Re: well said...

Posted by Donna on March 10, 2004 at 21:31:47:

In Reply to: Re: well said... posted by Mike J. on March 10, 2004 at 18:28:47:

: Consider a hypothetical: You are running a diocese. I am running a diocese. In which diocese will there be less chance of priests abusing children and young men?

--In the diocese where the screening process includes investigating things like if there's a history of the applicant being abused, their emotional, psychological and sexual maturity, the amount of discernment that's been done before they applied for the seminary, raising the age of admission to the seminary to 25 years of age and no younger. In the diocese where the responsibilities of being a priest are stressed over the entitlements.

--In the diocese where the bishops know their priests and have actually spent time with them. In the diocese where pastors have been trained in management and mentoring so that every newly ordained priest has at least one experienced person teaching them how to be a priest beyond what was taught in the classroom.

--In the diocese where every priest will be given an annual review to discuss how well or ill they are doing their jobs. Where high ratings on a review results in public recognition of their achievements. Where poor or borderline ratings result in renewed mentoring and closer supervision and a removal from active ministry if the pastor and bishop think it's warranted.

--In the diocese where the reporting of complaints of abuse to both the civil and the church authorities is mandatory. In the diocese where the pastor of every parish is guaranteed a full report on each new priest entering his parish including any previous complaints of abuse. In the diocese where every lay person has the right to address their concerns about any priest to the bishop and can count on those concerns being answered seriously. In the diocese where any priest can freely express concerns about another priest without fear of reprisal or political backlash.

--Not only will there be less instances of abuse, but the good priests could become even better.

--Out of curiosity, how will you know that you've eliminated all homosexual priests? How will you determine their sexual orientation? Will you ask them and expect an honest answer, or do you anticipate being able to find that out on your own? (Maybe you can hire Fr. Dave to hide out in the bushes and turn them in.) I wonder how many priests you have worked with or are now close to are actually homosexuals and you don't know it? What would raise a red flag for you to indicate a priest is a homosexual?

--How many priests have been accused of abuse since the year 2000? Do you know?

Replies:

• Re: well said... Mike J. 00:02:23 3/11/04 (4)
  • Mikey, consider this test Wag 14:43:58 3/13/04 (0)
  • Re: well said... Donna 08:08:00 3/11/04 (2)
    • Re: well said... Mike J. 18:29:31 3/11/04 (1)
      • Re: well said... Donna 20:27:40 3/11/04 (0)

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: : Consider a hypothetical: You are running a diocese. I am running a diocese. In which diocese will there be less chance of priests abusing children and young men? : --In the diocese where the screening process includes investigating things like if there's a history of the applicant being abused, their emotional, psychological and sexual maturity, the amount of discernment that's been done before they applied for the seminary, raising the age of admission to the seminary to 25 years of age and no younger. In the diocese where the responsibilities of being a priest are stressed over the entitlements. : --In the diocese where the bishops know their priests and have actually spent time with them. In the diocese where pastors have been trained in management and mentoring so that every newly ordained priest has at least one experienced person teaching them how to be a priest beyond what was taught in the classroom. : --In the diocese where every priest will be given an annual review to discuss how well or ill they are doing their jobs. Where high ratings on a review results in public recognition of their achievements. Where poor or borderline ratings result in renewed mentoring and closer supervision and a removal from active ministry if the pastor and bishop think it's warranted. : --In the diocese where the reporting of complaints of abuse to both the civil and the church authorities is mandatory. In the diocese where the pastor of every parish is guaranteed a full report on each new priest entering his parish including any previous complaints of abuse. In the diocese where every lay person has the right to address their concerns about any priest to the bishop and can count on those concerns being answered seriously. In the diocese where any priest can freely express concerns about another priest without fear of reprisal or political backlash. : --Not only will there be less instances of abuse, but the good priests could become even better. : --Out of curiosity, how will you know that you've eliminated all homosexual priests? How will you determine their sexual orientation? Will you ask them and expect an honest answer, or do you anticipate being able to find that out on your own? (Maybe you can hire Fr. Dave to hide out in the bushes and turn them in.) I wonder how many priests you have worked with or are now close to are actually homosexuals and you don't know it? What would raise a red flag for you to indicate a priest is a homosexual? : --How many priests have been accused of abuse since the year 2000? Do you know?

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