Scandal payouts make news
The photo above of the Cathedral of St. Vibiana in 1880, from the USC libraries' archives, reminds us of the golden days of yesteryear in our Archdiocese.In those days the Catholic priesthood instituted by Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was unsullied by massive sex abuse and coverup scandals. All the hierarchy and clergy humbly and faithfully revered Holy Mother Church, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the Church's Magisterium (teaching authority) and their Catholic flock, and never dreamed of mocking or casting doubt on the Holy Faith from the pulpit or in any big "education" sessions.
Not in those days did the hierarchy and clergy tell us of the "giftedness" of homosexuals and our "duty" to cater to them. Not in those days did the seminaries seek anyone other than straight men. Not in those days did Cardinals import "education" speakers who would publicly recommend homosexual books and "entertainment" to the faithful.
Not in those days, either, did the Archdiocese have to pay enormous sums to settle civil suits over sex abuse and coverup scandals.
The links below are to the stories on Cardinal Roger Mahony's announcement of $60 million in payouts over sex abuse and coverup civil suits that the Los Angeles Times has run today.
One of the stories quotes His Eminence as saying the Archdiocese might have to sell "some assets." We have to admit that in circumstances such as this in any other organization, the top man and his aides would resign or be forced out for obvious mismanagement.
Buy a copy of today's Times or go to these links:
"Church to settle with 45 accusers"
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-settlement2dec02,0,2025995.story?coll=la-home-headlines
"Settlement leaves largest questions unanswered"
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-mahony2dec02,0,7680385.story?coll=la-home-headlines
"Hundreds of cases remain in litigation"
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-qa2dec02,0,2947774.story?coll=la-home-headlines
"She can't forgive Mahony's inaction"
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-mary2dec02,0,139046.story?coll=la-home-headlines
P.S. By the way, it is true that not all of the cases in our Archdiocese involve homosexual perpetrators. But most of them do. Saying this is not by any means to diminish or neglect the suffering of any victims and their families, to whom our hearts go out, of course.
posted by Quintero at 3:22 PM
3 Comments:
JOSEPH D'HIPPOLITO SAYS...
Quintero, with all due respect, I must take exception to your assertion that "in those days the Catholic priesthood instituted by Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was unsullied by massive sex abuse and coverup scandals."
I believe one saint tried to force the papacy to deal with this issue back in the 11th or 12th century. Granted, the communications media we take for granted today did not exist then. But this sin has been pervading the Church for centuries, unfortunately. The silence about it in previous times doesn't equate to non-existence.
Dear Joseph,
Yes, I think we all know that homosexual scandals have existed through the ages.
And quite a few saints are on record as denouncing such sins, so I don't think we can say there was silence about them in days of yore.
In my post, though, I was talking specifically about Los Angeles in 1880, and I intentionally used the word "massive" as a qualifier.
Quintero,
Concerning the Church in Los Angeles in the 1880's, for the most part I agree with you, but even then there were most probably Judases waiting for the right moment. The real difference then was the vigilance the Church kept to keep them out!
Kenneth M. Fisher
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