“Vatican supports Chilean bishop despite allegations of sex abuse cover-up” & related articles & VIDEO

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Bishop Juan Barros accused of covering up crimes of paedophile priest
Critics charge Pope Francis with going back on pledge to curb church abuse

The Guardian

Tuesday 31 March 2015 15.52 BST Last modified on Wednesday 1 April 2015 00.08 BST

Stephanie Kirchgaessner in Rome

Bishop Juan Barros, center, has been accused of ignoring sex abuse committed by Reverend Fernando Karadima, who was found guilty of molestation in 2011.

Bishop Juan Barros, center, has been accused of ignoring sex abuse committed by Reverend Fernando Karadima, who was found guilty of molestation in 2011.
Bishop Juan Barros, center, has been accused of ignoring sex abuse committed by Reverend Fernando Karadima, who was found guilty of molestation in 2011. Photograph: Mario Mendoza Cabrera/AP

 

The Vatican has issued a rare statement of support for a bishop in Chile who has been accused by abuse victims of covering up for a notorious paedophile priest, in a case that is sure to infuriate critics who say Pope Francis is straying from his commitment to ending the church’s legacy of abuse.

Amid a growing controversy over Bishop Juan Barros, the Holy See confirmed on Tuesday that the congregation for bishops had vetted Barros and found no “objective reason” to stop his appointment to the southern Chilean diocese of Osorno.

Barros has been accused by victims of turning a blind eye to abuse that was committed against them by Barros’s former mentor, Reverend Fernando Karadima, a priest who the Vatican found guilty of molestation in 2011.

Karadima is now living a cloistered life of “penitence and prayer” in a convent in Chile.

In some cases, Karadima’s victims have alleged that Barros not only helped to cover up the crimes decades ago, but that he had observed the abuse.

Barros has denied the allegations, and said that he did not know about the abuse until it was reported by newspapers in 2010.

The Holy See’s statement will be seen as an unequivocal show of support for Barros at a time when some members of the pope’s committee to address church abuse of minors – and the systematic cover-up of such crimes – have said they wanted the bishop removed from the diocese.

Marie Collins, an abuse survivor and a member of the committee, told the Associated Press that the Vatican was ignoring the safety of children in Osorno by leaving them in the hands of a bishop “about whom there are grave concerns”.
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Other commission members said before the statement was released that they were planning an emergency meeting with Cardinal Seán O’Malley, the archbishop of Boston who heads the sex abuse committee, to air their concerns.

The Vatican’s statement is also likely to rile up clergy in Chile that have expressed their own opposition to Barros’s appointment.

About 30 priests from the Chilean diocese, more than 1,300 church members, and 51 out of 120 members of Chile’s parliament have sent letters to the pope asking him to reverse his decision.

Barros’s installation in Osorno earlier this month was mostly boycotted by the diocese’s priests, a rare show of rebellion in the otherwise devoutly Catholic country.

The Vatican did not immediately respond to questions about how it had vetted Barros, including whether it interviewed any victims who alleged that he observed their abuse.

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Vatican defends choice of Chilean bishop linked to abuser priest

Crux

By Inés San Martín

Vatican correspondent March 31, 2015

ROME — Reacting to widespread criticism of the appointment of a bishop in Chile linked to the country’s most notorious abuser priest, the Vatican issued a terse statement on Tuesday insisting the move was “carefully examined” and there were no “objective reasons” to stop it.

“Prior to the recent appointment of His Excellency Msgr. Juan de la Cruz Barros Madrid as bishop of Osorno, Chile, the Congregation for Bishops carefully examined the prelate’s candidature and did not find objective reasons to preclude the appointment,” it said.

The statement was issued in the name of the Rev. Ciro Benedettini, a Passionist priest who serves as vice director of the Vatican’s Press Office. The Congregation for Bishops, currently led by Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet, is the Vatican department that recommends bishops’ appointments to the pope.

Tapped by Pope Francis for the position in Osorno on Jan. 10, Barros has become a deeply controversial figure in Chile because of his ties to the Rev. Fernando Karadima, a former mentor who was found guilty by the Vatican in 2011 of sexual abuse of minors and sentenced to life of “penance and prayer.”

The victims of Karadima have accused Barros and three other bishops of covering up for Karadima while he sexually abused devoted followers during the 1980s and 1990s. They’re currently in a legal battle with the diocese of Santiago de Chile, demanding a public apology from the Chilean Church, for the institution to recognize Karadima’s crimes, and financial compensation of $700,000.

When Barros was installed as the new bishop of Osorno on March 21, his Mass had to be cut short due to protests. The crowd threw objects at the prelate, pushed him, and tried to stop him from entering St. Mathew’s church.
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While the bishop was celebrating the Mass, many in attendance screamed “pedophile” and “get out!” at Barros, who had served as Chile’s military chaplain prior to the transfer to Osorno.

The pope’s ambassador in Chile, Italian Archbishop Ivo Scapolo, one of the officials responsible of Barros’ appointment, recently defended the nomination.

“I am calm, doing my duty,” Scapolo said after an opening ceremony for Chile’s ecclesiastical court.

Scapolo insisted that Pope Francis had been made aware of all the charges against Barros and said “we have to accept the decision.”

At the same time, Chilean Cardinal Ricardo Ezzati condemned the protests at the installation Mass, saying that every act of violence is reprehensible.

“In a civilized society, differences can be resolved through reason and dialogue,” he said. “In this circumstance, there were people who preferred to act violently, without respect even to the Mass or the faith of those who wanted to express it. It was a scandal.”

Regarding criticism of Barros’ transfer, Ezzati said that there’s no rupture in the Church.

“The Holy Father took an informed and discerned decision,” Ezzati said. “We’re in communion with the Holy Father and, as such, with faith and obedience, we adhere to his orientations and decision.”

Yet Ezzati also appeared to leave open an exit strategy, saying that “a bishop can, eventually, resign.”

Early reaction suggests that advocacy groups for survivors of clerical abuse will be critical of the Vatican statement.

“Bishops and priests worldwide look at Barros’ promotion and now realize that … this pope is no different than any who came before him,” said David Clohessy, director of the Survivors’ Network of Those Abused by Priests, the largest such group in the United States.

“When push comes to shove,” Clohessy said, “he does what his predecessors have done, time and time and time again – move complicit colleagues up the clerical ladder no matter how egregiously they have helped predators and hurt kids.”

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Archbishop Chomali: Pope Knew All Relevant Facts When Appointing Chilean Bishop

The Chilean archbishop said Pope Francis told him that all available documents indicated ‘there was no objective reason at all’ to delay the controversial appointment.

National Catholic Register

30 March 2015

By CNA/EWTN News

Conferencia Episcopal de Chile

Archbishop Fernando Chomali of Conception meets with Pope Francis.

– Conferencia Episcopal de Chile

CONCEPCION, Chile — Both the archbishop of Concepcion and the apostolic nuncio to Chile have maintained that Pope Francis understood all the facts in the case when he made a bishop appointment in the country earlier this year that has met with protests.

Chilean Archbishop Fernando Chomali Garib of Concepcion said March 26 that Pope Francis “told me he had analyzed all the past records and that there was no objective reason at all” that Bishop Juan de la Cruz Barros Madrid “should not be installed as the diocesan bishop.”

In an interview with the Chilean newspaper El Sur, published March 26, the archbishop of Concepcion disclosed the details of a meeting he had with Pope Francis March 6, shortly before Bishop Barros was to be installed as head of the Diocese of Osorno.

Bishop Barros’ installation was marred by a group of protesters who are accusing him of having covered up sexual abuses committed by Father Fernando Karadima, a charge the prelate denied numerous times. Bishop Barros’ vocation was fostered by Father Karadima, and he was among his closest circle of friends decades ago.

Archbishop Chomali explained that he gave Pope Francis a “document with detailed information on the consequences of the appointment he had made. All the documentation that I cited came to him, whether through the nunciature or the Chilean Embassy to the Holy See. He was very much up to date on Bishop Barros’ situation, and in fact, a few days prior he had spoken with him.”

“With firmness and much conviction, he told me that he had analyzed all the past records and that there was no objective reason that Bishop Barros should not be installed as diocesan bishop,” Archbishop Chomali explained.

Violent Incidents

Concerning the violent incidents inside the cathedral the day of the installation Mass, Archbishop Chomali said, “We never even imagined that. It was absolutely surprising. It had a deep impact on us.”

“It is certainly a sad episode … clearly those who profaned the church and the Mass and attacked are not Catholics.” In fact, only 52% of the population of the Diocese of Osorno is Catholic, making it one of Chile’s least-Catholic regions.

The violence at the Mass, the archbishop said, “is a symptom more of the level of violence that there is in the country, and it demonstrates that we are far from an authentic democracy and mutual respect.”

Reflecting on the larger context of the case of Father Karadima, Archbishop Chomali said it “profoundly affected individuals and society. What happened is a wake-up call for the whole Church concerning the consequences of abuse, which lasts for years and inflict wounds that need to be healed.”

The judge in Father Karadima’s civil case dismissed the abuse charges, as they were from too far in the past. Nevertheless, in February 2011, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith completed its own investigation and declared 84-year-old Father Karadima guilty. He was sent to a life of solitude and prayer.

When reports of sexual abuse and other scandal surrounding Father Karadima surfaced, Bishop Barros, like a number of other prelates, at first did not believe the accusations. Once the reports were confirmed in 2011, Bishop Barros said he “learned about this situation and its diverse and multiple effects with deep astonishment and pain.”

Archbishop Chomali explained that he had a telephone conversation with Juan Carlos Cruz, one of the victims, and will meet with him soon. “What’s most important is that, once and for all, Karadima asks the victims for forgiveness and wishes to repair the evil he caused before he dies,” the archbishop said.

The prelate then asked those who rejected Bishop Barros’ arrival as Osorno’s new bishop to “give him an opportunity, that they can get to know one another and that they help him in his pastoral ministry. Bishop Barros has hope in the future.”

Archbishop Scapolo

In an interview with La Tercera newspaper the same day Archbishop Chomali made his comments, the apostolic nuncio to Chile, Archbishop Ivo Scapolo, stated, “Everything that was said in the letter that the congressional representatives delivered to the nunciature was given to the Holy Father. Everything was passed on to him. Nothing was hidden from the Holy See.”

Regarding the violence at the installation ceremony, Archbishop Scapolo said, “The great majority of those who were in the church had white balloons [while the protesters had black balloons]. They were people who love their bishop.”

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Pope appoints Chilean bishop accused of child sex cover-up

GlobalPost

on

LIMA, Peru — Perhaps none of Pope Francis’ vaunted reforms of the Catholic establishment has been as urgent or necessary as his unveiling of a “zero tolerance” policy towards pedophile priests.

For decades, child sex abuse scandals, from Poland to the pontiff’s homeland of Argentina, have dogged the church. Victims have gone public and priests have been defrocked and jailed, yet still new allegations of this vile crime continue to surface.

Since being named pope in March 2013, Francis has made all the right noises, describing pedophilia as satanic and unveiling a new high level commission reporting directly to him in a bid to draw lessons and prevent future abuses.

Yet those fine words and gestures have all been called into question by the pope’s controversial appointment of a Chilean bishop accused of covering up the activities of one of the Catholic Church’s most notorious child abusers.

Earlier this month, amid chaotic scenes as hundreds of protesters shoved their way into the cathedral, Juan Barros took up his post as Bishop of Osorno, a sleepy provincial capital 600 miles south of Santiago.

Barros, who was personally appointed by the pope, is accused of having been present during the abuse and of shielding the Rev. Fernando Karadima, a charismatic, high-profile Santiago priest — and serial abuser of young boys — from investigation.

Barros, who insists he was “never” aware of Karadima’s crimes, was a protégé and longtime friend of the cleric.

A criminal prosecution against Karadima, 84, was thrown out in 2011 because the abuse he was formally accused of took place between 1980 and 1995, meaning the statute of limitations had run out.

But that same year, the Vatican found him guilty of sexual abuse and ordered him to live in a monastery and dedicate himself to a “life of prayer and penitence.”

 “We are used to getting slapped in the face by the Chilean hierarchy but we didn’t expect this from Francis,” Juan Carlos Cruz, one of Karadima’s victims, told GlobalPost, of Barros’ appointment. “We had such high hopes of him as pope.”

“Francis knew about Barros. He knew about my case. If he was from Japan or Serbia, maybe. But he is from next door [Argentina] and he knew all about Karadima. How could he still make Barros a bishop?”

Carlos Lombardi, a lawyer in Argentina advising former victims of pedophile priests there, agreed, accusing the pope of “demagoguery” and failing to tackle the “epidemic” of sexual abuse of children within the church.

“The pope says he wants zero tolerance but he has not changed a single internal norm in the church regarding child sex abuse,” added Lombardi. “He is great at giving us inspiring words and messages, but when it comes to concrete actions, there have been none.”

Others aghast at Francis’ appointment of Barros include Chile’s Christian Democrat former President Eduardo Frei and 30 priests from the Osorno diocese who took the highly unusual step of writing a letter to the Vatican’s ambassador in Chile, Archbishop Ivo Scapolo.

In his own public letter, to Scapolo, Cruz, now 51, outlined the serious accusations against Barros, who he maintains was in a relationship with Karadima, including destroying letters reporting the crimes to senior Catholic officials.

“When we were in the room of Karadima and Juan Barros, if he [Barros] was not kissing Karadima, he watched as one of us, the youngest, was touched by Karadima,” wrote Cruz. “Juan Barros was witness to all this, and he was uncountable times, not just with me but with others too.”

Barros has largely avoided responding in public to the accusations — other than writing an open letter to his new diocese in which he lamented the pain caused by Karadima.

“I never knew about nor imagined these serious abuses that this priest was committing with his victims,” Barros wrote. “I have not approved of nor participated in these seriously dishonest acts.”

Barros went on: “I ask you, with great humility, to pray for me.”

The Vatican has not publicly commented on the furor over Barros’ appointment, but Scapolo, its ambassador in Chile has accused the protesters of violence and not representing most Osorno catholics. He also warned that the faithful now just needed to “accept” their new bishop and move on.

Yet there seems little sign of that. Indeed, Barros’ appointment seems to have called Francis’ own credibility into question.

“The church views itself as the moral rector of society,” said Lombardi, the lawyer. “There is a preoccupation in defending the institution of the church, its reputation, and that is taking precedence over protecting people, in this case, children, and their human rights.”

The pope, however, does have his defenders. One is Felipe Monroy, editor of the Mexican edition of the Catholic magazine Buena Vida. “The pope’s actions have obliged other bishops and lay Catholics to be more open to talking about these problems, to dealing with them, and to attending to the victims,” he said.

Yet even Monroy conceded: “Francis has maybe not been sufficiently clear that the ecclesiastic concepts of forgiveness and pardon may not prevail when these kinds of detestable, painful crimes occur.”

Cruz, the Karadima victim who remains a practicing Catholic attending church every Sunday, puts it more strongly: “Francis has marketed himself like no other pope. Because of the things he has said, we have come to expect more from him.”

“Francis has said there will be zero tolerance for child abuse in the church, so why has he made Barros a bishop?”

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Demonstrators disrupt Chilean bishop’s installation ceremony

The Catholic Herald

by Catholic News Service

posted Wednesday, 25 Mar 2015

https://youtu.be/-jmsENwemYk

Barros installation CNS

Bishop Juan Barros was jostled at the installation ceremony (PA)

Protestor accuse Bishop Juan Barros of protecting a priest accused of sexual abuse

A bishop being installed in his new assignment in southern Chile expressed disappointment with hundreds of black-clad demonstrators who interrupted the ceremony by marching into a cathedral and shouting at him to leave the diocese, saying he protected a priest accused of sexual abuse.

“You have to distinguish between showing a disagreement in a good way and this, because interrupting a Mass is a big shame,” Bishop Juan Barros said in reference to the demonstration organised against him on March 21 while he was being installed as new bishop of Osorno.

Witnesses described the scene inside the Cathedral of St Matthew as chaotic.

The New York Times reported that television images showed clashes between the bishop’s supporters, who carried white balloons, and demonstrators, carrying black ones.

The demonstrators, numbering about 3,000 inside and outside the cathedral, according to local media reports, included politicians and members of Congress. They held signs and called for Bishop Barros to resign.

A supporter of Bishop Barros tries to restrain protestors
Chaotic scenes inside the cathedral

They accused the bishop of complicity in the case of Father Fernando Karadima, who the Vatican in 2011 found guilty of sexually abusing minors and ordered him to “retire to a life of prayer and penitence.”

Bishop Barros denied having any relationship with Father Karadima on March 23.

“I’m going to join the community of Osorno,” Bishop Barros said.

The controversy began in January, soon after Pope Francis appointed Bishop Barros to Osorno. Among those objecting to the appointment were former Chilean President Eduardo Frei Montalva and Fr Alex Vigueras, provincial superior of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary in Chile.

At least one Chilean bishop said he thought the protesters were “taking political advantage” of the situation.

“It was artificially created and it is not healthy,” said Bishop Cristian Caro Cordero of Puerto Montt, Chile.

Protests related to clerical abuse involving Father Karadima also have occurred at public appearances of Cardinal Ricardo Ezzati Andrello of Santiago, and Chile’s national police force has provided a security detail for him since June.

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Protestors disrupt bishop’s installation in Chile: 5 keys to understanding the controversy

Catholic News Agency

24 March 2015

Mons. Juan Barros, Bishop of Osorno Chile. Photo Courtesy of Chile Bishops Conference Iglesia.cl.

Mons. Juan Barros, Bishop of Osorno Chile. Photo Courtesy of Chile Bishops Conference Iglesia.cl.

Santiago, Chile, Mar 24, 2015 / 05:11 pm (CNA).- A group of protesters attempted to stop the installation of Bishop Juan Barros Madrid as the new bishop of Osorno in southern Chile, pushing the bishop and throwing objects at him during the March 21 Mass.

The protestors accuse Bishop Barros of covering up sexual abuse committed by Fr. Fernando Karadima. The bishop has repeatedly denied it. The story was picked up this weekend by international news media.Here are some keys to understanding what has happened since Jan. 10 of this year, when Pope Francis named Bishop Juan Barros as the new bishop of Osorno:

1.    Who is Fernando Karadima Farina?

Fr. Karadima fostered the vocation of some 40 priests, including Bishop Juan Barros, who decades ago belonged to Karadima’s closest circle of friends. When reports of sexual abuse and other scandal surrounding Karadima surfaced, Bishop Barros, like a number of other prelates, at first did not believe the accusations.

The judge in the civil case dismissed the charges because the alleged abuse was too far in the past. Nevertheless, in February 2011, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith at the Vatican completed its own investigation and declared 84-year-old Karadima guilty. He was sent to a life of solitude and prayer.

The news of the sentence surprised bishops, priests and lay people who viewed the priest as a role model and considered the initial accusations as an attack on the Church.

2.    Juan Carlos Cruz and the accusers

Three of Karadima’s reported victims are accusing Bishop Barros of covering up the priest’s abuses. The accusations do not agree with the investigation carried out by the Vatican. Juan Carlos Cruz is the most well known of the accusers. He lives in the United States and is often asked by national and international news media for comments on what is happening in the Chilean Church.

After Bishop Juan Barros was appointed as Bishop of Orsono, Cruz told CNN Chile that the Chilean Episcopal Conference and Pope Francis were giving Karadima’s victims “a slap in the face.” This has created international media attention.

3.    Bishop Barros’ Defense

Bishop Juan Barros and three other bishops close to Karadima supported the decision of the Holy See in April of 2011 and denied having known about his double life. They declared in a statement that “with great sorrow we have accepted the sentence declaring him guilty of serious offences condemned by the Church. Like so many, we learned about this situation and its diverse and multiple effects with deep astonishment and pain.”

In a letter addressed to the faithful of the Osorno diocese days before his installation, Bishop Barros reiterated that “I never had any knowledge of any accusation concerning Father Karadima when I was the Secretary for Cardinal Juan Francisco Fresno and I never had any knowledge nor did I even imagine such grave abuses as this priest committed against his victims. I neither approved nor participated in those actions.”

“The deep pain that continues to affect the victims for long years profoundly hurts me. And I reiterate along with the whole Church that there is no place in the priesthood for those that commit those abuses,” he added.

Before taking up his responsibility as the Bishop of Osorno on March 21, 2015, the prelate reiterated that he was not linked to the priest’s abuses.

“I am telling you, before God who is listening to us, it did not cross my mind that these things were going on. I would not have accepted it for any reason, and I am not a friend of Fernando Karadima,” he stated.

He added that before the Vatican convicted him in 2011, “I was already becoming distant from him. Of course I had been close, but I was already becoming distant from him, not because I knew about these questions of the accusations but because he became ill tempered.  I never knew about these very tragic things. The pain of the victims hurts me enormously, I pray for those that carry this pain with them today.”

Before being the bishop of Osorno, Bishop Barros was the bishop for the Chilean military for almost 11 years, Bishop of Iquique for four years and Auxiliary Bishop of Valparaiso for five years. During all this time, his ministry had not been questioned.

4.    The Protests in Osorno

On the day Bishop Barros was installed, dozens of people, including non-Catholics, entered the Cathedral of Osorno with banners and black balloons to protest against the prelate. Large groups inside the church held white balloons and banners in support of the bishop.

The media has publicized a letter signed by priests and deacons, as well as a letter from the Congregation of the Sacred Heart signed by their provincial Father Alex Vigueras, demanding the resignation of the prelate.

In response, the Permanent Committee of the Chilean Episcopal Conference issued a March 18 statement expressing their “support, in a spirit of faith and obedience, for Pope Francis who has nominated Bishop Barros as bishop of the Diocese of Osorno.”

5 . Other interests?

The media coverage on Bishop Barros’ appointment as Bishop of Oserno is taking place in the midst of the debate on legalizing abortion as well as bills on euthanasia and homosexual unions in Chile. The Church is one of the few voices that is speaking out against these proposals.

In this context, 51 congressional representatives sent a letter to the Vatican questioning the appointment, some of whom are close to Cruz. This has led to some speculation that those advocating legal and social changes are using the Karadima case and his former friendship with Bishop Barros to discredit the Church in this debate.

25 Responses to “Vatican supports Chilean bishop despite allegations of sex abuse cover-up” & related articles & VIDEO

  1. Sylvia says:

    I’ve been wanting to give an update on the situation in Chile regarding the installation of Bishop Juan Barros as Bishop of Osorno. Here it is.

    A number of reports refer to Barros’s ‘knowledge’ of Father Karadima’s abuse of boys. My understanding is that it goes significantly beyond “knowledge” – the allegations are that on several occasions the then Father Barros sat and watched as the priest molested the boys, and further to that, that there was sexual interaction witnesses between Barros and Karadima.

    According to media reports, Pope Francis was given ALL information. That means that he was told that the victims allege that the now Bishop watched a priest abuse boys and that the molester and future bishop had some form of sexual relationship.

    Why, if an investigation concluded that the victims were credible when they recounted the abuse they endured at the hands of Karadima, are they not deemed credible when it comes to the participation of the future bishop?

    Or, have their allegations been deemed credible but no one really cares? has the Pope decided that ‘just’ watching is alright? did the Holy Father decide that the sexual liasons with a priest were okay?

    Or, has the Holy Father decided that, while the victims were telling the truth regarding the abuse they were lying when they talked of who was watching and sexually involved with their molester?

    Are there other possibilities here? Help me think them through. I can see none.

    Scroll down to see the video of the absolute chaos inside the cathedral. I cringed as I watched. I understand that many people do not practice their faith, however that should not negate the fact that many do, nor should it become license to desecrate a Church.

    Both sides were party to the circus: those holding white balloons and those holding black ballots were all screaming and shouting and jostling and shoving. A terrible fiasco.

    What a shame the protest and counter-protest saw fit to move inside the cathedral.

    I am sure some of you will disagree, but must say that from my perspective, little is gained by such outbursts and often, rightly or wrongly, much is lost.

  2. Leona says:

    I agree fully Sylvia, that such outbursts do nothing to further any cause. I haven’t watched the video, but can only imagine. There is a very thoughtful reflection on the Vatican’s position on Jennifer Hasselberger’s blog (she’s the whistleblower in the Archdiocese of Minneapolis/St Paul). It makes sense. If the Vatican actually practiced only promoting those clerics who had handled sexual abuse cases 100% correctly, there would be few able to be promoted.

    The fact that the Vatican made its decision without ever speaking with the victims, is extremely hurtful.

  3. jg says:

    I think there is certainly cause for pause and reflection here… I do believe very strongly that God works in mysterious ways and maybe the pain is so great from those deeply religious “rebels” that they reacted and screamed in a manner we can only imagine in our “comfortable” establishment…We don’t like anyone stepping on our freshly manicure, well dressed lawn…

    I just remember that He upset tables and chased away the “dove merchants”…
    Merchants of Love and Peace!?…
    I think it is a fitting memory and comparison…

    I am not offended because the faith in the building and the vestments of the priests were seemingly ignored… I believe those who were so upset were not the “circus”…
    The “circus” is what the church has made of itself and its mission…

    Don’t be so quick to condemn those who would fight the establishment for their Faith and lay their life on the line for those of us(most of us)who don’t have the conviction…
    I think the lesson shouldn’t be lost on this Good Friday…
    jg

    • Sylvia says:

      Not faith in the building and vestments Jean-Guy. Faith in the Real Presence. If it were just the building it wouldn’t fizz me.

      • jg says:

        Don’t take it so personally Sylvia. Remember it is about “sex abuse scandal within the Catholic Church”. I think the “Real Presence” may be active in ways and places we can’t even imagine. That faceless crowd may be HIS… I don’t know and neither do you. We can only dwell in our beliefs…
        I like to give Him all the space he owns and controls.
        I think he is still upsetting tables and minds, and egos …
        Remember it is all worth it if for only “one child”!
        That is how we got to this point.
        It is a quarter to three in your time zone…another 15 minutes before 3:00 o’clock, Good Friday.
        We are no further ahead it seems…
        jg

        • 1 abandoned sheep says:

          jg, I hope and think we may be a lot closer to the solution for all of the crap that has been going on, both inside and outside the Church. GOD is a God of MERCY, but, He is also a God of JUSTICE !
          I believe the world will not have to wait much longer to witness His Justice in all aspects of life.
          Have a great Easter.

  4. Mike Mc says:

    Whether he is guilty or not, the Bishop got one thing perfectly right:
    “The deep pain that continues to affect the victims for long years profoundly hurts me. And I reiterate along with the whole Church that there is no place in the priesthood for those that commit those abuses,” he added.

    I believe the Pope has made a grave error. (40 years ago I couldn’t say that.)

    That the church erupted in violence that day, is actually a good sign. (Yes, Jesus erupted in violence too.) It’s about time people show how they feel and sometimes a push and kicking over a chair or two is what’s needed.

    You won’t see that happen here in Canada….even if I feel like kicking an abusive priest or Bishop from here to kingdom come.

    I’m really surprised & disappointed in Pope Francis’ decision. It has certainly divided that Church in Chile. Also,…He “declared 84-year-old Karadima guilty. He was sent to a life of solitude and prayer.”

    Solitude and prayer???

    He’d be of more value in a convent peeling potatoes for nuns.
    ( Carry water, meditation, carry water.)

  5. Agathe says:

    I honestly feel that if the abused were terribly hurt by a priest, and if the frustrations mount and mount – then to see someone promoted to bishop…I honestly cannot imagine how that would feel. I would have to walk a mile in the shoes of the abused people before I would condemn them.

  6. Mike Mc says:

    “The deep pain that continues to affect the victims for long years profoundly hurts me. And I reiterate along with the whole Church that there is no place in the priesthood for those that commit those abuses,” he added.

    I have to agree at least with his thinking.

    If so….Why is Karadima allowed to remain a priest?

    He should be defrocked. The Church needs to defrock priests who do this. Yes, the Church doesn’t have to throw them into the streets in their 80s, but it has to take away the priesthood. Or Sylvia, do we still believe “once a priest always a priest” as I stated once in here (your site) before.

    PS I made a comment recently about these abusive priests doing practical jobs like peeling potatoes in food kitchens, convents etc. Did you noy see this fit to print?? Just wondering why something I wrote was not printed.

    • Mike Mc says:

      I see my comment above but it says “awaiting moderation”.

      • Sylvia says:

        Okay – there it is Mike Mc. It must have been held up in the Akismet spam queue. I see from the time on it that t has been sitting there for nearly a day. I think I will have to get in touch with my webhost to see if there is something he can do to fix this problem.

        • Mike Mc says:

          Thanks! Yes, for a moment I thought you thought I was being cynical or too harsh. But I think a an older priest who has been an abusive one should definitely be defrocked.
          I’m surprised and annoyed that this Pope chose not to do this to Karadima. It’s almost like saying the crime is over since it was a long time ago etc.
          If for anyone, let it be for the victim to see that the Church will not tolerate this. Zero tolerance!
          But no, the Pope sees to keep that man on as a priest as if prayer and meditation will solve the problem. I say spend the money on counselling for the victim!
          As for Barros, “Others aghast at Francis’ appointment of Barros include Chile’s Christian Democrat former President Eduardo Frei and 30 priests from the Osorno diocese who took the highly unusual step of writing a letter to the Vatican’s ambassador in Chile, Archbishop Ivo Scapolo.”

          Doesn’t the Pope listen to his priests?

          This will be a black mark on Francis for sure. Again….What about zero tolerance?

    • Sylvia says:

      I agree 100% that he should be defrocked. I believe that all predatory priests should be defrocked.

      As for a comment of yours not being posted, I haven’t seen it Mike Mc. There have been and I sam slowly realizing will probably always be glitches with software. Sometimes people try repeatedly to post a comment and nothing happens – in those cases I can sometimes help to circumvent the glitch, but sometimes I end up posting the article for them. Eventually the glitch resolves. I have no control over the software – that’s way beyind me.

      Recently the Akismet anti-spam program has gone into overdrive – comments have been tied up for hours as it tries to decide if a comment is or is not spam. I don’t see that comment until it decides to let it through, either marked for moderation or labelledd as spam.

      There is an ongoing issue wherein the software unilaterally closes off a thread to ccmments. I dont do it. I happen on those frequently when I myself go to post a comment on the thread only to discover it has mysteriously been closed. It’s a glitch. There’s nothing I can do o stop it – I just have to try to keep an eye out for it happening so I can open the thread to comments again.

      So, if you are having trouble posting a comment please let me know. I have no way of knowing what is happening unless you tell me. Yes sommetimes for various reasons I opt not to post a comment. That is rare. I did not see a comment from you about priests peeling potatoes in convents. I don’t know what you hadcto say but as far as I’m concerned if they have to earn their keep put them in an isolated monastery peeling potatoes – as laymen. They have proven themselves unfit to be priests.

  7. I know a certain Brother or two says:

    I know a certain Brother or two who are both in their 80s. They need to be removed from their Order too, and not put out on the street, but housed somewhere appropriate away from being able to look at children.

  8. Mike Mc says:

    Sylvia, I noticed in your links “Abuse of Minors: The Church’s Response” two paragraphs from Cardinal O’Malley that refer to sexual abuse by priests and not being allowed in “ministry”. Please note the word ‘ministry’ in each.

    As Pope Francis stated in the letter: “Families need to know that the Church is making every effort to protect their children. They should also know that they have every right to turn to the Church with full confidence, for it is a safe and secure home. Consequently, priority must not be given to any other kind of concern, whatever its nature, such as the desire to avoid scandal, since there is absolutely no place in ministry for those who abuse minors.”

    and…

    The abuse of children takes hold and spreads in an atmosphere of secrecy and darkness. The Church must lead the way in addressing this most serious human problem by humbly making the commitment to accountability, transparency and zero tolerance, the binding commitment that no member of the clergy who has abused a child will be allowed to continue in ministry.

    I was wondering why ministry was used and no mention of defrocked.

    Please explain or comment. Thanks.

  9. Sylvia says:

    I think unfortunately that use of the word “ministry” and avoidance of defrocked/laicized/reduced to the lay state speaks for itself. As unbelievable as it may seem, and despite the pain, shame, suffering and scandal these clerical predators have inflicted, and despite the countless betrayals and repeated acts of sacrilege, there are many canon lawyers in the Church who are vehemently opposed to defrocking.

    The fact that perhaps a few more are now being defrocked might be considered progress, however, there is still a long long way to go: there are countless predators who continue to sully the ranks of the priesthood by their very presence.

    That’s my comment. Trying to explain would be like trying to defend the indefensible. As far as I am concerned these is no justification for keeping these men in the priesthood. That and than alone is zero tolerance.

  10. Larry Green says:

    “The abuse of minors” sounds so much cleaner than the sexual assault on children. The other ‘minor’ issue that is always cunningly brushed aside is the network of co-operation and the fostering it takes for these molesters to become so successful at terrorizing so many children while they are children and on into their adult lives.
    I can see how it would be so difficult to come down ‘ to hard ‘ on the pedophile when you know that he is only a cog in the wheel. I am not so sure that defrocking the molester is the solution…I would say hang on to your child rapist until you are ready to defrock his team with him.

  11. Sylvia says:

    Yes, Larry, the enablers are as bad as the molesters. It is thanks to the enablers that countless molesters are still in the priesthood. But, hang onto the molesters? No. Never. They are not fit to be priests. It is not fair to their victims, the Catholic faithful or their fellow priests to allow them to remain in the priesthood.

    I would say that the enablers who blatantly lie and deceive victims and place children and the vulnerable at risk to protect the molesters should be defrocked too, but we’re a longer way from seeing that day come than we are from seeing the day that ALL molesters are defrocked. In some countries the courts are starting to charge the enablers. That’s a start. In time I think it will come to defrocking the enablers too, but meanwhile the molesters must be defrocked.

    The references to sex abuse of “minors” addresses those cases where a priest or religious molests a child considered canonically to be a minor at the time of the abuse. The canonical age for “minor” in sex abuse cases was thankfully raised from 16 to 18 by Pope John Paul II That of course and unfortunately excludes all clerical and religious molesters who sexually assault/abuse/molest those over age 18!

  12. Larry Green says:

    The the problem with getting rid of the molester while hanging on to the rest of his team gives the false impression of a cleaned up church when in fact it is just as dirty only better hidden. That isn’t fair to anyone either. For as long as the evil molester remains , the church is truly represented by him and it’s always better to know the enemy.
    I am aware Sylvia that a minor refers to someone under the age of 18 but when clergy speak of child sexual assault they always choose to use the calculated cleaner terms rather than the terms that most clearly state the reality. I just find that sneaky and it reveals a deeper disingenuous attitude.

  13. Larry Green says:

    Well we will just have to agree to disagree Sylvia. How can a filthy house be cleaned by removing one piece of dirt?

  14. Bob says:

    Mike Mc, would appr. you contacting me. Sylvia has my email & i gave her authority to give to you. Appr reply asap. God Bless, “BOB”.

  15. Mike Mc says:

    Larry says: “I am not so sure that defrocking the molester is the solution…I would say hang on to your child rapist until you are ready to defrock his team with him.”

    I have to totally disagree with you Larry!

    I read and evaluate Sylvia’s comments very carefully, Larry. I have to agree with her 100% about the Spring cleaning idea.

    Yes, it would be wonderful to “throw out a Bishop” as well as a child molestor priest if the Bishop was directly responsible for a priest’s continuation. That may sound harsh but I believe some Bishops were more responsible than others. Anyway….There is definitely NO excuse today.

    By the way, Sylvia and I have disagreed in the past. But I still believe women in the priesthood would have solved this problem years ago. Like I said, I read Sylvia’s comments very carefully and I see very little fault. It’s common sense…..like that “Spring cleaning” comment. I’ve referred to the priesthood as the “old men’s (boy’s)club” and so it is. However, if women were part of the solution by having the authority to call the shots…especially in the last 40 years, I don’t think it would be an unholy priesthood.

    Now having said this, it looks like I have no faith in men. No so. As a young person from the 50s and 60s, (college in 70s) I belonged to a parish where I never saw any abuse in my Catholic parish and school. Okay, I saw tough discipline by teachers, but no sexual abuse etc. My father was a lay reader etc, my bros and I served as altar boys etc…it was a well run parish etc.

    So I had respect for the male aspects to running our parish. But when I started to hear and then see first hand all the abuse here in Nfld and then around the world and all that this involved, needless to say the problem exists seriously within the male dominated church.
    Yes, they’ll always be stories of abusive nuns etc, but never the same caliber that we see with men. And I believe until the Church changes this silly rule, it will continue to exist…that is…abusive men who have control of its own destiny. I know Sylvia disagrees with me for some religious doctrinal reason, but my God it’s the year 2015 and this site is STILL showing the evil effects of evil men. How long has Sylvia kept this site going? When will she ever be able to rest her pen of discontent and revelation? Not soon!
    PS To Bob..yes Sylvia may contact me with your address

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