Today I was challenged to make a definitive statement about how the various sex abuse scandals (pedophilia and sexual abuse of religious sisters) should be handled by a poster who goes by the handle of Outlaw_ca. He put the challenge as follows:
In case valid cases how many priests and bishops were fired and were they referred to authorities for prosecution. I think your and church mind set is protection of the Church, I am more concerned about the fair treatment of victims. Why has this been hidden from you for all these years. Now that you know what do you plan to do? Would you ask the Vatican to provide the answers and keep us posted on your blog?
Here is the response I offered to him in those same National Post threads.
O/C: You are absolutely correct. If priests or bishops are positively identified as been responsible for these abuses, they should be removed from the clerical state (defrocked) immediately. And, yes I will immediately post this same comment on my blog.
This is what is driving me nuts about these scandals. You would think that by now the powers of the church would understand that as horrible as these sex abuse incidents are, the cover-up is worse. I don't mean that in terms of the impact on specific individuals or to in any way minimize the evil of sexual abuse, but by trying to protect themselves (for lets be honest with each other - despite the protests that they are trying to "protect" the church, at this point they are really protecting their own interests) they are doing far more damage to the faith than they seem to acknowledge.
There are however a few hopeful signs. The fact that the Archbishop of Dublin is now prompting those bishops named in the recent inquiry as having been guilty of covering up the abuse there should step down. Alas only one bishop (from Limerick) has taken his advice. I do not understand why it is that these men do not see that to not step down eviscerates their own statements that they want to be part of the solution. I guess the book of proverbs is still true when it says "pride goeth before the fall".
Fr. Tim
I appreciate that O/C asks me to put this issue before the Vatican, but in truth I do not know how I would do that. However I can say from experience that bishops (including my own) do follow this blog, so perhaps this forum might serve to at least start the ball rolling.
The church has to come to understand that the manner in which they have handled these affairs up to now has been insufficient in the eyes of most people, be they Catholic or not and if the church wants to rebuild trust with its members it needs to do more.
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As Catholic Culture pointed out in a recent column, it was also the police who helped wayward priests avoid punishment over the years.
ReplyDeleteHello Father Tim...I am a cradle Catholic in her mid 50's. I love Jesus.
ReplyDeleteOver a period of 9 years on & off I heard not so nice things about this certain priest who died in early January 1999. Father David Kelly did help me for sometime in the late 1980's, I was introduce to him by a St. Joseph nun(now dead). Over time I find I cannot deny something is just not right with this man. It is true this is only second hand info, nevertheless, I heard from folks that even did not know each other gave similar information. Finally, the other night my husband & I were visiting this elderly lady. At one point she told us she heard some shocking news about a Father David Kelly she use to know. A man told her(he knew the Kelly family)that Father David took his own life. This poor lady was hurting & found it hard to believe because she thought he died from natural causes. She brings me a picture of Father David Kelly taken at his ordination in May 1984. The elderly lady & the man were talking about Msgr. Robert Borne Court dates when Father David Kelly's name came up. Father Tim, I did not tell this lady what I heard throughout the years.(not nice to listen or do gossip). That(I need to say alledged here)Father David Kelly killed himself by an overdose. He was in a coma for awhile then he died at a Kingston hospital. He committed suicide because his name was link to young boys. One information I got from an Aunt that is a strong traditional Catholic. Her own parish priest spoke to 2 parishioners she knows well. Quoted: "I shouldn't say this but he did died of an overdose". This priest is still alive but will withhold his name for now. My gut feelings tells me it is just a matter of time that Father David Kelly may have (again alleged) victims that may soon come forward when they are ready. Or they may have been dealt with with hush money? I hope I am wrong! I pray for all priests, clergy, especially victims of abuse. Those poor souls that are still suffering in silence. God help them & God have mercy on us all. Especially all the clergy that knows about the abusers and did & still cover it up.
Anonymous: Thank you for your comment. I commend you for not sharing the information that you heard about Fr. Kelly. As priests, we were not told how it was that he died. Given his young age, there were whispers about how it happened, but nothing specific was ever told.
ReplyDeleteIn the years that have passed, I too heard the same rumors but these whispered allegations did not come from his years as a priest but come from the years that he was teacher (his first career).
I would say to these victims (if the rumors are true) that they should approach whatever would be the appropriate authority with any information that they would have. My concern is about living priests who have in the past or present abuse children. The dead are beyond the reach of any earthly authority and now have (for better or worse) received their judgment from Christ.
Let me conclude by saying that I do not believe that Fr. David was unfaithful to his priestly vows. He was an excellent priest who served in various communities with faith and diligence. He helped many people in parishes large and small. To the best of my knowledge, there were never any allegations about him that come from his years as a priest. Remember these things about David and continue to pray for his soul, and continue to refrain (as you have) from doing anything that would cause others to think ill of him in death.
Fr. Tim
Ruralrite: The situation you speak of comes from the City of Cornwall and the inquiry that followed the allegations of abuse by priests, lawyers, probation officers and others. The judge of the inquiry stated that all of these institutions, together with the police were negligent in the manner in which they dealt with these allegations.
ReplyDeleteRemember too that it was one OPP officer who, on his own time, investigated these allegations and would not let the situation rest until the truth came out. So, just as I would say that all priests cannot be tarred with the misdeeds of some, so too it is unfair to blame all police for the negligence of a few.
Fr. Tim
PS. Glad to see that you are reading articles from the Catholic Culture website. It is an excellent source of Catholic news
Thank-you Fr. Tim for your reply to my post. I agree what you said about spreading rumors about Father David Kelly. I believe nothing can be gain, the man is dead. I do pray for him. The Sister of St.Joseph that introduce me to him knew him well. She had high praises about Fr. Kelly. Especially his concept about grasping about Mother Mary(I think Father Kelly was a convert to the Catholic faith?). Anyway Sister said it would do me good to make a general confession which I did & I remember the day, it was on "All Saints Day" it may be around the year 1988. Fr. Tim this Sister Marie I knew since 1973 that dear nun died in April 2005. (By the way I did work at the same convent this Sister Marie was at for awhile). I am fast forwarding to the 2002-2004 years. One sunny day I went & visited Sr. Marie. During the conversation I said: "Sister you know Father Paul Ling that died he was so good to me & I have a picture of him. There is another priest that helped me many years ago you know it would be nice to have a picture of him. It is Father David Kelly". Father Tim that is when Sister Marie's face turned into something I never seen before. She had the look of...you know that famous painting by Edvard Munch, it is call: 'The Scream'(1893). Fr. Tim I am not lying, this nun had that horror/shock look on her face. She stayed stunned for longest time. I eventually responded by saying...if it is meant for me to have a picture of him I will get one. Fr.Tim what I did not tell her & I wish I did, I had heard about a certain event(by the way my husband was with me)told by a couple that they were on a bus trip with other seniors to some kind of religious pilgrimage. This couple said that the bus stopped in Cobden & pick up a young boy no more than 16yrs old, probably 15yrs.old). The bus trip continued, The group stay overnight at a motel and the couple said that young lad shared the same room with Father David Kelly. All the rooms had only one double bed. Fr.Tim my regret is I should had the courage & taken my chances to be discipline by the Sister(like do not talk about priest like that, etc..)I should have ask her if there was any truth about Father David Kelly. I wish I did but now Sister Marie is dead & it is too late. I am sure there may be other nuns that know the truth & other folks even clergy but I am at a dead end. I need to let it go. You know that Father David Kelly was Sister Marie's confessor. I remember her telling me that he told her: "A woman in my medical condition should receive the Sacrament of the Sick more often than once a month." Fr. Tim if the rumor is true(alleged) about Father David I can only imagine the pain of betrayal this Sister of St. Joseph must have felt when she heard the news about Fr. David Kelly. Only God knows what is true. Father Tim I do not like feeling angry at a dead priest and a dead nun. Thank God I do believe in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Thank you Fr. Tim for the privileged of being able to share this difficult part of my life. Thank for your prayers. Blessings to you!
ReplyDeleteMy final thoughts & opinions...clergy, Father David Kelly, etc..
ReplyDeleteI believe all the clergy in the Pembroke Diocese are having a tough time. The morale has to be low. It is only natural with everything that is going on with the recent sex abuse scandals here, Ireland & all over the globe.
I also think this recent one with Msgr.Robert Borne is only the tip of the iceberg for more revelations of clergy abuse and cover up is to come. True, Msgr. Borne has a right to a fair trial. True, it does not look good for him. True,I should stop here but I can't,.. A well known hard working Pembroke Nun told me, yes, in front of another witness that Msgr. Robert Borne IS guilty. She also told us you would be very surprise how many pedophile priests there are, especially young ones. This nun did not mentioned the names of these other pedophile priests or where they came from. All I know these alleged criminals are in Canada & some may be already dead. This nun seem so relieve to share this information with us. I did not ask her for in-depth details because it was a shock to me to hear and I was trying not to vomit.
As for Father David Kelly, yes, he is dead, all the evidences/rumors I heard about him...my opinion is he did die of an overdose. Because a priest in the Round Lake area SAID so. As for Fr.Kelly being link to young boys....All I know his name was brought up during the Msgr. Bernard Prince investigation time. Now, Father David Kelly's name is resurfacing again with the name Msgr.Robert Borne! As for me I pray for all. I pray for all clergy/priests that knows something to please help out..to speak up. I am not saying here about breaking the seal of confession. I am speaking about what they know OUTSIDE of the confessional box. God help all those in the justice system, especially those that are working so hard for the victims that were abused by our clergy! The clergy who belong to: 'Holy Roman Catholic Church'.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year Father Tim!
Lina
Lina,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comments and for visiting my blog. There are priests who are doing exactly what you are calling for. I know this because I am one such priest... and I know there are others in the Diocese who are doing the same.
May you be blessed with a joyous Christmas season!
Fr. Tim
Fr.Tim,
ReplyDeleteI hear what your saying Father Tim. Thank you! Many Blessings and good wishes to you! Lina
January 29, 2013
ReplyDeleteAnonymous
Response to rumours and allegations against Father David Kelly. I'm a 53 year old man from Bancroft area. I was sexually abused by David Kelly from age 11 to 15 while he was a teacher. I suffered in silence for 42 years. I broke this silence in September of 2012 and have been in counselling since October of 2012. In one of your responses your reply was "no good would come from speaking ill of the dead." That man will never be dead to me but now with counselling I am no longer a victim but a survivor. I encourage anyone who was abused by this pedophile or any others to seek help. REMEMBER you are NOT ALONE. To those who have and continue to cover up abuse you are as bad as the abuser and will be judged accordingly in the end.
Anonymous