After the election of Leo XIV, it looks as if defenders of abuse victims have little to cheer about. As I said in a comment below the article, if Prevost lives as long as Francis, that takes us up to 2044. And if Prevost stuffs the College of Cardinals with his clones, that takes us to 2060.
As a retired criminal trial attorney and judge, one thing I can guarantee is that a substantial number of the “abuse” cases that are brought decades later in class action formats are bogus.
As a sex abuse victim's advocate, I know that the average age of reporting sex abuse is around 52 years of age. I can verify that figure based on the male and female victims I have helped over the years. Hence, most cases are brought "decades later." I think the potential for filing a false claim may be higher in "class action formats" when money is involved. In many of the cases that I have dealt with involving people 40-60 years old, most of the victims are not coming forward to bring suit, which usually cannot be filed owing to the statute of limitations. One woman I am working waited until she was 42 before reporting the abuse she suffered when she was 9-11. The archbishop to whom she reported her abuse covered it up. When she reported it to his successor, he too covered it up like he did many other cases in his previous diocese. Another woman I have worked with reported her abuser when she was still young only because the predator priest's bishop, Cardinal McElroy, returned him to ministry even though the priest admitted having raped the woman in another state. McElroy may have thought she would never have learned about him in San Diego while living in MN. Had McElroy kept him out of ministry and had him laicized like he should have when he became the Bishop of San Diego, the victim probably never would have revealed to anyone what happened to her, and she probably would never have had him criminally prosecuted which she did quite successfully as reported in the Wall Street Journal (https://www.wsj.com/articles/stopping-the-priests-who-prey-on-adults-1536879580). I have to say that I have never received one false report. These are some of the victims I work with whose cases are not "bogus:" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65etESOUrE8
Is it probable that cardinal Spellman was the one who initially abused McCarrick? Or someone else, and Spellman merely recognized it and groomed him for a career?
I think it’s very probable that Spellman groomed/abused McCarrick like I believe John Quinn groomed McElroy. It’s what Richard Sipe referred to as “passing on the tradition.”
I have almost a twinge of sorrow for these particular victims. Monsters begotten by monstrosity. Where does it end? These people should be sent to the Antarctic missions but instead get made into kingmakers.
Dolan may well be the most nauseating high-ranking Catholic cleric ... which says a lot in a very competitive field of the scarlet sons of Satan. The Burgundy-soaked jowls, red as roast beef, seemingly always photographed in paroxysms of side-splitting laughter. He is carrying out his assignment very effectively -- to drive decent faithful Catholics away from the Catholic Church.
Thanks, Father Gene. I think Cardinal Dolan—despite his questionable history—will not be very effective under the spotlight of this advisory position. Trump has a strong representation of Catholics in his Cabinet. Dolan’s influence on Trump’s policy will be, I think, muted.
Dolan’s record on covering for priest sexual abuse is abysmal…no argument…but in this case it isn’t disqualifying…yet…why can’t what happened to Mike Waltz happen to Dolan?
You are probably very correct. It just upsets abuse and reprisal victims from NY whose PTSD kicks in when they read reports about Trump being chummy with Dolan.
Understand…the relationship Trump has with the next pope will be more significant for the Church than Dolan. Hopefully he surprises us all with decency in his new post
Mike, I received an email from a reader who wrote: "While abuse victims join you in praying that Dolan’s agenda will not prevail, the truth is that Dolan should be nowhere near the White House or lawmakers given his egregious record. If even one juror on a case has a conflict of interest, he must recuse himself. Dolan’s history of lobbying against pro-victim legislation and the fact that the New York Church is facing over 3,300 abuse cases at the same time he is being asked to help write religious policies should raise serious red flags. I would no sooner ask a criminal for advice on how to run a prison than ask Dolan for help interpreting the First Amendment." I thought this was worth sharing with you and other Substack readers.
As awful as it is to read this, thank you for making these posts, which provide a clear record of the scandal and perversion hidden, or not so hidden. We need to be aware of the damage caused to souls by these men, or by those under them. Kyrie eleison 🙏
What did you expect from the p***y grabbing reality actor Democrat who was planted to make conservatives lockdown who would not have under an admitted Democrat?
Your concerns are more valid than you might imagine. It was homosexual Leo X who excommunicated Martin Luther. Later Juliius III who bedded a 15-year-old boy whom he made a cardinal at the age of 17 fueled the Protestant Reformation all the more. These gay popes also played a part in moving Zwingli, Calvin, and Henry VIII to leave. Most Catholics are unaware of all the harm caused by gay popes in Church history. It's covered up, just like in the case of Francis. How many Catholics know about allegations that he groomed and abused vulnerable Jesuit novices or covered up not hundreds, but thousands of abuse cases while writing in his 2010 book (three years before his papal election), "Sex abuse never took place in my diocese."
Mr Aug....it violates so many biblical truths that it cannot be tolerated in the least without revealing a betrayal of His word, and even for a poorly formed Christian it is unsettling and reveals disorder. Plus it taints every homily to the point basic Christ truths are perverted. It blinds the priests and others of core tenets of our faith they thus teach take the vaccine as moral duty and open borders beyond any sense of responsibility to family and neighbors, and on and on...
I am hearing that from more and more Catholics today. That's why I maintain that our psychology (sexual orientation) impacts our theology (pastoral practice such as preaching).
Fr Gene,
After the election of Leo XIV, it looks as if defenders of abuse victims have little to cheer about. As I said in a comment below the article, if Prevost lives as long as Francis, that takes us up to 2044. And if Prevost stuffs the College of Cardinals with his clones, that takes us to 2060.
https://open.substack.com/pub/thepillar/p/why-prevosts-papal-prospects-prompt?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=9bqtm
As a retired criminal trial attorney and judge, one thing I can guarantee is that a substantial number of the “abuse” cases that are brought decades later in class action formats are bogus.
As a sex abuse victim's advocate, I know that the average age of reporting sex abuse is around 52 years of age. I can verify that figure based on the male and female victims I have helped over the years. Hence, most cases are brought "decades later." I think the potential for filing a false claim may be higher in "class action formats" when money is involved. In many of the cases that I have dealt with involving people 40-60 years old, most of the victims are not coming forward to bring suit, which usually cannot be filed owing to the statute of limitations. One woman I am working waited until she was 42 before reporting the abuse she suffered when she was 9-11. The archbishop to whom she reported her abuse covered it up. When she reported it to his successor, he too covered it up like he did many other cases in his previous diocese. Another woman I have worked with reported her abuser when she was still young only because the predator priest's bishop, Cardinal McElroy, returned him to ministry even though the priest admitted having raped the woman in another state. McElroy may have thought she would never have learned about him in San Diego while living in MN. Had McElroy kept him out of ministry and had him laicized like he should have when he became the Bishop of San Diego, the victim probably never would have revealed to anyone what happened to her, and she probably would never have had him criminally prosecuted which she did quite successfully as reported in the Wall Street Journal (https://www.wsj.com/articles/stopping-the-priests-who-prey-on-adults-1536879580). I have to say that I have never received one false report. These are some of the victims I work with whose cases are not "bogus:" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65etESOUrE8
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on all these recent events. As always I am praying for you.
Thanks, Laura. Your prayers help me to continue writing.
Is it probable that cardinal Spellman was the one who initially abused McCarrick? Or someone else, and Spellman merely recognized it and groomed him for a career?
I think it’s very probable that Spellman groomed/abused McCarrick like I believe John Quinn groomed McElroy. It’s what Richard Sipe referred to as “passing on the tradition.”
I have almost a twinge of sorrow for these particular victims. Monsters begotten by monstrosity. Where does it end? These people should be sent to the Antarctic missions but instead get made into kingmakers.
"Monsters begotten by monstrosity." May I use that as a title for a future article?
Of course.
Dolan may well be the most nauseating high-ranking Catholic cleric ... which says a lot in a very competitive field of the scarlet sons of Satan. The Burgundy-soaked jowls, red as roast beef, seemingly always photographed in paroxysms of side-splitting laughter. He is carrying out his assignment very effectively -- to drive decent faithful Catholics away from the Catholic Church.
Thanks, Father Gene. I think Cardinal Dolan—despite his questionable history—will not be very effective under the spotlight of this advisory position. Trump has a strong representation of Catholics in his Cabinet. Dolan’s influence on Trump’s policy will be, I think, muted.
Dolan’s record on covering for priest sexual abuse is abysmal…no argument…but in this case it isn’t disqualifying…yet…why can’t what happened to Mike Waltz happen to Dolan?
You are probably very correct. It just upsets abuse and reprisal victims from NY whose PTSD kicks in when they read reports about Trump being chummy with Dolan.
Understand…the relationship Trump has with the next pope will be more significant for the Church than Dolan. Hopefully he surprises us all with decency in his new post
Mike, I received an email from a reader who wrote: "While abuse victims join you in praying that Dolan’s agenda will not prevail, the truth is that Dolan should be nowhere near the White House or lawmakers given his egregious record. If even one juror on a case has a conflict of interest, he must recuse himself. Dolan’s history of lobbying against pro-victim legislation and the fact that the New York Church is facing over 3,300 abuse cases at the same time he is being asked to help write religious policies should raise serious red flags. I would no sooner ask a criminal for advice on how to run a prison than ask Dolan for help interpreting the First Amendment." I thought this was worth sharing with you and other Substack readers.
As awful as it is to read this, thank you for making these posts, which provide a clear record of the scandal and perversion hidden, or not so hidden. We need to be aware of the damage caused to souls by these men, or by those under them. Kyrie eleison 🙏
Thank you for your support. Please feel free to share my articles with other relatives and friends. God bless!
https://open.substack.com/pub/cpldanusmcret764175/p/warning-christians?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=ohc7t
What did you expect from the p***y grabbing reality actor Democrat who was planted to make conservatives lockdown who would not have under an admitted Democrat?
Your concerns are more valid than you might imagine. It was homosexual Leo X who excommunicated Martin Luther. Later Juliius III who bedded a 15-year-old boy whom he made a cardinal at the age of 17 fueled the Protestant Reformation all the more. These gay popes also played a part in moving Zwingli, Calvin, and Henry VIII to leave. Most Catholics are unaware of all the harm caused by gay popes in Church history. It's covered up, just like in the case of Francis. How many Catholics know about allegations that he groomed and abused vulnerable Jesuit novices or covered up not hundreds, but thousands of abuse cases while writing in his 2010 book (three years before his papal election), "Sex abuse never took place in my diocese."
Mr Aug....it violates so many biblical truths that it cannot be tolerated in the least without revealing a betrayal of His word, and even for a poorly formed Christian it is unsettling and reveals disorder. Plus it taints every homily to the point basic Christ truths are perverted. It blinds the priests and others of core tenets of our faith they thus teach take the vaccine as moral duty and open borders beyond any sense of responsibility to family and neighbors, and on and on...
Amen!
I am hearing that from more and more Catholics today. That's why I maintain that our psychology (sexual orientation) impacts our theology (pastoral practice such as preaching).