Pope’s Decision Builds on Bishop’s Action

Citizens Voice
September 29, 2014

http://citizensvoice.com/news/pope-s-decision-builds-on-bishop-s-action-1.1761790

Ever since The Boston Globe exposed Cardinal Bernard Law’s shell game with pedophile priests about 15 years ago, the Vatican has struggled to deal effectively with innumerable cases that subsequently emerged around the world. From promoting Cardinal Law to a position in Rome to responding poorly to major cases in Ireland and elsewhere in Europe, the church has not achieved the moral clarity that the flock and society expect.

Against that checkered history, Scranton Bishop Joseph Bambera and Pope Francis deserve great credit for their fast and decisive actions relative to a priest from Northeastern Pennsylvania who was accused of molesting male students at the former St. Gregory’s Academy in Elmhurst Township.

In 2005 the church settled for $380,000 a federal lawsuit that had been brought by a former St. Gregory’s student against the Rev. Carlos Urrutigoity and another priest. Former Scranton Bishop Joseph Martino removed the Rev. Urrutigoity from the diocese, but he was accepted and promoted in the Paraguayan Diocese of Ciudad del Este.

Advocates for abuse victims learned of the Rev. Urrutigoity’s position and protested, demanding action. Bishop Bambera wrote to the Vatican, characterizing the Rev. Urrutigoity as “posing a serious threat to young people.”

On Thursday, Pope Francis removed from office Bishop Rogelio Livieres Plano of Ciudad Del Este, who had accepted and promoted the Rev. Urrutigoity.

The case is a breakthrough that will help to restore shaken confidence in church leadership. It demonstrates that the church, as a global institution, has the means to enforce its own moral standards among the clergy. It should be a template for future cases where priests suspected of abusing children find a safe haven in a different diocese.