When Cardinal Dolan was the Archbishop of the Milwaukee
Diocese , there were claims made of sexual abuse by clergy .
Reparations were ordered by the Legal System. Archbishop
Dolan moved $$$$$ from the Dioceses to the Cemetery fund
leaving no money for the victims . Cardinal Dolan's reward was to
be elevated to the New York Diocese aka the Big Show .
And New York City treats him like a STAR . Disgraceful.
35
This goes to prove that there were paedophile rings operating in the Catholic Church at the highest level worldwide. These were sustained by the male power structures of the Church, the police (in every country we find lost files and failures to investigate) and the judiciary. The major role of the Church in education and organising youth clubs allowed them to recruit and groom many young people for abuse. It also attracted those with paedophilia into its ranks. We had at least 10 serial abusers in Dublin Diocese alone: http://www.thejournal.ie/one-in-every-14-dublin-priests-accused-of-child...
The Church didn't see paedophilia as a serious crime, but rather as an 'illness'. We had our own Archbishop of Dublin sanctioning guidelines which discouraged reporting: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/paedophile-priests-can-avoid-sanction-un...
16
Such a disgustingly sorry story. McCarrick should be tried in criminal court, or, at the least, forced to register as a sex offender.
Church leaders have exempted themselves from their money-grubbing and sexual wrongs and then preach against such sins to their congregations.
It's so very comforting to no longer be beholden to catholicism or any religion.
15
Let priests marry (women). This will attract sexually normal men to the priesthood and Catholic Church will be better off for it.
18
another big surprise
3
What is the connection supposed to be between the reports about the seminarians or priests and these allegations? How old were these "young men"? Is anyone saying that whatever happened was not consensual?
5
The Church has many failings, but for this issue one must recognize that celibacy is not normal. To remain celibate for decades would harm anyone. To hide your sexuality is damaging.
These men (and the nuns) should be allowed (encouraged) to have normal relationships - same sex or not. The pedophiles still need to be stopped and jailed, but allowing people to live more normal lives would go a long way in helping the church's future.
30
At least Father McCarrick did not say as Trump has said in response to 19 different sexual assault accusations, "I would never sleep with any of those women, they aren't good looking enough."
7
Like a victory lap for Cardinal Dolan and the NY Senate GOP. Cardinal Dolan said the CVA would be toxic for the church.... convenient timing to disclose sec abuse after lobbying for 6 months to suppress access to due process for survivors by claiming history abuse was "too long ago...witnesses die....memories fade...records are unavailable..."
All of those falsehoods revealed the day the Senate closes. We will not forget.
16
Any belief system that can get you to believe absurdities will eventually lead you to do atrocities, for if God is with you how can you do wrong?
And there is no belief system more absurd than Christianity. And the Catholic faith is the most ridiculous.
11
My friends and I were abused by Father James Beine, an archdiocesan priest, in Saint Louis in the 1970's. The Catholic hierarchy simply moved Beine from parish to parish, well aware of his pattern of abuse.
Beine was finally defrocked, but not prosecuted. He then joined and was ordained in another Catholic order, the Ukrainian Catholic Church, which has a reciprocal relationship with the Roman Catholic Church, and continued his pattern of abuse.
Beine was finally arrested and prosecuted in the 1990's, after exposing himself to a student. He spent a few months in jail, but his case was overturned on appeal.
The way the Catholic Church turned a blind eye to abuse of this sort for many years, and still does, is horrifying.
34
Thank you to the reporters of this story for providing the facts of this case. How horrible for the teenage boy who experienced this.
I was so sad to hear this news. "Gut punch" is right. McCarrick was a hero.
Cardinal McCarrick visited our parish about a year ago and gave sermons at two masses. Although our parishoners are mostly white and affluent, McCormick began by addressing the immigrant Latino members of the community, delivering his sermon first in Spanish before repeating it in English. I can't remember the substance of what he said, only that it exuded intelligence and regard for social justice (not everyday fare for us.)
4
My parents attended an event years ago in Newark where Cardinal McCarrick was present. At the time he was the Archbishop of Newark. They had a very nice conversation with him and found him to be delightful. He was a very holy and devout man. My parents are deceased now but would be shocked to hear this sad news.
I feel sorry for the victims but I also feel sorry for Cardinal McCarrick. I would like to remember all the good works he has done for the Church and the people. I will pray for both the victims and the Cardinal. This is what Jesus would want us to do.
10
Another get-out-of-jail-free card masquerading as 'grace'.
27
So very sorry. The sympathy you show for this predator is not accepted.
31
Why were predator priests protected and passed on to fresh fields in other parishes? Because at least some of the bishops were predators themselves. And how had they made their way up the ladder?
25
It's been speculated there was another reason Benedict abdicated to spend his life in solitude and meditation.
10
The Roman Catholic Church has and still resists cleaning its own house, dragging its feet and only doing anything --and the minimum at that-- when it has evidence publicly rubbed in its face, leaving it with no moral authority nor trustworthy guidance to be followed in any area whatsoever. Trusting the Catholic Church for spiritual leadership shows the same lack of intellect as trusting Trump to act in the United States' best interests.
26
Interesting that a predator is attending social justice rallies.
Maybe paying reparations to his victims would be more practical and to the point.
31
"The harder they come/The harder they fall/One and all." Jimmy Cliff
5
It was fairly well known decades ago. A priest friend once told me that McCarrick would invite groups of seminarians to his summer house and some lucky one would be invited to share his bed. I was assured that it was all very innocent. I did not believe it for a second. That is not innocent adult behavior. It’s too bad because he was in other ways an effective bishop. This is a structural problem for the Church that will never be solved while the priesthood remains male only.
33
Virtually all of these Catholic priests have abused boys at or just past puberty, not girls, so they're not pedophiles. There have been thousands of male victims of these homosexual priests over the past few decades but as of yet no #HeToo movement seeking justice and change in the industry providing the venues for assaults by adult males of boys and young men: Catholic churches and their related religious facilities - such as seminaries.
Why? Sacred cows?
18
Can't believe this comment is being published by the NYT! Firstly, many thousands of girls were abused by Catholic priests. Here's just one disgusting example: https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/paedophile-priest-abused-gi...
Due to difficulties in investigation of child abuse, there are no concrete numbers. However, an article stated that at least 15% of victims were under 10 years of age: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/crimes-violence/201005/priest-ab...
It states: "In contrast to the low estimate of victimized females by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, a random survey of over 7,000 active Catholics in the U.S. and Canada found a closer ratio, that 1.7 percent of the females and 3.3 percent of the males had been sexually abused in childhood by a priest. In any case, a significant number of girls have been victimized by priests. Such sexual relationships with female parishioners reinforce a traditional male power dynamic."
As the age of sexual consent in most countries is 18, most of these incidents are illegal. I don't understand why the Psychology Today article uses the age of 14 as a marker. The article estimates that at least 20% of the victims became suicidal.
13
And yet here are millions upon millions of gay men who are not pedophiles and do not prey on children.
The abuse of children by pedophile priests is about access, not attraction: boys make convenient targets since they serve as altar boys and have a perceived need for male role models and 'father figures'. Catholic girls are not encouraged to spend time alone with priests or to view them as role models.
A credible case might be made that the Catholic priesthood by its very nature (celibacy, secrecy, male-only) appeals to men who struggle with sexual pathologies: the priesthood is a convenient place for those whose psychosexual development was stunted or warped, leaving them unfit to persue adult sexual relationships. --Apologies to those among the priesthood who serve with honor.
12
Actually most men straight or gay choose to molest boys because it is the ultimate power trip for a male to dominate another male.
5
I think it is obscene that these men get away with their abuse for years, if not decades before anything is really done about it.
12
He is old, probably unable to defend himself in what was really a kangaroo court.
His God or a real court should deal with him.
8
Why has the Vatican waited 2,000 years to name this a crime and demand the secular authorities deal with it?
Really? 2,000 years and it still goes on?
All I can say is, Thank Gaud I'm an Atheist!
12
Rosa,
I am certainly glad you are not in my Church, the Catholic Church. Thank God for big favors.
As horrific as this sexual abuse is and it certainly is, I will remain Catholic until my dying days. Jesus is the one I look up to and seek when I am in despair. He has never failed me yet.
I keep asking when Archbishop Rembert George Weakland and the Milwaukee Archdiocese will be disciplined for the horrific criminal abuse of innocent children, their actions to hide information and relocate known offenders out of this diocese. The story of deception, denial, defensive strategy and ultimate bankruptcy to avoid paying for offenses is heartbreaking.
18
The religious are a protected class, obviously.
3
Not until priests are allowed to marry;
not until women are allowed to be ordained;
not until women religious are given status and rank in the Roman Catholic Church,
Not until sexual orientation is a no longer a qualifier to membership;
Not until then, will the Roman Catholic Church experience a rebirth.
Words from a former novice who left when the leaving was good.
58
He does not remember. How convenient for him.
30
Neither did Reagan during the Iran-Contra hearings.
12
Only he will know if a higher power forgives him....seems to have an eloquent publicist who can spin the meaning of his contrition...of course he has no memory of it...just something he'd prefer to keep out of his mind.....sad commentary though
3
I do not believe a word of any of this.
Here in the Chicago Archdiocese, we are well familiar with the varied South Side bust-outs that suddenly wake up at age 62 and realize they hadn't quite financially planned for their golden years and, after reading handouts from a skeevy group called "SNAP" (Survivors Network of Those Abused By Priests) about others cashing in with the assistance of an anti-Catholic "lawyer" from Minneapolis, they decide to throw the accusations on just about any eldertly cleric and see what sticks.
This "repressed memory syndrome" nonsense has been discounted in every appellate court in the land as ridiculous, but reputations once stained with this smear never recover from the anti-Catholic bigot "lawyer's" accusations and press conferences, specifically targeted to increase the possibility of a large payday just to go away.
Suddenly "remembering" that Father MacGillicuddy "touched" you after over 50 years ?
Hogwash.
8
If it was widely known that this guy slept with his semiarians and that he was told to stop and that he has settled several suits, then you are just choosing not to believe that he did any of this in the face of plenty of evidence otherwise. Your "evidence"- somebody wants a handout- is what doesnt hold up.
38
This is why I left the church several years ago. The cover ups for these monsters is unforgivable.
25
The hypocrisy of the the RCC, which is supposed to be about the healing power of confession (at least, in part), seeking to continue to evade legal justice concerning its now too abundantly clear history of pedophilia and other kinds of sexual abuse, is totally sickening. Every priest who's committed any form of sexual abuse should publicly admit it, stating when he did it as well as any and all actions he and others took to cover it up, seek God's forgiveness, and willingly pay Caesar his due, even if it means his going to jail and risks the RCC's financial ruin! That would be the right--and Christian--thing to do. Statute of limitations are mere technicalities, unbecoming of anyone claiming devotion to the divinity and teachings of Jesus Christ.
8
next up, Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan.
22
Suspended! He should be defrocked and jailed. But no, The Catholic Church will protect him just like they have protected all their other Pervert Priests.
20
They're not perverted they're gay men.
4
The main victim in this story was 16! He was a child - that is perverted.
1
Suspended? He should be jailed!!!!
14
I knew him when I was young. I heard about his behavior from a good friend and know at least one person he attempted to assault. However, I was not a victim myself so I felt I could not accuse.
I do remember him stating on the news early during the Boston sex scandal that incidents greater than 30 years ago should not be pursued. Makes sense now.
72
Sharp pain hits me bullet-like reading this article. Seeing myself as the 45 year-ago victim here, would I go public disgracing the the Cardinal's legacy? No. In support of which as a student at The Catholic University of America (early Sixties) we knew Fr. McCarrick as our devoted chaplain. The priest's zeal and dedication absolutely lifted our entire student body--especially integrating North and South America undergraduates. Above all
I remember him as one preaching in Spanish at the normative Latin Mass. The man's prophetic ministry at CUA anticipated The Second Council of the Vatican soon to be inaugurated. Can I believe the accusation making these head lines? Knowing weakness, I easily can--name it even 'sin' sad to say. Old myself as this man coming forth, would I go public a half century later giving another 'body to drag through the streets?' The motivation underlying the decision of this informer coming out half a century later? Knowing the heart of Cdl.Theodore E. McCarrick, I chose only to 'place my finger to my lips' (Job:40) and pray.
5
"The motivation underlying the decision of this informer coming out half a century later? "
Often a person tells a story (yes, years or decades later) in order to heal themselves.
19
We do not know the heart of another. Priests may have been effective, even compassionate, in ministry to some but abusive to others.This was not a one-time event if the contents of the article are to be believed. Why question someone coming forward decades later? He had to live with the trauma for decades, whether or not McCarrick accepts his guilt or cannot remember everything. If one or two events perhaps he has blanked it out. Does not make him less guilty. If this was a pattern, unless he has dementia he remembers something. My 60+ Y/o pastor was removed from ministry when two women came forward who had been abused by him as teens when he was advisor to a youth group as a young priest. One woman had thought he had left the priesthood so had decided never to come forward.Then she saw his photo in the Catholic paper and contacted the second woman, whom she suspected had been abused also. Both went to the diocese Why? They did not want more children harmed and because the knowledge that he was still a priest had traumatized them again; he confessed. Their experience and trauma deserved to be validated, even if the statute of limitations had run out and no matter how good he was to others. Victim blaming and questioning victims' motives have no place in this. Look at it another way, do you support police cold case squads that catch rapists who committed crimes decades ago because DNA identification has progressed? Yes? Don't victims of clergy abuse deserve the same?
32
I've seen up-close the emotional devastation of priest-rape on young boys (my grade school classmates), and seen the church openly tolerate and move this monster to yet another parish, and then I'm sure another one... He told us he was raised in an Irish church orphanage where things were "a lot tougher" - letting us know he was raped... so don't report him... the whole process is sick and unforgivable. The public relations piety is old, the church as weathered many scandals and organized countless horrific acts (Inquisition, Crusades etc.) It'll remain, but it should in this country at least be profoundly, permanently weakened by the recognition it's been a pedophile's kingdom giving lip service to god.
25
Suspended from ministry?!? How about SENTENCED TO PRISON.
69
The statute of limitations has run out...
5
Like it or not, it is well past the statute of limitations. That particular fact is a problem of American law, not of the Catholic Church, though it is tough to imagine meeing a "beyond a reasonable doubt" standard this many years later even if the statute did not apply.
3
More thoughts and prayers-how about some jail time?
35
The Catholic Church terrorized youngsters in its schools day after day with promises of eternal damnation for having so much as an "impure thought" or seeing a movie they deemed "condemned," all the while committing these horrors. They are a crime syndicate. They need to be stripped of their wealth and made to pay reparations to everyone they damaged.
60
Enough already! Charges from 45 years ago? Really? That is far beyond the statute of limitations and while I agree in due process it is a little late for that at a public level. Whatever he did or did not do he will be facing judgement at death according to Roman Catholic teaching,
There is a special place in hell for Roman Catholic religious who are guilty of such crimes - so please stop reporting 45 year old allegations that are far beyond the statute of limitations. He will or he won't get his down the road and will be judged by a power greater than us all.
2
Well, that God you insist that we allow to deal with this case certainly ignored all the children this "Priest" molested for a lot of years. What if his crimes occured in the lat 10 years? Should we leave it to God to deal with him? Your God has obviously ingnored this sexual pervert's moral crimes fo about half a century already.
17
Never stop reporting. Ever.
36
Didn't it ever dawn on you that the reason the Church supports "statue of limitations" is because the Church knows, and has always known, of the crimes committed by the clergy?
And, haven't you ever wondered exactly WHY the church has never insisted that its criminal clergy be jailed by the secular societies?
I'm atheist and one of the reasons I am is because I have watched for 70 years just exactly who it is that is abused in this world.
If I can see it why couldn't the Vatican?
Why couldn't God?
In fact, that becomes the question, doesn't it?
If God is all-seeing, all-powerful and all-knowing, then how is it that even one child in the history of the world has been harmed?
Your calling on the punishments of Hell is laughable given a God that could have utterly prevented any harm at all to a child.
It always comes down to the ethics.
13
I was condemned to Roman Catholic Convent school in Vermont that was a house of fear and trauma in the first grade. I nearly took my life one day in the fourth grade and my parents never knew or desired to in all honesty.
Instead of tenderness, affection and dignity and respect, we as children were imbued and tormented by guilt and shame as well as the great terror of burning in some Hell forever. All carefully crafted to keep you from leaving the cult or disobeying endless “sins” such a looking at a pretty young girl across the aisle. Then the raging meanness! These nuns and priests were deeply disturbed products of trauma who needed deep ongoing psychotherapy and decontamination from distorted thinking errors and violence.
I knew they were crazy back then, however; I had now idea how twisted and perverted they really were behind closed doors. Now their day of reckoning has arrived. Seize the trillions, help all who they have crippled and killed and do the work of the very Christ they chattered endlessly about. No more child rape rings for these strange people living in the dark ages of ancient history!
96
I’m sorry for your experience. It’s not like that for everyone.
7
sorry Mike....it's endemic
5
Mike: that's true... however, the fact that it is "like that" for even ONE child is kind of the question, isn't it?
And the fact that that number is in the millions over the last 2,000 years is an even BIGGER WHY?
And then there is the biggest WHY of all time: WHY have supposedly decent people deliberately ignored these crimes?
4
It's long past time for our do-nothing Congress to seriously investigate this plague. Freedom of religion is important, but it is not "freedom to abuse," "freedom to rape children," or "freedom from accountability when the law is broken."
We need to know, after all these last 15 years of revelations that never stop, how extensive this problem is in the Catholic church and in other religions. We need to know why religious leaders have not historically assisted civil authorities in holding molesters accountable. We need to know what clergy will do to make sure that we don't keep seeing these allegations and these horrific behaviors toward the innocent and the vulnerable.
Trusting the Vatican to handle it won't work. Neither will trusting the leaders of any other faith group. This is a widespread problem that affects our whole society. Do your job and investigate, Congress. If need be, write some laws!
22
Plague? What are you talking about? Did you even read the article? As usual, the accusation is practically ancient history. The cardinal is accused of one act over 45 years ago. That hardly constitutes a "plague" that needs to be "investigated" by Congress.
And to say that the Church hasn't cooperated with civil authorities is simply ludicrous. Statistically, the Church has been one of the safest environments for children in the last 15 years.
3
Report all suspected abuse to the police. The Church cannot be expected to, and has no business policing itself.
27
One murder is equal to life in jail.....when you're talking about right or wrong, this is not civil or criminal law.....how long ago doesn't matter
whatever happened to the separation of church and state. This guy should be in prison. And so should many other priests, bishops, and cardinals.
One good thing to come out of this awful process is that these guys has helped millions of people dissociate from the Catholic Church.
44
You don't have to listen to Bishops or Priests whom you don't respect in order to maintain the critical elements of the Catholic Faith. To us, the Eucharist is Center. The Priest is just a vehicle and the Bishop has no moral authority higher than our understanding of scripture. I hate to hear people agonizing about going to Confession. It is a man made rule and not one we have to follow. A private confession to God is all we need. Deepening one's faith does not mean following your Bishop.
25
You are lucky to live in an age when not following the RC clergy is not a crime. Thousands have died for what you happily and safely believe today. And maybe one day this broken and destructive religion will again wield extreme power. Better to rid society of its subversive superstitions than to smugly assume all will be well.
16
To catch an 87 year old rapist for what he did some 45 years ago with a minor actually is quite impressive. That RC church knows how to play the game.
24
It is about time the so-called Leaders were held accountable. Our Cardinal Law was treated like a Prince in Rome when he fled prosecution in Boston. Now I would like to see an investigation of Cardinal Dolan who allegedly hide millions from victims in Milwaukee by moving the money to the Priest's Cemetery Fund where it was beyond the reach of Lawsuits. All who are guilty of complicity should be held accountable.
69
"He could face further punishment by the Vatican,...or dismissed from the priesthood entirely."
That should have happened here. Why didn't it? His bogus "memory loss" is inexcusable. Kick him out!
And, TAX ALL CHURCHES.
89
About time somebody had to pay for their crimes.
7
Fiat iustitia et ruat caelum.
Latin tag. "Let justice be done though the heavens fall."
How dreadful these things are! How dreadful it is t to see the elderly and infirm, pulled from some lofty position--
--and dragged in the mire.
I do indeed remember the case of Cardinal Bernardin. Who handled those horrendous accusations in a spirit of meekness and humility. And I do indeed remember. . .
. . .that the accuser withdrew his charges. . . .
. . .and there was a photo of the two men clasping hands.
With Cardinal McCarrick, gosh! I don't know. But my fears outweigh my hopes. Over many years, unspeakable things have happened. And deftly, implacably, they were--
--COVERED UP.
I guess--with the astonishing advent of the "Me Too" movement--we know all about that, don't we. A veil of silence drawn over unspeakable things. Wicked things.
And I end where I began. The words--now more than ever--should be resounding over these United States:
"Let justice be done though the heavens fall."
Do I hear an "Amen!" somewhere?
Your Eminence?
11
These are our kids who were molested. He does not need to go to the Vatican in Italy thousands of Miles away. He should be tried in America they are Americcs’ kids. They are not Vatican kids. They are not Pope Alexander Vl kids!
32
The second Borgia pope certainly had no children.
1
I shall never forget an incident years ago when I served on the board of a local non-profit. The Board President, a Catholic, was talking to another Catholic member about recent news stories of horrific sexual abuse by a Boston priest that had for years been covered up by the diocese. The president said, "18 months and this story will go away." I'm so glad it has not. If Catholics bothered to read the Bible they'd know that Peter was married as was Paul at least at some point since he was a member of the Sanhedrin. This celibacy practice is rarely observed by priests anyway, and the requirement is a recipe for disaster.
47
Paul was never a member of the Sanhedrin. Good grief.
2
Why do we continue to allow the Catholic Church to exist? In spite of what their clueless leadership says, events have shown that they have a worldwide policy of tolerating the rape of children, and protecting the abusers. We have this hue and cry over children being separated from their families at the US border, yet their is nary a peep about an organization that has been raping our children for hundreds of years and covering it up.
It is time to declare the Catholic Church a criminal enterprise. The priests who did the crime, the bishops who covered it up, the cardinals who authorized the policy and the pope who turns a blind eye while lecturing the world on morality, should all be arrested, tried and if convicted, sentenced to long prison terms. The RICO statues should be applied to the Catholic Church, their assets seized as fruits of a criminal enterprise, their tax exempt status revoked, they should have to disgorge $ Billions in restitution.
It is past time to put a stop to these perverted practices and shutter the Church.
78
Amen to that. My thoughts exactly.
8
@Bruce: A criminal enterprise? Your thought process is askew. (Meanwhile, if you're looking to prosecute a religious sect, take a look at Scientology.)
You are really calling for the end of all houses of worship for EVERY belief (Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Muslim, etc.) - and yet even ATHEISTS can be (and are) pedophiles!
IMO, you're barking up the wrong tree, b/c you will never stop perverts (of any religious persuasion or of NO religious persuasion) from being perverts. You might as well claim only Baptists have issues with homosexuals - and that would be an equally false statement.
7
There have been pedophile scandals in many different denominations, but to me the issue is the hypocrisy of both the perpetrators and their protectors. They are supposedly men of God and adherents of Christ, but they violate all basic tenets in their abuse of especially vulnerable childre and adolescents. Shame on them.
5
I left when i was 13 when it was left up to me if I wanted to continue going. In hindsight one of my better decisions as it has become a safe harbor for sick pedophiles under the guise of religion . The fact that the church actively sheltered and purposefully evaded prosecution for known peds is indefensible and I am surprised that the arrogance and hubris of them still standing at the alter preaching to the faithful of how they should live their lives and to behave and that people haven't abandoned them is really bizarre to me 40 years later.
45
It might be too late for criminal prosecution but it's never too late for moral conviction.
If the Cardinal really believes in what he has preached for years, then he must know what awaits him after death. Let's hope he's a true believer.
21
No, they don’t pay in an afterlife.
It’s all mumbo jumbo.
Punish them here.
48
As an altar boy and student in the catholic education system from 1st thru 9th grade, I never experienced or heard of any "strange contacts" with me or with my friends.
Saying this, I wish the Church would establish an order for those spiritual folks that would serve their desire to practice the sacraments and follow their natural instincts in matters of human relationships.
The binding of feet ended long ago.
10
Pope John Paul II, like Pontius Pilate looking at Jesus, washed his hands of the pedophile scandal, preferring to kick the can down the road because he didn't want HIS reign to be tainted. Pope Benedict barely acknowledged the scandal, but at least had the decency to resign. Pope Francis continues to pretend, for the most part, that the pedophile problem doesn't even exists. Ireland appears to be the only country where anyone is actually taking the centuries of abuse seriously.
23
Sexual abuse by some members of the catholic hierarchy is an abomination, hiding behind a doctrine that supposedly preaches love in the name of God; what a farce, giving fallible men the power to assault their victims with impunity...until now (and usually too late for repair). This is, of course, not unique for these religious thugs, as we can witness similar iniquities in the military, schools, at restaurants, health providers, government. We need to develop concurrent ways to control anybody in power and with the potential to abuse it...before it's too late.
17
settlements should be made public....disgusting
16
I am not RC, but I have high regard for the generous public ministry of Cardinal McCarrick to the extent I’m aware. Details regarding accusations against him have not been disclosed to the public, so rushing to judgment is entirely inappropriate. Obviously, clergy abuse of anyone is offensive not only especially to victims who have suffered such injustice and betrayal, but to the office clergy are to uphold and honor. And sexual abuse of children by clergy has to be the most offensive of all abuses there are. Nonetheless, much more needs to be known before this horrible situation involving Cardinal McCarrick is fairly understood. The fact that the Church (all of it, not merely RC) is, and for valid reason, often suspect these days, becomes potentially problematic for interpreting reports like this one.
6
I am Catholic and was always a fan of McCarrick. I am so stunned, disappointed, and angry. I also love aspects of the Catholic Church -- the Eucharistic experience and its social ministry. But I've had it. My question: why don't the women of the Catholic church rise up and say "we are no longer going to contribute to the church until you (1) ordain women priests; (2) embrace the beauty of human sexuality; and (3) remove the restrictions on birth control. I do not mind that the Church asks us to recognize that abortion takes a life but there must be exceptions for women who exercise their conscience in a different way. So that's it for me: I want women to have the ability to have the highest offices in the Church; I want the Church to end its obsession with sex; and I want the Church to embrace birth control for a whole variety of reasons. Seriously: women of the Church unite!!!!! And I hope the Pope defrocks McCarrick.
25
Mary,
Thank you for sharing your voice. The Church needs more women involved. As a Catholic man, I'm tired of hearing what other men have to say. It's high time for women to have a more active role. The Church and its flock will only benefit.
3
and for 45 years that teenager has weathered a rather difficult adulthood. i know i have. my molester went to jail for many years and as far as i know is still there. but at the age where i am about to apply for medicare i hold no anger towards him. my anger has been reserved and served with a loud voice to every authority figure who has happened upon me during a bad day. i do not care for them and i let them know it always.
i avoided parenthood and matrimony to not be bothered with authority figures who always spout opinions. as for the psychopaths that sit in JUDGEMENT their own perdition awaits.
16
McCarrick is an example of the worst that the church scandal has to offer. Years ago while still responsible for the New Jersey area dioceses, Bishop McCarrick was asked by New Jersey to cooperate with their inquiry of potential abuse by priests. McCarrick's response could only be described as partial cooperation. He released names of priests who abused children in attacks that took place far enough in time that the statute of limitations protected those predators from prosecution. Attacks that recorded by the church but liable to prosecution as they did not extend past the statute of limitations, were withheld.
McCarrick represents the problem rather than the solution. Hopefully the church will purge itself of these predators and those that protect them.
35
Maybe it will come out about his beach parties with seminarians at the Jersey Shore. And even with a priest shortage, he always had two young handsome priests as his secretaries.
13
What is it that has led to such sad and harmful by people who should be especially sensitive to respecting and serving?
3
NO recollection? Unreliable memory?
How can anyone NOT recollect if he or she sexually abused a child?
With now thousands of accusations finally coming to light, the Catholic Church resembles more and more what its been all along but a Worldwide Tax Exempt Empire Pedophile Club.
Shameful, despicable and cowards hiding their evil intentions under Jesus name.
75
there's no mention that he abused a child.
1
"NO recollection? Unreliable memory?"
Are you talking in general terms? This doesn't seem to be relevant to this article.
3
Paragraph 1, or are you splitting hairs?
1
Time for the Roman Catholic Church to disband and its billions turned over to honest, responsible authorities in service, including via education, of ending the enslavement of hundreds of millions to fairy tales-based propaganda.
69
Have you ever visited the Vatican?!?! It's trillions, not billions!
29
Fairy tales tend to be benign. Eternal damnation less so.
Service?! Roman Catholic charities lead the way in an array of services to many Americans! Especially in big cities!!!
8
I would like NEVER to read again about such charges being 'beyond the statue of limitation.'
PLEASE.
92
I have not heard of a statute of limitations for bank robbers. It seems that crimes against people matter less. When a bank is robbed it loses a trivial amount of its assets but the bank robbers including the driver of the getaway car get long sentences. A priest severely damages the life of a parishioner and is likely to be protected by his bishop. In my opinion they should both get the same punishment as would the bank robbers.
2
Perhaps before you write a comment you should spend two seconds looking up the issue. To my knowledge every western country has a statute of limitations for Bank robbery.
1
Why, in heaven's name, did the cardinal even make such a disingenuous and -- no doubt, to the victim and investigators, insulting -- statement maintaining innocence? As the article noted, his reputation in his dioceses was well known. How the Church could have not only turned a blind eye to the abuse and dalliances for so many years -- and then keep grooming McCarrick for greater positions of responsibility -- is horrifying, and speaks volumes about his mentors. And while we finally have more senior abusive clergy personnel starting to be held somewhat accountable, it is still a sad cry from the retribution due.
55
I'm glad this man is being (somewhat) held accountable. And I'm glad the man who was abused when he was young was believed, taken seriously, and was seen as credible. Now if only women (who report abuse years or decades later) were believed, taken seriously and seen as credible. It seems many men (not all but many) are more likely to be outraged or sympathetic when the victim is someone of their own gender.
I say this because just yesterday the NYT ran an article about whether the statutes of limitations for sexual assault should be gotten rid of. The comment section included a lot of men saying it'd be unfair to the accused and that it would encourage vengeful women (who regretted 'bad sex from years ago) to accuse men.
30
I don't see on what evidence you think that men are more likely to be sympathetic to male victims than female victims or how those comments provide any such evidence. Does it seem to you that women are "more likely to be outraged when the victim is someone of their own gender"?
If we want to know whether that's the case or not, is the way to find out by looking at comments on the New York Times website? Have studies been done? Or do we not need studies, because some of us are mind readers?
1
There have to have been studies as to whether requiring priests to be celibate contributes to these never-ending reports of molestations.
As a non-Catholic, I think I understand the Church's reasoning in having their priests be celibate, but with this wide-spread and awful history, I have to believe that decent people in the hierarchy should be willing to allow priests to marry.
While other religions certainly have their share of men who take advantage of their leadership roles, it seems to me that these men who are required to be celibate, appear to go off the rails at an alarming rate.
I honor all of the decent priests who do good works and bring honor to their church, but boy do I think the celibacy thing causes many to snap.
18