Catholic Cardinal on abuse: “We did nothing wrong!”
In a new, rare and stunning just-published interview, former NYC Archbishop Edward Egan made shocking statements about the church’s on-going clergy sex abuse and cover up crisis, including:
- I don’t think we did anything wrong.
- I’m very proud of how this thing was handled.
- I believe the sex abuse thing was incredibly good.
- There really wasn’t much . . . hidden.
- I do think it’s time to get off this subject.
- I don’t think I should be upset about that, or you should be, or anybody else.
- I never had one of these sex abuse cases, either in Bridgeport or here (New York). And I believe that the cases I had were each handled just exactly as they should have been.
- I did exactly what we were told to do. And as a result, not one of them (the accused priests) did a thing out of line.
- I’m not the slightest bit surprised that, of course, the scandal was going to be fun in the news.
- If you have another bishop in the United States who has the record I have, I’d be happy to know who he is.
(See full interview, in Connecticut Magazine, below)
Most bishops have a dreadfully skewed and self-serving view of the crisis. But most work very hard to conceal it. Most are carefully coached by top-notch public relations professionals to say all the right things publicly (while privately, they deal with wounded victims and abusive clerics in largely the same ways they always have).
Egan, however, is obviously unrepentant, self-absorbed and painfully dismissive of the abject suffering of tens of thousands of deeply wounded men, women and children who have been sexually violated by priests, nuns, bishops, brothers, seminarians and other Catholic officials. We can’t help but believe that many other prelates feel exactly as he does but are shrewd enough to avoid saying so outside of clerical circles. (Link to article detailing Egan's protection of abusers: http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news9/2002_03_17_Hamilton_EganProtected.htm)
We urge US Catholic officials – especially in New York and Connecticut – to publicly rebuke Egan for these shockingly callous comments that will no doubt heap more pain onto millions of victims and Catholics who are still suffering because they have been assaulted by child molesting clerics or betrayed by corrupt church officials. We especially urge Egan’s successors, Archbishop Tim Dolan of New York and Bishop William Lori of Bridgeport, to clearly denounce Egan. Mouthing vague platitudes and promises aren’t enough. At an absolute bare minimum, Catholics need and deserve explicit, public and repeated condemnations of Egan by his brother bishops.
And then, Dolan, Lori and others must show – by their actions – that they are what they will claim: different from Egan. They can start by posting on their websites the names, whereabouts and work histories of every proven, admitted and credibly accused child molesting cleric in their dioceses (like 25 US bishops have done).
Winter Appeal 2023
To our friends,
2023 has been a long year with many ups and downs for us all. As we close out the year, we at SNAP hope that you are feeling like you are on your way to being healthy, fulfilled, and happy. This past year has brought both successes and challenges. Thanks to the support you have shown in the past, we’ve been able to celebrate the good days and weather the stormy ones. Now, we are once again asking for your support as we work to support survivors new and old as we ‘Move SNAP Forward.’
At SNAP we are proud to have hosted a very well-attended conference in August 2023. This event allowed us to gather friends, survivors, advocates, and allies for a weekend of camaraderie and connection. We were so happy to be able to welcome many first-time attendees to gather in person and are already looking forward to the next conference.
To strengthen our movement for justice, healing, and prevention, SNAP will be expanding our peer support and providing more volunteer opportunities in the coming year. Through this great work, we are ensuring survivor voices are represented as we work for significant change that will benefit children and survivors.
Right now, survivors worldwide are getting the help they need from SNAP, and more and more reach out to us daily, but we need your help to keep those programs going and get our volunteers the training they need to thrive.
Your tax-deductible gift to SNAP can help offset the cost of our important mission. If you are not in a position to contribute, you can still support us by sharing this letter with those who can. As we continue to fight for survivors across the globe, your donation or sharing the great work SNAP does will help us continue our work to protect the vulnerable, heal the wounded, and prevent abuse.
Your donation ensures SNAP will be there for those who need us more than ever!
Warmly,
Michael W. McDonnell, C.P.S.
Interim Executive Director
Showing 7 comments
The persistent denial of any wrongdoing by his âeminenceâ is a flat contradiction of the facts and of compelling evidence that testifies against him and the âholier than thouâ organization with which he is aligned! Every member of the hierarchy must share in the guilt of the monstrous cover up to which they were all party.
Once more we see the true face of the so-called âprinces of the churchâ as the mask continues to slip revealing their true unapologetic and ungodly character. Once again we see the self-preservation tactics of the unrepentant RCC taking precedence over the âpastoral responseâ they committed to, exposing the disingenuous and feigned nature of their collective expressions of compassion and sympathy toward victims of clergy abuse across the globe. The spectacle of breathtaking and unprecedented cover up continues to be the modus operandi of choice in this criminal enterprise! That is the one thing that is abundantly TRANSPARENT to all who look on in horror!
So long as the âchurchâ continues to subject the victims and those who advocate for them to this type of ongoing harassment and persist in their abusive treatment of them, they can expect the massive exodus from their pews to persist.
The ignoble course they have embarked upon will also ensure they continue to endure the universal contempt and scorn being meted out to them and reserved for those who commit and cover up the abominable act of child abuse!
Many former Roman Catholics like myself have concluded long ago that the RCC is irreformable and have renounced the counterfeit religion of Rome to embrace wholeheartedly the religion of Christ!
I trust this interview will arouse many Roman Catholics from their complacency to do likewise.
So long as institutional loyalty takes precedence over the welfare and protection of children, the abuse will continue.
Those truly âtethered to the truthâ and guided by the Holy Spirit are compelled to leave.
(John 14:16-17; 16:13) Those who remain and continue to Pay, Pray & Obey give their tacit approval of their ungodly works!
Roman Catholicism is not Christ’s Church!
Sadly he is just like all the rest before him and all those that have come after him and the people in the pews love him, instead of the
GOD who saved them from the people like this in the rcc. There is no difference , one from the other. If you do it right, it’s a" cushy job for life" with every thing provided. Makes me want to PUKE…after being in it for over 60 yrs. Left in 2001. Christ Jesus is OUR Savior and HE saved us from being involved in their CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY by saying to us…."GET OUT while you still have your souls " Amen , It’s been over 10 yrs. TBTG