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	Priests Raising Money to Aid Defrocked Colleagues Eagle-Tribune [New Hampshire] October 8, 2006 http://www.eagletribune.com/nhnews/local_story_281095003?keyword=secondarystory Manchester - A group of priests in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Manchester is asking fellow priests to contribute money to help those who were stripped of their ministry for sexually abusing minors. "We began to sympathize with the men involved in the scandal," the Rev. Michael Griffin, president of the newly formed Organization of Concerned Priests, said in published reports. "We could not imagine how we could have coped if we were in their shoes." Since starting the effort, it has been expanded to include helping sick and retired priests, said Monsignor Thomas Hannigan, pastor of St. Catherine Church in Manchester, who serves on the group's board. The organization has registered as a nonprofit and sent a letter to all diocesan priests asking them to donate a minimum of $1,000 each to a "Mercy Fund" that would be available to help unassigned priests with legitimate financial needs. Bishop John McCormack is aware of the project, but has not endorsed it in any way, said the Rev. Edward Arsenault, the bishop's delegate for ministerial conduct. "This is a personal initiative of these priests," he said. Griffin said the effort is about living the Christian message. "The whole thing is about being merciful to people. Some made a big mistake. I'm sure some said they are sorry. And we just want to be of assistance to some who are in financial need," Griffin said. He said the group's efforts are not intended to diminish the pain that survivors of the abuse suffered. Still, how many priests need help is unknown, Hannigan said. Retired priests receive a $1,300 monthly pension and most also receive Social Security and are covered by Medicare, Hannigan said. The diocese provides a stipend and insurance coverage to some disciplined priests, Griffin said. Defrocked priests are entitled to no financial assistance from the church. Since the clergy sexual abuse scandal became public in 2002, the diocese publicly announced just two priests were defrocked.
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