Please support your local crusading U.S. Attorney!
Yesterday’s news, chronicled in the Abuse Tracker by Kathy Shaw, was full of stories about the Federal Grand Jury Investigation of the Diocese of Los Angeles and Cardinal Roger M. Mahony for his alleged role in covering up child molestation by priests. The grounds on which the grand jury’s work is to be based centers on whether Mahony or other church officials violated a law prohibiting schemes to “deprive another of the intangible right of honest services.”
I am sure that this news has shaken Chancery buildings across the country. Even as we speak I have little doubt of the quaking cassocks that are turning to their shredders to purge Diocesan records of proof of the continued policy of hiding and enabling pedophile priests .
I fully support any crusading U.S. Attorney, especially the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, to get a warrant and raid Chancery Buildings before the Bishops obstruct justice (again) to hide their complicity in the scandal that will not go away. May I suggest that they start with the Diocese of Scranton on Wyoming Avenue in Scranton. Hey, it is a short walk from the William J. Nealon Federal Building and Courthouse on North Washington Avenue, where the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania is located. If Cardinal Mahony and the Diocese of Los Angeles can be investigated, then lets afford the same legal courtesy to victims of pedophile priests in Northeast Pennsylvania (NEPA) and investigate Bishop Timlin, Bishop Martino and the Diocese of Scranton’s handling of the sexual assaults and abuses by priests in NEPA.
The Diocese of Scranton is still hiding information and protecting pedophiles at the expense of parishioners and to the detriment of victims. Their “transparent” process is filled with roadblocks and secrecy. They attempt to keep victims silent and act as if we are the villains. If the process is transparent, why are the names of the members of the Review Board that advises the Bishop on Sex Abuse cases are kept confidential? I’m not sure that the Diocese grasps the concept of “transparent”.
Remember, this is not about religion. This is about a large business enterprise (the Diocese) consolidating their power and influence while trying to manage risk by obstructing justice, hiding information and protecting pedophiles and rapists. If any other business venture were to conduct themselves in this manner the CEO and the leadership of that business venture would be in jail, and rightfully so.
Now is the time to act. Now is the time to push for Window Legislation in Pennsylvania and force the Catholic Dioceses of that Commonwealth to do the right thing. The seem to lack a conscience , only the legal system will be able to compel them to do what should have been intuitive to the leaders of a religion.
Please contact your legislators and the U.S. Attorney’s office in your region to support any initiative that forces the Catholic church to be accountable for their actions.
Off My Knees - A Blog by Michael Baumann 
http://www.bishop-accountability.org/abusetracker for daily verified & vetted reporting on the USCCB (Unremoved Sexual Criminal Cabal Bishops) & Roman “La Cosa Nostra” Curia.
THE SOLUTION? “STOP DONATING LAITY!” as St. Peter Damien correctly asserted.
Fiat Lux & Veritas!
Albino Luciani,
MURDERED POPE,
NOT Smiling, From Heaven
At last, a prosecutor more concerned with justice than politics and/or re-election! We can only wonder if there are any others out there, but won’t hold our collective breath.
Every day brings new evidence that we no longer live in a civilized and principled society. The worst part, it usually concerns another case of sexual misconduct involving a Catholic priest, young children and a church hierarchy that helped to cover up the case.
The recently unveiled federal grand jury investigation into the Los Angeles Archdiocese and it’s leader, Cardinal Mahony clearly suggests that a regime change should have been made long ago.
To be sure, media pressure and public outrage and a billion dollars in pr fees, legal fees and settlements have inspired displays of contrition from Mahony But as more and more cases of abuse — and cover-up — come to light, one begins to wonder whether Mahony should be considered any more trustworthy than, say, Saddam Hussein.
…repeated abuse, as well as willfully hiding the crimes and the criminals — as far as I can see, this brings us much closer to the realm of mortal sin. And the sinners include not just the church hierarchy, but also attorneys who ill-advised parents not to buck the system and take on the Catholic Church, or may even have provided inside information to thwart legitimate cases against the church, law enforcement officials who may have thought it best to warn church officials of pending investigations, and janitors, housekeepers, teachers, and employees of the Catholic Church who kept silent because of concerns about a paycheck, a 401K, a pension, or a fear of standing up to church authorities. God has a place for everyone — and if you abuse children or protect the abusers of children, we can only hope that your place is called hell.
Michael:
Regarding “Window Legislation”, do you know if there is any sample verbage or suggested comments available somewhere that I can include in a letter to my local Pennsylvania legislative members? I need some guidance on what I should say or include in the correspondance. My knowledge base on this topic is limited, but I want to help. Your assistance is appreciated!