Great news on the Catholic front!

Breaking news from The New York Times:

Archbishop’s Aide Guilty of Endangerment in Abuse Case

Here's why it's big news:

PHILADELPHIA – In the first criminal conviction of a Roman Catholic Church official in the United States for covering up sexual abuses, Msgr. William J. Lynn was found guilty Friday of endangering children by allowing a known pedophile priest to continue ministering to youths, resulting in an assault on a 10-year-old boy.

The first time in the US that a criminal conviction of a Roman Catholic Church official is upheld for covering up sexual abuse. As an aside, the current situation of former priest Shawn Ratigan and Bishop Finn is mentioned, too, briefly, at the end of the article, not surprisingly.

And I only "celebrate" it if, in fact, he was guilty, as it seems he was. I am not taking any pleasure in his guilt, to be clear. I am only glad justice is being served if an injustice was done.

I hope this isn't a case of having "thrown the 'little guy' under the bus", however.

Anyway, the thing is, as I have said here before several times and as SNAP repeats, too--we must stop child and student abuse--sexual, physical, emotional or otherwise--wherever it is and it has been prevalent in Catholic institutions for decades and centuries, across the world, unfortunately and sadly. It must stop.

What must stop, too, is the Catholic Church's attempts, repeatedly, to protect their male hierarchy and leaders, at the expense of their members and students and children. That's disgusting.

Now, hopefully this case will serve as a sort of precedent for Bishop Finn's case, here in our area.

If Bishop Finn is, in fact, guilty, as, I and so many of us think and believe the hard evidence shows, may he, too, be brought to justice.

Frankly, from the information on the case against both Shawn Ratigan and Bishop Finn, the case here in Kansas City seems far more clear-cut, simple and uncomplicated and possibly damning against both of them, than this case in Philadelphia.

Again, let me be clear, I say this not for anyone to extract any revenge or retribution but so the abuse of children or, in fact, anyone in the Catholic Church or any organization, stops. It must be clear that all of us--our society--does not allow this to happen in hopes that it will at least decrease, if not stop altogether and as soon as possible.

Here's hoping.

Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/23/us/philadelphias-msg-william-j-lynn-is-convicted-of-allowing-abuse.html?_r=1&smid=fb-share

Why The Star and SNAP are right about this Catholic Church Abuse Scandal with Bishop Finn

The reasons why our own Kansas City Star and SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests) is correct, to date, about Bishop Finn, the Catholic Church and the abuse charges against this Bishop are because, first, the Star is merely reporting things as and when they happen. It's called reporting. It's what they're supposed to do.

Should they take editorial stands on it?

Sure they should. It is, after all, adults sexually and/or physically abusing the students--children--they are supposed to be otherwise responsible for. That and they're from their own churches and schools. What other stand should any people or organization take?

As for SNAP? Same thing. They're trying to see to it that the sexual and physical abuse of students--children--isn't left unpunished so that it doesn't take place any longer.

So the Catholic Church and their attorneys have done their best to intimidate SNAP by asking the courts to take their files.

Crazy but not a huge surprise. It is, after all, the law firm's goal to win the case, whatever ugliness that might entail.

But, in spite of that, the latest news today on this scandal vindicates, I think, both SNAP and the Star. It is this:

Prosecutor wants new charge against Bishop Finn, diocese in failure to report child abuse case --Mark Morris, The Kansas City Star (link at bottom)

The new charges would not allege any new facts about conduct attributable to either Finn or the diocese. Rather, the new charges would subdivide the existing charges into two distinct periods in which Finn and the diocese allegedly should have reported Ratigan to state child abuse and neglect investigators.

The first period would cover Dec. 17, 2010, to Feb. 10, 2011, when the church learned of the photographs, Ratigan attempted suicide and he was sent for medical treatment.

The second period would begin on Feb. 11, 2011, the date Finn sent Ratigan a letter outlining restrictions on his conduct and May 18, after Murphy notified police.

Additionally--and this seems logical and like a good move to me, knowing what we do of the case and the events to date--they've added this:

"Prosecutors also have asked a judge to approve a massive request for records from the diocese’s so-called 'secret archive' detailing the diocese’s responses to child abuse allegations both before and after Finn began serving in Kansas City in May 2004."

In the first place, Finn's attorneys did this to SNAP so turnabout is fair play but far more importantly, if the Church and their offices have any such "secret archive", it should naturally come out to the light of day so the prosecutors know what they're dealing with.

The last word on this case and all others facing the Catholic Church is that this abuse--sexual, physical and any and all other--must, at long last, end after all these centuries and continents, literally, once and for all.

Hopefully that day is coming soon. Hopefully that day is nearly here.

Link: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/05/07/3599367/prosecutor-wants-new-charge-against.html

Catholics: What to give up for Lent

How about pedophilia? Would you give up that one for us, please? And protecting your male, Catholic hierarchy. There's another good one. Please? If not for us and if not for yourselves, how about for your own children?

Here's what happens when you're not a Catholic priest

An article over at The Kansas City Star tells of a man from Southern Missouri who took advantage of a 12-year old girl, gave her marijuana and alcohol and then took sexually explicit pictures of her, disgustingly enough. The local reaction? "The girl told an assistant principal at her school that December that she had been sexually victimized, and police opened an investigation immediately." That, ladies and gentlemen, is what consistently DOESN'T happen when and if yet one more Catholic priest is thought to be taking advantage of young school-age children in their own Catholic schools. No investifgation is immediately undertaken. Instead, the possibly-offending priest is just shuffled off to some other unsuspecting city or town. It's shameful and we've seen it happen time and time again. It's certainly what happened with former priest Shawn Ratigan and it's not going to stop unless or until the public demands it stops. Link: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/02/13/3427382/kc-man-convicted-of-taking-pornographic.html#storylink=omni_popular

A SNAP news conference today

I got the following email today: SNAP--Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests--will be holding a news conference today at 2:30 pm. We will be at the Kansas City Catholic chancery office at 20 West Ninth Street (corner of Baltimore). More details will be coming shortly. Good for them. I hope they have good news for us, especially, possibly on Bishop Finn (and how he should go). More here: a clergy sex abuse victim who has never spoken publicly will --announce his new civil lawsuit accusing two priests of molesting him as a boy, and --disclose that he saw one of the priests molest three other boys (one of whom later committed suicide). He will also beg anyone who saw, suspected or suffered clergy sex crimes or cover ups to come forward & get help. WHEN: TODAY, Thursday, Sept. 1 at 2:30 PM WHERE: Outside the Kansas City Catholic diocesan headquarters (“chancery office”), 20 West Ninth Street (at Baltimore) in Kansas City, MO. WHO: The victim, who is speaking publicly for the first time, along with several of his friends and one-two clergy sex abuse victims who belong to a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org) WHY: According to the new suit, the victim, Jon David Couzens, was molested by two KC area priests. He saw one cleric molest three boys, two of whom later committed suicide. The first alleged predator was Fr. Isaac True, who reported assaulted Jon around 1978-79 when John was nine year old on at least two occasions. The second alleged predator was Msgr. Thomas J. O'Brien, who reportedly molested John in 1981-82. Jon witnessed O’Brien sexually abuse three other boys. One of them has since committed suicide, the suit says. Most of the crimes against John happened at Nativity parish in Independence, where both priests worked. O’Brien was ordained in 1950and is believed to be about 80 years old. He faces allegations that he molested two dozen children (sometimes along with F.r Thomas Reardon) while at a cabin on Lake Viking (northeast of Kansas City) and several parishes (St. Patrick’s in Kansas City North, St. Elizabeth’s, Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Independence). He worked at several Catholic institutions (St. Pius X High school and St. Joseph Health Center). He still lives in the KC area and kept working as a priest until 2002. In 2008, Kansas City church officials refused demands by victims to have O’Brien defrocked. He remains a priest today. True was ordained in 1966 and has spent most of his career at Conception Abbey in Conception Missouri, north of Kansas City, where he is still working now. He belongs to a Catholic religious order called the Benedictines. In June, another Benedictine cleric from that same abbey, Fr. Bede Parry, was sued for molesting a Kansas City area boy. Couzens just turned 41, lives in the Kansas City area, is married and employed. CONTACT David Clohessy, SNAP Executive Director 314-566790, SNAPclohessy@aol.com, Barbara Dorris, SNAP Outreach Director 314-862-7688 home, 314-503-0003 cell, SNAPdorris@gmail.com, Mike Hunter, SNAP Kansas City Director 913-634-6490.

At what point, Catholics?

To all Catholics in the St. Joseph-Kansas City Diocese, I ask you, at what point are you going to all truly stand up, speak out and say "Enough!" Word out this week that there is yet a third computer with pictures on it of young children, apparently taken and owned by Father Shawn Ratigan. The first was in St. Joseph, the 2nd here in Kansas City and this last one is in Independence. Then, two days ago comes word that another, different priest was removed from his post (there's a shocker, they're taking action) because of alleged sexual abuse back in the 70's, up in St. Joseph. Really, at what point are you Catholics going to truly and absolutely going to follow SNAP's lead (Survivor's Network of those Abused by Priests) and hold these people accountable? Publicly declare that this is no longer acceptable--not that it ever should have been--and withhold your weekly donation to the church and do all you can so your children are protected first instead of the clergy hierarchy. Enough, already! Links: http://www.kansascity.com/2011/07/05/2996533/inquiry-of-priest-yields-more.html; http://www.kansascity.com/2011/07/05/2996391/priest-removed-from-duties-over.html; www.snapnetwork.org/

Gov. Bob McDonnell and the silent Catholics: Where were you on this one?

It's truly a sad, sad day for Virginians, whether they agree or not. But it's also the same type day for Americans. Really. Executing a woman--Teresa Lewis--with an IQ of 72 for a murder she didn't do but was accused of "masterminding". The Governor of Virginia should be ashamed of himself in my eyes. And the Supreme Court, for that matter. Go to The New York Times link below and see the woman's picture and read the story if you haven't already. Ask yourself, what did Virginia have to gain by putting this woman to death? Would not have life in prison served as a much more appropriate punishment? The men who actually pulled the trigger on her husband and step-son are serving life in prison and again, one of these men actually shot the victim. And then, where was the Catholic outrage on this execution? I would have hoped every Priest, Bishop and Cardinal, worldwide, and the Pope himself raised their voices in dissent on this. I don't think they did. And if they didn't up to now, I hope they speak up after the fact. What happened to their "life is sacred" mantra they're always spouting? My point is that we should all cry out on this one. As it happens, Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell, who couldn't find it in his heart, mind or soul to stay this woman's sentence is, apparently, hypocritically, Catholic. Shouldn't Gov. McDonnell be refused "the sacrament", the way they refuse it for divorcee's? I looked today on "The Catholic Key", too, and there is no mention of this story. This is truly pitiful. Really shameful. Pathetic. We all need to be far better than this. Links: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/24/us/24execute.html; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_McDonnell