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Report shows ‘astonishing’ depravity in sexual abuse of more than 600 in Baltimore’s Catholic archdiocese
- Thread starter eastcoast_bsc
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Wonder what was up with Baltimore. I'm not even... I just can't.
Nobody can tell me these men just one flipped a switch as a clergyman and decided to do these things.
They went in with full intent.
I cannot voice my feelings, because I think I need to pray over them so as not to get riled.
All I can say is the Lord heard these babies cries.
Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy.
I know not how to respond so I will just pray for souls.
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That Baltimore Catholic clergy sexual-abuse report is a big, but complex, story...
The inevitable clergy sexual-abuse report from the Archdiocese of Baltimore is a major news story, for legions of valid reasons.
Baltimore is this nation’s “premier see,” the oldest diocese in the United States. This city at the heart of a once-thriving Catholic region that now in a demographic death-dive that is extreme, even by the standards of 21st century America.
To move closer to issues discussed in this week’s “Crossroads” podcast (click here to tune that in), we are also talking about the city and Catholic culture in which the Sister Catherine Cesnik vanished in November of 1969. This is the murdered nun who left behind friends, colleagues and former female students who were convinced that she was about to blow the whistle on serial abuser Father Joseph Maskell, one of the villains at the heart of the famous Netflix who-done-it “The Keepers.”
Yes, the former chaplain at the famous (now closed) Archbishop Seton Keough High School was mentioned 200 times in the 450-page Maryland Attorney General report on child sexual abuse by clergy (and others) in the Archdiocese of Baltimore.
Continued below.
www.getreligion.org
The inevitable clergy sexual-abuse report from the Archdiocese of Baltimore is a major news story, for legions of valid reasons.
Baltimore is this nation’s “premier see,” the oldest diocese in the United States. This city at the heart of a once-thriving Catholic region that now in a demographic death-dive that is extreme, even by the standards of 21st century America.
To move closer to issues discussed in this week’s “Crossroads” podcast (click here to tune that in), we are also talking about the city and Catholic culture in which the Sister Catherine Cesnik vanished in November of 1969. This is the murdered nun who left behind friends, colleagues and former female students who were convinced that she was about to blow the whistle on serial abuser Father Joseph Maskell, one of the villains at the heart of the famous Netflix who-done-it “The Keepers.”
Yes, the former chaplain at the famous (now closed) Archbishop Seton Keough High School was mentioned 200 times in the 450-page Maryland Attorney General report on child sexual abuse by clergy (and others) in the Archdiocese of Baltimore.
Continued below.
Podcast: That Baltimore Catholic clergy sexual-abuse report is a big, but complex, story — GetReligion
The inevitable clergy sexual-abuse report from the Archdiocese of Baltimore is a major news story, for legions of valid reasons. Baltimore is this nation’s “premier see ,” the oldest diocese in the United States. This city at the heart of a once-thriving Catholic region that now in a demographic
www.getreligion.org
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JimR-OCDS
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It should be pointed out that over 80 years, there were 600 cases reported not all proven. Some
were, but the report makes it look like all were proven or even credible. Most of the accused are
dead and unable to defend themselves.
Of the total population of priest in Baltimore over the past 80 years, 600 is still less than
4% of the 16000 total population of priest through that time period.
were, but the report makes it look like all were proven or even credible. Most of the accused are
dead and unable to defend themselves.
Of the total population of priest in Baltimore over the past 80 years, 600 is still less than
4% of the 16000 total population of priest through that time period.
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JimR-OCDS
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The report is about allegations going back decades. Many of the accused aren't even alive.
The percentage of priest in that time period is probably less than 4%, which are allegations
and not proof. The percentage is the same in the population of priest across the US. Most,
are homosexual priest who had sex with young men or teen boys, who were exploring their
own sexual orientation. The others are with girls or females. Less than 1% of the 4%, were
cases of pedophilia, i.e. adults having sex with pre-pubescent children. All are wrong of course,
and I'm not trying to justify any abuse. However, the media makes it look far worse than it actually
was. Few reports about sex abuse in the secular world by teachers and others make such headlines.
The dioceses published the name................ Archdiocese of Chicago Publishes Updated List of Clerics with Substantiated Allegations of Sexual Abuse of a Minor
Keep in mind that 80 years ago, there were far more priest than there are today, so the numbers of abuse cases being made today are less
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Archdiocese of Chicago Publishes Updated List of Clerics with Substantiated Allegations of Sexual Abuse of a Minor
The Archdiocese of Chicago has updated its list of clerics with substantiated allegations of sexual abuse of a minor. Every archdiocesan cleric (ordained priest or deacon) added to the list today was previously reported to law enforcement authorities, as were those already on the list.
www.archchicago.org
Too close to the dots it couldn't be opened.
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JimR-OCDS
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Fixed
Archdiocese of Chicago Publishes Updated List of Clerics with Substantiated Allegations of Sexual Abuse of a Minor
The Archdiocese of Chicago has updated its list of clerics with substantiated allegations of sexual abuse of a minor. Every archdiocesan cleric (ordained priest or deacon) added to the list today was previously reported to law enforcement authorities, as were those already on the list.
Too close to the dots it couldn't be opened.
Sorry about that!
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- Sep 29, 2015
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I doubt Baltimore is special in that regard.
Some went in with good intent but got debauched by the likes of cardinal McCarrick, who likes to prey on seminarians.
It makes me viscerally angry.
Same.
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I was wondering the same. But I think @eastcoast_bsc is busy or has simply moved on. Things have changed on the old stomping grounds…
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fide
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Jim, do you really think that an appeal to statistics is the best response to horrific and unthinkable evils?
I may not have the quote exactly correct, from a victim, but I understand the truth of it well enough: "We were taught, and we believed, that a priest was the closest thing on earth to God."
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One can be horrified at the unthinkable evils and still recognize that this is not simply a Catholic Church problem as much as the media tries to portray that. And we can also recognize that it's not an ongoing and current problem within the Church in the US of any magnitude.
I am also horrified at the current abuse that occurs in our society within other groups and primarily the public school system that the media has no real interest in reporting. It is a necessary fact to recognize that this abuse occurs at an alarming rate and the media ignores it because it doesn't fit their agenda, which is to try to remove anything from our culture that tries to stand up for truth. The public schools after all are the strongest ally the "progessives" have in trying to bring forth their agenda. So they will indefinitely get a free pass with the evils that occur within their walls.
If you bring that up you're accused of "deflection" -- wanting to take the spotlight off the Church. No, I'd just like to see somebody actually care about these kids enough to try to put a spotlight on what's known in the public school system as "passing the trash" when an offender simply moves on to another school.
That doesn't deflect from recognizing the horror that happened in the Church or recognizing the ripple effect of destruction it has within families and communities. But make no mistake about it, the reason the spotlight has been on the Church and remains on the Church (even though most allegations are decades old) is because people want to destroy the Church because it alone tries to stand in the way of taking the world towards its current path of destruction.
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While I do not think an appeal to statistics is the 'best' response I do think it is a part of a complete response. You do know that there are people in CF who are convinced that ALL Catholic priests are abusers, and on that basis alone the Catholic Church should be forcibly dissolved? These same people cannot imagine that sexual abuse occurs in other institutions including their own little denominations. So yes, an appeal to statistics is part of a complete response. By itself it is grossly inadequate.
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fide
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Yes, there is horrible sin throughout the culture - or more specifically - throughout the city of man, slaves and servants of satan. But horrible sin within the institution of the Catholic Church, that is our problem! Do you think the place of the Church, in a comparison of the statistics of horrors, is a consolation to God? Or to Mary, the personal perfection of the Holy City, and Mother of the Faithful? Satan hates with passion this City, and seeks every weak element he can find within her, to humiliate her and destroy her reputation among men seeking Holy Truth. This evil one is ever at war with the City of God and with every man and woman of Faith within her. Priests ARE elevated in the Church for good reason in theory. To whom much is given, much is required. The fact that priests are "after all, 'only' weak men" is all that satan needs to show to make his point: God is losing, evil is winning because men are mere men.
Priests ought to have been vetted and scrutinized much more prudently than they have been. Some who ought not to have been priests, went on to be bishops who could then multiply their own kind - all in his plan, I'm sure.
I just, last night, bought a copy of Card. Sarah's book For Eternity, because he is seeing the problem in the clear light that it deserves, and will propose (I hope and trust) solutions from the heart of God.
I've only just begun to read it, but already I wish - I pray - that every priest read this book. I think I can hear him already pointing to the solution: priests must be led to personal, radical, faithful, whole-hearted conversion to the Lord Jesus Christ.
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I agree that we should be vetting priests more prudently and this is a battle of Satan against the Church and we should engage.
We should also engage in the external attacks against the Church whereby people are using this crisis to perpetuate lies and stereotypes about the Church and our priests. Hence educating people on the statistics is important.
And this kind of sin across other institututions in our society is also our problem. We should be doing all we can to bring them to light instead of let them be buried out of convenience of an agenda to ruin our society and the Church.
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fide
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I (literally) fear that your sense of appropriate balance, which may be widely held, is degrading to the priesthood. That concession almost of an expected level of sexual activity and abuse - a normalization of an acceptable level of corruption - is a giant step toward tepidity where the norm ought to be holy zeal, apostolic fire. There should be such a high expectation of sanctity, of heroic fervor and fidelity, so strong and pervasive that secular behaviors and values and jokes and slang, for example from the pulpit in homilies, ought to be shocking and intolerable to the laity! Maybe then, the laity would begin to take the Faith as seriously as they (we) ought!
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I have no idea how you got that conclusion from what I said but it is not an accurate representation of my position at all.
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