Depressing, yes. And I feel horrible for Fr. DeOreo - I'm only one year ahead of him in ordination, and I cannot imagine being denied the exercise of my priesthood because I encouraged someone to fast.
But I'm hopeful the Lord will work through this, and I am thankfully Fr. DeOreo took this step. It was fear of civil litigation that got us to take sex abuse seriously in the first place. Maybe civil litigation is the only language our chanceries will listen to in this realm, too.
I freely admit I only know what has been reported here - and if a priest has done what you suggest he should admit it, repent and face the consequences.
What makes this complicated is virtually every priest knows at least one brother priest who has been falsely accused and, a result, their reputation is shattered. We need to combat the abuse crisis, and we need better due process for accused priests.
-3 priests falsely accused. Each one took about a year or more to resolve. The first sounded guilty in the letter that was first read to the parish where he was assigned, but was later found to be innocent.
-1 priest who was in the Catholic news for a conflict with his diocese, a little similar to this situation. Knowing more of the story than was first reported, I believe the diocese may have been a little at fault, but the majority was really the priest's fault. He was making things very difficult for himself and the diocese. His going to the media to bring pressure to get his way didn't look like Christian charity, justice, or holy obedience to me or many others that know the situation.
-1 priest who was accused of grooming behavior. This is difficult to judge, as it involves judging a person's intention. I imagine we have all had our intentions judged incorrectly at times. There were other issues that led me to think that the priest did not have good judgment, but I have no way of knowing if he was dangerous or simply foolish and immature. I don't know what can be done in these situations. There is no crime, just the suggestion (to some) that he is preparing to do something. What is the level of concerning behavior that should lead a bishop to remove a priest's faculties and have him live in limbo until he dies?
I don't envy the people who have to investigate and judge on these matters.
It very much seems like a nuclear option because if this suit is successful (and even if it isn’t) it won’t be the last one.
I suppose best case scenario it prompts real reform of the Dallas Charter to include better due process protections.
As for a worst case scenario - certainly an already strained relationship between a bishop and his priests would grow worse. Plus I’m sure Rome isn’t crazy about a priest dragging his ordinary and diocese into civil court…I’m thinking of how abruptly Rome sided with Bishop Olson when the Carmelites took him to civil court. Not sure that’d be their play here but who knows?
I think the urgency is that this priest was already facing a life of never receiving faculties again, because even a false accusation means a guy becomes unassignable. This seems like a lateral move.
Fr. Matt: True, but given the climate of the times in the Church these days which throws priests under the bus all too frequently, I am not surprised that priests are starting to take this step.
I'm not surprised by this. The way some Bishops and Vicars go on witch hunts that are more personal than factual needs to end somehow. It is creepy that the Vicar General went to therapy with this kid. I'm more concerned about that!!
The decline in the number of young American men pursuing Catholic priesthood was historically attributed to various factors, such as changing societal attitudes towards celibacy, evolving career aspirations, and the demanding nature of priestly training. It appears , another significant factor has emerged: the perception of bishops failing to uphold due process when priests are accused of sexual misconduct.
This perception, when combined with ongoing instances of alleged abuse within the Church, leads to further erosion in the confidence of the entire institution and also tarnishes the reputation of the priesthood as a whole. Bishops say pray for vacations . I say pray for the Bishops. They are killing the Church.
If priests need to sue their diocese for bishops to give us proper due process protections …that’s a depressing state of affairs
Depressing, yes. And I feel horrible for Fr. DeOreo - I'm only one year ahead of him in ordination, and I cannot imagine being denied the exercise of my priesthood because I encouraged someone to fast.
But I'm hopeful the Lord will work through this, and I am thankfully Fr. DeOreo took this step. It was fear of civil litigation that got us to take sex abuse seriously in the first place. Maybe civil litigation is the only language our chanceries will listen to in this realm, too.
Either you are okay with minors being sexually groomed or you know nothing about this case.
we know what was reported here. do you have further details?
I freely admit I only know what has been reported here - and if a priest has done what you suggest he should admit it, repent and face the consequences.
What makes this complicated is virtually every priest knows at least one brother priest who has been falsely accused and, a result, their reputation is shattered. We need to combat the abuse crisis, and we need better due process for accused priests.
I know of the following recent cases:
-3 priests falsely accused. Each one took about a year or more to resolve. The first sounded guilty in the letter that was first read to the parish where he was assigned, but was later found to be innocent.
-1 priest who was in the Catholic news for a conflict with his diocese, a little similar to this situation. Knowing more of the story than was first reported, I believe the diocese may have been a little at fault, but the majority was really the priest's fault. He was making things very difficult for himself and the diocese. His going to the media to bring pressure to get his way didn't look like Christian charity, justice, or holy obedience to me or many others that know the situation.
-1 priest who was accused of grooming behavior. This is difficult to judge, as it involves judging a person's intention. I imagine we have all had our intentions judged incorrectly at times. There were other issues that led me to think that the priest did not have good judgment, but I have no way of knowing if he was dangerous or simply foolish and immature. I don't know what can be done in these situations. There is no crime, just the suggestion (to some) that he is preparing to do something. What is the level of concerning behavior that should lead a bishop to remove a priest's faculties and have him live in limbo until he dies?
I don't envy the people who have to investigate and judge on these matters.
AMEN!!
But becoming more and more a situation that might warrant this action.
Though a priest who does this.might never receive faculties again, anywhere.
It very much seems like a nuclear option because if this suit is successful (and even if it isn’t) it won’t be the last one.
I suppose best case scenario it prompts real reform of the Dallas Charter to include better due process protections.
As for a worst case scenario - certainly an already strained relationship between a bishop and his priests would grow worse. Plus I’m sure Rome isn’t crazy about a priest dragging his ordinary and diocese into civil court…I’m thinking of how abruptly Rome sided with Bishop Olson when the Carmelites took him to civil court. Not sure that’d be their play here but who knows?
I think the urgency is that this priest was already facing a life of never receiving faculties again, because even a false accusation means a guy becomes unassignable. This seems like a lateral move.
Fr. Matt: True, but given the climate of the times in the Church these days which throws priests under the bus all too frequently, I am not surprised that priests are starting to take this step.
In the end, neither am I …we absolutely need better due process for accused priests.
Fr. It may be depressing but it is true. It IS happening.
I'm not surprised by this. The way some Bishops and Vicars go on witch hunts that are more personal than factual needs to end somehow. It is creepy that the Vicar General went to therapy with this kid. I'm more concerned about that!!
Depressing in many respects.
The decline in the number of young American men pursuing Catholic priesthood was historically attributed to various factors, such as changing societal attitudes towards celibacy, evolving career aspirations, and the demanding nature of priestly training. It appears , another significant factor has emerged: the perception of bishops failing to uphold due process when priests are accused of sexual misconduct.
This perception, when combined with ongoing instances of alleged abuse within the Church, leads to further erosion in the confidence of the entire institution and also tarnishes the reputation of the priesthood as a whole. Bishops say pray for vacations . I say pray for the Bishops. They are killing the Church.