A priest who was never defrocked died in November 2009. He should have been defrocked.
The diocese of Memphis Tennessee requested Paul St. Charles' removal from the priesthood; this request was made in 2004. Why did Rome not do this? Did they really want to do this or were they just giving victims of abuse a condescending pat on the head?
Today the church in Europe is in turmoil over renewed allegations of abuse and the coverup in the highest ranks of the church hierarchy. They earned the heartache because of the heartache their abusive clergy have caused.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Saturday, October 25, 2008
A plateful of forgiveness . . . and not a pinch of truth
Officials and clergy of the diocese of Knoxville must be smiling! The cafeteria catholics of Knoxville have dished up a plateful of mercy and forgiveness without even so much as asking them for a side dish of truth and transparency.
Our children and youth are all the more in danger for it.
Whoever made this casserole of forgiveness that masquerades as sufficient nutrition for an ailing church, surely made it tasty. After all, it is easier to the palate if you don't add the really healthy foods that would make us stronger. Foods like the full truth about the abuse by Anthony O'Connell and the cover-up and corruption that surrounds it. Foods like asking for the other victims of Anthony O'Connell to come forward and get help.
Watch your diet, Knoxville catholics, You are seriously undernourished . . . and don't even know it.
Our children and youth are all the more in danger for it.
Whoever made this casserole of forgiveness that masquerades as sufficient nutrition for an ailing church, surely made it tasty. After all, it is easier to the palate if you don't add the really healthy foods that would make us stronger. Foods like the full truth about the abuse by Anthony O'Connell and the cover-up and corruption that surrounds it. Foods like asking for the other victims of Anthony O'Connell to come forward and get help.
Watch your diet, Knoxville catholics, You are seriously undernourished . . . and don't even know it.
Re-Oconnellizing Knoxville
Whenever one calls for truth and transparency about Anthony J.O'Connell, first Bishop of Knoxville, the cries of forgiveness and mercy begin.
Why can we not have a discussion about Anthony O'Connell that is full and complete before the door is closed on the discussion by those who want nothing of the truth but want only blind mercy and unsolicited forgiveness?
Pope John Paul II forgave his attacker, but the attacker remained in jail to complete his just sentence for the crime. Could Pope John Paul
have interceded to put his attacker back on the street? Many believe so, but he taught us the lesson that even with forgiveness comes justice.
Proponents of forgiveness for O'Connell want no justice. They want to "cafeteria style" forgiveness. Give me a plateful of forgiveness and
mercy but no side dish of truth and transparency. And definitely no justice -- Yuck!
Sadly, Catholics who read this are probably all too willing to just shut the door on discussions of truth by invoking the forgiveness card. I have forgiven O'Connell for being a total disappointment to me as one of the faithful in the diocese who was devastated by his admission of abuse. However, it would be a different story if he had molested MY son, said "I'm sorry" from the podium at a press conference and then left for a life of relative ease -- not in jail but in an abbey.
If O'Connell were the neighbor next door, would the paltry "I'm sorry" be enough for molesting your child? If he were the maintenance an, the mail man, the local fireman, the uncle, the stranger in the mall, would we say, "No jail for this crime. It's okay because he said he was sorry at a press conference."
Take away the title "Bishop" or "Father" from in front of someone's name, and things change. All of the sudden, ordinary man is subject to
justice, accountability, and restitution. But add the name "Bishop" or "Father" and we drown in a sea of mercy and forgiveness.
Go ahead and forgive, people of the diocese. But why not demand the truth and transparency that was promised by the church? They are not mutually exclusive. Our children deserve better from us, but we won't be giving the best, honest response. We are too satisfied with the easy way out of saying "forgiveness" over and over.
Truth and transparency is a much more difficult path and one the diocese of Knoxville won't be walking down any time soon.
Why can we not have a discussion about Anthony O'Connell that is full and complete before the door is closed on the discussion by those who want nothing of the truth but want only blind mercy and unsolicited forgiveness?
Pope John Paul II forgave his attacker, but the attacker remained in jail to complete his just sentence for the crime. Could Pope John Paul
have interceded to put his attacker back on the street? Many believe so, but he taught us the lesson that even with forgiveness comes justice.
Proponents of forgiveness for O'Connell want no justice. They want to "cafeteria style" forgiveness. Give me a plateful of forgiveness and
mercy but no side dish of truth and transparency. And definitely no justice -- Yuck!
Sadly, Catholics who read this are probably all too willing to just shut the door on discussions of truth by invoking the forgiveness card. I have forgiven O'Connell for being a total disappointment to me as one of the faithful in the diocese who was devastated by his admission of abuse. However, it would be a different story if he had molested MY son, said "I'm sorry" from the podium at a press conference and then left for a life of relative ease -- not in jail but in an abbey.
If O'Connell were the neighbor next door, would the paltry "I'm sorry" be enough for molesting your child? If he were the maintenance an, the mail man, the local fireman, the uncle, the stranger in the mall, would we say, "No jail for this crime. It's okay because he said he was sorry at a press conference."
Take away the title "Bishop" or "Father" from in front of someone's name, and things change. All of the sudden, ordinary man is subject to
justice, accountability, and restitution. But add the name "Bishop" or "Father" and we drown in a sea of mercy and forgiveness.
Go ahead and forgive, people of the diocese. But why not demand the truth and transparency that was promised by the church? They are not mutually exclusive. Our children deserve better from us, but we won't be giving the best, honest response. We are too satisfied with the easy way out of saying "forgiveness" over and over.
Truth and transparency is a much more difficult path and one the diocese of Knoxville won't be walking down any time soon.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Abuse by Clergy Never Goes Away
by David Brown
Printed October 22, 2008 in The Memphis News, www.theMemphisNews.com at the following link:
http://www.memphisdailynews.com/WeeklyPdf/10222008-Vol1-No19.pdf
In 1961 I was entrusted with a sacred secret. It was a secret I neither wanted nor deserved – yet there it was.
What was I to do with it? Who in the world would believe me if I spoke about my secret and how I obtained it? I feared no one would believe me, so I did what so many other holders of the sacred secret did. I tucked it away until I felt I could share it. Sadly, so many holders of that sacred secret have taken it to their graves, never saying one word about how they obtained theirs.
When did I finally share the sacred secret? 1996! It took me more than 35 years to have the courage to share it. And it was not until 2005 that I revealed the whole wretched story.
My sacred secret was created in 1961 when my mentor, one of the priests I looked up to, took my innocence in the worst of ways. He forced me to commit perverted sexual acts.
He took my trust and transparency and used them for his benefit. That is how pedophile ministers work. They groom their young victims. They are not in a rush. Time is on their side.
Why, the perpetrators are not the monsters or evil people that our parents and teachers have warned us to stay away from – besides, where can you be safer than to be under the protection of your minister? I often tell people that in 1961 I became a victim, in 1996 I became a survivor, and in 2005 I became an advocate.
Please don’t pity me. I don’t need it, but I do need your prayers. I work with so many victims who have been abused by a trusted clergy member and have lost their faith. Don’t pity those victims; lift them up in prayer.
Why does this road to recovery have to be so hard? Way too many religious leaders and administrators are not willing to admit one of their own could do something as evil as sexually abuse a minor. They are slow to respond.
They use phrases such as “under the blood,” “These are uncharted waters,” or “I have never encountered something like this before.”
Well-meaning faithful are to blame, too, when they fail to report suspected abuse. They err on the side of the pedophile instead of helping the victim. That is wrong.
I just completed a video project with Andrea Conte, the wife of Gov. Phil Bredsen. It is titled “Sacred Secret.” Watch it.
It truly is a must-see for the faith community. I should know.
David Brown is director of SNAP of Tennessee (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests).
Related link:
Question - did Paul St. Charles abuse at SHC?
Printed October 22, 2008 in The Memphis News, www.theMemphisNews.com at the following link:
http://www.memphisdailynews.com/WeeklyPdf/10222008-Vol1-No19.pdf
In 1961 I was entrusted with a sacred secret. It was a secret I neither wanted nor deserved – yet there it was.
What was I to do with it? Who in the world would believe me if I spoke about my secret and how I obtained it? I feared no one would believe me, so I did what so many other holders of the sacred secret did. I tucked it away until I felt I could share it. Sadly, so many holders of that sacred secret have taken it to their graves, never saying one word about how they obtained theirs.
When did I finally share the sacred secret? 1996! It took me more than 35 years to have the courage to share it. And it was not until 2005 that I revealed the whole wretched story.
My sacred secret was created in 1961 when my mentor, one of the priests I looked up to, took my innocence in the worst of ways. He forced me to commit perverted sexual acts.
He took my trust and transparency and used them for his benefit. That is how pedophile ministers work. They groom their young victims. They are not in a rush. Time is on their side.
Why, the perpetrators are not the monsters or evil people that our parents and teachers have warned us to stay away from – besides, where can you be safer than to be under the protection of your minister? I often tell people that in 1961 I became a victim, in 1996 I became a survivor, and in 2005 I became an advocate.
Please don’t pity me. I don’t need it, but I do need your prayers. I work with so many victims who have been abused by a trusted clergy member and have lost their faith. Don’t pity those victims; lift them up in prayer.
Why does this road to recovery have to be so hard? Way too many religious leaders and administrators are not willing to admit one of their own could do something as evil as sexually abuse a minor. They are slow to respond.
They use phrases such as “under the blood,” “These are uncharted waters,” or “I have never encountered something like this before.”
Well-meaning faithful are to blame, too, when they fail to report suspected abuse. They err on the side of the pedophile instead of helping the victim. That is wrong.
I just completed a video project with Andrea Conte, the wife of Gov. Phil Bredsen. It is titled “Sacred Secret.” Watch it.
It truly is a must-see for the faith community. I should know.
David Brown is director of SNAP of Tennessee (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests).
Related link:
Question - did Paul St. Charles abuse at SHC?
Mantle of charisma
The article by Bill Dries has the following quote:
"St. Charles is the most prominent and in some ways the most polarizing figure in a child sexual abuse scandal that simmered for years before going public in July 2004 with two civil lawsuits filed in Shelby County Circuit Court against two other priests."
I can account for the polarizing concept of Paul St. Charles. I have heard so many people defend him as the "best pastor" we ever had. This praise was from some parishioners at Church of the Ascension in Memphis.
Paul St. Charles has ties to the entire state of Tennessee from east to west.
Did they know that their children were in danger from the man? Did they know that he was scouting for boys to molest? Read the entire article in the Memphis Daily News magazine. It will sicken you.
The mantle of charisma is now torn and shredded.
Link to magazine article (go to page 16):
http://www.memphisdailynews.com/WeeklyPdf/10222008-Vol1-No19.pdf
"St. Charles is the most prominent and in some ways the most polarizing figure in a child sexual abuse scandal that simmered for years before going public in July 2004 with two civil lawsuits filed in Shelby County Circuit Court against two other priests."
I can account for the polarizing concept of Paul St. Charles. I have heard so many people defend him as the "best pastor" we ever had. This praise was from some parishioners at Church of the Ascension in Memphis.
Paul St. Charles has ties to the entire state of Tennessee from east to west.
Did they know that their children were in danger from the man? Did they know that he was scouting for boys to molest? Read the entire article in the Memphis Daily News magazine. It will sicken you.
The mantle of charisma is now torn and shredded.
Link to magazine article (go to page 16):
http://www.memphisdailynews.com/WeeklyPdf/10222008-Vol1-No19.pdf
Article in the Memphis Daily Magazine - 10/22/08
If you have not seen this article, it is a must-read for everyone.
Here is the link to "Nothing Sacred."
http://www.memphisdailynews.com/WeeklyPdf/10222008-Vol1-No19.pdf
Go to page 16 after the article opens in your Adobe PDF reader.
Also check out David Brown's article on page 30 as well as the editor's
opinion and the article by Shirley McGowan, licensed counselor.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Summary: Paul St. Charles
At the request of the Nashville media, I am going to briefly summarize the issues that surround the accused pedophile priest, Paul St. Charles. Despite being acknowledged by the Catholic church as an abuser, St. Charles still is held forth as an "vindicated" man. Ask the average Nashville Catholic about Father Paul St. Charles and you will get one or two different answers: 1.) Who is that? or, 2.) He's innocent, and the church has made a mistake.
This summary is divided into three parts: 1.) I will briefly give the facts with relavent links to current news media reporting. 2.) The tug of war between bishops will be outlined, and questions regarding this dichotomy in the Catholic church's claim of being united and supportive. 3.) The outrageous false reporting to the people that keeps children and teens in danger will be explained. The fact that despite all the evidence to the contrary, people still believe Paul St. Charles is innocent.
Paul St. Charles has been awarded by Bishop Choby as a "Golden Grad" of Father Ryan High School.
Part 1: Facts in a nutshell:
A compendium of links to the articles about this pedophile priest can be found of Bishopaccountability.org by clicking this link.
Another way to get the information on Paul St. Charles is to go to Bishopaccountability.org and search the website for the names of Bill Dries and James Dowd. Both of these Memphis journalists have written numerous articles about this issue and the other pedophile priests in the Memphis diocese. (Be sure to put quotation marks around the names so that the search is narrowed somewhat.)
Here are some of the sources, but more complete results are at the link above:
Part 3: The people support Paul St. Charles and think that he has not guilty despite mounting lawsuits and the diocese of Memphis asking Rome to defrock St. Charles, permanently removing him from the priesthood.
This summary is divided into three parts: 1.) I will briefly give the facts with relavent links to current news media reporting. 2.) The tug of war between bishops will be outlined, and questions regarding this dichotomy in the Catholic church's claim of being united and supportive. 3.) The outrageous false reporting to the people that keeps children and teens in danger will be explained. The fact that despite all the evidence to the contrary, people still believe Paul St. Charles is innocent.
Paul St. Charles has been awarded by Bishop Choby as a "Golden Grad" of Father Ryan High School.
Part 1: Facts in a nutshell:
- born and raised in Nashville
- attended Father Ryan High School in Nashville
- ordained. Here is the entire assignment record of Paul St. Charles as it appears in the public record from the "Official Catholic Directory."
- retired in 1987 and has lived for most of his retirement at 122 Tallwood Drive, Nashville, TN, 37211-2711 (see assignment record above.)
- during much of his retirement, he was substitute priest in many parishes and gave retreats to youth in many diocese of Nashville parishes.
- allegations against St. Charles surface in at least 2004 (probably earlier but diocese of Memphis reports nothing, exactly like its mother diocese, the diocese of Nashville)
- Bishop Steib with the advice of the diocesan review board in Memphis finds the allegations against Paul St. Charles to be "credible." ("Credible" is Catholic church double-speak for "guilty" when they have no way of quelling the tide of truth about a priest. This means that there was too much information against Paul St. Charles in their own records over the years, and they couldn't dismiss it without getting caught.) They say is "more likely than not" to have abused.
- Bishop Steib petitions the Vatican to defrock Paul St. Charles in November 2004. To date, this has not been accomplished to my knowledge, four years after declaring Paul St. Charles credibly accused.
- lawsuits begin to be filed. Settlements begin.
- lawsuits are still being filed . . . another one just a few weeks ago on September 12, 2008.
A compendium of links to the articles about this pedophile priest can be found of Bishopaccountability.org by clicking this link.
Another way to get the information on Paul St. Charles is to go to Bishopaccountability.org and search the website for the names of Bill Dries and James Dowd. Both of these Memphis journalists have written numerous articles about this issue and the other pedophile priests in the Memphis diocese. (Be sure to put quotation marks around the names so that the search is narrowed somewhat.)
Here are some of the sources, but more complete results are at the link above:
- Bishop Suspends Priest Accused of Sex Abuse
Paul St. Charles Was Cyo Leader - Prosecutor Says Church Should Have Reported Sexual Abuse Cases
- Retired Memphis Priest Faces New Charges of Molestation
- Former Memphis Altar Boy Files Lawsuit
- Memphis Catholic Diocese Hit with Another Sex Suit
- Diocese Settles Sex Suits for More Than $300k
- Abuse Survivors Want Names of Molesting Priests
- Catholic Diocese Settles Lawsuits
- Suit Accuses Retired Priest of Abuse
- Another Suit Filed against Diocese
Part 3: The people support Paul St. Charles and think that he has not guilty despite mounting lawsuits and the diocese of Memphis asking Rome to defrock St. Charles, permanently removing him from the priesthood.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)