By Kathryn Marchocki
New Hampshire Union Leader
April 4, 2011
http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Parishioners%3A+Remark+%27a+slap+in+the+face+to+Catholics%27&articleId=04090883-ec5f-4320-a8e2-be8e217faeab
House Majority Leader David J. Bettencourt's description of the state's Catholic bishop as a "pedophile pimp" not only offends all Catholics, but also casts doubt on one of the top Republican lawmaker's ability to lead, Catholics said this weekend.
"It's a slap in the face to Catholics of New Hampshire," the Rev. C. Peter Dumont said Sunday.
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"When he insults a bishop, he insults a whole church," added Dumont, pastor of St. Peter Parish in Auburn and St. Paul Parish in Candia.
Dumont said many parishioners approached him after weekend Masses and said they were appalled and offended by the Salem state representative's attack on Manchester Bishop John B. McCormack.
McCormack joined Jewish, Episcopal and other religious leaders at a massive State House rally Thursday to protest deep cuts in the House-passed budget, saying the spending plan would disproportionately hurt the poor, elderly, disabled and most vulnerable citizens in the state.
The bishop also took aim at the Republican-dominated House's attempts to restrict public employees' collective bargaining rights. Addressing the 4,000 to 5,000 protesters, McCormack cited the Catholic Church's long-standing teaching that labor organizing is a "fundamental human right" and noted the "indispensable role" trade unions perform in promoting justice, especially during hard economic times.
In response, Bettencourt attacked the bishop in a Facebook posting the next day in which the lawmaker called McCormack a "pedophile pimp who should have been led away from the State House in handcuffs with a raincoat over his head."
Bettencourt later defended his online comments.
McCormack, bishop of the Manchester diocese since 1998, has been criticized for his handling of sexually abusive clerics while he served as secretary of ministerial personnel in the mid-1980s in the Boston archdiocese under Cardinal Bernard F. Law.
Hooksett Catholic Eddie Foye called Bettencourt's remarks "very uncalled for" and "insulting to all Catholics."
"It was something that should never have been said. He should keep his opinion to himself, especially in the position he is in. People will be taking a second look at him and what he stands for," added Foye, a parishioner of St. Catherine Parish in Manchester.
Foye said the best response is to "just forgive."
Others were less forgiving.
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"It sounds like he's the one who should be taken away in handcuffs," Richard Whouley of Londonderry said of Bettencourt.
"It's more than offensive. Reprehensible would describe it much better," added Whouley, a member of St. Mark the Evangelist Parish in Londonderry.
Other Catholics privately expressed disgust with and anger at Bettencourt at weekend Masses. Some chose not to comment when approached by a Union Leader reporter.
"I think it was a little too strong. We know the bishop has problems, but we have to be respectful of our priests and bishop," said Gerard Villemure, a Goffstown resident and member of Sacred Heart Parish in Manchester.
"It was uncalled for. It's too bad. It hurts the church," Villemure said.
"It's not just the Catholics. I think every religion has its problems. We are all human," he said.
Dumont dismissed Bettencourt's remarks as untrue, slanderous and disturbing. Parishioners who approached him after weekend Masses were "very offended" and "appalled." the priest said. One parishioner came to him "in tears," he added.
A national non-partisan organization that promotes Catholic teachings on justice said Bettencourt "not only embarrassed himself, he's become an embarrassment to the entire state of New Hampshire."
James Salt, organizing director of Washington-based Catholics United, said the group will be mobilizing its 300 New Hampshire members to pressure House Speaker William O'Brien to distance himself from Bettencourt's statements, push Bettencourt to publicly retract his comments and "embrace a budget that does not increase poverty for the people of New Hampshire."
O'Brien, a Mont Vernon Republican, has said he shares Bettencourt's opinions, but would have stated them more gracefully.
Neither Bettencourt nor O'Brien, both Catholics, returned a call for comment Sunday.
While Armande Labrie of Bedford said she was " flabbergasted" by Bettencourt's remark, she added, "I can forgive."
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