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	Bishop Burke Moves to Vatican Position Statement by Fred Carr 838-0296 of Snap, the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests, a Support Group, on Burke's Move Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests June 29, 2008 http://snapnetwork.org/snap_statements/2008_statements/062708_dolan_rome_response.html Once again, the actions and words of the Catholic hierarchy don't match. On his recent US trip, the Pope sounded compassionate about the clergy sex abuse crisis. Yet two months later, he promotes an archbishop who deals with the crisis in reckless, callous, and secretive ways. Under Burke, dozens of proven, admitted, and credibly accused predator priests have been welcomed here. Some are living in church facilities, some aren't. None, in our view, receive adequate supervision. In virtually no case did Burke live up to his promises of being "open and transparent" by notifying parishioners or the public about these dangerous and potentially dangerous criminals. In fact, we believe there's not a bishop in America who has imported so many pedophile priests into his diocese as Burke has. And sadly, it's not just pedophile priests. He also welcomes sexually troubled clerics. Twice in one year, he quietly let priests accused of sexual misconduct elsewhere work at a city parish with no warning to church or community members. (Fr. Darell Mitchell of the Yakima Diocese and Fr. Nicholas Voelker of the Wichita Diocese). Pope Benedict's public remarks about the scandal gave many Catholics and victims a ray of hope. That hope withers, however, with this troubling promotion. Burke's departure may make St. Louis safer but is an ominous sign for the larger church. For more info: David Clohessy 566 9790, Barbara Doris 862 7688, cell 503-0003 -- SNAP's David Clohessy will be outside the Cardinal Rigali Center in Shrewsbury at 10:30 this morning and in town until 1 p.m. (available on cell, 314 566 9790 after that). -- SNAP's Barbara Dorris will be available at her Central West End home and via phone (862 7688) all day and this evening. Last month, Pope Benedict XVI visited the United States and promised to do everything he could to rid the priesthood of predators. Before even touching down on U.S. soil, he said, "We will absolutely exclude pedophiles from the sacred ministry." This is a good time to assess how his local representative is doing on that front. There are two ways St. Louis Archbishop Raymond Burke could oust pedophile priests. He could defrock them (kicking them out of the priesthood) or excommunicate them (kicking them out of the church). Dozens of Burke's brother bishops have defrocked child-molesting clergy. None, however, has taken the more severe step of excommunication, which is the most severe penalty the Catholic hierarchy can impose on anyone. Because of a continuing dispute over parish governance, Burke has excommunicated several lay people on the board of St. Stanislaus parish and the church's pastor. He has also excommunicated two local women who declared themselves to be ordained Catholic priests. None of these individuals was deemed guilty of any crime. None was criminally charged or civilly sued for crimes. None admitted to or was even accused of any crimes. But they were basically ousted from the Catholic Church. In contrast, over the past 20 years, we can't recall a single other priest, nun, seminarian, lay employee or church volunteer in St. Louis (current or former) whom Burke or his predecessors ever excommunicated, even those who have been clearly and repeated charged with, sued for, accused of or deemed guilty of heinous child sex crimes. They haven't excommunicated James Beine, Felix Bland or James Funke, who pled guilty to child sex crimes. They haven't excommunicated Bryan Kuchar, Thomas Graham or Gary Wolken, who were convicted here of child sex crimes. They haven't excommunicated Fred Lenczycki, Gregory Sutton or Romano Ferraro, who worked here but were convicted elsewhere of child sex crimes. They haven't excommunicated James Gummersbach, who was found guilty in a civil child molestation trial or Robert F. Johnston and Joseph Lessard, who admitted child sexual abuse to church authorities. They haven't excommunicated Gerhardt B. Lehmkuhl or John P. Hess, who pled guilty to child porn charges. They haven't excommunicated Robert Yim, Donald J. "Duck" Straub or Leroy Valentine, who have been formally defrocked because of multiple, credible child sex abuse allegations. They haven't excommunicated Norman Christian or Michael S. McGrath, against whom several civil child sex abuse lawsuits have been settled. All of these men are still officially welcome in the Catholic Church. Though suspended from active ministry, most of them are still on the payroll, often being unwittingly or unwillingly supported by the generosity of devout St. Louis Catholics. But three women, who were recently "ordained" and now call themselves priests, were swiftly excommunicated. In Burke's eyes, apparently, women acting like priests is a greater crime than priests acting like criminals. Several men and women, who's goal has been to preserve St. Stan's parish, were swiftly excommunicated. In Burke's eyes, apparently, Catholics acting like concerned parishioners is a greater crime than priests acting like criminals. And St. Stan's pastor, Fr. Marek Bozek, was swiftly excommunicated. In Burke's eyes, apparently, a priest acting like a pastor is a greater crime than priests acting like criminals. Burke is far more aggressive in excommunicating Catholics than virtually all of his colleagues. If he excommunicates people for non-criminal behavior, he should also excommunicate them for criminal behavior. If he excommunicates people for violating his edicts, he should also excommunicate them for violating children. Pope John Paul II once said, "There is no place in the priesthood for those who would harm the young." More recently, Pope Benedict said, "Whoever is really guilty of being a pedophile cannot be a priest." Burke speaks often about the importance of obeying church rules and authorities. We look forward to him obeying the pope's authority regarding predator priests.
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