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The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests Opinions & Editorials
September 12, 2006 Editorial - The New York Times From Sacristy to LockupNo one knows the varieties of limbo being wandered these days by the hundreds of rogue priests the Catholic Church had to drop from service once its pedophilia scandal fully surfaced. Some became convicted criminals when prosecutors forced an end to diocesan cover-ups. Others who were accused, either too old to be defrocked or safely beyond statutes of limitations, are still financially supported by the church while denied priestly labor. The laity may well wonder what has become of these men. The New York Archdiocese has begun forcing a choice upon some of its fallen priests: agree to tight, indefinite therapy and housing containment or quit the priesthood and the diocesan payroll. Cardinal Edward Egan was wise to try this exercise in protection and repair particularly since he was accused by the churchs laity panel of earlier mismanagement of the pedophilia scourge. Its not encouraging that five of the first seven facing the choice quit the priesthood. But we hope the archdiocese does not see its responsibility ending there. For all the post-scandal display of reform by the American bishops, they
still lack the machinery to force their foot-dragging peers to face up
to tougher measures to regain public trust. The vague device called fraternal
correction a kind of buddy system thats supposed to
correct blossoming scandal remains a toothless nonthreat. Collective
mandates are needed, especially as the church is haunted by its ghostly
legion of fallen priests.
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