Benedict sought to remove abusive priests sooner
Associated Press correspondent Nicole Winfield reports:
The Vatican on Thursday released documentation showing Pope Benedict XVI sought as early as 1988 to find quicker ways to permanently remove priests who raped and molested children but was rebuffed.
A 1988 letter from then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger could serve as the Vatican's best defense to date that the future pope wanted to quickly remove pedophile priests but found himself stymied by church law.
In the letter, republished in Thursday's Vatican newspaper, Ratzinger complained that church law made it exceedingly difficult to remove abusers if they didn't request to be laicized voluntarily. He asked to get around the problem by finding "a quicker and simpler procedure" than a cumbersome church trial to punish those priests who "during their ministry were found guilty of grave and scandalous behavior."
He was turned down on the grounds that the priests' ability to defend themselves would be compromised.
The documentation was included in an article in L'Osservatore Romano explaining an upcoming revision of church law, which was last updated in 1983.
The article, penned by the No. 2 in the Vatican's legal office, highlighted some of the problems and loopholes of the 1983 Code of Canon Law's penal section that presumably will be addressed in the revision.
The Vatican has long sought to portray Benedict as having done more than anyone else at the Vatican to crack down on pedophile priests. But it has usually cited as his starting point a 2001 decision to have all abuse cases sent to his then-office, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
The Feb. 19, 1988 letter shows he sought changes far earlier given that his office was already hearing from bishops who were having trouble dealing with pedophiles.
Nevertheless, victims' advocates said one letter doesn't excuse decades of inaction when police, parents and parishioners should have been notified of abusive priests. They said nor does it excuse what they consider to be continued inaction by the pope in removing bishops who covered up abuse.
"Since when are public figures judged by one letter in a long, long career?" asked Joelle Casteix of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. "Since when do words on paper count more than actual behavior?"
As the clerical abuse scandal erupted earlier this year, Benedict was mired by accusations that as prefect of the congregation, he repeatedly refused bishops' requests to have abusers removed.
Ratzinger at the time was following laws and rules introduced by his predecessor Pope John Paul II, which largely left punishing such priests in the hands of local bishops, who often decided against conducting church trials because they found them too cumbersome.
John Paul had also made it tougher to leave the priesthood, hoping to stem the tide of thousands of priests who left in the 1970s to marry.
A consequence of that policy was that, as the priest sex abuse scandal arose in the U.S., bishops were no longer able to sidestep the lengthy church trial necessary for so-called laicization.
Rather than conduct the church trials or report abusers to police, bishops often moved abusers from parish to parish or sent them for counseling — actions which later resulted in lawsuits by abuse victims that bankrupted many U.S. dioceses.
Ratzinger's request for faster procedures was rejected by Cardinal Jose Rosalio Castillo Lara, who headed the Vatican commission responsible for implementing the 1983 code.
In a March 10, 1988 letter to Ratzinger, Castillo Lara said simplifying the procedures "would endanger the fundamental right of defense" of the priest while straying from the church's legal-based system, according to the letter reprinted in L'Osservatore.
In the end — amid the explosion of abuse cases in the United States and more recently Europe — the Vatican in 2001, 2003 and most recently this summer took steps to streamline and formalize norms so that abusive priests could be removed quickly without a church trial.
The Rev. Davide Cito, a canon lawyer at Rome's Pontifical Holy Cross University, said the 1983 code was problematic both in that it left it largely up to bishops to decide whether to intervene and at the same time discouraged them from taking tough action against abusers.
"What they want to do now is to make a penal law that is applied seriously, that will be more concrete and obligatory" for bishops, he said.
Monsignor Juan Ignacio Arrieta, the No. 2 in the Vatican's legal department, said that in the coming weeks proposals for revisions of the penal part of the code will be sent to Vatican consultants and advisers.
No date has been set for publication of the changes, which have been under study for two years.
Nick Cafardi, a canon lawyer who detailed the problems American bishops encountered in trying to deal with abusive priests in his book "Before Dallas," noted that the penal part of the 1983 code didn't undergo any "trial" period after it was issued.
"It went right from the drafters to being effective law - and therefore had no time to have the bumps worked out," Cafardi said in an e-mail. "And obviously there were bumps - so many that the American bishops threw up their hands and chose not to use the canonical penal process to deal with these priests."
Comments
So somehow, one letter he wrote about the defrocking process is now somehow deemed significant?
In the midst of a worldwide scandal involving the cover-up of hundreds of horrendous sex crimes across the globe, he writes one letter expressing concern that it "sometimes takes a long while to defrock bad priests." And his defenders claim this somehow matters?
How many children’s lives were destroyed before, during, and after the composition of this one letter? Where was the action to protect the most vulnerable in Benedict's care?
Since when are public figures judged by one letter in a long, long career? Since when do words on paper count more than actual behavior?
Copied from following link:
http://www.snapnetwork.org/snap_statements/2010_statements/120210_vatican_defends_popes_record_on_sexual_abuse_snap_responds.htm
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Posted by: Frank Dingle | December 2, 2010 10:14 PM
Frank it's time for SNAP and to a degree you to stop acting like nothing has been or is being done. The link is nothing but propganda from an organization bent not on healing but retribution who gets its aid from trial lawyers getting rich off SNAP's feeding them clients. SNAP is not interested in anything except retribution and punishment.
Posted by: Anonymous | December 3, 2010 1:01 PM
Anonymous: apparently Benedict and you have great love of the Catholic Religious as adapted in the Constantine Roman Empire alliance. Many including myself feel that is when the Catholic Faith was abandon. Jesus teaching of Love, Peace, Truth and Justice was compromised in the merger for secular power and control, etc.
These Bible quotes show the difference between the Catholic Secular Religion and Catholic Faith regarding teachings of Jesus.
• Mark 9:42 “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea.
• Luke 17:2 it would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble.
Sorry, one letter and no constructive action is not enough. At least that is my humble opinion.
Protect Kids, Not Predators!
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http://www.snapnetwork.org/
Posted by: Frank Dingle | December 4, 2010 11:27 AM
If any organization wants to help the Catholic church in this matter the best they can do besides pray is to encourage the church to stop being so proud of their traditions and convincing themselves that God wants us to pray to Mary and allows bingo or whatever and allow priests to marry. Priests are humans like all of us and arent closer to God because they dont marry. They are closer to God when they dedicate themselves to Him, married or single. If they dont want to marry fine. What this would do is encourage more heterosexual men to be priests. Is Snap encouraging the breaking down of unnecessary and unGodly traditions or the breaking down of bank accounts?
Posted by: Clay | December 4, 2010 1:36 PM
Since you're not a Catholic Clay I can only guess that you're in love with a priest and want to marry him. Why else would it matter to you?
Posted by: Anonymous | December 4, 2010 4:39 PM
Frank there has been constructive actions taken. More needs to be done, but to say none has been taken is a bold face lie. That is why I have no repsect for SNAP. They are not intersted in anthing except extracting vengenace. Nothing you are promoting encourages love, peace or justice. SNAP is out for vengencance and receives financial support from laeyers who are out to profit from this tragedy. SNAP never produces any constructive ideas and does nothing but promote the lies that nothing has been or is being done. That is my humble opinion.
Posted by: Anonymous | December 4, 2010 10:56 PM
I heard that in the United States, churches have paid more than $2 billion in compensation to victims. In Ireland, reports into clerical sexual abuse have rocked both the Catholic hierarchy and the state. A nine-year government study, published in May 2009, revealed that beatings and humiliation by nuns and priests were common at institutions that held up to 30,000 children. The investigation found that Catholic priests and nuns for decades "terrorised thousands of boys and girls, while government inspectors failed to stop the abuse." But can this problem be solved by money? I don’t think so…
Posted by: Custom research papers | December 5, 2010 10:52 AM
Clay: SNAP Mission Statement
SELF HELP:
By sharing our stories, we recognize that we are not alone, and we are not guilty for what happened to us. Gradually coming to a full knowledge of this empowers us to confront the truth, and to find healthy mechanisms for healing.
EDUCATION:
We work together to educate ourselves and our communities about the effects of the abuse.
PREVENTION:
Once we learn the truth about what has happened to us, we can then use that power to bring about change. When we put our voices together, we become so strong that we can no longer not be heard.
As a non-survivor supporter of SNAP with nearly 9 year of experience my brain, heart and spirit believe SNAP primary goal is to PROTECT KIDS. I believe my calling to serve is directed by the Holy Spirit
Protect Kids, Not Predators!
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http://www.snapnetwork.org/
Posted by: Frank Dingle | December 5, 2010 2:16 PM
Snap, God's mission statement. To educate kids about what He wants for their lives and to encourage parents to do so and to follow His example.
Posted by: Clay | December 5, 2010 2:52 PM
Clay: Yes, there is a difference between SNAP Mission Statement and God.
Anonymous: Lie is an awful strong word. We have difference of opinions. You may feel Benedict’s apologies, one letter, taken liberties with the truth, ignoring U.S. Bishop weakening and forgetting promises made in the US Child Protection Charter, meeting with a few survivors here and there, blaming the press, etc. Or, Pope Benedict habit of promoting bishops who left children and most likely still are leaving children in harms way as action. I think it is creative incompetence at best.
Pope Benedict like John Paul II lets Bishops support legislation that leaves our children in harms way. The Roman Catholic Bishops' Shell Game with Child Sex Abuse http://www.patheos.com/Resources/Additional-Resources/Roman-Catholic-Bishops-Shell-Game-with-Child-Sex-Abuse?offset=1&max=1
Yes, these are actions. They are actions that protect PREDATORS, not Children. Benedict protects the Catholic Religion, not the Catholic Faith of Jesus while our families and future generation are left in harms way.
Protect Kids, Not Predators!
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http://www.snapnetwork.org/
Posted by: Frank Dingle | December 6, 2010 11:21 AM
Frank the problem is if one listens to SNAP's version nothing has been fone or being done by the church which is sumply not true. SNAP also receives funding from trial lawyers to whom it sends potential clients for civil litigation which is where SNAP makes efforts. It also takes the approach of guilty until proven innocent on the subject of claims. I don't doubt your intentions just the organization you work for.
Posted by: Anonymous | December 6, 2010 1:14 PM
Anonymous and others: Your help is requested. Sincerely, I would like to know what good actions Benedict has done to help protect children? I don’t understand how one letter can be perceived has creditable action. Sadly, only one example of actions Benedict or the Hierarchies have done comes to mind. That is 20 plus archdiocese or dioceses publishing a partial list of predators.
Hopefully, you will be able to enlighten me. Thank you in advance, you for your time and efforts. it will be appreciated.
Protect Kids, Not Predators!
snapmd@comcast.net
http://www.snapnetwork.org/
Posted by: Frank Dingle | December 6, 2010 10:15 PM
Frank here are several I got from a real quick wikipedia search. This is not intended to indicate that there is not still considerably more to do, but that SNAP's continued insistence that nothing is being done is not true.
2008, the U.S. church had trained 5.8 million children to recognize and report abuse. It had run criminal checks on 1.53 million volunteers and employees, 162,700 educators, 51,000 clerics and 4,955 candidates for ordination. It had trained 1.8 million clergy, employees and volunteers in creating a safe environment for children
In June 2002, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) unanimously promulgated a Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. The charter committed the Catholic Church in the U.S. to the goal of providing a "safe environment" for all children and youth participating in activities sponsored by the Church. To accomplish this, the U.S. bishops pledged to establish uniform procedures for handling sex-abuse allegations against lay teachers in Catholic schools, parish staff members, coaches and other people who represent the Church to young people.The thrust of the charter was the adoption of a "zero tolerance" policy for sexual abuse
In June 2002, to ensure that each diocese/eparchy in the United States had "procedures in place to respond promptly to allegations of sexual abuse of minors", the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops also decreed "Essential Norms for Diocesan/Eparchial Policies Dealing with Allegations of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Priest or Deacons".
In April 2003, the Pontifical Academy for Life organized a three-day conference, entitled "Abuse of Children and Young People by Catholic Priests and Religious", where eight non-Catholic psychiatric experts were invited to speak to near all Vatican dicasteries' representatives. The panel of experts identified factors contributing to the sexual abuse problem.
The problem is SNAP's focus isn't on the present but the past. It is on a mission of punishment not solution. SNAP refers people to lawyers for lawsuits and those firms fund SNAP. At the end of the day SNAP will never be satisfied with anything. I am sorry to say SNAP is not as interested in solving the issue as punishing the church for it.
Posted by: Anonymous | December 7, 2010 1:13 PM
Frank this is my issue with SNAP.
http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2003/0915/054.html
I'm all for protecting victims. That doesn't mean making lawyers rich to punish. It means helping those victims and working build on what has been done so that there are no occurrences. I just don't think SNAP's relationship with those who rake in profits from it will do that.
Posted by: Anonymous | December 7, 2010 4:46 PM
Anonymous: Sorry, for the delay. I have been busy with several survivors other than those mentioned below. Also, this response has been hurried and it is not intended to be argumentative, but informative.
Thank you for your sincere efforts. You are right they did all you have stated. But, again in my humble opinion, they were PR moves and hoop-thru- the loop busy stuff that gave the appearance of action(s) and perhaps partly were done to meet insurance company’s requirements. The strong child prorective portions of the Bishop Charter have been removed, weaken or not followed.
FYI—yes, the actions you mentioned have been taken. However, Maryland Catholic Church related abuse rate is just slightly under the percentage figures in the John Jay Report release per year from 2002 to 2008. Imagine what they will be in later years when the current abused come of age.
Here are for recent examples of the Church ignoring what that promised.
1. In November, I heard from survivor whose rapist was dismissed or left the priesthood on what the survivor was told the church creditable charges of rape or from several 17 or below year old girls at a co ed Catholic High School. We believe ex-priest in now a social worker.
2. December 1st I received the following e-mail. The survivors’ therapist recommends the abuse be reported to the Archdiocese of Baltimore for healing. Here is the e-mail the survivor sent me which maybe less offenses for at least the survivor has not been insulted.
“Hi Frank,
I called the archdiocese abuse hot line and left messages 3 times that I wanted to schedule a meeting to report abuse. So far, I have not had any return call. I let Pete know this. I will continue to try to make contact. Do you have any suggestions? The number I've been calling is 1-866-417-7469 and the contact name is Judy Dobson.
Thanks.”
3.12/1/10 Sexual Abuse Allegations against former Scranton Jesuits -- http://citizensvoice.com/news/sexual-misconduct-allegations-surface-against-former-scranton-jesuit-1.1071040
The priest Fr. Neil P. McLaughlin was stationed at Loyola Blakefield in the 50’s and most likely did Theological studies at Woodstock College before and after ordination in 1959 where he most likely was a rent a priest at needing Maryland parishes. This is mentioned because this is a violation Article I of the original Charter.
4. 12/4/10 -- Wall Street Journal Report destruction of church documents in Munich, Benedicts old Archdioceses. Sadly, we have heard this about Baltimore from previous employees. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703350104575653110492675020.html
Just read your 2003 Forbes Article response when a went to entire the above. Therefore, this response is off the top of my head.
Survivors seeking justice from a Catholic Religion who spend 7 or million dollars annually in the 90's and used secular scandalize criminal like methods to protect predators who were sexually abusing kids is questionable. I am trying to be kind. Your fixation on this attorney working only for pay when successful vs church attorney's who are paid win or lose in light of recent breaking news of worldwide scandal is hard to understand. We are talking about children that are still being abused. FBI: Statistic indicate something like 1 in 5 kids are sexually abused by the time they are 18 and you fixated the little amount of money discussed in the Forbes article when the Vatican was and most likely still spending millions per year not counting what was being spend country to country worldwide to protect rapist. It is very hard for me to comprehend.
This is a worldwide epidemic with church employees rapist probably representing less than 2 or 3 percent.
Protect Kids, Not Predators!
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http://www.snapnetwork.org/
Posted by: Frank Dingle | December 8, 2010 10:36 PM
Frank no need to apologize for anything. I alos don't believe you are trying to be argumentative. While I may not completely agree with you I respect you are doing what you believe to be right.
Honestly I don't think the abuse is at the levels it was. What will come out is that it is coming down, but until it is zero we can never be content that enough is being done. The money you complain about the church spending is the direct resu;t of the attorney's SNAP aides. You can paint it however you like. Simply getting money will not help the past victims alone nor will it do anything to continue the process of making sure it is eliminated. SNAP and to a degree you are fixated on punishement for the past. To state nothing has been done is a lie. Assumming your FBI stat is correct then the chruch is probably below the average yet I don't here any outcry about nonreligious abuse victims? I dare say I'm more concerned then you because I don't see lining lawyers pockets with money as being of help to abuse victims or what good it does to stop future occurrences. Why is it SNAP and you talk so little about criminal punishement? Probably because there is no money in it for the lawyers and it doesn't punish the church.
I wonder if I called and said I was abused would you immediately take my word for that and assume the person guilty I fingered?
Posted by: Anonymous | December 9, 2010 1:43 PM
Frank, what does SNAP actually do besides recruit plaintiffs for lawyers?
It describes itself as a “network” In what way is it a network? How do victims keep in touch with one another? Does it utilize social media?
I understand why it might not list individual donors. But it doesn't list corporate donors. It's the only charity I can think of that doesn't list its major corporate sponsors. Why is this Frank?
Lastly, how does SNAP handle dissent within its ranks?
Posted by: Dana | December 9, 2010 5:52 PM
Anonymous: This exchange started because Benedict wrote a LETTER. Which in my perception is Benedict doing nothing or very little.
FYI: In the 90’s a Midwestern Church attorney stated that in around 500 cases, less than 1% were false and their attorneys dropped them when they found out. I think that article state that none got as far as Civil Court. At least one other Church attorney whom I think was in Dallas quite working for the Church, He stated something like he couldn’t be that legalistic when it was unjust, and deceptive or something like that.
This week we found out an estimate of over 2000 children were abused in the Netherlands. 257 in Benedicts old Archdiocese and the Vatican forced “Govt to grant immunity to clergy” http://www.examiner.ie/breakingnews/ireland/wikileaks-vatican-forced-govt-to-grant-immunity-to-clergy-485290.html#ixzz17otC31gF
Yes, I would believe you and do all I could to help you heal. Survivor’s honesty far exceeds the Vatican, Benedict and friends, etc., fancy world of reality. The have taken and continue to tale liberties with the truth that mock Jesus teaching on Truth and demonstrate a lost of Trust in God.
The Catholic Religion led by Benedict is a self serving secular empire like Constantine. The learned will from the Roman Emperors.
The good news is they are welcome back into the Catholic Faith for God forgives.
Protect Kids, Not Predators!
snapmd@comcast.net
http://www.snapnetwork.org/
Posted by: Frank Dingle | December 11, 2010 12:46 PM
Frank you taking my word alone is fine as long as all you are doing is helping me heal. That is unless part of that helping includes directing me to lawyers for lawsuits or circulating fliers that a church is protecting an abuser on my word alone. Somehow I can't help but believe SNAP operates under the idea guilty when accused.
We are all aware of the history of abuse. However, SNAP and you keep painting this picture that nothing has been done. If that is true why are you still going back 20 years to bring up abuse cases.
Unfortunately with every post you make SNAP and to a degree yourself sound like a vindictive organization out on a campaign of vengence rather than healing.
Posted by: Anonymous | December 14, 2010 1:02 PM
Anonymous: As far as I know except for Cote where the survivor identified his self and brought on a Civil Case because the police were to busy to investigate and Cote was to busy to come in for an interivew there have been no other names released in Maryland until confirmed by the police or church. Cote is alledged to have abuse 2 other boys out of state in the time he remained in good standing before the Press Conference.
These 16 situations from Maryland Catholic Conference Members since 2000 have alledged sexual abuse. This was a quick search of files. I think there are at least 5 to 10 more with police or newspaper accounts which I don’t have the time to search out. Their survivor total is nearly 50.
1. Cote, Aaron Joseph P Convicted Dominican 18 yr old boy filed suit 11/05 alleging abuse in 2001-02 when the youth attended Mother Seton Church in Germantown MD., Suit said abuse occurred in both MD and DC. Found guilty 7/09. 10 yrs probation 11/09 Washington, DC Source: Gazette 7.15.09 (add'l article); Gazette 11.23.09 (add'l article)
2. Cristancho Fernando 1985 P Accused Diocesan Removed 1997 for sexual misconduct with young woman (not a minor) in Arlington diocese. Cristancho arranged in vitro fertilization of woman in Colombia using his sperm. Triplets born in 11/01 (2 boys, 1 girl). Baltimore archdiocese learned about the children and fired Cristancho from parish in 7/02. Source MD Court of Special Appeals 10.27.08; Maryland Daily Record 10.27.08; Baltimore Examiner 10.30.08 ; Daily Record 10.31.08; Examiner 11.6.08; Statement by Bill Casey of SNAP 11.6.08; Daily Times 11.11.08; Examiner 11.23.08
Assignments: Detailed BA.org Assignment Record
3. 5/2003—Dean, Alfred A. 1989 P Indicted Josephite Suspended in 2002 after allegations that he molested a 14 yr old boy 4/02 at the church. Indicted on criminal charges in 5/03 but criminal charges dismissed by judge "at the request of the victim's family" 12/03. Baltimore, MD Source: Baltimore sun 12.12.03
4. Fell, Timonthy Exploitative Sex, associate pastor at St. Agnes Parish, was accused of having sexual relations with two married women in the parish, Source: http://www.votf-atlanta.org/news/news_item.asp?NewsID=3350 , http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2007/03_04/2007_04_05_Cassie_StJohns.htm , http://clericalwhispers.blogspot.com/2007/03/clerical-flings-in-baltimore-usa.html , http://www.eurekaencyclopedia.com/index.php/Category:Maryland_Dioceses ,
5. Girard, Steven P. Exploitative Sex and Child Abuse Source:
Baltimore Sun 4.04.02; Baltimore Sun 8.09.02; Statement by Archdiocese of Baltimore 4.04.04; Baltimore Sun 4.05.04 ; Daily Record 8.6.08
6. 10/2007--Lt. Cmdr. John Thomas Matthew Lee, 42, -- Naval Academy Chaplain, Source: http://www.examiner.com/a-1104712~Editorial__Cover_up__Navy_must_not_let_shame_threaten_security.html , www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-chaplain1205,0,6685772.story?coll=bal-baltimorecounty-storyutil , http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2007/11_12/2007_12_14_Chibbaro_Navy%20Priests.htm
7. 2003 -- Orr, Rev. Garrett “Gary” -- who then taught at Georgetown Preparatory School, was “substantially true,” Pipkin confirmed Thursday. Orr, who had already left to teach at Loyola College, denied the charge in 2003, and the school did not report the incident to police until May 2004, according to a Washington Times story last year. Source: http://www.examiner.com/a-671655~Jesuit_ousted_13_years_after_sex_allegations.html , http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/27/AR2006042702064.html ,
8. Rydzewski, Thomas A. 1998 P Convicted Diocesan Rydzewski was arrested for possession of child pornograpy and internet child pornography 12/01. Pleaded guilty 7/02 and was sentenced to 27 months in prison 11/02. He was caught as part of Operation Candyman Sting. Name appeared on Baltimore Archdiocese's 9/02 list of priests accused of abuse. List said that "possession of child pornography is immoral and a crime that causes great harm to children." On MD sex offender registry as of 1/10. Baltimore, MD Source:
Baltimore Sun 12.13.01; Times-Picayune 12.15.01; Baltimore Sun 6.7.02; Washington Post 6.8.02 ; Associate Press 7.16.02; Baltimore Sun 7.17.02; Archdiocese of Baltimore 9.25.02; Rocky Mountain News 3.20.04
Assignments:
Archdiocese of Baltimore 9.25.02
9. Brotzman, Steve — 37, died Aug. 31, 2005. The incidents involved girls in their middle school/early high school years.These incidents were immediately reported to the appropriate civil authorities. In accordance with Archdiocesan policy, counseling Source: http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2005_07_12/2005_09_15_Broadwater_TeacherDies.htm , http://www.archbalt.org/news/press-release-item.cfm?customel_datapageid_1265=19869
10. Cassidy, Kenneth -- Youth Minister -- Cassidy was arrested in Polk County, Fla., May 9 on charges that he sexually molested three youths while he was at St. Ann's Church, Marietta, in 1999 and 2000. . . . The Archdiocese of Baltimore reported in a press release that Cassity had worked from July 9 to Sept. 20, 2001 as coordinator of youth ministry at Sacred Heart Church in Glyndon, Md. Source: http://www.georgiabulletin.org/local/2002/05/16/g/
11. Czajkowski, David A -- Teacher -- the St. Thomas Aquinas School in Hampden The suit alleges that the fondling began in the spring of 2001, but school administrators did not remove Czajkowski from the school until February last year.Source: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bal-md.settle18jun18,1,2006300.story
12. Friedel, Charles Louis -- Volunteer Soccer Coach -- Arrested -- July 10, 2009 -- The archdiocese, which runs the Mt. Carmel Parish School soccer club, said Freidel had been removed from their program recently but had passed all of their background checks. Source: http://www.olmcmd.org/docs/friedelletter.pdf , http://www.wbaltv.com/news/20002225/detail.html , http://www.allvoices.com/news/5147698-soccer-coach-pleads-soliciting , http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2010-05-19/news/bs-md-co-friedel-20100519_1_girls-parents-girls-soccer-coach-text-messages
13. Sims, Alexander Michael – Volunteer, Cub Scout Leader and Soccer Coach – 4/20/2010 -- a 46-year-old soccer coach arrested last month in a sex-abuse case may have molested other children. . . St. Ursula Catholic Church in Parkville but had participated for several years in two Cub Scout packs — one from St. Ursula and another from St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church in Nottingham. Source: http://abolishsexabuse.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=470:soccer-coach-may-have-history-of-abuse-baltco-police-warn&catid=54:latest-news&Itemid=130 , http://wjz.com/local/sexual.abuse.girl.2.1643991.html
14. Unknown Adult Youth Minister—who was reportedly in a relationship with an underage girl.. . Saint Benedict's Church of Ridgely. Source: http://www.hometownannapolis.com/news/top/2007/03/10-28/Regional-news-briefs.html , Diocese, Plaintiffs, Settle Lawsuit In Employment
15. Priest was reported to police and archdiocese who was transferred out of state. Since the alledged charges were not found creditable there was no news article we have never released the name.
16. Priest who faculties were taken away by both Archdiocese of Baltimore and Washington after police reports were filed about suspicious activities. The alledged actions were reported to SNAP by a parent of the children. Priest was still volunteering in Catholic High School in 2008.
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Posted by: Frank Dingle | December 15, 2010 12:48 PM
Frank from what I saw in the what you provided there was nothing hidden and they were prosecuted. even in some tgat concern me like number 16 it appears actions was taken. You failed to mention when the two archdioscese took there action. Facts appear to be missing so drawing conclusions is difficult. I never said the problem didn't exist. I said SNAP and you painting the false picture that things have not changed in the church is wrong. It's a lie promoted by a vindictive organization whose sole purpose appears to be a vendetta.
You failed to address my concerns about directing people to lawyers or circulating fliers based solely on a lone accusation. You also did not answer any of Dana's questions.
At the end of the day the one thing that comes through is the appearance that punishment not healing is SNAP's goal. Add to that SNAP's association with lawyers who are exploiting the situation and it's hard for me to come to any other conclusion.
Posted by: Anonymous | December 15, 2010 4:05 PM
Dana: Sorry for the delay. I have been busy working with survivors and life in general. I missed your questions when asked but thanks to Anonymous I will now attempted to answer them.
I guess with out actual written records that I have talked to close to 500 and I believe less than 20 have contacted lawyers. SNAPMD forms networks of survivors who meet for breakfast, coffee, lunch or whatever way they can help each other including telephone and e-mail. Survivor or survivor’s advocates help survivors report to police or child protective services, or talk to reporters, etc. We have healing meetings. I think SNAP national stills has a discussion board or blog. Perhaps, the major corporate sponsors if there are any request to remain anonymous. I know there are bishops and priest who support us that wish to remain anonymous. Dissents! Well I spend time explaining to them why we can’t take the action they desire. Some leave in frustration and other leaflet or take action on their own. Regardless, they are welcomed back. Some explain it that we handle it like AA.
Anonymous: The actions the church has made FAILED. They should start with TRUTH. As said earlier the rate of church related sex abuse is about the same as before the charter. Perhaps, I should said there actions were a failure in protecting children rather than no action. Do you thing working to lower the reporting requirements for clergy is helpful to protect children? Benedict and his predecessor John Paul II the world most successful predator protector ever played the Crisis off as a U.S.A. thing, lead by the U.S. media. Then we find out the good Cardinal and now Pope old Archdiocese had more than double the cases reported in all 3 Maryland Catholic Conference members’ archdioceses and diocese. Nevertheless, he pal parroted John Paul and said it was a U.S. problem.
But, he wrote 1 letter and all is well.
Your conclusion is what you want it to be. We all see things differently. I don’t understand. But, it is what it is. May you have peace, hope and grace?
Protect Kids, Not Predators!
snapmd@comcast.net
http://www.snapnetwork.org/
Posted by: Frank Dingle | December 15, 2010 5:47 PM