Oct 14, 2011 -- 4:40PM, danman916 wrote:

I'm surprised no one has yet posted about the indictment of Bishop Finn. Figured you'd all be dancing in the streets here.

Dan

If you truly figured that way, then you truly don't yet understand why people here are angry and frustrated.

I cannot speak for others, but as to myself, I feel a profound sense of sadness, and yes, once again, a bit let down.  Where Finn may fall on the liberal/conservative spectrum has nothing to do with this.  I just posted on the "snap fails the test" thread, and I'll recap the germane point here:  At what point should society step in, when those in power fail in their duties, and on their promises, to protect children?  It's not a trivial question. 

I think the bottom line here however, is that because of how badly the current bishops, and their predecessors have handled this stuff, there is very little tolerance left anymore for continued mangling of the promises and duties.  The bishops have squandered the long-standing presumption that they would do the right thing in such cases.  Individually, I suspect/believe that most of them likely WANT to do the right thing.  But a problem presented to society by Finn's case is this: just how long do we, as society, continue with that as a presumption?  Again, that's not a trivial question, because the ramifications to the answer to that question run deep.

Gee, Danman,

You are inferring that unless one wants the criminal justice system to give the bishops a get out of card jail, then we hate the bishops and so we jump with joy when they get charged with a crime. You have it wrong. I’ve suffered hurt and shame because of what many of these men did to my Church. The sins of these guys, including the bishops that remain silent, affect not only the children that are raped but the whole Church and community too. Contrary to your feelings, I am glad Finn is getting charged for breaking a law, the criminal justice system is our last line of defense against the bishops and so I am glad they are finally doing their job. This is simply about prevention and justice, an old Catholic precept now out of fashion.

But, I am happy the DA is charging the bishop, this is Bishop Finn’s second time around a similar scandal and it is obvious he did not keep his commitment to take the necessary steps to protect children, he is making the same promises again, how many times do you want him to avoid
responsibility at the expense of children?

 I hope he is convicted and that this sends a message all the way to Rome and Spain, i.e., the Vatican and Opus Dei. Most of all, I hope some jail time for the bishop will promote a return to being a church that protects the innocent.

I am sorry it displeases you that the bishop didn’t get a get out of card jail, don't lose hope, maybe he won’t do jail time or even pay a fine.

From tonight's NYT online :

That report found that the diocese did not follow its own procedures. It also found that Bishop Finn was “too willing to trust” Father Ratigan.

The case has generated fury at the bishop, a staunch theological conservative who was already a polarizing figure in his diocese. Since the Ratigan case came to light, there have been widespread calls for him to resign.

Contributing to the sense of betrayal is the fact that only three years ago, Bishop Finn settled lawsuits with 47 plaintiffs in sexual abuse cases for $10 million and agreed to a list of 19 preventive measures, among them to immediately report anyone suspected of being a pedophile to law enforcement authorities.

The article is written by A.G. Sulzberger and Laurie Goodstein, hardly light weights.

www.nytimes.com/2011/10/15/us/kansas-city-bishop-indicted-in-reporting-of-abuse-by-priest.html?hp

Those committed to their faith, the devoted and devout laity, the pay, pray and obey brigade, as they are contemptuously called - even in the face of the nefarious Finn episode - I salute: they are lions led by donkeys.  Such odious and scandalous revelations concerning the beasts will not and never will dent their commitment.   And this says a lot for their faith but the direction?  Well, that is another matter, I suppose: it’s really up to the donkeys where they take us.  As for the bishop’s ass, I make no comment. 

Church officials, according to my BBC World Report (texted news on TV) have been accused of conspiring to destroy the evidence.  This cannot be an occasion for rejoicing.  How can it? 

Adam Cro-Magnon