JACKSON (MS)
Clarion Ledger
February 26, 2019
By Sarah Fowler
In 2002, a bombshell investigation in Boston revealed that priests had been abusing children for decades and that — also for decades — the church had been attempting to silence the victims and cover up the abuse. As more victims came forward, it was soon clear the abuse was not just confined to a few parishes in Massachusetts — it was a global coverup that implicated hundreds of priests.
Mississippi was not immune. Despite an overhaul of policy and implementing a new program aimed at protecting children, new allegations emerged both locally and internationally. Lawsuits have been filed and either settled or dismissed. The church settled with 29 of 30 victims in 2006, paying them a total of $731,250. In the one case that was not settled, the victim was told he was “twenty years too late,” due to the statute of limitations, and his case was dismissed.
Today — as the Jackson diocese prepares to release names of priests who have been accused of sexual abuse and as the church as a whole continues to address claims of sexual abuse while continually reviewing measures to prevent future incidents — Mississippi Catholics find themselves balancing the love of their faith with their reactions to scandals old and new.
Over the last six months, the Catholic Diocese of Jackson has found itself dealing with the following:
A new lawsuit based on previous allegations of a child being victimized by a priest.
A federal affidavit alleging one priest lied to his congregation about having cancer and then raised money for treatment and for an orphanage that has not been proven to exist.
Priests speaking out as informants for the federal government against another priest.
A federal investigation related to the priest who lied about having cancer.
Mississippi Catholics have responded in different ways. Some parishioners are calling on the bishop to resign while others have found a newfound passion for their church community.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.