Catholic Diocese of Phoenix Releases Names of Clergy Abusers: Jesuit Makes the List
What They Knew
…Or How to Deceive a Bishop: From the Jesuit Guide to Everything. In a surprise move the Catholic Diocese of Phoenix released a list of 29 clerics accused of sexual abuse, joining only 25 other diocese in the United States to do so. One name that stands out on that list is the familiar Donald McGuire SJ of the Chicago Province of the Society of Jesus. You can visit the Diocese of Phoenix’s site listing the clerics HERE. The Bishop of Phoenix Thomas J. Olmsted has been issuing statements and community warnings about the Chicago Jesuit since 2007 when he was first informed that the child abusing cleric had been operating in his jurisdiction. A very responsible move given that he was never informed of McGuire’s presence by the Chicago Jesuits. According to the Bishop: The Diocese of Phoenix has no record of Fr. Donald J. McGuire asking for or receiving faculties to administer sacraments in the Diocese at any time. However, the Diocese is aware that Fr. Donald J. McGuire conducted several privately-sponsored retreats for adults over the age of 21 at Mt. Claret Retreat Center in Phoenix in 1996, 1998, 1999, and 2001. Those retreats were not sponsored by or conducted by the Diocese of Phoenix, but were held at a Diocesan facility, which was rented out by a private association not affiliated with the Diocese. Fr. Donald J. McGuire is believed to also have conducted privately sponsored retreats in Casa Grande, Arizona, in the 1980s and 1990s as well as a privately sponsored retreat in Payson, Arizona, in 2002. When Bishop Olmsted was informed he reached out to victims and so did the police and Arizona prosecutors to charge and extradite McGuire to the state to face criminal charges. The Rev. Donald McGuire was charged with three counts of child molestation and one count each of providing obscene material to minors and indecent exposure according to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office. When Arizona authorities, working with federal officials, took McGuire into custody at his Chicago-area home. McGuire, 77, complained of chest pains and was hospitalized claiming he suffered from congestive heart failure. It is amazing what happens when the system works in a state other than Illinois. But that is not surprising given the influence the Chicago Jesuits can buy as our follow-ups to this story will show. For now here is the letter from then Chicago Provincial Edward Schmidt SJ (now at America Magazine) to Bishop Olmsted informing him of the situation and telling him not to fear the Jesuit attorneys are here, finally.
What is so strange is that it took until 2007 for the Chicago Province to inform the Phoenix Diocese when reports of McGuire and problems in the Phoenix area are plentiful in 1987 as the document below illustrates. Written to the California Provincial (responsible for Arizona) it shows McGuire was operating without the knowledge or consent of the Phoenix Bishop. Likewise, Fr. Robert Wild SJ makes it clear that he “certainly has a serious problem on our hands” about McGuire in Phoenix, Arizona. What Fr. Wild doesn’t know is how bad this problem will be 20 years later for his victims.
Phoenix performs ‘Lisztomania’
Bishop Olmsted now knows to check his list for Jesuits twice We will leave it to Bishop Olmsted to tell you if the Chicago or California Jesuits ever told him what they knew. Lisztomania Think less but see it grow Like a riot, like a riot, oh ! I’m not easily offended It’s not hard to let it go From a mess to the masses Follow, misguide, stand still Disgust, discourage On this precious weekend ending This love’s for gentlemen only Wealthiest gentlemen only And now that you’re lonely Let’s go slowly, discouraged, We’ll burn the pictures instead When it’s all over we can barely discuss For one minute only Not with the fortunate only Thought it could have been something else These days it comes it comes it comes it comes it comes and goes
|
.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.