Archive for February, 2014
Los Angeles Bishop Kept Altar Boy List from Police / Associated Press
Posted by Voice of the Faithful in Clergy Sexual Abuse, Clericalism, Voice of the Faithful on February 19, 2014
When Los Angeles police were investigating allegations of child abuse by a Roman Catholic priest in 1988, they asked for a list of altar boys at the last parish where the priest worked.
“Archbishop Roger Mahony told a subordinate not to give the list, saying he didn’t want the boys to be scarred by the investigation and that he felt the altar boys were too old to be potential victims, according to a February 2013 deposition made public Wednesday (Feb. 19).
“The detectives investigating allegations against Nicolas Aguilar Rivera, a visiting Mexican priest, ultimately got the names of the boys from parish families. They determined the priest molested at least 26 boys during his 10 months in Los Angeles, according to the priest’s confidential archdiocese file and police records made public by attorneys for the victims.”
By Gillian Flaccus, Associated Press — Click here to read the rest of this story.
Also see “L.A. Archdiocese Settles Final Priest Abuse Case for $13 Million” by Victoria Kim, Los Angeles Times. According to the Los Angeles Times, the setttlement ends a decade of abuse litigation that cost the Catholic Church more than $740 million.
Francis’ Cardinal Council Focusing on Financial Reform, Laity / National Catholic Reporter
Posted by Voice of the Faithful in Catholic Church Finances, Pope Francis, Vatican, Voice of the Faithful on February 18, 2014
While the deliberations of the select group of eight cardinals advising Pope Francis on reforming the governance of the Catholic church remain secret, Tuesday gave several peeks into the shape and contour of the discussions.
“Financial reform is topping the agenda, but laity and family life are also points of discussion.
“The chief concern in this round of meetings, according to the Vatican: how to make sure the financial structures of the church are ‘at the service … of the world and not at the operational service of the Vatican itself’ …
“In his interview, (Honduran Cardinal Oscar) Rodríguez (Maradiaga) also raised an idea he has spoken of previously: that the pope create a congregation at the Vatican dedicated solely to the laity.”
By Joshua J. McElwee, National Catholic Reporter — Click here to read the rest of this article.
Most Milwaukee Abuse Claims Will Receive No Money / National Catholic Reporter
Posted by Voice of the Faithful in Catholic Bishops, Clergy Sexual Abuse, Clericalism, Vatican, Voice of the Faithful on February 18, 2014
The Milwaukee archdiocese will walk away from bankruptcy relatively unscathed if its proposed reorganization plan is accepted by Judge Susan V. Kelley.
“Although it was lawsuits brought by 570 alleged childhood victims of clergy sex abuse that forced the archdiocese into bankruptcy court, a close reading of the 337-page document shows that the vast majority of those claims will get no financial compensation from a $4 million fund for survivors.
“Most other creditors in the case will be paid, although some will get less than they say they are due.
“The archdiocese has no plans to reduce its annual $24 million operating budget or sell any property. It will have to put some property up as collateral to “borrow” $2 million from the controversial cemetery perpetual care trust fund — the same $57 million fund church officials fought to keep out of the bankruptcy case that is now being appealed.”
By Marie Rhode, National Catholic Reporter — Click here to read the rest of this story.
Pope Pressed on Bishop Who Supervised Pedophile / The New York Times
Posted by Voice of the Faithful in Clergy Sexual Abuse, Pope Francis, Voice of the Faithful on February 18, 2014
A group of Roman Catholics in Kansas City, Mo., and a priest with expertise in canon law petitioned Pope Francis this week (Feb. 14) to take disciplinary action against Bishop Robert W. Finn, who was convicted in 2012 of failing to report a priest who was an active pedophile.”
By Laurie Goodstein, The New York Times — Click here to read the rest of this story.
Pope Set to Open Meetings on Vatican Finances, Family / Associated Press
Posted by Voice of the Faithful in church reform, Pope Francis, Vatican, Voice of the Faithful on February 18, 2014
Meetings this week between Pope Francis and his cardinals will deal with some of the thorniest issues facing the church, including church finances and the rejection by most Catholics of some of its core teachings on premarital sex, contraception, gays, and divorce.
“Cardinal Walter Kasper of Germany, who has called for ‘‘changes and openings’’ in the church’s treatment of divorced and remarried Catholics, will give the keynote speech Thursday (Feb. 20) to the pope and cardinals attending a preparatory meeting for an October summit on family issues.”
By Nicole Winfield, Associated Press, in The Boston Globe — Click here to read the rest of this story.
Clericalism Is Bad for Priests & Laity / Vatican Insider, La Stampa
Posted by Voice of the Faithful in Clericalism, Voice of the Faithful on February 14, 2014
Vatican Insider interviews the Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy, the newly elected cardinal Beniamino Stella: ‘Let us not forget that a cleric’s vocation brings him closer to people …
“Clericalism” is a word that has been on the Pope’s lips a great deal in recent months. I think I am right in saying that what the Holy Father means when he refers to the term ‘clerical,’ is that it describes the kind of priest who wants to give orders, who always thinks he knows best and becomes closed, hindering the mission of the Church. A clerical priest is a priest who withdraws into his own shell, into his own mindset and does not consult or listen to others, especially the laity, as he doesn’t recognize the role of lay people in the Church’s mission. Sometimes, these kinds of priests believe they can dominate over others, especially the poor and ignorant and that they belong to some kind of cast, claiming certain privileges and powers. ‘Clericalism’ is bad for priests because it distorts their mission and is harmful for the laity because it hinders their development as adult Christians. This word, ‘clericalism,’ is a call to us priests to examine our consciences every day so that we don’t forget that being clerics means being in a condition to bear witness to the faith in a more efficient way and show deep commitment to our vocation. Being a cleric does not give us some kind of social status that places up above others. This would create a gap between us. These are real risks for the pastoral ministry and we need to guard against them. To keep them at bay we must keep our focus on the Cross, the humble and silent Virgin Mary who listens, suffers and gives herself. I hope everyone, myself included, can undertake this journey every day with God’s help.”
By Andrea Tornielli, Vatican Insider, La Stampa — Click here to read all of this interview.
Pope Francis Faces Church Divided over Doctrine, Global Poll of Catholics Finds / Washington Post
Posted by Voice of the Faithful in church reform, Pope Francis, Vatican, Voice of the Faithful on February 13, 2014
Most Catholics worldwide disagree with church teachings on divorce, abortion and contraception and are split on whether women and married men should become priests, according to a large new poll released Sunday (Feb. 9) and commissioned by the U.S. Spanish-language network Univision.
On the topic of gay marriage, two-thirds of Catholics polled agree with church leaders. Overall, however, the poll of more than 12,000 Catholics in 12 countries reveals a church dramatically divided: Between the developing world in Africa and Asia, which hews closely to doctrine on these issues, and Western countries in Europe, North America and parts of Latin America, which strongly support practices that the church teaches are immoral.”
By Michelle Boorstein, The Washington Post — Click here to read the rest of this story.
The Papacy of Pope Francis & His Impact on the Catholic Church / St. Louis Public Radio
Posted by Voice of the Faithful in church reform, Pope Francis, Voice of the Faithful on February 13, 2014
Wikimedia/Casa Rosada
In the 11 months since Pope Francis began his papacy, he has gained widespread approval and a reputation for shaking things up.
“In July, he surprised the world by asking, “Who am I to judge?” in response to a question about gays in the Catholic Church. In December, Time magazine selected him as the Person of the Year for 2013. And a worldwide poll of 12,000 Catholics published this month by Univision set the pope’s approval rating at 87 percent.
“Three theological studies professors from Saint Louis University joined St. Louis on the Air host Don Marsh today (Feb. 12) in a discussion that ranged from the pope’s popularity to his vision for the future of the Catholic Church.”
By Camille Phillips, St. Louis Public Radio — Click here to read listen to this entire program.
Bishop Seeks to Build Bridge to ‘Faithful’ / Greenwich Time
Posted by Voice of the Faithful in Voice of the Faithful on February 12, 2014
Five months after he began his leadership of the Diocese of Bridgeport, Bishop Frank Caggiano will do something unprecedented. He will speak at a chapter meeting of Voice of the Faithful, an organization of concerned Catholics formed in 2002 to call for reform in the church as scandals were breaking over cases in which priests sexually abused children and were shielded by bishops who moved them among the parishes.
“Catholics who joined VOTF under the motto, “Keep the Faith, Change the Church,” sought to support victims of abuse and priests of integrity, and to change the church hierarchy that allowed such abuse.
By Angela Carella, Greenwichtime.com — Click here to read the rest of this story.
One Year Ago, Pope Benedict XVI Resigned — What a Difference a Year Makes / National Catholic Reporter
Posted by Voice of the Faithful in Pope Francis, Vatican, Voice of the Faithful on February 11, 2014
Cast your mind back to February 2013. Remember what was happening and how people felt. How you felt. The resignation of Pope Benedict XVI on Feb. 11, 2013, caught the world by surprise, but after the initial shock wore off, it didn’t seem all that surprising … Another week later and Pope Francis was introduced to the world. Looking a bit stunned, he bowed from the waist and asked the crowd before him and the multitudes watching on television to pray for him … What has Francis actually done? He is making all the baptized co-responsible. He’s giving us our church back.”
By Dennis Coday, National Catholic Reporter — Click here to read the rest of this article.
Also of interest on the same topic is John L. Allen, Jr.’s, article in The Boston Globe — Pope’s Bold Resignation Began Vatican Year of Change
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A lay movement for governance reform in the Roman Catholic Church, responding to the clergy sexual abuse scandal and supporting survivors.
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