John Guillaumier, St Julians
Cover-ups of paedophilia and homosexuality
The sex abuse scandals by the Roman Catholic clergy in several countries, including the United States, Ireland, Germany and Australia, are causing grievous damage to the Roman Catholic Church.
For non-Catholics like myself, the Roman Catholic Church is now a disgraced institution.
Among Catholics, especially in the United States and in Ireland, the Church has lost its trust and its credibility. For how can Catholic priests be credible in preaching good morals to others when hundreds of their fellow priests have committed such crimes as most laymen are loath to commit?
The sexual abuse of boys by priests has been going on for decades - and so have the cover-ups by the Church, as The Times reported on May 22, 2009: "Sexual abuse was endemic in boys' homes in Ireland and Church leaders turned a blind eye to it." Irish Justice Minister Dermot Ahern said: "There is no escaping the cruel irony that the Church, partly motivated by a desire to avoid scandal, in fact created a scandal on an astonishing scale. In many cases, the welfare of children counted for nothing, and abusers were left free to abuse - to visit evil on the innocent." (November 27)
Cover-ups of sexual abuse by Roman Catholic priests have in fact been going on for centuries without being exposed as they are nowadays. A write-up on this topic was published in The Sunday Times of August 13, 2006 as a review of a book entitled Sex, Priests, and Secret Codes - The Catholic Church's 2,000 Trails Of Sexual Abuse.
In a review of another book entitled Fallen Order by Karen Liebreich, the reviewer writes: "Father Josè de Calasanz, who founded the first school of the Piarist Order in 1597, was made the patron saint of schools and education by the Pope in 1948. He might just as well be the patron saint of the cover-up for, back in the 17th century, he was covering up child abuse in his own schools." (The Sunday Times UK, Culture magazine, April 18, 2004)
Another scandal that is slowly emerging is the scandal of homosexual priests who engage in sexual activity with adult males. On December 31, 2009, The Times reported: "The Catholic former archbishop of Argentina's Santa Fe province has been sentenced to eight years in prison for aggravated sexual abuse against a seminarian."
On March 5, 2010, The Times reported about a lay member of an elite choir in St Peter's Basilica who colluded with one of Pope Benedict's lay ceremonial ushers in allegedly procuring men for seminarians, according to wiretap transcripts published by La Repubblica.
In the late 1990s, Mgr Hans Hermann Groer, Cardinal Archbishop of Vienna, was dropped like a hot potato by the Vatican after he was accused of having sex with young men.
I lived in North America for 24 years and during my time there I met several Catholic priests, both in the United States and in Canada, who led double lives - as priests and as sexually active homosexuals.
The Church is aware that it has homosexual priests in its ranks, as Bishop Wilton Gregory, president of the US Conference of Catholic bishops, observed: "It is an ongoing struggle to make sure that the Catholic priesthood is not dominated by homosexual men" (The Malta Independent on Sunday, April 28, 2002).
But I very much doubt whether Pope Benedict and his bishops know about the sex lives of their homosexual priests and what these priests are actually up to when they doff their clerical collars to assume their alter egos as practising homosexuals. Isn't it ironic that the homophobic Roman Catholic Church turns out to have had hundreds of paedophile priests in its own ranks as well as other priests who were sexually active with adult male homosexuals?
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Leo Bartolo
Mar 20th 2010, 15:21
@Paul Smith
It seems that you have not read my comment properly.I said that these 'paedophilia and homosexuality' sitauations among priests sadden me, worry me and codemn these acts which I admit are vile and I do not have any problem in the church naming the priests involved.
For your information, missionary work does not mean conversion of persons to the Catholic church it means precisely what I wrote in my comment. Can you give us some analysis about this missionary work? Or is it that, you, being a non-Catholic is more interested in the perverted acts of the priests than in the great works of the thousands of priests which they carry out all over the world to ease the suffering of the oppressed, the hungry, the sick and so on and so forth.
With regards to the rest of your comment I cannot put in my views since I did not understand your hysterical attack against the Catholic Church
Ernest Vella
Mar 20th 2010, 14:10
Seem, the author of the article forgot what Jesus said; "Do what they say but don't do what they do." Neither he can put all priests in one basket, for this is the very minimum of the clergy. While condemning such things, we cannot say that the good moral values are non-sense for they went against them. Nor one can say that the Catholic Church is lossing credibility...for the Church is not hidding such past cases while today offices are created in the Church to safeguard the innocent, and to train people...and the Church filter today is so narrow. The author I think wants that Catholic Journalists investigate other churches....so pure in heart and spirit....see in your eyes first.
Josef Laspina
Mar 19th 2010, 23:16
Dear Mr Paul Smith, while the present and the future will be a definite time of turmoil for the Catholic Church, similarly to me many willingly follow its teachings and are not ashamed of being Catholic. The priests who abused minors (and not) should be thrown out of the clergy system but your attacks on the financing and the charity is anti-christian - reminiscent of the anger and hatred which was fuelled by the Masonic propaganda machine before the French Revolution.
Paul Smith
Mar 19th 2010, 20:42
Leo Bartolo
It isnt a few hundred priests, try a few thousand and more, and then you go on to ask Mr. Guillaumier what is it to him since he is not catholic? Well i am also not a catholic and it concerns me that pedophiles are hiding behind the church and free to walk among us and commit there sick ways with our children, you should be ashamed of what you have said unless you think it is ok for pedo's to not be named and people whom live amongst them not to be warned catholic or not catholic. Then you talk of the priests that do missionary work (conversion work) because every new convert means the catholic church gets richer - more resources are prostituted via conversion - the church has many viable companies. I wish i could open a tax exempt business and convert people via brain washing to give me there money and resources.
Gerry Cowie
Mar 19th 2010, 19:28
It is not the least bit unusual for John Guillaumier to attack the Catholic Church. Of course all these revelations are like a red rag to a bull for this man. However he is of course entitled to his opinion, which often stirs others into more constructive action. And if he makes us all think then there is no problem with that! There is no denying that evil has been at work here, and the Church has a lot to do in order to clean up its act. Certainly people should pay for what they have done through being brought to justice. It has to be noted, of course, that such evil is at work outside of the Church and those who criticise the church must also make it their business to point out those guilty of such acts in secular society also. I am not for one moment defending what has gone on in the Church, but simply reminding those who detest the Church anyway often turn a blind eye to what goes on elsewhere.
J Farrugia
Mar 19th 2010, 14:36
Paedophiles dont exist only in the Catholic Church, they are even in our societies. Fathers, loners, married, divorced. So try to be honest with yourself number one. Even homosexuals may be paedophiles. And yet we only see priests being accused of this monstrosity. Even Pope John Paul II said so. So how can you put all the catholic priests in the same basket? WHo knows MAYBE even you are one of them. So please dont point fingers at othersothers such fingers will point at who knows??
James A. Tyrrell
Mar 19th 2010, 13:36
@Joseph Calleja. The reason why the press seems to concentrate on paedophile priests so much Joseph is because of the position they hold. Just like doctors and teachers and ministers etc children should feel safe in their presence and unfortunately this has been shown not to be the case.
I watched a news report last night where Catholics were interviewed coming out of mass about the latest stories to hit the headlines here and many said that they felt ashamed to be Catholic. That is the real harm, which is being done to the Catholic faith.
I agree with your last point that priests should be allowed to marry and have families.
Louise Vella
Mar 19th 2010, 13:02
Since the Catholic Church claims to be representing the Church of Christ, I wonder if Christ is pleased with the way the Catholic Church has been covering-up for priests who sexually abuse children. Does anyone think that Jesus would have approved the present attitude adopted by the Church to protect abusive priests while ignoring the harm to innocent children? Jesus did not mince his words when the well being of children was at stake: "Whoever causes one of these little ones to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened round his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea", (MT 18:6)
g. scerri
Mar 19th 2010, 12:10
It is not the erring priests that hurt for where humanity is involved there will always be weakness and fallibility. What hurts is the policy of a Church that put its own reputation before those of hundreds of abused children. Despite numerous attempts world-wide to persuade the Church to stop hiding criminals- paedophilia is a crime - and hand them over to the authorities, the Church still hides behind response teams and other facile arrangements. This has not only now reached the throne of Peter, but thousands of hard-working priests have fallen under suspicion for who would dare entrust his child to a priest without supervision?
Joseph Calleja
Mar 19th 2010, 12:02
I think we should stop putting priests and clergy men on pedestals. These are human beings and humans err , even if they are priests or clergymen. There are pedophile priests, pedophile teachers and many pedophile others. I do not condone pedophilia in any way, by anybody, but I do think that priests are a better target because of who they are and what they stand for, not to mention the Catholic church happens to be the richest religious order in the world. Maybe the catholic church should let priests be able to marry and have children, it works for other religions.
Joseph Seisun
Mar 19th 2010, 11:20
These 'priests' should be brought to justice every single one of them. They are a disgrace to all Christians. They do not represent Jesus at all. On the contrary! This is what Jesus Himself had to say about such deplorable actions on the innocent: "But whosoever shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and [that] he were drowned in the depth of the sea." ( Matt 18:6)
Jesus is clearly saying that these disgusting actions are not acceptable and surely should not be covered-up or excused by anyone, be it the Vatican, an Archbishop or a Christian!
Leo Bartolo
Mar 19th 2010, 10:32
Mr John Guillaumier and his like have every right to write about paedophilia and homosexuality practiced by few hundred priests (out of thousands). I being a Catholic, such issues worry me and it saddens me that the Catholic Church is going through this traumatic
period and obviously I condemn such acts, evident, among the clergy. But what is it to you, Mr Guillaumier, you, not being a Catholic?
Mr Guillaumier how about giving us a detailed account of all those priests who are doing missionary work in far off lands away from their families, building houses, schools, hospitals, provide food and water for the poor, the hungry, the oppressed the abused, the illiterate. Most probably these things do not concern you since you are a non-Catholic.
Louise Vella
Mar 19th 2010, 10:21
II
These are the links to the list sent previously. They include press releases issued by the diocese asking parishioners for more info about a priest that is being probed for sexual abuse.
1. http://www.bostoncatholic.org/Utility/News-And-Press/Content.aspx?id=16832
2. http://www.wmbfnews.com/Global/story.asp?S=11829358
3. http://www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk/hertfordshiremercury-news-royston/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=477103
4. http://www.gazette.net/stories/01142010/laurnew110933_32554.php
5. http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/display.htm?StoryID=98169
6. http://www.mpnnow.com/news/x1792900517/Former-priest-in-Irondequoit-faces-sex-abuse-allegations
7. http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2009/nov/13/news/chi-priest-removed-13-nov13
8. http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2009/oct/28/news/chi-priest_removedoct28
9. http://www.irishcentral.com/news/Irish-Archbishop-suspended-by-Vatican-in-sex-abuse-probe-65936162.html?page=2
10. http://blog.timesunion.com/schools/accused-priest-worked-at-many-area-schools/436/
11. http://www.wsmv.com/news/21401152/detail.html
12. http://www.state-journal.com/news/article/4694442
Raymond Sammut
Mar 21st 2010, 14:20
Archbishop Cremona sure has all the details now. No wonder he hasn't answered your email yet, Louise. Plenty for him to check first up and confirm.
Louise Vella
Mar 19th 2010, 10:16
I
The following is the list of abusive priests defrocked by the Vatican which I sent to the Archbishop.
Diocese Name Date of Press Release
1 Boston Rev. J. Garret Thomson January 15, 2010
2 Raleigh Father Edgar Sepulveda January 15, 2010
3 Buntingford Fr Ian Dickie December 14, 2009
4 Baltimore Rev.John Wielebski January 10, 2010
5 Baltimore Mgr. Thomas Bevan November 26, 2009
6 Rochester Rev.Conrad Sundholm November18, 2009
7 Chicago Rev. Edward Maloney November 13, 2009
8 Chicago Rev. John Calicott October 28, 2009
9 Nigeria Bishop Richard Burke October 26, 2009
10 Albany Rev.Salvatore Rodino October 25, 2009
11 Franklin Fr.John Sappenfield October 23, 2009
12 Lexington Rev.Joseph Muench October 22, 2009
Vincent Gardiner
Jan 23rd 2011, 21:49
Louise Vella, you have lied to us and the Archbishop, and slandered a priest. Fr Ian DIckie has not been 'defrocked' – he was temporarily removed from public ministry while investigations were made by the police.
Having been found with no case to answer (i.e. he's inoocent, which you should have presumed until proven guilty), he's been returned to his flock.
I haven't investigated the rest of your list, but I can see no reason to have confidence in it.
http://www.rcdow.org.uk/diocese/default.asp?library_ref=4&content_ref=3199
You owe us, Fr Dickie, and the Archbishop, an apology.
Josef Duffy
Mar 19th 2010, 09:51
I happened to be listening to the programm mentioned by Ms Vella. First of all Ms Vella, some decency and good manners please when addressing the Archbishop. Then the argument was - Ms Vella was asking the Archbishop to publish the names not of defrocked priests but those who were suspected of abuse, such as sexual abuse. Such thing does not happen in civilised countries - a person is considered as innocent until proven guilty. The Archbishop's example of a person accused of robbery is a case in point. Is society expected to issue a statement and a list of those accused of robbery as if they are alredy guilty of this crime? Thanks God for our Archbishop who even when confronted by hostile persons, remains calm and replies to questions in a dignified manner.
Louise Vella
Mar 19th 2010, 09:24
While the scandal is being unveiled in many Catholic dioceses all over the world, nothing is known about abusive Maltese priests. During a phone-in programme on radio RTK last Tuesday, I invited Archbishop Cremona to issue a press release every time a Maltese priest is defrocked by the Vatican because of sexual abuse, as is done in foreign dioceses, to warn parents of the danger. He said that he does not know of foreign dioceses that do so and invited me to pass on to him any such information I may have. Immediately after the programme I sent him a list of foreign priests defrocked because of sexual abuse, the date of their dismissal and the press release that was issued by the diocese regarding their dismissal. So far Archbishop Cremona has not acknowledged my email.