NH House Majority Leader: Bishop Is a Pedophile Pimp, by Tom Fahey, New Hampshire Union Leader, April 1, 2011

NH House Majority Leader: Bishop Is a "Pedophile Pimp"

By Tom Fahey
New Hampshire Union Leader
April 1, 2011

http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=NH+House+majority+leader%3A+Bishop+is+a+%27pedophile+pimp%27&articleId=3eeef585-6f02-4ced-8f9a-fd2bf677d353

CONCORD – Rep. D.J. Bettencourt, the House Majority Leader, defended his Facebook page posting that calls Catholic Bishop John McCormack, "a pedophile pimp."

Bettencourt, R-Salem, posted the statement after McCormack spoke against budget cuts at a State House rally.

McCormack is the leader of New Hampshire's 290,000 Catholics. He told a crowd estimated at 2,500 that the budget plan Republicans passed neglects society's obligation to care for the poor and vulnerable.

On his Facebook page, Bettencourt attacked McCormack not for what he told the crowd, but for his role in the Archdiocese of Boston's child sex abuse scandals in the 1990s.

"Would the bishop like to discuss his history of protecting the 'vulnerable?' This man is a pedophile pimp who should have been led way from the State House in handcuffs with a raincoat over his head in disgrace," Bettencourt wrote. "He has absolutely no moral authority to lecture anyone."

A spokesman for the Diocese of Manchester said Bettencourt's remarks are false and defamatory, meant to distract people from the bishop's message.

Speaker of the House William O'Brien said he shares Bettencourt's feelings, but said he would have phrased them in a more genteel fashion.

This screen grab from House Majority Leader D.J. Bettencourt's Facebook page shows his comments on Bishop John McCormack.

State Republican Chairman Jack Kimball said he had not spoken with Bettencourt, "but I am disappointed with his words and I don't share his sentiments."

McCormack said at the State House rally, "I am deeply concerned about the budget that the House is in the process of passing because it does not meet our obligation as a state to care for our fellow citizens in need."

He said the budget properly denies the use of state funding for abortions, but said it leaves the vulnerable exposed and launches an unwarranted attack on the rights of workers.

Bettencourt said in a prepared statement that his criticism stemmed from McCormack's days as an administrator for Cardinal Bernard F. Law in Boston. The Archdiocese of Boston was among the first to be drawn into scandals involving the sexual abuse of Catholic boys by priests. McCormack was Law's top aide and was assigned to investigate sexual abuse complaints. He was named Bishop of Manchester in 1998.

Bettencourt said, "As a practicing Catholic it is truly disappointing that we would have a leader with a record of enabling such egregious and unacceptable behavior. From my perspective it will be a great day for New Hampshire Catholics when Bishop McCormack retires and we can bring new leadership to the church that is untainted by the abuses of our current bishop.

"He stepped on to secular soil yesterday and he should not be above being called out on the merits of his words and actions."

Kevin Donovan, spokesman for the diocese, said Bettencourt's posting, "is clearly false, defamatory and detracts from the real issue. Bishop McCormack's message to the people of New Hampshire was the simple message of the gospels. The church and our broader society have a fundamental obligation to care for the poor.

"The bishop's message is a challenge to ourselves and our elected officials to never waiver in our obligation to care for the most vulnerable of society," he said.

O'Brien said Bettencourt may have chosen harsh words, but said he agrees with the idea behind them.

"I certainly agree with the concerns. I don't agree with the language or the implications of the language," said O'Brien, who is also Catholic. He noted Bettencourt was the top vote-getter in his House district, and he has no thoughts of asking him to resign.

Bettencourt admitted in his statement, "Yes, my language was colorful but I stand by the sentiment in describing a man who has in my opinion brought shame and dishonor on my church here in New Hampshire."

He was not available by telephone.

O'Brien described Bettencourt as "an invaluable asset to the State of New Hampshire." He said he has been under strain as the House wrapped up the first half year of business this week, and noted that Bettencourt's father underwent a cardiac care procedure Thursday.

"All of that together may have led him to choose language stronger than he would choose upon reflection," he said.

"As I have said, representatives really do have to be held to a higher standard," O'Brien said.

O'Brien said that McCormack, when working under Law "was involved in decisions that some of us look at with great deal of sadness in terms of protecting children."

In late 2002, the Diocese of Manchester reached a settlement of a criminal investigation into alleged sex abuse cases that dated back as many as 40 years. That settlement included a series of audits that tracked the church's handling of complaints, and its programs meant to prevent further cases of abuse.