anyone will attempt to exploit the current difficulties of the church for short-term political gain remains to be seen.
The links posted by various Catholics on FR threads have been informative and interesting. They have done some good in clarifying the dramatic distinction between conservative, orthodox Catholics and the misguided lunacy of some of our Church's nominal leaders in this country. In a free society, free discussion and debate, even on religious topics, remains one of the last bulwarks against tyranny. May it always be so.
God Bless.
America is OUR National Baby. We CONCEIVED the very idea of, "America".
The Right Calvinist Attitude towards the nation of America is as a ferocious motherly Lion towards her beloved cub.
It is inconceivable to American Calvinists to discuss "American Politics" under any other conception.
Priest's affidavit accuses late bishop
Thread theme:
Homosexual chickenhawking in the priesthood.
Conservative Activism mandated by such a NEWS item: Get conservative Catholics active and help them fight the rot by political, religious, and other forms of conservative activism and media discussion and debate in the culture at large!
Discussion regarding this thread in the Religion Forum Ghetto?
Calvinism conceived the very idea of such a thing as, "America". She is Our Baby. More than any other Creed, she is our charge, our responsibility, before the judgments of a Holy God. WE are responsible for this Ship of State. Her Sins will be held against OUR Presbytery, if we fail.
The very fact that you might disagree with this statement, elucidates the virtue of the Religion Forum.
I rest my case.
Banishing these threads to this Religion Forum Ghetto where cretins like OP refuse to look beyond their own theological construct nose as to the larger ramifications and necessity of grass roots activism is the essence of my frustration.
Call it self centered pouting. I don't give a damn what you call it.
You know the point I'm making and why I'm making it.
Bump in agreement from another "tin ear", "no vocal range" participant :)
I'm just happy Free Republic and you guys are all here. I don't care if it's in the ghetto or front page.
Judgment begins in the House of the Lord.
If I am Right therein... then you're Wrong.
I won't even call you a "cretin" in making that observation.
OP
You know the point I'm making and why I'm making it.
Yeah, I know the point you're making. And you've made it.
You'll have to decide what to do next. This is NOT worth leaving Free Republic over.
Actually, France was the first country founded on Catholicism--born in 496, and known thereafter as the "eldest daughter" of the church. Rome has a spiritual duty toward France as well.
God Bless,
EODGUY
Actually, France was the first country founded on Catholicism--born in 496, and known thereafter as the "eldest daughter" of the church. Rome has a spiritual duty toward France as well.
Yup.
That's my point.
Me too! I think I might have lost it in the last few months if not for the Catholic FReepers here - it mattered not to me whether I went to the ghetto or the breaking news section when I felt like I was in Hell.
I'm sure I'm missing the larger point, but that is not new for me.
And here we see the root cause.
Please, just one more question:
1)How many of the chronic abusers and those who caused the most headaches were Roman Catholic?
2)How many were anti-Catholic fundamentalist bashers?
3) Of all those banned in the last 12 months for abuse on Religious Threads, how many were Catholics defending our Faith?
4)How many were anti-Catholics attacking our Faith?
It would be interesting to see the overall numbers. But from my observations over the last 10 months, I already know the answer.
Final Question:
5)When the problem is obviously the anti-Catholic bigots, why is it the Catholics who must suffer by being refused the opportunity to engage freely in conservative activism in the News Forum?
I know why these threads are moved.
Its not because of Catholic behavior. Its because of anti-Catholic behavior (and I'm sure the abuse button pushing caused by such anti-Catholic behavior.)
I realize you cannot come out and admit this, Jim. But it is obviously the reason you posted that thread in January, A word of caution regarding the bashing of Mormons, Catholics, Jews, anyone at all on Free Repub
But such has it always been. The innocent suffer because of the sins of the wicked.
I know your hands are tied by the anti-Catholics here, Jim. I know its easier to just eliminate the problem.
But please persevere in attempting to do the right thing, even in the face of difficulties that arise from the ignorance and hatred of some FReepers.
Try to be even handed and just regarding the placement of these threads, and return to placing justice ahead of the easy route.
TOTAL agreement!!
However, as long as the Moderators continue moving Religious Threads over to the Religion Forum, I am happy to debate them here. For America to be Reformed, let the Church first be Reformed; and then let her present "Political America" with an Edwardsian-Whitfieldian united Front.
And how many anti-Calvinists attack our Faith, knowing full well that they won't be Banned, because CALVINISTS DO NOT HIT THE ABUSE BUTTON? (Knowing ourselves competent to suffer any "bashing", we refuse to squelch Free Speech?)
I agreed with your point.
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