Today’s blog entry starts with a joke:
This guy dies and finds himself outside the Pearly Gates, at the end of a snaking, miles-long line of people who are awaiting their final accounting with St. Peter.
The people in line are understandably nervous, wringing their hands, wiping their brows, standing on tiptoes and craning their necks to see what’s going on up front.
St. Peter
All of a sudden, like an earthquake starting deep in the earth, the sound of thunderous cheers and jubilation begins rolling through the line. The joy is so overwhelming that people in line are getting knocked off their feet as the celebration ripples backward.
Our guy is one of those knocked down…He jumps up and screams hysterically, “What is it? What is it?”
A jubilant voice can be heard over the cacophony: “They’re not countin’ fuckin! They’re not countin’ fuckin!”
***
I’m sorry if that offended any of you, but there’s a point to it:
The Catholic Church has been so myopic over the years about issues like pre-marital sex and abortion that it lost sight of the importance of protecting children and the need to identify and cull out bad-apple priests.
In a way, I hate to keep harping on the latest priest-impropriety scandal in the Kansas City-St. Joseph Diocese, but Bishop Robert Finn’s parrying and counter punching cry out for comment. (Also, it sells…I mean, it gets a lot of views.)
First, the bishop appointed former U.S. Attorney Todd Graves to investigate the botched handling (by Finn) of the Father Shawn Ratigan child-porn case. Then, he appointed a vicar for clergy, a new position. Last week, he created another new position — ombudsman and public liaison officer — and appointed a former assistant Jackson County prosecutor.
My first reaction to this flurry of activity at 20 W. Ninth is that those of you who are looking for work might want to consider applying at the diocese. Looks like jobs aplenty down there.
I have also learned that the bishop has ordered that all diocesan employees get refresher training in a program called Protecting God’s Children, which many dioceses adopted several years ago to ensure safe environments in all parishes, schools, and diocesan programs.
The diocese website says of the program, “The focus of the FREE training is to increase awareness about the nature of child sexual abuse.”
Now, all I can figure on this retraining mandate is that it’s the old trickle-up theory: Finn must be hoping that by putting the employees through more rigorous training, the environment will become so sensitized that even he will be moved to protect God’s children.
Here’s the main reason all this foment out of diocesan headquarters is so laughable: It’s completely redundant.
As letter writer Jennifer Randle of Overland Park eloquently put it in today’s Kansas City Star:
“Why would anyone believe new procedures would help this diocese when the current ones, had they been followed, would have resulted in Father Shawn Ratigan’s activities being reported to the police when the leaders of the diocese first became aware there was a problem a year ago?”
She went on to say, “My thanks goes to The Star for giving this topic as much press as it has to point out that nothing has changed regarding the protection of priests who abuse children.”
Here’s Phase II of the story.
As I have said all along, I think nothing will really change with the church unless people vote with their feet and their wallets. When the money stops flowing, backing the hierarchy into a corner, the church will have to take drastic action.
Fortunately, there are indications that the cash funnel is narrowing. An Associated Press article on Page A12 of The Star today said that contributions to The Vatican fell nearly $15 million, or 18 percent, last year “amid tough economic times and the explosion of the priest sex-abuse scandal.”
Contributions to the Vatican from individual dioceses around the world were down from $31.5 million in 2009 to $27.36 million in 2010.
(On a positive note for the church, the report noted that the Vatican returned to profitability after three years in the red, but that simply indicates, to me, that the Vatican, like many organizations, has had to slash expenses.)
I believe the Kansas City-St. Joseph Diocese is going to see a sharp decline in contributions this year at the diocesan and parish levels. Many people, I think, will sharply curtail their giving, and, after a while, some of those who cut back their giving will leave the church.
A lot of Catholics, however, will feel compelled to remain true to the church because it’s such an integral part of their lives. And I think that one reason many of those “cultural” Catholics stay put is because, deep in their hearts, they believe the safest and surest path to eternal salvation is through “the one, true Church,” the one that has St. Peter as its foundation.
A lot of Catholics, while they believe that non-Catholics will also go to heaven, have that niggling fear that they shouldn’t leave that big, wide road they’ve been on all their lives; that any other road could lead somewhere scary.
Well now, I’m going to put on my big hat, take up my staff and speak ex cathedra — that is, invoking the doctrine of papal infallibility — and as a Catholic turned Disciple of Christ.
It’s OK to walk. Go in peace. Be not afraid.
There, that’s what JimmyC says on this Fourth of July, 2011, year of Our Lord.
JimmyCsays: At the juncture of journalism and daily life in KC 
It’s worse than you imagine. This new person they hired to investigate sexual misbehavior will be investigating the sexual behavior of “employees and volunteers.” They’ve already fired teachers who quietly live with someone of the opposite sex. This person will be the investigator to help “clean house” of anyone who uses birth control or engages in pre-marital sex. If you think I’m imagining this, go read the announcement again, and think about the freaky Opus Dei crap Bishop Finn believes.
If this is the case, Finn is digging himself into a deeper hole…and none of these actions will protect kids.
In fact, his actions will most likely put kids more at risk…
We urge you to contact your prosecutors and urge them to investigate the KC church leaders for crimes against kids and for covering up those crimes. Outside law enforcement needs to get involved.
Judy Jones, SNAP Midwest Associate Director, 636-433-2511
snapjudy@gmail.com
“Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests”
http://www.snapnetwork.org/
According to the lawsuit filed by the parents of one of Ratigan’s alleged victims, someone went to the diocese about him in 2006. That’s FIVE years, not one. They have admitted to one. http://andersonadvocates.com/Posts/News-or-Event/841/Lawsuit-alleges-Ratigan-took-nude-photos-of-girl.aspx
talk about bring in people to cover your tracks..here in st. louis rigali hired an ex tv/radio reporter to be the point man for the diocese..turns out he was a convert to the catholic religion and he was right of rush..he lasted about a month before he stuck his foot in his mouth…
Whenever a President of the United States, (Bush 43), has to grant diplomatic immunity to a POPE in order to keep him out of our judicial system you know that both systems have completely broken down.
Whenever the coffers get low, the Catholic Church just lowers the bar for entry, hoping to entice those on the outside into “the one TRUE church.” How much longer before they start sticking recruiting flyers under the windshield wipers at CORE?
Maybe a 2 for 1 on some pax remissio?
There are still some truly great parishes in the metro but that has more to do with the priests and parishioners than Bishop Finn.
God speaks to us all in different ways. Bishop Finn just chooses not to listen.
Fitz,
I hope that you will allow me to indulge a little bit more than I have on this blog with this reply, but this recent scandal has reminded me of something that happened when I was in 7th grade at St. Peter’s Elementary School (the one at Meyer and Holmes) way back in 1977.
Our phys ed teacher, Mr. Burke, showed a movie to the 6th, 7th and 8th grade boys called “All About Sex.” The film featured a group of college-aged men and women in a classroom. They asked the instructor questions about sex and birth control _ i.e. can I douche with Dr. Pepper to keep from getting pregnant _ and at one point the instructor demonstrated with his fingers how to put on a condom. Unfortunately, the majority of us _ myself included _ did not have the maturity to handle the subject matter seriously. As we snickered and guffawed at the images of a naked go-go dancer and an amorous couple on a blanket in a park, the lesson that our teacher was trying to give us sailed over our thick heads.
What we were not aware of was that the film was made by Planned Parenthood (more on that later).
While the film was being shown in the gym to one of the classes, a parent walked into the school and past the gym where she caught a glimpse of the film. The story is that she snuck behind a pillar and watched the rest of it. She then went to the principal’s office and told them that we were being subjected to “an offensive” film.
Two days later, all of us 6th, 7th and 8th grade boys were brought down to the gym. The church pastor, Msgr. Bernard Koenig, was in front of the stage. The phys ed teacher was at the side. We were all scared of Koenig, who was a fire-and-brimstone priest, the kind that Bishop Finn in all likelihood looked up to while he was at his seminary. Koenig proceeded to blast the movie and focused his lecture on the fact that Planned Parenthood made it. “What you boys saw in that movie was totally wrong,” he said. “Planned Parenthood hates America.”
That was the first time I had ever heard of Planned Parenthood and I really didn’t understand why it hated America. Fortunately for me, my parents and closest friends at St. Pete’s had such contempt for Msgr. Koenig that I didn’t believe much of what he said. Koenig was pastor at St. Peters until 1979. He died four years later. As for Mr. Burke, our phys ed teacher, he wasn’t fired. But he didn’t come back to St. Peter’s after that school year. I’m guessing that the film made him persona non grata with the school’s administration.
Fitz, I know that you and your readers might be asking how the heck does this story relate to the Ratigan-Finn scandal and sex abuse by priests. Perhaps, it doesn’t. But it showed me at an early age that the Catholic Church, especially the conservative wing that Finn represents has an obsessive hatred of Planned Parenthood. And it goes to great lengths to convey that message to its masses. Yes, abortions are performed at Planned Parenthood clinics. But the organization also has an educational mission, one aimed at preventing people from getting, or getting someone, pregnant. Perhaps if the Catholic Church ordained priests who subscribe to that point-of-view, we would not have the kind of sex scandals we are having.
Interesting story, Mike…Good detail, as we say in the trade.
“It’s okay to walk. Go in peace. Be not afraid.” What wonderful words, and exactly what I did after I was raped by a priest in 1952 in KC, MO. Rape is actually the lawful term for what happened to me; I was seduced at age 14. And so it’s been a most difficult life. For years I was silent (suicidal, drunk, etc.) until the CRCC started to come apart at the seams publicity wise in the late 90’s. I found SNAP and Linkup. Healing has been rapid ever since, but I know I will never be totally “sane.” In a way, that is good. I can now stand beside a victim as he/she files a suit without shaking in my shoes. With the amount of publicity that Finn (et al) have generated in the last few weeks, I am both grieving for the victims and rejoicing in the fact that people in the pews are slowly awakening to the reality of the con that enables sexually immature predators to get away with their crimes. Personally, I hope Finn has to serve time for his supercilious attitude (crimes against humanity). I can clearly see that he can appoint half the world to his review board(s) to save his you-know-what, and I know that deep in their hearts his supporters know that what he has does defies all human reason. Love this bog! Glad I live in KC area!
So sorry to hear what happened to you, Kay.
Welcome to the comments department, Kay…Two questions for you:
— What does CRCC stand for?
— How did you like the joke? (I’m so disappointed that no one has commented on my joke, the only joke I ever remembered.)
CRCC stands for Corporate Roman Catholic Church. I first heard it when someone told me it defines the authority in the church as opposed to the people themselves who, in a way, are all victims. There are good people out there who have bad leaders.
I was raised a lady and still have trouble with the F word but your joke did make me smile. Reminded me of a similar story, where the old monk spent his lifetime re-examining the translations of the scriptures. Eventually he emerged from his cell hollering “It says CELEBRATE, not celibate.” GRIN!
Now we know the root of the problem — they messed up the translation of that critical word! I think that’s what Jesus would have said — celebrate, not celibate. (He never did say that, did he? It was the boys who later got together and said, “Since all 12 of us, even that turd Judas, are men, I guess He meant for it to be a Men’s Club.”)
(Good joke, Kay…I hope the T word doesn’t bother you as much as the F word.)
How is Bishop Finn’s behavior any different than those in the Democrat Party that turned a blind eye to the excesses of WIlliam Jefferson Clinton?
How is it any different than the behavior of Republicans who turned a blind eye to Newt Gingrich’s calloused disregard for his ailing wife.
True, it involves children and that in and of itself is horrendous, but let me argue that the media has also had a hand in covering this scandal, writ large, up.
In many (most?) cases, the molestations have been of young boys by homosexual priests who came out of the so-called “pink seminaries. Many of those cases were also covered up by the church hierarchy in just as outrageous a manner as the current case only in those cases since it involved homosexual behavior media liberals buried their heads in the sand, or tried to spin the story to bash some other aspect of Catholicism, like a celibate priesthood. This led to the almost comedic push in some articles to suggest that the problem involving predominately homosexual priests could somehow have been avoided if only the priests had been allowed to get married.
Indeed, let me suggest that the only reason this particular story is getting such mileage is because this time a priest was accused of committing heterosexual instead of homosexual acts – and the fact that he’s a pro-life conservative.
Let me further suggest that not only has the media been a part of the cover up in cases involving homosexuals in the priesthood (has anyone ever done a story on the “pink” seminaries?), but it has also repeatedly tried to turn a blind eye to other sex related scandals when the perpetrators were liberal allies. Bill Clinton certainly comes to mind when it comes to the exploitation of a much younger and powerless female and yet there was little outrage from the media itself. Indeed, one female journalist even went so far as ti make the comment that she herself would have given Willy the old slobber bobber if he maintained his position on abortion.
Wow, that’s ignorant.
How is it different? It involves children and it involves rape. What happened to the others was between adults who knew what they were doing.
Priests raped young boys (and girls) who didn’t know what was happening and had no power to stop it. I realize you are using the Catholic taught technique of distraction, trying to get people to look anywhere other than where they were looking. It doesn’t work.
Catholic priests raped children. Finn protected a pedophile. That’s the story,
Like the writer of this article, I, too, have learned: “It’s OK to walk. Go in peace. Be not afraid.” After learning that lesson, I picked up a Bible and actually read The Book of Revelation of St. John. He talks about a world-wide, apostate religion, built on “7 Hills.” Every form of sin and lasciviousness is found in Her. In classical writing, “7 Hills,” ALWAYS referred to Rome. St. John was puzzled about what he saw in a vision, but under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he wrote: “Come out of Her, My People!” Has anyone wondered why people are leaving the Catholic Church in droves? Daily, people are hearing the voice of the Holy Spirit and they are getting out, before they will participate in God’s punishment of the Church. And what is that punishment? In chapters 18-19 we learn that God will send a “Great Angel” with a “Great Millstone” to drop on the church built on 7 hills! I can’t wait for the day! What other Church deserves the punishment of a millstone, if not the Catholic Church? Think about it! St. John wrote about this apostate Church two centuries ago, and today his prophecies are coming true.
I appreciate the comment, Jeannie, but this is sounding too much like the flip side of Westboro Baptist Church.
John Altevogt-
I always try to catch your takes; they always have some element that I didn’t think of, or angle that is unappreciated.
That said, I think it’s a stretch to compare Republican and Democrat peccadilloes with the abomination of a parish priest banging the parishioner’s little children.
That said, what the heck are “pink seminaries”?
I haven’t read about any Episcopalian, Baptist, Mormon etc. crimes against children. (I am sure there are some, but the preponderance of this abhorrence seems to emanate from the Catholic Church.) This would at least seem to correlate with the “celibacy” rule that is somewhat unique to the Catholic Church.
I am not being sarcastic, it does seem to me, that if priests were allowed to marry, then this problem would at least be mitigated.
JMO, but I don’t really see THIS story getting more play because RATigan was interested in little girls.
It could be the public has just really had it with this shit, or this story is makin’ waves in our small pond.
Pink seminaries?
:)
If you haven’t heard about abuse in other denominations, you haven’t looked very hard. There is a great debate going on in the orthodox Jewish community about whether such crimes should be reported to secular authorities. There are websites about abuse in every major religion.
This is the classical Catholic “look over there instead argument”. Show proof. Show a credible site online that proves this. You can’t. They don’t exist. We can crush you with your own John Jay report and the Philadelphia Grand Jury report.
No one wants to say this because it is politically incorrect, but the problem with many of these priests is they are GAY. If you are interested in molesting little boys and teen boys then you are homosexual.
The gay lobby always wants to stress that someone who molests little boys is really not gay, but a pervert. No, he is a gay pervert.
Another classical Catholic argument, because Catholic hate gays. If you have sex with a child, you are a child rapist. Homosexuality isn’t the problem here, although you can still convince the final few in the pews that his is true.
Makes sense to me, Rex.
What’s interesting is that if there were no charges against the Catholic Church, SNAP and its minions would be out of business. I consider them simply class-action whores who are out recruiting individuals to sue the church so that they can receive paychecks. Whether the accusations are always true or not makes no difference to them at all.
Seriously?
The members of SNAP were raped by priests. You think about that. What a gutless, anonymous, heartless monster you are.
So, Trent, you think everyone should just stand by and let the church police itself? Like it has been doing?
I don’t think cultural Catholics are afraid they will go to hell for leaving the Church. I think they don’t want to leave because all of their friends and family are there. For me, if I quit being Catholic, I don’t care enough about religion at all to change to another one. But I would miss the community I have had for the last 40 some years.
Mike Rice, I was at St. Peters in the 70s too. Good ol Msgr Koenig…he told us once that French kissing was the equivalent of intercourse. None of us really bought anything he said after that. If an 8th grader can tell your sexual education is on the low side of intelligent, you have a problem.
I don’t think it’s that cultural Catholics are afraid of going to hell, either. I just think change is hard, and often it’s easier to stick with the flawed product you’ve got instead of venturing into the unknown.
I look at these appointments and wonder whether they are meant to impress the DA, who has agreed to SNAP’s request to examine the actions of the diocese.
One big question about Finn’s actions will be his compliance or noncompliance with Missouri’s mandated-reporting law. These often don’t get such a high-profile hearing. I don’t see how the DA can let Finn off the hook without rendering the law ineffectual.
To Concerned Catholic 2, I forgot about Koenig’s French kissing lecture. No wonder so many kids back then had fears that kissing could cause pregnancies. And I agree with you on why some of us won’t leave the church. I’ve made so many friends at St. Elizabeth’s over the years. I love seeing them at church on Sundays and I look forward to the events we have there. And I value the education that my son and daughter have received there. Fortunately, we have a very good pastor.
Was it Saint Louis’ Christian Brothers or MoKan’s Rockhurst [ I despise them both, and I met many Rockies at UMKC and lots of CBs at UMSL] that first allowed female students ??????????
Any way, there was a reunion and two former woman students arrived in a long stretch limozine. You see they had become Ladies of the Evening.
Once inside they bumped into an favorite teacher, a chaste nun. What are you girls up to, the sister inquired.
Blushing, the women replied, “We are Prostitutes!’ The nun fainted dead away!
Revived with smelling salts, the sister inquired again. The girls replied again.
“Oh, prostitutes,” said the nun. I thot you said, “Protestants” ……….
donlake@ymail.com, Ruskin Heights (Southern) Baptiste, 1955 -1972
JimmyC was run over by a KC Star truck.
He woke up in the clouds near a tall, tall gate. A white haired gent was leaning over Jimmy.
Am I in heaven ??????????? Jimmy asked. Well, you are, but it was a mistake on our part all together. The Catholic priest that gave you last rites jumped the gun. You had a couple more decades left.
It is complicated, but we can not fit you back into your former body. How ever, we can give you a choice of up or down.
Later Jimmy pushed the great big down button on the one and only elevator. He stumbled on a lush, verdant land scape with a buffet table of only the best.
Every one was in a great mood. Laughing, and telling jokes and slapping each other on the back!
After twenty four hours, and tearful good byes, Jimmy pushed the big ‘up’ arrow!
Jimmy got into the elevator and spent the next day lazily strumming a harp on a cloud. Saint Peter then said ‘Well, what is your choice ??????????? Up or down ???????????
Jimmy replied that he was bored with sitting around all day thinking good thots. He informed Saint Pete that he actually enjoyed Haydes the better.
Saint Pete and Jimmy solemnly walked to the elevator, Saint Peter pushed the great big Down arrow.
When Jimmy arrived, down below, the decor was grim, dingy, and barren. Jimmy saw some one who he recognized earlier. ‘What the ………….’
The minion turned to Jimmy and said, ‘You know how it works! Earlier you were being recruited. Now you are staff!”
I apologize to everyone for starting all this…Fortunately, it won’t happen again because, like I said, the joke I started the blog with is the only one I know.
The jokes were not that bad.
You’re very kind, Chuck.
“I just think change is hard, and often it’s easier to stick with the flawed product you’ve got instead of venturing into the unknown.”
Sorry, Jim, but I couldn’t disagree more. I have been a lifelong Catholic and am not about to give up my religion because of a few bad priests and their ugly acts. The Church has gone through many trials for centuries.
My religion is not a “product.”
This does an excellent job of summarizing my views:
“The darkness within my church is real, and it has too often gone unaddressed. The light within my church is also real, and has too often gone unappreciated. A small minority has sinned, gravely, against too many. Another minority has assisted or saved the lives of millions.” – Elizabeth Scalia
Thanks for the comment, John. I respect your viewpoint and admire your dedication — and that of other Catholics who are trying to stand by the church they love.
I shouldn’t have used the term “product,” even though I think it’s clear that I meant it very loosely…Religious preference is one of the most personal and deep-seated choices there is to make — whether you’re an atheist, Buddhist, Muslim, Catholic or Presbyterian.
Spiritual preference / evolution …………
and I, for one, find Confucianism and Buddhism [which I consider both as secular enlightenment] as VERY compatible with core Christianity.
Bishop Finn, who will hopefully go to jail for his crimes in hiding this known pedophile, has appointed Todd Graves to “investigate”, which apparently makes the remaining Catholic church goers feel better.
Of course, I can’t imagine who would trust Bishop Finn with the truth or with children, and it just surfaced today that Todd Graves’ specialty is protecting the brand name of corporations, as you can see in their advertising at http://bit.ly/qXn6yK
Research uncovered by http://www.tonyskansascity.com