BishopAccountability.org
	Priest Abuse Work Isn't Completed Courier May 1, 2008 http://www.wcfcourier.com/articles/2008/05/01/columnists/guest_column/10304604.txt The Courier's Editorial of April 18, 2008 should have read, "Pope needs significant steps to speed abuse healing." During his recent trip to the U.S, Pope Benedict spoke about and apologized for the abuse in almost every stop or speech. He called on Catholics to reach out to survivors and instructed Catholics to do everything they can to help clergy abuse survivors and their families heal. Nonetheless Pope Benedict needs to make significant institutional changes to promote true healing for the Church as well as holding Church hierarchy accountable for abuses or complicity in the abuse of thousands of children. To illustrate the lack of accountability and complicity: n In an ABC News interview with author Jason Berry, who has been tracking the sex abuse scandal, Berry stated recent history has shown us that there is a culture of secrecy within the church. Berry continued, "Priests who abuse children can be removed from the priesthood, but they do not remove bishops, they do not remove cardinals- the problem is the power structure. There is no accountability." n No bishop has been disciplined by the pope for sexually abusing minors or for covering up sexual abuse. Several have resigned but none have been disciplined. BishopAccountability.org has stated that of the 19 bishops, "none has lost his title, been publicly censured by the Vatican or referred for criminal prosecutions." n Cardinal Francis George of Chicago ignored the 2005 advice of his lay review board to suspend an accused pedophile priest, the Rev. Daniel McCormack. Prosecutors say McCormack molested boys "on an almost daily basis" until he was arrested. Cardinal George, by the way, is the current president of the U.S. Conference of Bishops (elected just last year, by an 85 percent margin). n In November 2007, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Houston and former bishop of Sioux City found an accusation of sexual abuse against the Rev. Stephen Horn to be credible and suspended Horn. However DiNardo kept the allegation and his determination secret from parishioners, police and the public for two months. Reporting delays allow credibly accused molesters ample time to fabricate alibis, destroy evidence, intimidate victims, threaten witnesses or flee the country, as some pedophile priests have done. n Also while Bishop of Sioux City, DiNardo had five years to disclose allegations against the Rev. George McFadden but did not reveal McFadden's crimes to police, prosecutors, parishioners or the public. n Bishop Thomas L. Dupre of Springfield, Mass., was accused in 2004 of sexually abusing two youths. He resigned, was indicted for rape but escaped prosecution because the statute of limitations expired. Bishop Anthony J. O'Connell of Florida admitted abusing at least 10 children and stepped down in 2002. Another former Sioux City bishop, Lawrence Soens, has been accused of abuse at the high school where he was principal. All three retain their title as bishops emeritus plus financial support of the church. n Former Boston Cardinal Bernard Law, who covered for numerous predatory priests, is still on the payroll in Rome. n Cardinal Sean O'Malley of Boston is in serious violation of the national sex abuse policy for the second year in a row. One in five Boston Catholic kids is not getting the sex abuse prevention training that was promised. n The pope has not disciplined Bishop Bruskewitz of Lincoln, Neb., even after Bruskewitz admitted he was not mandating diocese-wide background checks and not implementing child prevention training programs per the Dallas Charter. Churchgoers of any religion need to stay vigilant and not wait for church officials to protect kids. Pope Benedict spoke of abusive priests. He did not speak of sexually abusive men or women in religious orders --- the majority who do not report to bishops. As atrocious as the clergy abuse crisis has been, society-wise, an estimated 300,000 children in this country are sexually abused each year, according to Crimes against Children Research Center. Stop It Now, an organization that works to prevent child sexual abuse, estimates that 88 percent of sex offenders are never reported. Archaic and arbitrary criminal and civil laws need to be fixed that shield child molesters. FOX commentator Bill O'Reilly said, "-there comes a time when a pope has to demonstrate leadership no matter how difficult the circumstance. Believe me, when the pedophilia deal broke, Catholics were looking for strong public outrage from the church leadership. It never showed up." I hope as Christ's representative on earth that Pope Benedict shows up and takes needed significant steps.
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