Actually Steve, the church hierarchy denied it PUBLICLY but they were very much aware of the problems of sexual abuse by clergy members.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops were formally warned about the problem by one Fr. Tom Doyle O.P., a canon lawyer stationed in Washington, D.C. in the 1980s. They chose to ignore the report, conspired to cover up for these problem priests and further abused the victims of these predators using their diocesan lawyers\’ methods of intimidation, general legal hardball and secrecy clauses.
Just try reading the Philadelphia Grand Jury Report which came out in September, 2005. That will give you nightmares.
Regarding your references to the \”DaVinci\”
novel, while there really is no historical basis for thinking that Jesus was married or had a family, there is solid historical data supporting the important role women played in the early church. It was only later on that a strong patriarchal church got serious about covering up women\’s role in the early church. They did a pretty good job but the historical reality is slowing coming to the fore.
I can\’t wait to see the movie!
But, to get back to the legislation – the laws on sexual abuse much be changed, strengthened and lengthened. Everyone, especially our children, should have the full protection of the law and they simply do not have now.
It is unconscionable that the Roman Catholic Church has seen fit to oppose the extension of time limits for victims of sexual abuse to file civil lawsuits against their abusers and those who employ them, \”Maryland Weighs Longer Filing Period for Child Abuse Lawsuits,\”
(3/14/2006).
Because of the intransiant positions taken against changes in the law regarding the sexual abuse of minors by Cardinals Theodore E. McCarrick and William H. Keeler and their legislative arm, the Maryland Catholic Conference, it will be a long, long time before any of the bishops will be able to speak with any credible moral authority, much less be listened to.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, and especially its cardinal archbishops, should be proactive in supporting and strengthening laws against the sexual abuse of children by anyone in our society, including priests.
In their March 10, 2006 exhortation to catholic politicians, Cardinals McCarrick and Keeler spoke for all the bishops when they said:
\”We need to do more to persuade all people that human life is precious and human dignity must be defended. This requires more effective dialogue and engagement with all public officials, especially Catholic public officials. We welcome conversation initiated by political leaders themselves.\”
Cardinal William H. Keeler once described the sexual abuse and rape of children as murder of the soul. If the bishops of our church truly believed that to be true, they would not be opposing the strengthening of the laws meant to bring murderers of the soul and their enablers to justice.
Everyone, even our children, have a right to the full protection of the law. They do not have that protection in Maryland.
The Catholics heirarchey denied or overlooked all the sexual abuse for years, but they say its ridiculous to
think the Catholics would cover up Jesus
being married?? Or that women had high
positions in the early christianity?
Maybe? Maybe not?
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Actually Steve, the church hierarchy denied it PUBLICLY but they were very much aware of the problems of sexual abuse by clergy members.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops were formally warned about the problem by one Fr. Tom Doyle O.P., a canon lawyer stationed in Washington, D.C. in the 1980s. They chose to ignore the report, conspired to cover up for these problem priests and further abused the victims of these predators using their diocesan lawyers\’ methods of intimidation, general legal hardball and secrecy clauses.
Just try reading the Philadelphia Grand Jury Report which came out in September, 2005. That will give you nightmares.
Regarding your references to the \”DaVinci\”
novel, while there really is no historical basis for thinking that Jesus was married or had a family, there is solid historical data supporting the important role women played in the early church. It was only later on that a strong patriarchal church got serious about covering up women\’s role in the early church. They did a pretty good job but the historical reality is slowing coming to the fore.
I can\’t wait to see the movie!
But, to get back to the legislation – the laws on sexual abuse much be changed, strengthened and lengthened. Everyone, especially our children, should have the full protection of the law and they simply do not have now.
Sister M. Immaculata Dunn
maryidunn@yahoo.com
To the Editor:
It is unconscionable that the Roman Catholic Church has seen fit to oppose the extension of time limits for victims of sexual abuse to file civil lawsuits against their abusers and those who employ them, \”Maryland Weighs Longer Filing Period for Child Abuse Lawsuits,\”
(3/14/2006).
Because of the intransiant positions taken against changes in the law regarding the sexual abuse of minors by Cardinals Theodore E. McCarrick and William H. Keeler and their legislative arm, the Maryland Catholic Conference, it will be a long, long time before any of the bishops will be able to speak with any credible moral authority, much less be listened to.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, and especially its cardinal archbishops, should be proactive in supporting and strengthening laws against the sexual abuse of children by anyone in our society, including priests.
In their March 10, 2006 exhortation to catholic politicians, Cardinals McCarrick and Keeler spoke for all the bishops when they said:
\”We need to do more to persuade all people that human life is precious and human dignity must be defended. This requires more effective dialogue and engagement with all public officials, especially Catholic public officials. We welcome conversation initiated by political leaders themselves.\”
Cardinal William H. Keeler once described the sexual abuse and rape of children as murder of the soul. If the bishops of our church truly believed that to be true, they would not be opposing the strengthening of the laws meant to bring murderers of the soul and their enablers to justice.
Everyone, even our children, have a right to the full protection of the law. They do not have that protection in Maryland.
Catherine Mary Henry
catherinemaryhenry@yahoo.com
The Catholics heirarchey denied or overlooked all the sexual abuse for years, but they say its ridiculous to
think the Catholics would cover up Jesus
being married?? Or that women had high
positions in the early christianity?
Maybe? Maybe not?