Clergy abuse cover up alive and well - Media apathetic says Catholic activist group
January 22, 2003
By Toby Westerman
Copyright 2003 International News Analysis Today
www.inatoday.com
A nationally known Catholic activist group has lashed out against the American Catholic hierarchy, charging that most bishops remain privately hostile to the concerns of clergy abuse victims, while publicly issuing statements of concern.
The U.S. news media also comes under fire, accused of ignoring
reports that American Catholic bishops do not follow
their own guidelines on clergy abuse, adopted in Dallas,
Texas, in June, 2002.
The Ad Hoc Committee for the Prevention of Clergy Sex Abuse made the statements in a recent interview with International News Analysis Today.com. The Ad Hoc Committee advocates "redirected giving" - diverting funds from errant Churchmen to more worthy charities - as a method of compelling greater cooperation from the hierarchy on the issue of clerical abuse.
Despite official pronouncements in Dallas, numerous Catholic dioceses still employ the "covenant of silence," an agreement that requires the victims of clerical abuse to remain silent concerning details of settlements reached with Church officials, according to Michael Tario, head of the Ad Hoc Committee.
"We know these 'covenants' are still being used, it's a lie if the bishops conference says they're not - it's the 'big lie,' and the press is not calling them on it," Tario said.
The term "big lie" refers to a propaganda method used in Nazi Germany, in which an otherwise unbelievable falsehood becomes publicly acceptable through constant repetition of the falsehood.
Tario specifically questioned statements from the Archdiocese of Chicago indicating that that the "covenants" are not currently used, and that no diocesan priest has been accused of abuse in the past 10 years.
"We know this is false -- we know of victims and the use of enforced silence, " Tario declared.
Tario is demanding that the "covenant of silence" be eliminated. He and the Ad Hoc Committee are also seeking public access to files on clerical abusers, release of all victims and their families currently under "covenants of silence," and public access to Archdiocesan financial records.
Tario also charges that a "combine" of Archdiocesan officials and certain law enforcement personnel ensure that no Archdiocesan priest is prosecuted for abuse.
Tario made reference to an instance in which a reputed priest-abuser eluded justice in Illinois, only to come to justice at the hands of a small-town police department and prosecutor in Wisconsin.
The head of the Archdiocese of Chicago - as well as "prince of the Church" and one of those who will elect the next Pope, Cardinal Francis George -- is guilty of more than coldness to victims of clerical abuse, according to Steven Brady, President of the nationally recognized group, Roman Catholic Faithful.
Brady said in an exclusive interview with INA Today that George has given public support to a brother bishop forced to resign immediately prior to a police investigation involving illicit homosexual liaisons, including the use of male prostitutes.
George attended the "Episcopal Ordination" in March 2002 of Auxiliary Bishop James E. Fitzgerald in Joliet, Illinois, in which one of the "co-consecrators" was Bishop Daniel Ryan.
In 1999, Ryan resigned in disgrace and under police investigation from the Springfield, Illinois diocese.
As Cardinal Archbishop of Chicago, George had the power to forbid Ryan's presence on the altar during the "Episcopal Ordination." Ryan's presence at the Bishop's installation gave public scandal to George's claims of concern for clergy abuse victims, Brady told INA Today
Brady cited several instances in which George apparently disregarded Church teaching on homosexuality, including failing to question the Dominican Order's Chicago Province for allowing a prominent gay rights advocate to prepare for ordination into the priesthood. The seminarian in question is currently studying in St. Louis, Missouri.
Brady questiones why the U.S. Catholic hierarchy has not investigated charges of abuse within their own ranks. "They have subpoena power - we don't -- but we are able to find out about abuse within the hierarchy and priesthood. Why can't they?" asked Brady.
There apparently will be no such investigation in the foreseeable future. Although the Dallas Bishops' conference established a Review Board for the Office of Child and Youth Protection to oversee efforts to prevent clergy abuse and protect the victims of abuse, the Board will not directly investigate abuse.
Tario learned from the head of the Board, Oklahoma Governor Frank Keating, that the Board will only ask the bishops if the Dallas guidelines are being followed. Keating rejected the idea of investigating any diocese, no matter how serious or substantiated the charge of clerical abuse.
For further information, the Ad Hoc Committee for the Prevention of Clergy
Sex Abuse may be reached at 312-542-8005. The Ad Hoc
Committee accepts no financial assistance for its work.
See also:Clerical abuse, intimidation, murder
Copyright 2003
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