It seems that some clergy still flatly refuse to believe that a fellow priest could have laid a wayward hand on a young lad and have no problem publicly denouncing those who courageously come forward with their allegations of sexual abuse. Some, witness the following, even stoop to utilising the pulpit to launch their derogatory comments during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass on Sunday. An outright and inexcusable disgrace
On 11 December 2010 Monsignor Stanislaw Kempa referrred to the men who filed lawsuits indentifying Father Czeslaw Szymanski as a molester as “cowards.”
In short order the episcopal wagons were circling…
The following Sunday Peter Uglietto. the Auxiliary Bishop of Boston MA, took to the pulpit at Holy Trinity in Lowell, MA. Uglietto read aloud a letter of reprimand penned by none other than Boston’s Cardinal Archbishop Sean O’Malley. The following posts are media coverage of this particular scandal and the text of Archbishop O’Malley’s letter:
19 December 2010: Boston Cardinal Shaun O’Malley Letter to parishioners of Holy Trinity in Lowell, MA re Father Kempa’s comments on Szymanski sex abuse allegations
19 December 2010: Archdiocese Apologizes for Lowell Pastor’s Criticism of Abuse Allegations
20 December 2010: Mass. cardinal sorry for priest’s ‘cowards’ remark
21 December 2010: O’Malley apology elicits a rebuke
According to diocesan officials, Monsignor Kempa “has taken responsibility for his hurtful actions.”
Alas, the damage is done. I pray that common sense prevails and Kempa is not permitted to return to Holy Trinity. This is a disgrace. The damage done by Kempa’s callous remarks is immeasurable. Pray for the complainants. This must have come as an awful shock and blow to all of them.
I have also added further info to the Czeslaw Szymanski page. Note that Bishop Accountability inidicates that in 1982 Szymanski was referred to as Tadeusz K. Szymanski in the Official Catholic Directory (The Official Catholic Directory is the American equivalent of the Canadian Catholic Church Directory, a listing of the whereabouts of every priest in the country in the year of publication )
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Two court dates scheduled for tomorrow, Wednesday, 22 December 2010:
(1) Father Phillip Jacobs (pre-trial conference, 9 am, Victoria, B.C. courthouse)
(2) Father Roger Bazin (“to be spoken to,” Barrie, Ontario courthouse – time unknown)
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I had problems posting earlier today. The problem is resolved and I can again post on New to the Site 🙂 A headache followed by relief.
I must get back to Christmas preparations. I felt I was on top of things enough this morning to take a few hours for the Sylvia’s Site. Now it’s back to Christmas preparations…
Enough for now,
Sylvia