From the Death Star (Vatican): Emperor, oops, POPE Benedict XVI has issued a pastoral letter to the people of Ireland concerning the findings of two reports commissioned by the Government of Ireland. The letter was meant to be a way of communicating with the faithful in Ireland on the never-ending sex crisis in the church. Pope… Continue reading The Holy Vader’s Letter to Ireland (or, Vatican example of passive aggressive prose)
Category: Vatican
St. Patricks Day, a day of solidarity with Irish Victims of Clergy Sexual Crisis
This weekend in over 30 locations around the country, survivors of sexual abuse at the hands of clergy members will be gathering in solidarity with victims of abuse in Ireland and around the world. Organized by SNAP, these vigils are intended to bring awareness to the ongoing problems of Catholic Clergy preying on children and… Continue reading St. Patricks Day, a day of solidarity with Irish Victims of Clergy Sexual Crisis
Vatican Gay Prostitution Connection
There is just isn't anything new under the Vatican sun. Perhaps if they were seeking women there would be shock and outrage. From the Guardian: Vatican hit by gay sex scandal Vatican chorister sacked for allegedly procuring male prostitutes for papal gentleman-in-waiting The Vatican was today rocked by a sex scandal reaching into Pope Benedict's… Continue reading Vatican Gay Prostitution Connection
Vatican Appoints New Bishop of Scranton
By Michael Baumann The Vatican appointed Monsignor Joseph Bambera as the 10th Bishop of Scranton. Bishop-elect Bambera is a native of Carbondale, Pennsylvania and is only the second local priest to be appointed to lead the Scranton See. He has been running the day-to-day business of the Diocese since the premature retirement of Bishop Joseph Martino… Continue reading Vatican Appoints New Bishop of Scranton
Fund Drives and the Ghosts of Pedophiles Past
I received a letter in the mail not long ago from the "2009 Annual Campaign" for Notre Dame High School in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. The campaign has a theme, "Celebrating Today... Preparing for Tomorrow". As with all fundraisers, the letter came with a glossy brochure full of information on projects to be accomplished, scholarship assistance… Continue reading Fund Drives and the Ghosts of Pedophiles Past
Irish Radio Talking Notes (Part II of Adventures in Irish Radio…)
As I mentioned in my last post, I was invited to participate in a discussion on the Report by Commission of Investigation into Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin, also known as the "Murphy Report" for a radio talk show on NewsTalk in Ireland. I was thrilled to be asked to be on and very happy to… Continue reading Irish Radio Talking Notes (Part II of Adventures in Irish Radio…)
The friend of my enemy is my enemy…
By Michael Baumann I received a comment to an older post about a week ago that had me a little baffled at first. The comment was from a "D. W. Downey" and it was intended to get me to wonder if Father Virgil Bradley Tetherow, formerly a priest in the Diocese of Scranton, was framed… Continue reading The friend of my enemy is my enemy…
Innocent until proven guilty…
It is already beginning. The troops are rallying around the disgraced priest. If you read the online reports of the arraignment of Father Bob Timchak in the various news outlets you will find comments by people weighing in on both sides of this issue. Parishioners and former students are expressing shock and disbelief. Some are… Continue reading Innocent until proven guilty…
Rogue Priest, formerly of the Diocese of Scranton, Living the Good Life in Paraguay
I recently received a press release concerning on of the Diocese of Scranton's poster priests for child sexual abuse, Fr. Carlos Urrutigoity of the Society of St John. I don't usually get press releases, so I did not really know what to do with it. Because I had written about Carlos Urrutigoity in the past… Continue reading Rogue Priest, formerly of the Diocese of Scranton, Living the Good Life in Paraguay
What I Have Learned in a Year of Blogging
Just cause you got the monkey off your back doesn't mean the circus has left town. George Carlin It is October and I realized the other day that I have been doing this blog for almost a year. I posted for the first time on 14 October 2008. Since then I have published over 90… Continue reading What I Have Learned in a Year of Blogging
Off My Knees - A Blog by Michael Baumann 