Well, if you didn't, you'd know after you read this piece. Put it this way: the Clintons taught us to parse everything, and parsing is exactly what you should do here. (Test: see if YOU can figure out what two words are missing from the letter.)
We'll just cut to the highlights. You don't need the bullshit, do you?
...I believe the U.S. Bishops adopted a credible and sound response to this crisis in 2002, with the so-called Dallas Charter – a response we have strictly followed in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. ...Oh, yes. The Charter which keeps the Bishops UN-accountable. Yes, we know about it.
H.E. Listecki is unhappy with Pp Francis' move to shut off discussion here and opines that the Pope will--in February (or a lot later)--come up with "universal norms." OK, then. He believes that. Nobody else does. (And maybe those norms will be written like your letter......like Swiss cheese......)
Then follows some blather about the Wonderful Track Record of U.S. Bishops vis-a-vis 'child abuse.'
...Plante notes that “there is less child abuse in the Catholic Church today than just about any other comparable organization." Praise God!...The Archbishop proves that he is not entirely deaf:
...What I have heard from Catholic leaders, priests and parishioners is not a question about our current policies and protocols, but rather concern about past cover-ups and accountability for bishops who did not take appropriate action. Bishops across the United States have a credibility problem....So here's the plan!!
...To insure we continue to hold ourselves to the highest standards, I want to increase the involvement of lay Catholics in decisions about clergy sexual abuse. ...
...We also have our Community Advisory Board, that reviews and advises me on outreach and activities related to clergy sexual abuse and makes recommendation for improvements. I want to expand this group to involve more lay members and charge them with holding me accountable for our actions in this area. In doing so, I want there to be a systematic series of checks and balances to ensure appropriate oversight is present when dealing with allegations of sexual abuse....
And there's more!!
...I also support the establishment of a national code of conduct for bishops and the establishment of a "special commission" to review complaints against bishops that includes lay leaders. In the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, we have a Code of Ethical Standards for Leaders. It notes that Church leaders have a responsibility to report ethical misconduct on the part of other Church leaders. ...Maybe you're asking "What two words are missing from this letter, Dad?? Huh? Please!!!"
OK. Here ya go:
HOMOSEXUAL and
PREVENTION
Not in the original fluffer-poofer text, and not in my excerpts. Noplace. Ain't no "homosexual" stuff in here, nosirree, Bob!! And there's no "prevention" stuff here, either.
You know--like, for example: "We will prevent the vast majority of future abuse by never ordaining homosexuals to the priesthood." You should try that, Excellency. It works pretty damn well. (UPDATE): Even Pp. Francis agrees!!
But in Abp Listecki's letter, we'll talk about "CHILD" abuse. Fuggedabout that abuse of seminarians and Pink Palaces and Gay Dorm Life at seminaries. Let's not talk about today's issues! mumblemumbleBryanmumblemubleMassingalemumblemumbleJamesMartinmumblemumhhh
And--as you expected--all those "reporting protocols".......uummnnnnhhh......well........report TO WHOM? Other Bishops who have no Canonical authority to do diddlysquat? Report to Rome? Oh, really? To Pope Delay-and-Obfuscate?
How about reporting to the various Attorney Generals, Excellency? They seem to be interested. And they will obtain all the files. That's a good plan, ain'a?
Let us also remember that Abp Listecki chooses to allow the building next to his cathedral to have prominent signage declaring it to be the Archbishop Weakland Center.
ReplyDeleteIf he cannot remove a sign honoring an abusive bishop, what chance is there in the more difficult task of removing abusive bishops?