Priests aren’t being “thrown under the bus,” if the “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People” is followed correctly, Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver affirmed.
During their spring general meeting in mid-June, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops approved minor changes to the charter, known popularly as the Dallas Charter, and related norms. The bishops, meeting in Seattle, resisted calls by some victims’ groups for a broader review of their framework for guarding against child sexual abuse by priests and other Church personnel.
Bishop Blase Cupich, chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on the Protection of Children and Young People, argued that the recent John Jay College of Criminal Justice report on the causes and contexts of the clergy-abuse crisis, and ongoing annual audits conducted by dioceses throughout the nation, confirmed that the reforms are working and should remain in place. He predicted that the conference would review the framework within two years. In 2010, the USCCB confirmed just seven new cases of child sexual abuse.
Archbishop Chaput has confronted the problem of clergy sexual abuse in his archdiocese. He also addressed the broader impact of clergy misconduct on a global religious order as the Vatican’s U.S. apostolic investigator of the Legion of Christ. He has emerged as one of the Vatican’s “go-to” episcopal investigators.
Last year, when allegations of sexual misconduct involving minors were leveled against two Denver priests, Archbishop Chaput immediately placed each priest on administrative leave. He publicly noted their record of service and stressed the assumption of innocence for the accused. But he also defended his prompt action, describing it as “a necessary course to protect people’s trust in their parish and in the archdiocese. In this case, and in any other such case that may occur in the future, we follow diocesan and national policies that exist to serve the safety of our people and to respect the suffering and dignity of victims. These priorities are vitally important, and they will not change.”
Pope Benedict XVI also appointed Archbishop Chaput to conduct an apostolic visitation of the Diocese of Toowoomba, Australia, after Bishop William Morris drew the Vatican’s scrutiny with the release of a pastoral letter that expressed his openness to ordaining women and married men, if Rome altered its teaching and discipline on these issues. Recently, Bishop Morris was removed from office.
Archbishop Chaput spoke with Register senior editor Joan Frawley Desmond at the U.S. bishops’ meeting.
In a televised interview on 60 Minutes, Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York, the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, suggested that as the Church continues to grapple with the scourge of clergy sexual abuse a process of purification has taken hold. Your thoughts on his comments?
There is a pervasive fear in the hearts of many priests that they will be unjustly accused. It makes them less free and hesitant with young people. Whenever there is a new outbreak of scandal, it brings all these fears rushing back.
But if these fears are dealt with appropriately, they can draw the priests into a greater trust of God, leading them to be more authentically faithful to their vocation and give themselves over to the Church.
The crisis is an opportunity for humility for the whole Church. Priests must either embrace this difficult experience, or its impact could be spiritually bad for them.
How has your experience as a bishop addressing allegations of abuse against priests in your diocese, and as a Vatican-appointed investigator, honed your understanding of effective leadership in the Church on this issue?
Real leadership is about more than making people feel good about themselves. It also means that you give them guidance and direction in a loving way.
This issue raises a question about being a true father. If a bishop experiences the fatherhood within his own vocation and office, he will not only demand what Christ calls from all of us, but live that call himself.
What I have noticed in investigations is that sometimes Church leaders haven’t been willing to call people to the Gospel, and instead affirm people where they are. It’s hard for any father — whether of a family, a parish or a diocese — to confront this challenge. It requires authenticity; it requires a deep spiritual life.
Some critics say that the Dallas Charter’s “zero tolerance” policy has led Church leaders to throw priests under the bus. Are the rights of priests adequately protected?
I do not think that priests are thrown under the bus. They are removed because they could pose a danger to young people.
If we follow the norms accurately, they do protect the rights of priests. Sometimes a priest will be removed from ministry, but it doesn’t mean he is guilty; it is just that the Church is investigating the situation for the good of the priest and the community. People label this as unfair, but as long as we understand that it’s not a judgment, the rights of the priest are protected.
If a bishop is cavalier, he may also pose a danger to young people. The Holy Father would have to look at that, and I am sure that he would act. If we are serious about protecting children, we may need to be serious about that. The bishop is ultimately responsible.
But it’s also important to recognize that in the Church we also see the bishop as the father of the family of the Church. Fathers can make mistakes and not be removed from their families, and the way to respond is not like hiring and firing in a business.
In the wake of fresh scandals in Philadelphia, critics have asserted the system is still broken and that the Dallas Charter needs to be beefed up. Some experts have suggested that the mandated annual audit needs additional scrutiny, possibly by opening up personnel files to confirm that transferred priests, teachers and others have actually received the safe-environment training, etc.
Part of the difficulty is that the Church is learning to do this. It takes time to know what to do. It has been a time of learning, and that is because no one has done it before at this level. It’s a family. And if you want to see the worst place where this kind of abuse happens, it’s in families.
It’s not realistic to expect perfection. We can have a very good program with good people and mistakes will still be made. When that happens, it’s important not to jump to the conclusion that the Dallas Charter doesn’t work.
The child-protection officer needs to keep the bishop and other people in the loop. The bishop is the final authority, and it’s up to him to make sure that everyone is working together and it doesn’t just become routine.
The required audit is very important. If a bishop follows the requirements of the charter, he will conduct a regular review of new reports and diocesan procedures. That is what the audit does for us. It gives confidence that you did all you could do.
I am satisfied with the audit process. Regarding the suggestion of additional scrutiny and checking up on people, I would hate for this to lead to an atmosphere of suspicion of everyone involved.
At this meeting, the bishops formally incorporated Vatican norms that make the possession of child pornography an actionable offense. There is still debate about how to approach boundary violations, which became a concern after experts learned that sexual predators “groom” prospective victims with affectionate behavior.
It is important that child pornography be included in the norms. Child pornography is a sign of abuse, and it’s important that it be taken seriously.
Boundary violations are a worrisome sign. There are degrees of boundary violations. If there is a pattern, we take it to our team. I have no objection to having boundary violations going to the lay review board.
There are potential dangers with expanding the scope [of actionable offenses]. If any changes are made, the guidelines should be written very clearly so that the bishops and others know what their responsibilities are.
Would you summarize your personal guidelines for handling accusations against priests?
I trust the response team and the child-protection officer — these non-clerical “outside” advisers can give me objective advice; I have determined that they are trustworthy.
The child-protection advisor knows his task: to protect me and my senior staff from clericalism in our judgments. I have never acted contrary to the advice of my response team, and I never will.
I come from a consultative background drawn from the Capuchin tradition. I brought that to my perspective of how things should be run by me as a bishop.
Joan Frawley Desmond writes from Chevy Chase, Maryland.
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Why didn’t Joan ask Archbishop Chaput if Fr. Corapi was thrown under the bus?
Oh, here we go, “what about Corapi”?
He wasn’t thrown under the bus, either, and he wasn’t told to “lay down and die.” And he wasn’t “thrown out like yesterday’s garbage.” HE STOPPED THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE ALLEGATIONS, HIMSELF by resigning from SOLT and bringing a civil suit against his accuser. He’s not the martyr you think he is. Get over your cult-idolatry.
Sue:
Because Fr. Corapi’s situation had nothing to do with the Dallas Charter.
Capiche?
Because it’s obvious that he wasn’t thrown under the bus.
Fr Corapi has not been accused of abusing a minor.
What Luci said.
As a Certified Senior Professional in Human Resources, I advised executives to take a few precautionary steps:
1. Never be alone with an employee (either have a witness present or the door open).
2. Never make physical contact with an employee that could be interpreted and sexual harassment (touching, bumping into an employee, etc.).
3. Never make comments which can be interpreted and sexually harrassing (i.e. “Hey, babe;” “Hi, sweetie;” “Hi, honey;” (for priests) “you are beloved”)
4. Never stare for long at an employee (male or female - there is homosexuality, you know).
5. Always have your emails reviewed, if possible, otherwise follow the actions above.
There are just some of the policies I suggested and instituted. This is just the era we are in.
Fr. Corapi made everything ALL about himself early on and kept running with that!
When the ‘messenger becomes more important than the message’ then there is a huge problem. Fr. Corapi has forgotton the message!
Naively most people think aggressive investigations occur whenever a priest is surprisingly accused. Fact is, bishops like many people will choose the easier path, i.e. take the easy route which means suspend the priest forever (no pay, no retirement, no support) and eventually the priest goes away.
Is it too hard to believe that some see “deep pockets” in the Church and will make any claim, any slander?
If any of us had a good friend, solid clear thinker, orthodox practicing Catholic, model of virtue etc…....would we immediately think the worst if he were accused by some very questionable person?
i.e…....THROWN UNDER THE BUS!??? Bp. Chaput?
Contact Opus Bonum Sacerdotii that helps priests who have literally been thrown under the bus. Priests get a call from their bishop’s secretary or another official, “You have an hour to get your things and get out of the rectory” No health insurance, no place to go, and no money unless the priest has some savings. This because of an accusation, not a conviction. There has to be a better way to support our priests, many of whom are falsely accused, and yet not reinstated, if at all, until years have gone by. The wheels of justice grind slowly, and even more so within the official Church. Even guilty priests deserve more than to be thrown out on the street. The bishops have still not addressed the guilt of their own who moved priests from parish to parish, or God forbid, were themselves involved in these crimes against children.
First, Fr Corapi was not thrown under a bus; her chose to dive under the bus. He belongs to a community—one of the promises is “obedience”. He was asked by his superiors to come to the community rather than remain his own little sect away from community. He refused. This has nothing to do with innocence or guilt. Second, Arch Bishop Chaput has handled the accusations with true Christian charity in regards to the two priests, and he is 100% correct in what he states here! It is a very difficult situation that got way ahead of the Church in the 60’s through the 80’s and unfortunately there is no easy answer. If the bishops do not suspend the priest immediately shame on them; if they do, then shame on them. Don’t accuse the bishops, come up with a better solution!
People commenting here have every right to bring up Father Corapi’s situation..since these very words were used by him “being thrown under
the bus by the Church”! He certainly comes to mind..those words being very fresh in all our minds. Is it too much of a coincidence that the good Bishop here chooses the phrase…or Joan? Of course we have been told by several “authorities” that the Dallas Charter does not apply to the Corapi case as no minors were involved. One could go a number of different ways with what the good Bishop has said here..even seeing his
agreement with Father Corapi that the current system(s)employed are not
effective in all cases and much more needs to be done to assure that accused priests are not” being thrown under the bus”. In some cases that has definitely happened and is still happening whatever and whomever denies this..with all due respect the good Bishop seems to be talking out of both sides of his mouth here…something he is not usually prone to do. I too wish Joan had asked him afew “pointed” questions..Why did she not? Are the Bishops afraid to touch this one? and clarify to the sheep just how this system works to restore a priest’s reputation once it has been destroyed by innuendo? The system is so non-transparent (even to the defendent in many instances)that one is never sure the investigation, once begun,goes anywhere except limbo. It seems to either drag on forever or disappears into oblivion ...along with the priest. Not much credibiity here even with good Bishop Chaput trying to put the “best face”
on what really is not a fair and just way of ariving at the truth!
Bishop Chaput makes the statement:
“But it’s also important to recognize that in the Church we also see the bishop as the father of the family of the Church. Fathers can make mistakes and not be removed from their families, and the way to respond is not like hiring and firing in a business.”
However, by making this statement he insinuates that a priest is not a father and so therefore should be removed. Once again, protecting the bishop’s hindquarters while “throwing the priests under the bus.”
frdale…That statement struck me as odd also…not sure what he is getting at here..almost seems he is saying that like fathers who make mistakes Bishops (and therefore priests?)can make mistakes and like fathers should not be removed from their families (parishes?)..not like a business where people are hired and fired based upon performances. But
that seems to contradict what is said in other places. A most peculiar interview…as is the Lead to article. Seems like a direct quote from Father Corapi..but he is never brought up specifically. I find this whole interview self-serving..and not really informative or very instructive. Same old, same old..and maybe a indirect way of discussing the Corapi case..not shedding light but only raising more questions than answers.
I strongly disagree with the Archbishop Chaput. Once placed on leave for the investigation most of the priests I know have been left there with no resolution either way. For the one priest I know who has been restored NOTHING has been done or said to even try to restore his good name. After two years he received a phone call telling him he could go back to his parish. During the time priests are being investigated, no one contacts them from our diocese to see how they are doing. There is NO moral support and the rest of the priests have been told to stay away from them as they could be guilty. They are not allowed to attend priests’ workshops or retreats. They simply cease to exist here. In the investigation no accused priest has been interviewd by those doing the investigation. Some of the priests here have found out that the diocese was paying a settlement about them when they read it in the newspaper. Please do not tell me that the process is FAIR!
Look, it`s over. For whatever reasons known only to God and those involved
John Corapi sued the person who made the claim about sex, drugs and drinking and by so doing he stopped dead in it`s tracks the investigation
to get at the truth and scared off everyone else who formerly worked for him and had no disclosure contracts that forbid revealing anything that wen`t on while employed by him. He refused his Order`s invitation to return to the community in accordance with the new constitutions and as far as I am concerned threw his priesthood and his order under the bus and left his followers standing there holding yesterday`s garbage. All we can do now is pray for him and all those damaged spiritualy by it all.
Joe…Yes, that’s it for Father Corapi…but every priest alive today can have the same thing happen to him..and lives in mortal fear of “being thrown under the bus”! It has happened, continues to happen ..and will go on happening unless and until a more just system is devised. The Bishops need to stop implying and in certain cases actually saying that the priests just need to offer it up to obedience…and take a wait and see attitude. There will not be vocations in abundance until it is made clear that the Bishops will stand by and protect the innocent until proven guilty by an investigatory process that is transparent, timely and just!
To continue to drag their feet on this is costing the church its very life-blood! The Corapi case is just one among hundreds that leave us all spiritually damaged.
Joe, I agree to a point. St. Padre Pio was told he could only say Mass in
private with no one from outside able to attend. He was confined to the
Monastery and told he could`nt preach or perform any public Priestly duties. His response; “I`ll submit to my superiors in obedience because it is God`s will.” In some cases, you may be right. Maybe more compassion is needed for those accused however, in Corapi`s situation I humbly submit that if he truly cared for the souls and spiritual well being and in the spirit of peace, humility and love of God he would have kept it all quiet and handled it a little more discretly. Of course that may have meant giving up some of the wealth and finer things he has accumulated but
then again that`s between him and God. Pax
Dear Bishop, Please look up the case of Father Gordon MacRay of Manchester N.H.
Our priests are “the guys in the trenches” doing God’s bidding. Our dear Bishops are the ones who make it up to the safety of headquarters and quickly forget in many instances what it was like to be always in the direct line of fire. In the trenches today it seems as if the order from above is, in times of trouble, fall on your sword and don’t look to us for any aide. We’ve got our own problems. In short, the accused are on their own for all practical purposes. What is the best thing therefore a priest can do to protect himself? Well, certainly not to draw any fire by giving meaningful hard-hitting sermons of truth to the faithful…or difficult lessons of correction. Above all let the laymen run the show and keep in the background as much as possible. Make nice with all so as to never come under the fire of criticism. Tickle their ears and tell them what they want to hear. In short, don’t become anything like a Corapi renegade priest or you will surely open yourself to the fatal guns of accusation! From all sides! There is no surer way for a priest to die a martyr’s death! The world, both inside and outside the church, is full of assassins. Pray for your priest today..for tomorrow he may be gone!
How Come Father Corapi was thrown under the Bus afterall he was not even accused of a crime. Many believe that this is politically motivated. Father Corapi was accused of Sexual misconduct with a past employee. That is not a crime and who was in-danger. It seems that The zero intelligence policy is being applied here. Also, allegedly the accuser is all over the internet selling his roasry beads on EBAY Selling or trying to sell his domain site, started a new catholic website where she is using his photos to bring in business, threatening his supporters, harrasing people etc. What investigation is taking place seems very odd?? How come EWTN in there after show or before did not tell the truth. They lied Father hasn’t left the Priesthood. Why didn’t EWTN say that father received his advice from Canon Lawyer the Founder of SOLT and also a very respected Bishop. Something is rotten in Denmark. BAD JOURNALISM!
Better check your facts there Sullivan. Corapi`s own words, “I am leaving the priesthood. I`ll no longer be called father.” You`re right there is something rotten in Denmark and it`s not the journalism. First of all understand this, which seems to be a problem for progressive left wing liberals that believe they can change Church laws simply because they don`t agree with them or the process, the Church is not a Democracy run by lawyers and politicians and votes from the membership. It is what it is and if you decide your not called to it and don`t want to accept the Faith and humbly move on as many of the Saints did such as St. Catherine of Sienna, your free to move on. Further the Church takes a dim view of
high flying priests with their own multi media corporation, private jets
fast sports cars and body gaurds, not to mention non disclosure contracts
for employees, also maybe the accuser decided she wanted some of the the
wealth that she saw accumulated which is one reason why the Church frowns
on all this. It may not be a crime but the last thing the Catholic Church
needs right now with having to deal with all the abuse cases, is a high
flying wealthy priest who refuses to give up anything to live in community of his order to which he promised before God and man to obey
and live by the constitutions he agreed to when he joined the Order. EWTN
got it right, Nat. Catholic Register reported the facts as they knew them
Be very, very careful of anyone in the Church or outside the Church that divides the Faithfull and challenges their beliefs in a Religion that has had it`s problems from the beginning but has survived two thousand years.
As Our Lord said “The gates of hell shall not prevail.”
Pax
@Tom T! Not so fast my man…. where did you get the iformation that Father Corapi was a high-flying- jet- setting -wealthy priest? Hmmm?
Certainly not from EWTN, nor Father’s Superior General nor the Bishop of Corpus Christi…From whence come these charges? To quote you ..“be very, very careful” of what you say.. to A Sullivan or anyone else here…and be
prepared to give reliable sources ...and not just hear-say information.
As for the accuser whose corner you seem to be in..How do you know what
motivated her actions? Can you substantiate? Opinion! Opinion! Opinion!
And you know what contempt Jesus held for human opinion!
Father Corapi entered the SOLT order under vastly different rules…the
rules were changed in the middle of the game for him when by then his ministry ( which supported his order financially )was well established.
From whence comes all this venom and anger toward this priest/man? Funny how Father Corapi has become the issue here…not the interview with Bishop Chaput!
Well thirst for the truth indeed my man, it is all a matter of public record. According to Bobbi Ruffatto vice president of Corapi`s corporation
located in Kalispell Montana called Santa Cruz Media Inc. it is a secular
corporation and not affiliated with the Church or under the direction of
any bishop and all the intellectual property ie; books, CDs DVD etc. are owned exclusively by John Corapi. He charges an average of 10,000 dollars
per appearance. Do a little homework and you`ll find everything you need to know. As far as taking sides, I could care less. He stopped the investigation so we may never know. But you are correct, the discussion should be about the article and the good ArchBishop Chaput whom I have a
great deal of respect for. By the way, I am not judging and I am entitled
to my opinion.” By their fruits you shall know them. “All this division
and doubt and back and forth, I weary of Corapi and did`nt bring it up in
the first place. And there is no sense of any further attacks on me as I
am leaving the thread and won`t see them anyway. Pax to your heart my friend.
@Tom T - where did you get the information that Fr. Corapi charges an averge of $10,000 per appearance? That sounds outrageously high. Who could pay it?
Terah James
10,0000 was the minimum. It usually ran around 700,000. The usual
charge was 37.00 per head and the usual crowd ran around 19000 people.
You can do the math.Thirst for Truth now you can have the information
directly from Solt. Numbers were realeased last year by Santa Cruz Media
inc.
Pax
Yes….this is definitely what I would call substantiated information. Very sad situation for all concerned…a big blow to evangelization
by modern media. I will get my homilies locally from now on…with
what has happened, to all these priests we must be ever vigilant and constant in our prayers for the. TV evangelism is seriously damaged. How this managed to go on as long as it did boggles the mind…never mind he was not in community…somehow,someone, somewhere had to know. It would seem like time is running out for us..as it did for the generation of Noah, as it did for the city of Jerusalem. Perhaps the time is running out for our generation and we will be the ones to see the fire of God. Read Romans 1: 18-32 to see what I am fearing. The ancient prayer of
Maranath! Come, Lord Jesus must be ever on our lips!and in our hearts!
Pray for all involved. Don`t put your faith in princes or leaders. We are
all sinners. There is only one who was born without sin. Jesus Christ.
Pax
And of Mary the Mother of God.
Tom T
Pray for all involved. And look to your Heavenly Father. I feel very bad for all the cult and people that followed him. As said in a previous post,
be very careful of anyone that divides the faithful. God will bring good out of all this. He always does.
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