Wednesday 14 November 2018

A NUN WHO ABUSED


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ERIE NUNS KNEW ABOUT ABUSIVE NUN FOR DECADES
By Ed Palattella www.bishopaccountability.org
October 30, 2018



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SKEABECK

Original actions taken against the late Sr. Mary Carmel Skeabeck “appear
to be insufficient by today’s standards,” according to Sisters of St. Joseph.
Skeabeck was added to diocese’s list of accused on Monday.

The Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern Pennsylvania started 
investigating child sexual-abuse allegations against one of its deceased 
members in May.

A complaint from an abuse victim triggered the probe.

The findings led the Catholic Diocese of Erie on Monday to place the nun,
Sr. Mary Carmel Skeabeck, who died in 2015, on the diocese’s growing list
of priests and laypeople credibly accused of child sexual abuse and other
misconduct with minors since the 1940s.

Skeabeck, the first nun to be placed on the diocese’s list, “sexually abused
student on numerous occasions in the late 1950s while teaching at Villa
Maria Academy” in Erie, the Sisters of St. Joseph, citing its investigation, 
said on Monday.

Warning signs about Skeabeck, however, had surfaced long before May.

In a pattern that has been repeated in the clergy sex-abuse crisis 
throughout the United States, the Sisters of St. Joseph knew of reports 
about Skeabeck at the time the abuse occurred.

Yet the religious order allowed Skeabeck to remain in ministry in schools 
and other institutions throughout the 13-county Catholic Diocese of Erie 
until she retired in 2001, 14 years before she died at 91.

In her final assignment in ministry, according to information the sisters 
released on Monday, Skeabeck served from 1979 to 2001 at the all-girls 
Villa Maria Academy high school, where she taught until 1993 and then 
volunteered in several departments.

Skeabeck first taught at Villa in 1958-59, when she was in her mid-30s. 
That was the period, the sisters said, when the abuse occurred. Skeabeck
entered the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1942, when she was 18.

Though the religious order launched the probe of Skeabeck based on the
complaint made in May about the abuse at Villa, “evidence gathered 
during the investigation does suggest that reports also were made at the
time the abuse was occurring,” a spokeswoman for the Sisters of St. 
Joseph told the Erie Times-News in an email. “While the evidence also 
suggests that some corrective actions were taken, those actions appear 
to be insufficient by today’s standards.”

The spokeswoman, Stephanie Hall, said the Sisters of St. Joseph have 
received only the one complaint against Skeabeck, but that the sisters are
continuing to investigate and are encouraging anyone with information to 
make a report.
Additional information could also help the Sisters of St. Joseph learn more 
about how the nuns handled complaints against Skeabeck years ago. 
The diocese has placed on its list the names of those who failed to act on 
credible abus complaints, including Bishop Alfred M. Watson, who headed 
the diocese from 1969 to 1982 and died at 81 in 1990.

“Key individuals are deceased, so we reiterate our call for anyone with
knowledge of Sister Mary Carmel’s misconduct (or other abuse) to come 
forward”, Hall said.

“At this time, we are just looking into this situation that was recently 
brought to our attention,” Hall also said. “At the same time, we strongly 
encourage anyone who has been abused by anyone, certainly by anyone 
connected with the Sisters of St. Joseph, to come forward and report the 
abuse.”

To assist those who might have information, the Sisters of St. Joseph 
released Skeabeck’s assignment history and photograph. Skeabeck’s 
given name was Charlotte Skeabeck. Her religious name was Sr. Mary 
Carmel. “We understand that no apology, investigation or counseling will 
ever undo what has happened,” the sisters said in a statement. 

“We humblyoffer our sincere efforts to fully cooperate with law 
enforcement, shine light on past misconduct aid in healing and take steps 
to ensure that today’s children do not have to endure any abuse now or in 
the future.”

The sisters and the diocese

The Sisters of St. Joseph and other orders of women religious need the
bishop’s approval to operate within the Catholic Diocese of Erie. But the 
orders are their own communities with their own leadership structure and 
assignment responsibilities, which is why the Sisters of St. Joseph and 
the diocese conducted separate investigations into allegations of child 
sexual abuse.

The sisters and the diocese still took similar paths. To conduct the probe
of Skeabeck, the sisters said, the order hired the Pittsburgh law firm of
K&L Gates — the diocese’s law firm for abuse allegations. Diocesan
spokeswoman Anne Marie-Welsh said the diocese recommended 
K&L Gates to the sisters.


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PERSICO

Under the direction of Bishop Lawrence Persico, the Catholic Diocese of
Erie hired K&L Gates in late 2016 to investigate child sexual abuse among
clergy and laypeople and to formulate its list. Persico released the first 
iteration of the list in April and has updated it regularly, including on 
Monday. Persico released the list — unprecedented in its scope among
Catholic dioceses because it includes laypeople as well as clergy — 
in advance of the August release of the devastating statewide grand jury 
report on child sexual abuse in six Roman Catholic dioceses in 
Pennsylvania, including the Erie diocese.

The Sisters of St. Joseph received its complaint against Skeabeck shortly 
after Persico released the diocese’s first list. The diocese’s investigation 
of child sexual abuse, like the sisters’, is ongoing but much wider in scope.

The diocese has said it has spent about $4 million on its probe, with the 
money coming from investment earnings and budget surpluses. The Sisters
of St. Joseph at this time do not know “a cumulative cost” for its 
investigation, said Hall, the sisters’ spokeswoman.

“Our hearts and prayers go out to all victims and survivors of sexual abuse,
especially the survivor whose courageous report has brought us to this 
moment,” the sisters said in their statement. “We hear you, we believe you 
and want to put an end to child abuse forever.”

Other additions

Skeabeck is one of five new people the Catholic Diocese of Erie added to 
the list of credibly accused on Monday. Persico has updated the list based 
on information the diocese has received from the public and other sources.

The updated list, which the diocese posted, now has 76 names — 49 clergy,
26 laypeople and one nun. The first list had 51 names — 34 priests and 17
laypeople.

Also added to the list of credibly accused, according to the diocese, are three
laypeople, who are all living: Ronald Keith Allison, of Erie, a former lay 
teacher[ Lewis A. Kocher, of Springfield, Ohio, a former choir director; and 
James E. Herzing, of St. Marys, a former lay teacher.

The diocese added one priest to the list of credibly accused: the Rev. 
Patrick J. Healy, who is deceased. The diocese said Healy was able to 
function as a priest because the abuse was reported after his death.

In addition, the diocese on Monday listed one deceased priest as under
investigation. He is the Rev. Robert A. Pudlo, accused of failing to act on 
credible reports of abuse. The diocese will decide whether to place Pudlo’s name on the
final list following the results of the investigation.

Among all Monday’s additions to the list, Skeabeck’s name stood out —
because of her status as a nun with a long history of being in contact with
students.

“She spent nearly all of her religious life in the ministry of education,” 
according to Skeabeck’s obituary. It said she “also spent many years teaching religious
education in various parishes of the Erie diocese.”


PAT SAYS:

I find it completely mind boggling how a woman who has her life to God 
and to living poverty, chastity and obedience has left such an evil legacy 
behind.

I went to school to the nuns in Carlow in Ireland. Many of the nuns were 
kind and helpful.

A small handful were savage brutes - loving to beat us with straps, sticks 
and rulers - and apparently taking pleasure in all our vulnerabilities and
embarrassments.

As I went on through life, and after been ordained, I discovered that
while there were good and happy nuns many others were deeply unhappy,
 sexually frustrated and angry with their barrenness. 

Convents were often places that families sent their daughters to for
reasons of social respectability.

When I visited convents I found that they were full of rage and jealousy
with individual nuns absolutely hating each other.

Sister Skeabeck was obviously a deep unbalanced pervert.








43 comments:

  1. Pat, I have visited convents too where I found the normal human mixture of good, kind women with a few not so kind or human. I have visited parishes where priests were uncaring towards one another. I have visited many families where I found much anger, conflict, pain and absolute misery because of poverty, abuse, domestic violence and alcoholism. I have visited schools where there was much resentment and jealousies. And I know that you were a very difficult and awkward person to live with, though you have good qualities. Convents, presbyteries, homes, working environments, schools - are all places where you can find much disharmony, craziness, abuse of all kinds, jealousies, hidden bullying and harrassment. Is your Oratory the heaven on earth? Give me the perfect community of God's people and I'll run to be a new member in it!

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    1. @1:09; Not all of God’s people are criminals or cover up crime!

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    2. Patsy

      Patsy you say that when you visited convents they were full of jealousy and rage. I don't recognize any of this, I've known many nuns some I liked, some I didn't but not for the reasons you say. All this talk about "abuse" is nonsense in those day's all schools had discipline and corporal punishment. We didn't think anything about it, and it was expected if you went home and said you'd got the strap you'd be told you must have needed it, and got a slap for your trouble. You must know this your the same age as me, it was not just in Catholic schools but in state and non Catholic schools as well, it was the norm. People now have forgotten or never lived in those days, I have great memories when I went with my Granny to visit her sister who was a Daughter of Charity in William Street, for tea in the parlour and was very much spoiled by the sister's so I don't believe a lot of the stories I now hear. It was not my experience and I knew many good, kind and holy nuns and others must have as well, but it seems to be the in thing now to only talk about how bad things were in those day's, I preferred them to what we have now! Evviva Maria!

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    3. 17:05, you really are an utter fool and moron.

      I don't mean to insult you, but truth is truth.

      Isn't it?😆

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    4. Mad Magna Caca at 22:12

      Polly you are such a liar! apart from being a low life workshy alcoholic parasite. You don't mean to insult me, of course you do, you do it all the time, but as I've told you before I could't care less about anything the likes of you say. You are right truth is truth, I am telling you the truth of my experiences of clergy and religious, but you won't accept it because of your hatred of The Holy Church. So you can carry on with your boring rants it is what we expect from a delusional pedantic fool, you truly are BARKING MAD! Evviva Maria!

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  2. "Sister Skeabeck was obviously a deep unbalanced pervert"

    She has no way of defending herself. And what does the one allegation against her allege? This sounds like Salem all over again.

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  3. Nuns had great status at one time. We were led to believe they were better, more holy than lay people. They also had great power. It was taboo to say Sister Mary is a twisted miserable old biddy. The reply would have been she is a nun.. a holy person. It was the status that nuns were saints and we were sinners that was wrong.

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  4. 02.25: Sometimes in our lives we dismiss, condemn and completely write off people as totally unwanted and evil on the evidence of perhaps one bad abusive incident. While any abuse in any era is unacceptable, we often go after the easily recognisable abusers while forgetting the many lay teachers who inflicted horrendous physical, mental and sexual abuse. I loved school for education but I had teachers, all lay, both in primary and secondary, who were sadists. They blackened our hands sometimes. When will we compile a list of such abusers? Religious are often scapegoats. I abhor all abuse, having endured much physical abuse at school. I didn't allow it prevent my progress to third level. I must also say that as a child and teenager, the priests and religious of my home parish were excellent in pastoral care for all parishioners. Their witness gave me great encouragement in my life's chosen pathway.

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  5. @9:43; We are talking about willful CRIME, criminallity and criminals amongst the clergy and hierarchy.

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    1. Anonymous at 10:12

      Yes we are always talking about crime and abuse within the clergy, but don't forget it wasn't just them. I don't think you like that, but all these crimes were committed by the laity as well, they too have to be brought to book.

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  6. I've known many nuns, and not a single one of them struck me as nasty or abusive in any way. And some of them were awesomely holy and devoted to the sick.

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    1. 13.26 Nuns have always been much like the rest of us. There are nice nuns, nasty nuns and completely cracked nuns. Don't put nuns on a pedestal

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  7. 10.12: Wilful crime takes the form of abuse of any kind. WILFUL CRIME - that which destroys the bodily integrity of another, irrespective of who the perpetrator is, remains WILFUL CRIME and is CRIMINAL. It's no worse if committed by a cleric or religious, though much more is expected of such people. Let me assure you, in my line of work, I witness WILFUL CRIMES everyday in all walks of life.

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    1. @14:02; The clergy claim to be ‘alter Christus ‘, mediators between God and man, with ontological change to go with it...professional Christians...supposedly promoting the mission of Christ. The clergy and hierarchy are supposedly moral teachers and advisors, promoting the gospel, are funded by the laity, whose trust in clerics has been betrayed and shattered irreparably.
      Cover up of sexual crime committed by clerics has occurred world wide on a grand scale by members of the hierarchy. It is far worse,in my opinion, when such hypocrisy, such scandal and discrediting of the Gospel and the ruination of so many lives has occurred as a consequence of such criminality.

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    2. 15.05: You cannot have a hierarchy (pardon the pun) of sexual, mental, physical, emotional or spiritual abuse which says that if committed by a cleric it is more serious than if any other category of person does it. That attitude is reckless, crazy and dangerius. All abuse which harms, hurts, violates and destroys anyone's privacy is wrong, unacceptable and may be criminal.

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    3. @15:47; A hierarchy of abuse is your terminology. The crimes of clergy were covered up by bishops and did far more than destroy privacy. The resultant spiritual abuse to victims is appalling.
      Lives have been irreparably destroyed with many victims having committed suicide. You seem to be living in serious denial.

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  8. 10.12: So, it's ok to ignore the daily, awful, horrendous abuse committed by people other than religious or clerics, particularly in families? Nonsense. Let's get all abusers then!! Back in the 50's and 60's I was physically abused by lay teachers. It was the accepted norm at the time. As children and teenagers we knew it was wrong, others didn't, sadly. Now we know such abuse should never have occurred. Would you be in favour of naming such lay people, dead or alive?

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    1. @14:07: Rubbish. Who said anything about ignoring anything, apart from you. It’s the clergy and hierarchy who covered up CRIME. They’re responsible for ignoring criminals in their ranks. Not all abuse is crime; that’s not to condone abuse.

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    2. 14.48: Rubbish to your comment also. I worked in the area of abuse as a social worker. I know what I'm talking about. Any abuse which infringes the bodily integrity of any child or any person has to be treated with the utmost seriousness, even a hint if abuse. Look at the papers everyday and you'll read harrowing stories of family abuse, abuse which many people, like you, may ignore because you begin with the premise that "not all abuse is criminal". Anyone who covers up crime is criminal. Many people in society - teachers, doctors, clergy, sports clubs, parents, families, neighbours, trainers, media outlets have all been charged with covering up criminal sexual behaviour and abuse. While the Church is to be condemned for its failures in so many ways, Let's be honest about all abuse. It's easy to focus only on Church sexual abuse to the detriment of other societal failures, with children always being the vulnerable victims.

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    3. You obviously have an anti Church attitude,14.48. I wonder where do you draw the line at "playacting" and "criminal abuse" when a person's privacy and bodily integrity is infringed against his/her wishes?

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    4. @15:41; The problem is that far too many in the institutional Church and lay cheer leaders are in denial about the extent of criminality in the church and the extent of covering up and the extent of implosion of the church in plain site. How many reports do you people in the clergy and lay cheer leaders need to realize how rotten the institution has become, most likely due in large part to a toxic clerical culture!

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    5. @15:32; Never make assumptions!
      I’m also a social worker. I also worked in the area of child sexual abuse. You appear to be purposely misinterpreting my post. You’re right; anyone who covers up crime is a criminal...tell that to the clergy and hierarchy!
      This is a blog discussing Catholicism and church related matters.
      Use terminology carefully.
      Not all abuse is criminal; for example emotional abuse, verbal abuse., spiritual abuse....etc....that’s not to condone emotional abuse, verbal abuse or spiritual abuse.Dont read into my post your own notions.
      I know what I’m talking about too and I’m a victim of clerical/ hierarchy cover up!
      I’m also a committed Catholic Christian.

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    6. 17.46: There is little we disagree on. I too came through much emotional and spiritual abuse working alongside a colleague and to me it was criminal that so abusive a person was allowed to almost ruin, not just my life but that of others too. Thankfully the person was persuaded to retire!! However, his public humiliation at work and a forced, legal written apology were sufficient. All abuse should be treated seriously and action taken against the perpetrator. Clerical sexual abuse is heinous because of the moral and spiritual betrayal of trust. I too am Catholic and see the awfulness of what this abuse has done to the Church but I support my local Church because I see much goodness in action.

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    7. @ 18:42;
      I realise and acknowledge there is little we disagree on. All of us have our stories. I agree, all abuse ought to be taken seriously and action taken, when possible, against the perpetrator. I know, from experience, how rotten some members of the clergy and hierarchy can be. I've known it for over 40 years! Its a major part of my life story. I know how appalling spiritual abuse can be and I'm still catholic despite the clergy! My commitment to Christ and the gospel doesn't depend on the holiness or lack of from the clergy. I'm not saying all clergy or members of the hierarchy are rotten. I've known a few saintly religious priests in my time. However SOME members of the clergy and hierarchy would make Judas look like an altar boy!

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  9. CONOR GANNON

    Thanks to the reader for the Conor Gannon comment.

    bishopbuckley1@outlook.com

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    1. Sounds more interesting than nuns, Bp Pat.

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  10. It would be interesting to know what, if any, other CRIMES are been covered up.Are there more religious women who’ve sexually abused.? Have religious women been sexually abused by clerics? What about financial crime, if any? Where does all the money go on church property and convents sold in the last number of years?
    Just wonderin like!

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    1. 15.13: Having worked as a teacher in a school owned by religious and having seen much of their property sold off, I know they plough their financial gain back into their schools and mission work in Africa where they built 2 schools. The school I worked in was helped hugely. I also know this religious order gave significant sums of money to two local charities who work with the homeless and marginalised. None of the sisters personally benefited. Wonder away all you like!!

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    2. @15:38; I wil continue to wonder..! The clergy and hierarchy have proven they cannot be trusted.

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    3. Anonymous at 15:38

      Hi Magna

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    4. 17.15: You need to open your eyes and your heart. Stop listening to gossip. You need to look beyond this blog for reliable information. I wonder how much do you give to charity? How much time do you give to caring for the poor, the sick, the lonely, the homeless? Critic from the armchair or front of your laptop type!! Yes, all talk, no action. You belong to a legion of such types.

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    5. @15:38;
      Is that what you were told?

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    6. @18:33;
      Is that you barking b...?

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    7. 18.35: I know for certain some that the particular religious order contributed financially to the school and other schools in their care. I also know for certain they contributed hugely to the building upgrade and development of schools they have in Africa. I was part of our school's justice outreach programme. I know. Cynicism is a disease!!! Get over it.

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    8. @20:29; So are you saying the money remained in the order?

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    9. 17:18, why, ffs, could you even wonder that 15:38 est moi? Ce n'est pas moi!

      15:38 is clearly a supporter of the institutional Roman Catholic Church (The WHORE!), whereas I am, er, not.😆

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    10. Anonymous at 20:25

      No it was not me @ 18:33, but I agree with everything the poster said. Is that you Polly? Evviva Maria!

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    11. Mad Magna Caca at22:20

      The Great Whore of the blog has awoken from her drunken slumber. I agree with you that anyone could wonder that the comment at 15:38 could have anything to do with you. It was far to sensible and true to come from (THE GREAT WHORE!)and disciple of satin which you are. Evviva Maria!

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  11. Euphemisms, like abuse and scandal are used and preferred, instead of crime and criminality.
    It’s criminal abuse and a criminal clerical scandal or Church criminality,..etc.

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  12. @18:33;
    I'm not accountable to you. Are you sure you're not projecting yourself in making such remarks about me?
    Do you realise some catholic commentators in America are calling the church in America a shambles, but are also saying the situation in Ireland is worse!
    Meanwhile,some Irish clerics are busy fiddling away on grindr!
    'The Irish Catholic' paper won't be reporting it.
    Bishop Pats blog is providing a very valuable service for Catholics far and wide. I'm writing from experience about clerical cover up and you're right; a legion of people have experienced clerical and hierarchical cover up of abuse.

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  13. Weedkiller was a great invention so twas. But how do we re seed the burnt earth. We have naughty nunnies Pervy padres and booking bishops. Where's the evidence that they are being replaced by fruit that will last hi.

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  14. 19.58: TRUTH of course is imperative - living truthfully and with justice is my ideal but I struggle. I do not need your judgment either for being who I am in my life. Despite the awfulness of the Church crisis I try as best I can to do my level best. Yes, I know the criminality of abuse and cover ups: I know what abuse is through my life's experience: I know there are many who are deeply hurt: I know justice is deserved by all survivors. I have never condoned or remained silent in the face of any abuse, bullying or harrassment. I have been isolated sometimes in naming wrongs but I take my cue from Christ's heart and mind. That is the challenge for me personally and whenever I make a judgment against anyone else I must search my own conscience - always.

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  15. @ 22:00; I’m not judging you. If you were the poster @ 18:33, I merely posed a simple question as to whether you might be projecting yourself. I genuinely feel sorry for the many good men who have dedicated their lives to the church, tried to remain faithful and true to their vocations,regardless of human weakness, and now find themselves in the midst of a mess that’s dragged on for years and will get worse.
    Maybe more people in the church need to hear, first hand, the horror stories of shattered lives due to appalling abuse and appalling leadership in the church. Christ is the Christians model. Would Christ condone what has been done? ...‘What you do to the least...’
    Why haven’t more clergy seriously lived the gospel? Why haven’t more of the hierarchy lived the gospel and taken Christs word more seriously?

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