Ah, yes, the Archdiocese of Baltimore says that Thomas Bevan will be removed from ministry but is that really enough? Overall, dioceses are not well known for following due process rules for anyone accused of anything so are Bevan's civil rights being honored?

Is he going to be criminally charged?

The history of Mount St. Mary's is only too well known.

People would put more stock in an independent organization doing the investigating rather than the church itself.

Why hasn't Archbishop O'Brien stated that the Archdiocese of Baltimore will start the process to have him laicized by the Holy See?

Has the archbishop scheduled to go to every parish where Beven served to personally encourage possible victims to come forward?

Sr. Maureen ,...You know perfectly well the "Why".These are Crimes Against Humanity and all the hierarchy and the clergy in the RCC knows it too. They do not wish to conform to any set of Laws in the USA or any other country where they sexually abuse our precious children, which they do knowingly, all over the world. Crimes have been committed and no one seems to want to BLOW THE WHISTLE! It is extremely important for the abused to do this along with anyone else that has knowledge of such hideous crimes against our children and marginalized young adults. We ARE our "brothers keeper" The RCC certainly isn't, in any way, shape or form.Let the RCC rot in it's own vomit for their lack of everything they preach.It seems to be the devil's playground, unless We The People care enough to stop them.

And yet these blokes are against abortion and they have their long Pinocchio noses in every political pie--trying to influence the health care debate through stupid Stupak (who by the way belongs to the fascist Christian group FAMILY with professed admiration for Mao and Hitler) and screaming unfair because the Baltimore City Council is making their pregnancy crisis centers hang signs describing services not available. Wow! These bishops are common criminals and they have the gall to say they stand for all things spiritual and the sanctity of life. Counseling assistance! An outrage! Where are Pattycakes and Ravensfan--two loyal apologists for the Catholic Church--the message they will say is pure and radiant and all the committed outrages they will ignore as acts of mere mortals--the Catholic Church itself being a disembodied and sanctified bride of Jesus-- unsullied to the core, so they will say, and we are supposed to believe this tripe. The Archbishop is a devious man. His is an Alford plea--he won't admit guilt even though there is enough evidence to convict. What a load of crock this church is and I will be accused by loyal Catholics who will overlook the serial and never ending sex allegations to call me a hater. I once thought this Church's days are numbered but there are too many fools in this world for it to suffer an early demise. It will stick around to stick its sticky finger where it doesn't belong for decades to come and that is the disheartening thing about this horrible church.
Ravensfan Anon

I can say based on the evidence they removed Thomas Bevan he'll probably be arrested very soon. Oh yes the courts will look into his age and probably put him in House arrest for the remainder of his life. Besides Thomas Bevan won't be getting his retirement checks (since he never had social security taken out of his paycheck and other taxes taken out) and will have to work for the rest of his life like the rest of the country that isn't retired. I wonder who is going to want to hire a convicted sex offender that has house arrest his the state no longer has retirement homes for elderly convicts.

We must look up to professional athletes like Michael Vick, Ray Lewis, Sabrina Williams,etc. We must tolerate Oprah and her obnoxious politics - not to mention narcissism.

The RCC is a world-wide organization with followers who range from overly zealous to indifferent. Why does it surprise you that there may be problems within the RCC? It is HUGE! It never claimed to be problem free!!!!

Other religions have suffered the same disgusting problems of sexual abuse of children. They are not given much press. It just goes away quietly.

Sexual abuse of children is a hideous sin. The RCC has not been as responsive to it as it should have been and that is reprehensible. But we are learning. In fact, we have learned. No body has all the answers at the beginning of the knowledge of a problem.

My son was hurt by a parish priest here and the priest was disgraced and not allowed to be a priest any longer. He had to go get a job and a place to live. I did not feel sorry for him. (My son suffered no long-term ill effects.)

I am not saying the RCC does not have a problem and I am not saying they have even come close to handling it properly in the past. I am not saying the RCC is not too involved in money, greed and politics. The Church is in trouble!!!!!

I call for reform. Let us start by protecting the children in the RCC and in ALL religions. We have tried to sweep it under the carpet for way too long and it does not go away. Screen all seminarians and possible ministers for sexual problems or proclivities. Good start!

I don't have all the answers. No one does. Hate-mongering is never an answer. Let's think of something positive and put it to work!!!

Anon – I was surprised that someone who hates the Church so much took so long to jump at the opportunity to go off on yet another diatribe about the evils of the Church. As with most of what you write it says very little. Wouldn’t conviction be up to law enforcement and the DA and not the Church? You already know my position on clergy abuse. It all needs to be exposed and the Church needs to make do what it can for those who were victims both of the abuse and the past denial and hiding of it. If there is enough evidence then arrest and convict him. I have no problem with that. I don’t need to call you what you already know you are Anon. Funny how you cry about being called a hater yet use the same thing on me when defending abortion. Kind of hypocritical wouldn’t you say? What exactly would I have to be an apologist for? You haven’t said anything that invalidates diminishes any teaching of the Church. All you’ve done is make a lot of charges and provided no substance. I also see you took a little time to take a swipe at the counseling centers as well. While I have no problem with the signs, excuse me if I blow off your self righteous outrage comment as the meaningless rant of an uninformed mind. Then again that description really fits your whole post doesn’t it? By the way who uses the word ‘blokes’. I haven’t heard anyone use it since I stopped working for a British company years ago.
ravensfan

I'm glad this monster finally got what he deserves. He hurt a family member of mine many years ago and that person is no longer alive to report it, so I am glad other voices have come forward. I hope his final years are as painful as the things he did to his innocent victims.

What are you Ravensfan an American verbal hegemonist? The church's teachings don't match the church's actions--put its money where its mouth is Ravensfan--that's what the church needs to do. You want me to separate the church's teachings from the church's actions--can't do it Ravensfan. I am not in shackles like you.
Ravensfan Anon

It is very sad, but abusers put themselves in positions where they will have access. This is true in EVERY church. There is a little Baptist church here where there was abuse and it was covered completely up...most of the congregation blamed the victim. We hear about it when it is the Catholic church because you can get someone to sue them. If you go to a lawyer and want to sue a small church....they don't want the case. But an opportunity to sue the Archdioces is worth going after. I am not condoning what happened...it sickens me. But it is everywhere...not just in the Catholic Church.

I have watched my whole family questioning their religion because of this so-called "holy man". I have watched my nephew's life take a tragic turn and now he is no longer here to add his testimony against this deviate. If he only knew the agony he put my nephew and subsequently my family through. It is a shame how one man can get away with what he did and still be able to live in society. More people need to come out if they have not already and tell their stories. Our family is hurting: and he remains free. Help us give him what he deserves.

Anon – It’s the very fact that we aren’t the shackled brainwashed drones that you and Robert think Christians are that cause the variation between teaching and actions. If I use your logic then our current Constitution isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on because we have had government officials committed injustices to African Americans, Native Americans, interned Japanese Americans during WWII, or any other wrongs the government is guilty of doing. Your argument actually supports what opponents of programs of needle exchanges and supplying condoms argue. That action can’t be separated from teaching. The truth is like so many people today you want to do what you want freedom from any moral limitations or for them to be whatever you think they should be. Just like my kids try and rationalize why they shouldn’t have to do their things they know they should. Since you really can’t argue against the teachings themselves, other than the obvious one that no one can prove beyond doubt God exists, you resort to arguments submerged in logical fallacies