I find myself in a strange position when it comes to the Church/state issue when it comes to defamation cases. Theoretically, I want the state to stay out of Church affairs, especially when it comes to ministry. But I am seeing more and more situations where Church leadership is emboldened to say whatever they want about priests and reli…
I find myself in a strange position when it comes to the Church/state issue when it comes to defamation cases. Theoretically, I want the state to stay out of Church affairs, especially when it comes to ministry. But I am seeing more and more situations where Church leadership is emboldened to say whatever they want about priests and religious regardless of objective truth. The priest or religious can't say anything in response contradicting the bishop even if what the priest or religious says is true; doing so is perceived in canon law as causing division and a canonical offense, and the bishop is more "credible" because, well, he is a bishop. If the person defamed files a civil suit, the courts throw it out due to "lack of jurisdiction." So, the defamed party has no recourse. Well, I guess that's not technically correct. He/she has recourse in canon law for defamation in theory, but good luck pursuing it. By the time it makes its way through the canonical process and its appeals, the defamed person is ruined from a practical perspective. And there is no consequence for the bishop.
This is a situation where we either need to get our own act together or we need the civil authorities to step in. Isn't the Church supposedly about JUSTICE?
Justice, and… get this!… mercy, too. But let’s just start by getting the justice part right. Then we can try delivering the message with concern for the well-being of the whole person & their salvation.
On another note, it’s a real problem all this throwing around of “Canon law says.” People need to pick up Canon Law and start reading. There’s even a website called Canon Law Made Easy. As long as Bishops can toss around the word Canon Law like “wait till your father gets home!” people are going to shrink back and give up without ever realizing Canon Law doesn’t even say half this stuff!
Exactly! There ARE canons about being innocent until proven guilty and protecting the name of an accused person until investigations are complete and conclusive. But sister is sick and not a canon lawyer. So she can’t fight back.
We are living this very situation right now. There is no recourse but the bishop or Rome and we all know how lily white they are. No one has a life long enough to survive this injustice and nonsense.
I find myself in a strange position when it comes to the Church/state issue when it comes to defamation cases. Theoretically, I want the state to stay out of Church affairs, especially when it comes to ministry. But I am seeing more and more situations where Church leadership is emboldened to say whatever they want about priests and religious regardless of objective truth. The priest or religious can't say anything in response contradicting the bishop even if what the priest or religious says is true; doing so is perceived in canon law as causing division and a canonical offense, and the bishop is more "credible" because, well, he is a bishop. If the person defamed files a civil suit, the courts throw it out due to "lack of jurisdiction." So, the defamed party has no recourse. Well, I guess that's not technically correct. He/she has recourse in canon law for defamation in theory, but good luck pursuing it. By the time it makes its way through the canonical process and its appeals, the defamed person is ruined from a practical perspective. And there is no consequence for the bishop.
This is a situation where we either need to get our own act together or we need the civil authorities to step in. Isn't the Church supposedly about JUSTICE?
Justice, and… get this!… mercy, too. But let’s just start by getting the justice part right. Then we can try delivering the message with concern for the well-being of the whole person & their salvation.
On another note, it’s a real problem all this throwing around of “Canon law says.” People need to pick up Canon Law and start reading. There’s even a website called Canon Law Made Easy. As long as Bishops can toss around the word Canon Law like “wait till your father gets home!” people are going to shrink back and give up without ever realizing Canon Law doesn’t even say half this stuff!
Exactly! There ARE canons about being innocent until proven guilty and protecting the name of an accused person until investigations are complete and conclusive. But sister is sick and not a canon lawyer. So she can’t fight back.
And that right there is what makes this whole situation so sickening. The vulnerabilities of a very, very sick woman have been exploited.
And the vulnerability of falsely accused priests because of complaints and a bishop without mercy or a heart define exploitation!
We are living this very situation right now. There is no recourse but the bishop or Rome and we all know how lily white they are. No one has a life long enough to survive this injustice and nonsense.