Egan Blasts Mutiny, by Dan Mangan, New York Post, October 25, 2006

Egan Blasts Mutiny

By Dan Mangan
New York Post
October 25, 2006

http://www.nypost.com/seven/10252006/news/regionalnews/egan_blasts_mutiny_regionalnews_dan_mangan.htm

October 25, 2006 -- Edward Cardinal Egan is lashing out at his anonymous priest critics, claiming they are motivated by unjustified anger over his tough treatment of clerics accused of sexually abusing minors.

"We cannot be left open to all manner of lies, leading to all manner of scandal and damage to the archdiocese and the archbishop from people who refuse to take responsibility for their actions," Egan wrote New York Archdiocese priests in a new letter.

Egan's missive comes in response to an anonymous letter circulating among priests accusing him of being dishonest and uninterested in dealing with priests. The earlier letter called for a "no confidence" vote as a means of convincing Pope Benedict XVI to accept Egan's mandatory resignation offer next spring when he turns 75.

CARDINAL RULE: Edward Cardinal Egan's letter to priests comes in response to an anonymous petition directed against him.

While that anonymous letter argued that Egan has focused on finances to the detriment of spiritual concerns, it never explicitly mentions his handling of pervert priests. Despite that, Egan's letter focuses almost exclusively on that issue.

"At the core of the [anonymous] letter and the declaration in support of it by Monsignor Howard Calkins are stories that are being told by priests who have been found guilty of sexually abusing minors after thorough treatment of their cases according to well-established archdiocesan procedures," Egan wrote.

"Many claim that they have been the victim of unjust treatment, deception and lack of understanding."

Calkins, the pastor of a Mount Vernon church, recently offered to resign as the cardinal's representative to Westchester County churches after media quoted him saying a majority of priests agreed with the anonymous letter.

The rest of Egan's letter details the archdiocese's procedure for addressing sex abuse claims, which under him have led to up to a dozen clerics being suspended or defrocked. He wrote that he is "confident" that all those case "have been handled properly."

Egan was criticized in a 2004 letter signed by dozens of priests who said he failed to give accused clerics due process. The highest profile of the accused - former archdiocese fund-raiser Monsignor Charles Kavanagh - has blasted Egan for treating him unfairly.

A spokesman for the archdiocese said the cardinal was not accusing the letter writers themselves of being molesters, but rather saying concern for accused priests was their "prime motivation."

dan.mangan@nypost.com