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| Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley |
How Christian of him! I don't think Jesus Christ would condone naming and shaming anybody.
08/25/2011
By Laurel J. Sweet
The Archdiocese of Boston is upgrading its Web site today to include one-stop shopping for information on past and present clerics already publicly accused of sexually abusing minors.
The new site can be likened to a sex offender registry for priests and deacons.
- If they committed a sex crime, why put them on a separate registry? Why not put them on the state sex offender registry with everybody else?
The controversial step for a church lambasted for its history of denial and secrecy has Archbishop Sean P. O’Malley girding for criticism, hoping for praise and praying www.bostoncatholic.org doesn’t crash from a sudden traffic rush, officials close to the cardinal told the Herald.
“Some will say we’ve thrown priests under the bus. Others will say we haven’t gone far enough. What we’re posting is factual information. If there’s backlash, so be it,” the Very Rev. Richard M. Erikson, Vicar General and O’Malley’s second in command, said during a sitdown interview at the Pastoral Center in Braintree.
“The idea was to make access to this information simpler for people,” he said, “but when you’re dealing with such raw emotion and pain, nothing’s simple.”
- Once again, a "Christian" naming and shaming people who have been accused, but have yet to have their day in court, yeah, how "Christian" like.
Their photos are not included, but their years of birth and ordination are, as well as whether they’re dead or alive. Dead clerics, who were previously publicly accused are also listed, but 62 whose names never reached the public domain are not.
- So why list dead people? What good will that do, except further ruin the reputation of the ex-offenders families?
Among the 159 names are 22 clerics whose cases are still open canonically. The accusations date back as far as 1950.
Erikson said the listed clerics were being notified by letter. Asked how he expected them to take the news, Erikson suggested it was a no-win situation for all involved.
“When there is an accusation of sexual abuse, it is absolutely horrible,” he said. “There is the possible abuse of a child or minor, which is absolutely horrible. The second possibility is that it’s not true and the priest’s reputation is ruined for life. Whether it’s true or false, it’s horrible."
“Rightfully so, the church is held to a higher standard,” he said.
A church official told the Herald new complaints of sexual abuse of children by local clerics have become almost nonexistent, but if any arise, the lists will be updated.
“Thank God, it’s rare,” Erikson said.
- So, like I said, why not put them on the normal state registry, if they have been convicted? Or, let's create 10 million registries for all walks of life, so it makes it harder for everyone? Put all sex offender cops, politicians, news media, celebrities, etc, on their own expensive registry, and waste more tax payer money. Why not, if it's good enough for one group, then it's good enough for all other criminals as well.
In a seven-page letter explaining his reasoning behind the policy revision, O’Malley said, “I am acutely aware of the harm that the abuse of children by clergy has caused in the lives of so many. And while I know there will be some who believe our policy changes should go further, after careful consultation and consideration of views expressed by so many people and groups, I believe that the changes we are making are appropriate ...”
- Do you think Jesus Christ would approve? I don't!
