On Words and Actions

By Daniel Carlson
Vanishing Predators blog
September 19, 2019

https://vanishingpredators.com/blog/f/on-words-and-actions

According to Ronald Reagan, the most terrifying words in the English language are: “I’m from the government, and I’m here to help.” Many of us, upon hearing that comment, simply shake our heads for experience has taught us that government involvement often involves endless red tape, wholesale ineptitude, legal hurdles, and a thoroughgoing lack of concern on the part of the bureaucracy in question.

With Reagan’s sardonic remark in mind, it comes as no surprise that survivors of clergy abuse find it equally disheartening when Catholic prelates proclaim: “We’re from the Diocese, and we’re here to help.” Much like the ordeal we citizens must endure in the face of overriding governmental indolence, abuse victims have become accustomed to false promises, deception, and rigid stonewalling by Church hierarchy.

Consider, for example, the recent decision by the Diocese of Rochester, New York, to declare bankruptcy. Facing the potential of huge judgements for claims of past sexual abuse by its clergy, the Diocese (following the lead of nineteen other Catholic dioceses or archdioceses in the United States) decided to reorganize its finances. This decision halts all actions on civil suits already filed, and shifts those matters to the bankruptcy proceedings where release of information about abuse and cover-ups will be restricted.

Not to be outdone, the Archdiocese of New Orleans has gone even further. In its attempt to stymie victims of clergy abuse, its attorneys argue that a case known as the “NOLA No-call” lawsuit should block any litigation involving the Church. In the “No-call” matter, a New Orleans Saints fan sued claiming that the end of an NFL game should be replayed because of a blown call by a referee. The Louisiana Supreme Court, however, found that judges and juries should not second-guess decisions by a professional sports league enforcing its own rules.

In their Supreme Court motion, Church lawyers used those same words in claiming that judges and juries cannot adjudicate whether or not the Archdiocese has complied with its own rules, doctrines or policies. Legal scholars do not expect this argument to prevail for, after all, devout Saints fans and Catholics, alike, understand the vast distinction between a predator priest abusing a child and a bad call in a football game. And sensible people (not to include Church officials in New Orleans) are also clear on the differences in how each organization should deal with those issues.

While both the foregoing examples elicit weary sighs from the faithful, neither can compare with the position taken by the late Cardinal Edward Egan when he was Bishop of the Diocese of Bridgeport, Connecticut. In 1997, when one of his priests was charged with sexual abuse, Egan airily proclaimed in a deposition that the diocese could not be held liable because priests are self-employed “independent contractors” and, as such, they work in parishes that are corporations and are paid by them, not the diocese. It should come as no surprise that, nationwide, the state with the highest percentage of Catholics leaving the church is Connecticut.

Whether speaking from the pulpit or answering questions at a press conference, Church leaders always voice the usual “mea culpas” of profound sorrow, and firm resolve to ease the pain and suffering of clergy abuse victims. But these are just words and, more often than not, the actions of these same individuals reveal a very different agenda and set of priorities.

As Ralph Waldo Emerson said: