Rachel, who contributed the only guest post on this blog to date, made an interesting observation on the failure of the Bishop of Scranton to meet the goals for the Diocese Annual Appeal. This year, for the first time, the Diocese came up $274G short of this year's goal of $5.3M. Since the Diocese usually… Continue reading A few thoughts on the Diocese of Scranton’s Annual Appeal and the Collection for the Care and Education of Priests
Category: Church Sex Scandal
Father Edward J. Shoback Defrocked!
Articles appearing in Northeastern Pennsylvania newspapers over the past few days as well as an announcement on the Diocese of Scranton web site confirm that the Vatican has defrocked Father Edward J. Shoback. Read the stories at: The Scranton Times Tribune The Citizens Voice The Times Leader Abuse Tracker (where all the coverage is documented)… Continue reading Father Edward J. Shoback Defrocked!
There is not enough traction
"The Message" is not getting out. The SNAP Conference will be held in Washington next month so I thought I would gather my thoughts on how I see the current landscape in order to help me determine how I will spend my time at plenary sessions and breakout sessions. In the two years (almost to… Continue reading There is not enough traction
Threats and intimidation
Over time, Gibson became much more controlling and aggressive. He was less likely to "soften" me up with alcohol and much more forward when he had the opportunity to get me alone. His initial caring words and expressions of god's love and understanding that what we were doing was good and right and part of… Continue reading Threats and intimidation
First descent into hell
I knew something was wrong. I was supposed to spend the night at the rectory. The reason for the stay has long ago left my mind. Instead of getting on the East Stroudsburg School District bus in front of Notre Dame that would take me to East Stroudsburg High School to allow me to transfer to… Continue reading First descent into hell
The tyranny of distance and the curse of the Internet
I am frustrated. Admittedly, some of the frustration comes from a tyranny of distance. I am in southern Virginia and the diocese that I have an issue with is 400 miles worth of driving north of here. I would love to have a face to face conversation with the Bishop's advocate so I could look… Continue reading The tyranny of distance and the curse of the Internet
Statute of Limitations Reform…
I was sent the link to an article from a legal website by a reader on "window legislation" and how it is evolving in the fight on child sex abuse. Yes, it is another homework assignment! You should read "The Maturing of a Movement: Statute of Limitations Reform for Sex Abuse Victims" by Marci A.… Continue reading Statute of Limitations Reform…
An Open Letter to Bishop Joseph F. Martino, Diocese of Scranton
At some point it stops being about God, doesn’t it?
Intriguing Referrer
Part of managing this blog is checking on the dashboard to see if anyone is reading what I post. In some cases I can see the referrers that bring readers to my blog. Of interest on the list of referrers, in the last few days especially, is Behan Communications. Behan Communications is a Public Affairs,… Continue reading Intriguing Referrer
Father Thomas Doyle on the Irish Child Abuse Report
Those who still hold to the institutional Church as their source of emotional security may well bray about anti-Catholicism, media sensationalism and exaggeration of what they claim to be an aberration. Such responses are mindless but far worse, they inflict even more pain on the thousands whose lives have been violated.
Off My Knees - A Blog by Michael Baumann 