NEW YORK
Independent Journal
BY KATIE LAPOTIN
According to Syracuse Bishop Robert Cunningham, the priests involved in the various child molestation scandals throughout the Catholic church over the last few decades aren’t entirely to blame.
Instead, the Post-Standard reports, Bishop Cunningham says the victims share some of the guilt as well.
During a 2011 deposition as part of a federal lawsuit filed by a man who was allegedly abused by a priest within the Syracuse diocese, the Catholic leader was asked whether or not the church believes a child molested by a priest has committed a sin when he said:
“The boy is culpable.”
When asked to elaborate, he responded:
“Well, I mean, without knowing the circumstances completely, did the boy encourage, go along with in any way.”
The Bishop later acknowledged he couldn’t judge if a young man “had any culpability” when provided more background on the situation, but by that point the damage was done.
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