Seven States Will Investigate Catholic Records on Abuse



Pennsylvania's giant revelation about sexual abuse by Catholic clergy may be only the start of digging into this issue. Seven state Attorney Generals have said in one way or another they do not trust their state's Catholic hierarchy to honestly report what has happened and are in the process of obtaining records which up to now have been kept under wraps.

This means news about hiding abusive priests may be in the news for a long time to come. I'm sure devout Catholics have been hoping this issue will be put to rest soon. We'll see if it is or not.

While the priests I have known personally have been honest and wonderful people, that is not something we can say about the Catholic hierarchy. I've mentioned here several times the efforts of Timothy Dolan when he was a Bishop in Milwaukee. He tried to hide the Diocese money in an obscure cemetery trust fund. A judge put a stop to his scheme.

It is becoming increasingly clear that the practice of moving priests accused of child abuse around from parish to parish was a common practice. Perhaps the misguided notion that priests would reveal this is confession was conventional wisdom. Or, perhaps it was believed that priests who promised not to do it anymore was enough to put them a the same environment over and over again.

Apparently several Attorney Generals are just as suspicious about the honesty of Catholic Bishops as I am. Since they have been engaged in dishonest behavior in the past why think they will not in the future?

Attorney Generals running for office on platforms of protecting children from abusive priests seems like a smart idea.

Comments

  1. Matt NoahOctober 15, 2018 at 7:53 PM

    Short of violating the sacredness of the confessional, most records of an organization should be subject to subpoena if a crime is suspected. But some would grant the government far-reaching powers which are not warranted. We don't want the feds or a county states attorney to be able to raid the offices of the Fargo Diocese, Microsoft, Sanford Health, NDSU or Border States Electric on a whim.

    You mention "common practice" without providing any proof of your claim. I believe it was and is uncommon. But I do believe it is going on enough to be a canary in the coal mine for prosecutors to be more bold in launching investigations. But then I think Antifa, public schools, universities and other institutions have problems.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jon LindgrenOctober 16, 2018 at 6:20 AM

      Matt--"But then I think Antifa, public schools, universities and other institutions have problems."

      That's the official line apparently. "We in the Catholic Church are the world's moral leader. Our clergy authority was passed down directly from Jesus. But, when we abuse children, it's OK because ordinary people do that. Wait, we're supposed to be extraordinary. But no, we're extraordinary only when judging the sins of others, that's what we're especially good at."

      Delete
    2. Matt NoahOctober 16, 2018 at 9:02 AM

      Touchy even when our opinions agree. I thought you would be gracious.

      Delete
  2. JinxOctober 15, 2018 at 10:14 PM

    I am much more concerned about the violation of children by priests and the resulting cover up executed by archbishops, bishops, Cardinals and he vatican. The church as a corporate business is as corrupt as hell.

    ReplyDelete

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