Posted Thursday, February 09, 2012 3:28 AM By daryl
Sometimes sexual perverts made out to be brilliant actors and famous double agents as well as devil priests, for the reason that prior to this Post-Modern, amoral, and standard-less Age, dominated by philosophic occasionalism; personal survival required convincingly persuasive and flawless double lives, like that of Father Maciel, who duped John-Paul II. Perhaps holy men and women become more like angels, able only to see and remember the good in others. Godless Progressives, in contrast, seem to be able and always eager to discover every flaw in holy lives and in saints, while exculpating terrorists, criminals, and deviants as poor victims, their impulses and freedom of expression unjustly restrained by our unworthy and oppressive society. Did you know that the French Revolutionaries released the Marquis De Sade from the Bastille, where he was imprisoned for Crimes against Nature, with honors and celebration as a Champion of Personal Freedom? Saul Alinsky in the preface to his Rules for Radicals, offers an admiring tip of the hat to Satan, as the very First Radical. Greece has recently defined pedophilia, pyromania, and kleptomania as disabilities, entitling those so afflicted to public welfare payments. Are these echoes of the ancient enemy grown boastful as his power grows in proportion to people’s disbelief in his existence? |
Posted Thursday, February 09, 2012 5:28 AM By JLS
daryl, your depiction of saints as only being able to see good is shear deception, and basely false. Sounds like you’re perpetuating the strain of delusion that has rotted a significant portion of society. |
Posted Thursday, February 09, 2012 5:33 AM By JLS
From the article, “at a time when it was still unthinkable that bishops and religious superiors would have ignored clear evidence of abuse”: This is a naiive coverup type of self deluding statement. I recall in the early 1980s the case of a pedophile priest being transferred to a large parish in the San Fernando Valley and ordered not to be given any ministry with boys. The coverup was already in the open but in hushed tones. And there is plenty of fuel to raise the firelight on decades of this sort of thing. Why the Church leaders and followers have long chosen to pretend is one of the evil mysteries that hopefully will be brought to light and sent packing. |
Posted Thursday, February 09, 2012 5:34 AM By GK
Very intriguing daryl. In this sick age all perversion is tolerated. Except of course if a priest commits it. It is almost like they are imprisoned more for their status as priests, than for their crimes which in other areas of society are tolerable. |
Posted Thursday, February 09, 2012 6:19 AM By peter
And that makes perfect sense, GK. Priests should be held to higher standards than the average Joe. |
Posted Thursday, February 09, 2012 6:44 AM By JMJ
Daryl: Very well put, it seems that JLS does NOT read about the lives of the Saints, which is recommended highly by the Church as part of our daily lives. I hope that he finds some books about them and get busy. One great book is “A Year With The Saints: A Virtue for Every Month of The Year” put out by TAN: now with the so-called St. Benedict Press. This is a MUST for every one that wants to be right with God. As far as Father Hardon and his beatification: what is the problem & why is he even being mentioned in this article? The USCCB & it’s hideous handling of the scandal (which is not even as bad as all of the Priests that don’t believe in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist) is horrible. Bishop Gregory, who pulled the wool over Pope John Paul, should be removed from the priesthood by his actions on his fellow priests. He makes them guilty without a trial & has put many of our Priests that have been falsely accused (which most of them were) out to pasture. For those Priests that have betrayed God & His children by abusing the children (even the ones that were looking for “fun”) will have to pay a very heavy price in hell, unless they repent while they still have a chance. We need to pray, not only for these Priests, but for all of those that are falsely accusing them. I have cousins that were abused when they were altar boys, but, thankfully, they were able to forgive, which we all have to do. If we don’t, we better not say the Lord’s Prayer, as God will do to us just what we tell Him to do. Have mercy on us, dear Jesus. +JMJ+ |
Posted Thursday, February 09, 2012 7:12 AM By Tom Byrne
Saints, like the rest of us, can make mistakes in practical judgment without sin. If you can demonstrate that somebody like Fr. Hardon actually knew of a crime and covered it up, that’s one thing. Let’s not damn by speculation. Peter: the problem is not that priests should be held to higher standards, it’s that too many “average Joes” (especially if they or their professions or politics are esteemed by leftists) are held to no standards AT ALL. |
Posted Thursday, February 09, 2012 7:58 AM By Ted
Mother Teresa had no occasion to see the bad side of the man, and many occasions to see the good in him. It’s no surprise to me that she would, in the absence of evidence, assume his innocence. She may have not been accurate, but that does not make her opinion of him a sin. Many were fooled by him, she’s only one of them. People need to get off her case, and look in themselves for their own areas of blindness. Those who want to find fault with her in this case – get off your self-made pedestal and get over yourselves. Look at the plank in your own eye, as we all should be doing. |
Posted Thursday, February 09, 2012 8:01 AM By MacDonald
From the article: “As a Jesuit priest, McGuire was … renowned for his vigorous orthodoxy.” History has shown us that many people who bask in such alleged orthodoxy have hidden demons. This is why I prefer to get all the facts when an “orthodox” or “liberal” priest or layman gets in trouble, rather than accusing the Pope or the Bishops of just trying to “get” someone because of their leanings. Whether they lean to the right or the left, they are all human, just like the rest of us, and capable of sin and goodness, just like the rest of us. |
Posted Thursday, February 09, 2012 8:02 AM By MacDonald
As for attacking Blessed Mother Teresa because she believed a man was innocent — hello! It is NATURAL for us to believe in the goodness of someone we know and love, especially if we have seen that person do much good. If the facts eventually prove the man is guilty, we are stricken and saddened by the truth… |
Posted Thursday, February 09, 2012 9:05 AM By robert
I am very wary of the common, even almost automatic, advocacy of the canonization of religious founders and so have had reservations about the initiation of the cause for Father Hardon for that reason alone. Given what is told here, I would think that the cause of John Hardon should be withdrawn. |
Posted Thursday, February 09, 2012 9:37 AM By Tom
I knew that pervert for twenty years. He presided at my wedding mass. He gave retreats in our house and dined at our dinner table on countless occasions. He was my confessor and spiritual advisor. And I HAD NO CLUE he was such a vile, despicable monster. He was a total fraud–and a very convincing one at that. I am not at all surprised that Mother Teresa was duped by him. We all were. |
Posted Thursday, February 09, 2012 9:37 AM By Ron
The scandal didn’t seem to have any effect on the beatification process of Pope John Paul II. |
Posted Thursday, February 09, 2012 9:46 AM By goodcause
Sounds like guilt by association rather than conspircacy to commit criminal acts or coverup, hardly a basis to halt canonization procedures for Mother Teresa. If MT isn’t a saint, who is? |
Posted Thursday, February 09, 2012 10:23 AM By Gregorian
I attended a Fr. McGuire retreat once, and it was amazing. I remember he preached a good deal about Satan coming after those who seek holiness and seek to serve God, priests in particular. It’s haunting in retrospect. And though the retreat was rich and authentic, I found the cult of personality surrounding Father McGuire to be a little odd. |
Posted Thursday, February 09, 2012 10:41 AM By Magdalene
This abusive priest was a master of deception and that should be kept in mind. Saints are not infallible in all their judgments. And we are speaing of saints with Mother Teresa and Father Hardon. Father Hardon took much persecution for his orthodox stance and he knew of the gay infiltration into the priesthood; he may have missed this one though. |
Posted Thursday, February 09, 2012 10:56 AM By Catherine
MacDonald, “As for attacking Blessed Mother Teresa because she believed a man was innocent – hello!”” I noticed you left Father John Hardon’s name out of your 8:02 AM post. Since Father Hardon was included in this story is there a particular reason why you left his name out and only mentioned or defended Blessed Mother Teresa? Was that an oversight or was it deliberate omission? “History has shown us that many people who *bask in such alleged orthodoxy* have hidden demons” MacDonald, You give yourself away when you take such glee in writing that there are clergy who “bask” in their orthodoxy. That isn’t necessary. A clergy member of our diocese also foolishly and accidentally sent out a mass email that was intended for just another priest. The email discredited the orthodoxy of the diocese of Nebraska. That telltale email also used your type of tone. The clergy member wrote that he was sick of this – – – – of those orthodox Catholics basking in the success of the many priestly vocations in the Diocese of Nebraska. MacDonald, Envy of another’s spiritual goodness is very wrong. This San Francisco newspaper article is satan’s latest attempt to discredit holy individuals who truly did not know what Father Maguire was doing when he was not in their presence. All throughout Church history, the devil’s documented vindictiveness has been aimed at those who were very holy. How fitting it is that a San Francisco, (the city being run by the devil himself) newspaper is trying to now discredit Blessed Mother Teresa and Father Hardon. You also said. “This is why I prefer to get all of the facts when an orthodox or liberal priest or laymen gets into trouble” Well you had the facts of Father John Hardon also being discredited along with Blessed Mother Teresa in this “San Francisco” newspaper. It is a fact that Father Hardon is not being accused of anything but believing that a fellow priest was innocent. Why did you fail to include his name? |
Posted Thursday, February 09, 2012 11:20 AM By Tom
I knew that pervert for twenty years. He presided at my wedding mass. He gave retreats in our house and dined at our dinner table on countless occasions. He was my confessor and spiritual advisor. And I HAD NO CLUE he was such a vile, despicable monster. He was a total fraud–and a very convincing one at that. I am not at all surprised that Mother Teresa was duped by him. We all were. |
Posted Thursday, February 09, 2012 11:54 AM By TWC
Both the SF Weekly & Mr. Lawler’s articles do have some factual errors. That said, the SF Weekly article is the most accurate accounting of this scandal. However, Mother Teresa and Fr. Hardon are dead, sex abuse by Catholic clergy is taking place as I type this comment and the responsible parties within the Catholic church, all the way up to the 2nd in command, Cardinal Burke sit back and do nothing to stop this abuse and scandal. In fact, Cdl. Burke’s assistant has indicated that they have been aware of all of the corruption in the McGuire scandal for the past 8 months and have done absolutely nothing about it. The Catholic church has spent more money telling the public that they are protecting “God’s Children” when in fact, they are developing better ways to cover-up. Just look into Virtus-OnLine and who ownes it. The Catholic chuch wants the public to think the risk of children’s sex abuse has been reduced with all these procedures they have put in place. Read cardinal George’s deposition, (available on line), his experts said the procedures in the manual are great and they are. Again, these procedures were never put in place. All Catholics need to be aware that the powers to be within the church continue to stonewall and cover-up. |
Posted Thursday, February 09, 2012 1:23 PM By MacDonald
@ Catherine — I just don’t know much about Father John Hardon, so I didn’t mention him. Mother Teresa I have heard about, of course. As for people “basking,” this is annoying whether one boasts of his alleged “orthodoxy,” or of his alleged “cultural sensitivity” or his “open-mindedness.” It’s like those darned Corinthians, each one trying to outdo the other by saying, “I am for Apollos, or Cephas, etc.” If people are truly doing the Lord’s work, they don’t need to brag about it. |
Posted Thursday, February 09, 2012 1:51 PM By Maria
Really? Where is your proof? The letter to which you refer is unsigned. This is a smear campaign. This is a bunch of Jesuits who are terrified of losing more money in more lawsuits. There are more lawsuits coming down the pike where McGuire is concerned. They have taken to blaming Fr. Hardon, a deceased Jesuit , for their own crimes, against whom they have long harbored unrelenting animus, in an effort to get them off the hook. Fr. Hardon had the goods on the Jebbies and their predeliction for sodomy. |
Posted Thursday, February 09, 2012 2:52 PM By Jo Ann
Being able to judge from the sofa is very easy. This priest may very well have molested the child, or he may have been set up. Only God knows. But how many of you critics out there have prayed for the healing of these two individuals? Don’t you know that there is a spiritual war going on? These things happen because we (the church militant) are not doing what we are called to do. Get your rosaries out, get on your knees and PRAY, PRAY, PRAY! |
Posted Thursday, February 09, 2012 4:01 PM By JLS
JMJ, I’ve met thousands of Catholics, and maybe not one Saint. Like I said, the Church has long eschewed pedophilia among clergy … do your reading, talk to non-Catholics, talk to Catholics who live in the real world. That is where I come from. Ask yourself why you have not read the topic among the works on Saints. Ask yourself why we do not see many Saints in the west these days and at the same time find incredible sexual perversion in the clergy and rampant abortion in the society. Ostrichism is a religion, JMJ, and is not Catholic … Read St Augustine to see what he says about offshoots and pretenses of Catholicism. |
Posted Thursday, February 09, 2012 4:03 PM By JLS
The records show that Fr Hardon knew of the crime, grilled whuzisface, the former priest now doing 25 years in prison, and decided he was not guilty. This needs to be investigated mainly to determine how these deranged perverts get away with their disguises. |
Posted Thursday, February 09, 2012 4:06 PM By JLS
St Padre Pio was afflicted nightly sometimes by demons which would toss objects around the room and beat him … but no witnesses other than the Saint. The demonic is extremely bright; however, not as bright as humans in union with God through Christ in the Eucharist. We need to learn these lessons, how to discern the evil one. |
Posted Thursday, February 09, 2012 4:19 PM By JLS
Judas Iscariot was with the other apostles with Jesus at the Last Supper, and they did not know who was the betrayer even after Jesus told them that that there was such a betrayer among them. Thus, the parallel would be that even the apostles with Jesus did not realize there was a betrayer and then when given the heads up did not know who it would be, or even if they themselves were the insidious one. This kind of proves, although at the Last Supper the Holy Ghost had not yet descended on them and thus they did not have quite the spiritual firepower, that even the holiest of Saints can be deceived. Well, not necessarily “deceived” but blocked from recognizing evil. Evil men were one time after St Paul and he was alerted not by divine intervention or supernatural powers but by a harlot who ratted on the bad guys. |
Posted Thursday, February 09, 2012 4:21 PM By JLS
I’m beginning to see this issue as a wake up call from any presumption we might entertain as faithful Catholics that we will not be deceived. |
Posted Thursday, February 09, 2012 4:27 PM By Maria
Tom, so sorry! The same thing happened to us with a different priest and we had no clue. We thought he was a saint. The devil can appear as an angel of light, and I’m convinced he gives “his” chosen one who walk in darkness a charism that allows them to completely blind people. So frightening. Lord give us Wisdom and show us the truth and help us to be open to it. |
Posted Thursday, February 09, 2012 6:18 PM By JLS
Ten or fifteen years ago there was a TV series on the historical event where a Christian Brothers orphanage in either Montreal or New York was sexually abusing boys. How many little stories have we heard over the decades that kind of paint this sort of thing? The smoke of Satan is being steadily cleared away and what we are finding is the hellfire, and it seems to be ever more and more visible. |
Posted Thursday, February 09, 2012 7:25 PM By David
Except for those very few who have first hand information (actual proof) – – do not believe what you read, and only part of what you hear per the – – – – CCC – ” 2477 Respect for the reputation of persons forbids every attitude and word likely to cause them unjust injury. He becomes GUILTY: – of RASH JUDGMENT who, even tacitly, assumes as true, without sufficient foundation, the moral fault of a neighbor; – of DETRACTION who, without objectively valid reason, discloses another’s faults and failings to persons who did not know them; – of CALUMNY who, by remarks contrary to the truth, harms the reputation of others and gives occasion for false judgments concerning them.” |
Posted Thursday, February 09, 2012 10:25 PM By JLS
David, this blog is not a court of law; it is a blog where people are trying to figure out what is what. The ancient Book of Job, and then later the works of St Thomas Aquinas teach us how to argue … Are you in favor of bearing false witness against God who gave us minds with which to “discern the spirits” as St Paul calls it, by trying to shut up those who want to know the truth, and are not convinced that bishops speak it all that often? |
Posted Thursday, February 09, 2012 10:28 PM By JLS
Also, David, isn’t it you who are presuming that other posters are “assuming as true, without sufficient foundation … “? In other words, it is you who are leveling an accusation against others that they are assuming some things true without “sufficient foundation”. You seem to lack knowledge of both the nature of argument and what it takes to ferret out the truth, or even mere facts. If a reputation is solid, then it will withstand all assualts including every means of discerning its true nature. I’d say, David, that you’ve got some brushing up work to do on this topic. |
Posted Thursday, February 09, 2012 10:46 PM By daryl
GK and peter are both correct. Thank you, JMJ. You are wise. The Zeitgeist of self-expression, i.e. opening the Pandora’s Box of the senses, desires, and appetites, seems to be tolerated in contemporary priestly formation. If not engaging in the collusive and corrosive scandal of cover-up, the superiors send the miscreant to psychotherapy, which is rarely efficacious. This wasn’t always so. St. Basil the Great set forth a rule regarding religious sexual misconduct with a minor person. The offender was to be publicly and heavily flogged, thrown into a dark dungeon for six months, and then NEVER allowed in ministry to young people again. That rule was in effect for centuries. Prior to this age of psychobabble understandings of the human psyche, an adult person was held responsible for his conduct. We should not forget that most male vocations, apart from those of pillaging savage or of rock star, demand self-restraint and self-sacrifice. The father and husband practices self-denial for the sake of his wife and children. A soldier gives up his life for his mission. An artist sacrifices everything for his art. The priestly vocation is a particularly heroic vocation of self-denial, devotion, and compassion for others. That’s true whether Buddhist or Catholic. The Church shouldn’t tolerate candidates incapable of a heroic life. But neither should we naively expect that some perverts won’t always be able to deceive their way in. The truly mortifying scandal are the cover-ups. |
Posted Thursday, February 09, 2012 10:52 PM By JLS
Telling others to shut up on an issue involving people is akin to a claim jumper telling everyone else to stay away from where he wants to dig for gold. |
Posted Friday, February 10, 2012 3:11 AM By IGGY
Presently there are only 5 catagories of Catholic priests: 1. Alcholics 2. Womenizers 3. Homosexuals 4. Sex abusers 5. The spineless, who are continually looking the other way So I guess that there is no such thing as a GOOD CATHOLIC PRIEST |
Posted Friday, February 10, 2012 6:26 AM By FrMichael
IGGY, clear slander that! There are a lot of priests trying hard to keep orthodoxy alive in the Church and the perverts out of the priesthood. Unfortunately, not many rise to become bishops, particularly in this doomed State of California. BTW rumors are flying around the NorCal presbyterates that a half dozen seminarians have been booted from St. Patrick’s Seminary for homosexual activity in the past month. Deo gratias if that is true! |
Posted Friday, February 10, 2012 7:27 AM By Catherine
IGGY, There were fallen angels, fallen priests and fallen man. There are still many good angels! There are still many good priests! There are still many good men! You have been choosing a piggyback ride on the devil. The power of Christ compels you!. Be gone satan! |
Posted Friday, February 10, 2012 9:36 AM By Joey Piscitelli
Mother Teresa absolutely knew that McGuire was a serial molester. In addition to that, he used her facilities as a pedophile playground. The documents are available, and turning a blind eye to them doesn’t make her innocent. I seriously doubt any of you who defend her have seen all the documents, nor would you want to. She is the typical Catholic idol who behaved in the typical way the debased Catholic hierarchy behaved. It’s amazing how faith takes away the ability to want to see clearly,rationally, and logically. The catholic coverup criminal syndicate is worldwide, take off the blindfolds. |
Posted Friday, February 10, 2012 1:30 PM By Larry
Would it be silly of me to ask Mr. Piscitelli for some proof of his bizarre claim that Mother Teresa, in effect, knowingly served as a madam in running a homosexual brothel for Father McGuire? Of course there’s no proof of that–if there were, you can bet the New York Times would have pounced upon a chance to show that a woman who has been nominated for saint was actually evil. If such proof existed, we wouldn’t need Joey Piscitelli to break the news to us. |
Posted Friday, February 10, 2012 4:17 PM By Elizabeth
@piscitelli – I am related to a woman who is in Mother Teresa’s order and worked with her when she was living. This relation of mine also met Fr. McGuire on many occasions. Mother Teresa is a holy saint, you could not live her life for 10 minutes without begging for mercy. What happened is just what someone described above, these nuns are innocent, sweet and holy and they cannot imagine a seemingly upstanding priest doing something they probably don’t even fully understand. This relation of mine confirmed Fr. McGuire did have sciatica and severe pain, and 2 nuns were always assigned to make sure he had a hot bath drawn and his room warmer that the rest of the place, which was kept at a very cold temperature as part of their mortifications. Also she said often he was traveling with a teenager who always seemed quiet and modest, and they assumed this was a special candidate for the priesthood he was training. So you see, we can look at all the same facts, you see evil (and you’re wrong) and I, aided by a first-hand account see unsuspecting nuns who were deceived by a clever and cunning man. The Servant of God, Father Hardon may have been just as easily deceived, although more knowledgeable, as such a good person, he would find it hard to believe. Hey, how many years did no one think anything wrong of Sandusky? This is not a Catholic problem. It’s a homosexual problem, and they are the most deceptive people on earth, as this is evidence of. |
Posted Friday, February 10, 2012 4:20 PM By JLS
Joey P., supply one of your alleged documents here. |
Posted Friday, February 10, 2012 4:22 PM By JLS
IGGY, what level of maturity generalizes incidents into world views? Do you think you can try to move forward in your emotional development? |
Posted Friday, February 10, 2012 4:25 PM By Abeca Christian
I’m disgusted of the attacks some here have on Mother Theresa. God have mercy! |
Posted Friday, February 10, 2012 5:02 PM By Joey Piscitelli
Larry, I never said she was a madam- you did. You and Elizabeth should read the Department of Homeland Securities documents on Fr. McGuire, -Mother Teresa’s buddy, who has been convicted for the rest of his life for intercontinental transporting of the supposed “teens” who were candidates for priesthood. What he did was transport kids, for sexual molestation- and she had knowledge. She didn’t turn McGuire in, as she should have. If you were correct, and the rest of you who doubt the true story, then the SF weekly, and I, could not say what we are saying. I won’t do your homework for you and get ten thousand pages of documents and print them on this forum. You wouldn’t believe the federal docs anyway. I stand by my statement-she knew kids were being molested there by McGuire. And so does the federal investigators,and the judge, and so does McGuire, as he rots in jail. |
Posted Friday, February 10, 2012 5:24 PM By JLS
TWC, Maguire has been serving his 25 year prison sentence … so your claim that Cdl Burke is covering it up is utterly stupid or else it is intended to deceive. And in that you talk up the San Francisco paper as a font of truth, it tells us that your natural sense of truth has either never been nurtured and thus lay dormant or you have tossed it out. |
Posted Friday, February 10, 2012 5:41 PM By Maryanne Leonard
IGGY, your comment is so outlandish, and so incorrect, that it causes me to conclude that you are not in touch with reality and that indeed your thinking is disordered. Fortunately, most of us know ridiculous statements when we read them. Most of us know full well that most priests are exceptionally admirable human beings but that like all human beings, have some areas of strengths and some of shortcomings. Almost all of them live exemplary lives, especially compared with the lives I’ve noticed are typical of people who make the kinds of statements you submitted here. Your outlandish statements cause me to conclude you could benefit by attending Mass a little more frequently and getting to know some of the wonderful human beings who serve God and humankind through the priesthood of the Holy Roman Catholic Church. I believe if you knew or at least observed more priests, you would come to a completely different conclusion. I say this even though 50 years ago I was victimized by a priest myself and have suffered as a result for many years. I have been helped more by priests, on a ratio of say 1000:1, and probably much more. We all have priests and nuns to thank for being the blessed heirs of the greatest religion in the history of mankind; it is priests who have preserved our faith heritage and therefore who have blessed Western Civilization far beyond any other segment of human society. Reconsider your false allegations, Iggy, and open your heart, mind, and soul to all that the faith can bring you. |
Posted Friday, February 10, 2012 6:56 PM By JLS
You implied it, Joey P. Now you’re trying to wriggle out of the trap you put yourself in. Are you going to slither away, or man up? |
Posted Friday, February 10, 2012 7:03 PM By JLS
Reflecting on the evidence. One presumption here is that there is no frame job going on. How better to launch a blow to the Church than to make up stuff about Her most popular contemporary Saint! If O and his media can fabricate the public mind into believing that they have published O’s authentic birth certificate, then they can make up other shoddy documents and allege anything they think they can convince the public of. Remember that the public spends most of what would pass as its “cerebral time” watching utter fantasy on TV. The time is ripe to rip off more of the faithful and countless of those sympathetic to the Church. The bishops may simply not be up to the level of faith and obedience to God that is required in our era. |
Posted Friday, February 10, 2012 10:23 PM By Joey Piscitelli
JLS- I more than implied that she was a madam- I state for the record as fact that she absolutely knew McGuire was a pedophile, and she absolutely covered for him. I state in writing that she witnessed his pedophiliac damage to kids, and she did nothing about it. Thats the opposite of wriggling out of something, I clearly state she was complicant, and she is guilty of coverup. How’s that for clarity? By the way, you fail to mention the federal documents that implicate her. |
Posted Saturday, February 11, 2012 10:33 AM By Anne T.
I know of a teacher in a public school whom everyone who worked with him thought was a great teacher. They even gave him an award until he got arrested and convicted of molesting children, mostly if not all boys, at his apartment complex and church. He was married. His church was not Catholic. I think the members of his church were the first to turn him into the police. Evidently they were the first to realize what he was doing. Because of the strict policy of the school against adults working alone with children, he did not get the chance to harm any children at the school is what the police found out when they investigated and questioned the students. Some times others are fooled for a long time by molesters. It is sad to say but true. |
Posted Saturday, February 11, 2012 10:52 AM By JLS
Joey, your testimony is empty. You mention federal documents, but you quote none. You do not consider the possibility of false documentation or false testimony. Why not? |
Posted Saturday, February 11, 2012 1:55 PM By JLS
BTW, Joey, you may think that you’re shocking everyone … no, the case is your accusation is mild compared to some I’ve heard directed at Jesus Himself. |
Posted Saturday, February 11, 2012 2:30 PM By Maryanne Leonard
Joey, after your posting in which you presented extremely serious allegations as if they were irrefutable facts, you have been asked to substantiate your unbelievable statements. Until and unless you do so and respond to the questions with which JLS has been challenging you, your allegations shall be considered as ridiculous as they sound. Any further of your postings shall be summarily dismissed in the minds of virtually all readers, except perhaps the trolls and those with an overt anti-Catholic agenda, as trash talk, well beneath serious consideration by any discerning mind, Catholic or otherwise. Cough up some evidence or don’t bother us any more with wild allegations, Joey Piscitelli. |
Posted Saturday, February 11, 2012 2:44 PM By JLS
Maybe Joey works for Chic Publications, or is addicted to that fantasy comic series. |
Posted Saturday, February 11, 2012 3:06 PM By Aaron
@MaryAnn Leonard: I am so very very sorry that you were abused by a priest 40 years ago! It is difficult for me to believe that even with that horrible experience, you have remained true to your beliefs; remained a solid Catholic!. That said, it is a tragedy that the priest who abused you was not reported to public authorities and placed in prison where he could no longer endanger the lives of little children. It has been incredibly difficult for the church to find that Bishops have been hiding child abusers for many years, perhaps for hundreds/thousands? of years. Though it is painful for the church, it is far better to have transparency – far better to stop predator priests than to allow them to continue abusing even more children! |
Posted Saturday, February 11, 2012 4:20 PM By Steve H.
JLS, we all know this is a bitter pill for you to accept so get some information on the subject. Read the article as that is a terrific way to get some of the information you seem to be requesting. It’s on the ‘World Wide Web.’ You know, the internet. |
Posted Saturday, February 11, 2012 5:19 PM By JLS
Steve H., thanks for reminding me that whatever you read is true. The article provides reference only to an unsigned letter … hardly the thousands of federal documents claimed by Joey. BTW, why would the fed govt have thousands of documents about Bl Teresa, that come from eighteen years ago and only now have been discovered? And apparently lost, since no one has been able to find a quote from them. Isn’t that what happened to Obama’s birth certificate also? Must be catching. |
Posted Saturday, February 11, 2012 6:04 PM By Steve H.
JLS, what do you think about the victims and families concerning this issue? |
Posted Saturday, February 11, 2012 7:29 PM By JLS
Steve H., thinking about the victims and families brings to mind images of gallows. I wonder if Bl Teresa’s role actually was the same as that French holy woman, forget which one, who saw the bad man through her window overlooking the square where he was standing at the guillotine. She rushed out and ran up to him and talked to him about God and salvation, whereupon he repented before he lost his head. This imprisoned priest has yet to repent, but the court gave him a few decades to think it over; how long the Lord has given him no one knows. So, Steve H., we’re still awaiting the damning evidence that convicts Bl Teresa and the entire canonization process. You see, Steve H., most of us know what the stakes are. As has been mentioned, the devil spares no infernal resource to attack God and His creation. When God asked Adam and Eve about their view, they hid. You and Joey are hiding by refusing to come forth with your evidence. Already, Steve H., you’ve tried to make out that the letter from Bl Teresa is proof … but the article says it is not signed by her. What kind of proof is that, Steve H.? If you and Joey are sex abuse victims, then you should find ways to overcome the damage … attacking the Church is not one of them. If you have facts, then that would help your search for justice, although it might not move you forward towards healing. I’m working closely now with a nearly fifty year old man who spent his youth in foster homes and then 20 years in prison. He made the decision to seek normalcy, healing, and he wants to contribute to society now. He has plenty to justify attacking the foster home institution, the orphanage institution, the justice institution … but he has turned that cheek and is trying now to save his soul. He knows the difference, Steve H., that you would do well to find also. |
Posted Saturday, February 11, 2012 7:45 PM By JLS
That being said, Steve H., I realize I did not answer your question about what I think. I said what image came to mind though. What I think about abuse victims: A. The abuse has to be stopped. B. The families and victims should be compensated for their suffering. C. That is what the victims should demand from others. D. The victims should knock on God’s door ceaselessly and ask for His graces. There are various ways of doing this. Begin with humility. It is hardly an unknown path, Steve H. Such abuse is perhaps the most humiliating possible short of death, but there is indeed a path to life. Some people would say, “God, they have taken most of my life, yet I will give You the rest of it”. Although it may be only symbolical in some cases, it is real in others and that is at ordination when the newbie prostrates himself with arms outstretched and face to the floor … it symbolizes the act of giving all of oneself to God. Each victim should find a way to give himself or herself to God, as much as they can personally muster. That, Steve H., is what I think. I have been familiar with this “thinking” for forty years, and I have never learned of a better thing to do than giving oneself to God. God will take what He wants and leave the rest to you. In some cases God takes everything. |
Posted Saturday, February 11, 2012 9:08 PM By Anne T.
After reading the full story, if what it said is true, there were an awful lot of “red flags” showing bad signs about Fr. McGuire for Fr. Hardon to ignor. I do not know, but it sure does not look good if what is reported is true. No adult should be traveling around a lot with an adolescent without their parents or another trusted person along, and the pornography was just a complete no no. It does not look good at all. |
Posted Saturday, February 11, 2012 10:43 PM By Anne T.
From what I have read, there are some who are pushing contraceptives and abortions for certain countries who are trying to get “dirt” on the bishops and cardinals in those countries to discredit their stand against abortion, etc. As some lied in the Roe vs Wade case and probably did not repent — Norma McCovey, aka Jane Roe, did repent — I would not put it passed them to lie about something such as this. All I have got to say is if any of the posters or writers are lying about this, and if there is a God up there, and there is, they are going to be in deep trouble with him. God will not be mocked. Of course anyone who would deliberately lie about such things really does not believe in a God anyway. Now do they? |
Posted Sunday, February 12, 2012 12:12 AM By Abeca Christian
I love Mother Theresa, may she rest in peace and people stop bashing her! She did a lot of great work for the poor and sick! People should be ashamed of themselves for spreading lies about her! Steve H you must not know JLS but he is a noble and kind gentleman, your question to him is definitely ignorant, you either do not know him or you just plain make false accusations to insinuate indirectly. JLS is a man who believes in justice where it should belong. |
Posted Sunday, February 12, 2012 9:55 AM By Anne T.
Abeca Christian, the only thing I know personally about Fr. John Hardon is from the one time I heard one of his sermons or lectures in person and from having read his books. All were good, and I know nothing of any evil or lack of judgement on his part personally. |
Posted Sunday, February 12, 2012 12:51 PM By JMJ
JLS: I see that my last answer to you was not allowed, so I will just say that it is no wonder that you have never met any Saints with your need to debate, instead of keeping company with God and all of those that He wants you to meet. We are known by our company, which is why I chose to only hang around with the Saints and I do give them much to pray for. Those homosexual Priests and any others that are not in God’s Holy Grace, needs to repent (not from the head, but, from the heart) as the penalty for their downfall is very heavy. If you or I did the same sins as the guilty priest did, our punishment would be horrible, but, not as bad as theirs. IT IS NOT OUR JOB TO POINT OUT SOME ONE’S SINS TO OTHERS. IF WE NEED TO BE SLANDERING SOMEONE, WE HAD BETTER START WITH OURSELVES, which, for me, would keep me very busy. Get yourself some good Catholic books, such as “The Mystical City of God” by Blessed Mother of Agreda; “Divine Intimacy” by Fr. Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen; “Medjugorje Day by Day” by Fr. Beyer (I know, it is not yet approved officially, but there is nothing that goes against The Bible or the Church in it) and “The Raccolta” for starters. Instead of wasting your time debating (no debates in Heaven, only in hell), you will get to know just what God expects from you and you just might start to meet some real Saints as they are all around us. Have a very prayerful day and I hope that we will meet in Heaven (with the big “o” in office, this might be sooner than later. +JMJ+ |
Posted Sunday, February 12, 2012 1:25 PM By steve H
JLS, There will continue to be abuse by the clergy as long as the ecclesiastical environment that allowed it to flourish continues as a closed, hierarchical system enshrouded in secrecy and sustained by the power of fear. As sexual abuse cases surface in country after country the patterns of cover-up, collusion and denial are the same. This is not proof of an international conspiracy or a secret order sent to all bishops as some would have it, but of something more radical. The world-wide outrage, the seemingly countless lawsuits and the close examination by various academics are directed at the status quo in three areas: the essential role of the clerical sub-culture, hierarchical governance and the efficacy of the theological dogmas that support them. The most realistic response is also the most fearful to the hierarchy and to many clergy and laity as well: a thorough, fearless examination of the heretofore untouchable system of power and control and the closed, secretive and often privileged world at the heart of the institutional church. There is really only one vital question: why is this system and the men who sustain it more important than the emotional, physical and spiritual welfare of a single, innocent child? |
Posted Sunday, February 12, 2012 3:18 PM By Steve H.
JLS, the most common response to revelations of sex abuse of the vulnerable by priests has been denial and blame-shifting soaked in narcissistic arrogance. The Vatican and the bishops simply don’t get it! In the early nineties the Pope and his talking heads all distanced themselves by proclaiming that this was an American problem and a salient cause was materialism, secularism and hedonism. Some of the more psychotic ranting blamed it on the wholesale refusal to obey the 1968 birth control encyclical Humanae Vitae. That was circa 1993. Then Ireland exploded with the Brendan Smyth affair in 1994. In 1995 one of John Paul II’s favorite cardinals, Hans Hermann Groer of Vienna was exposed and had to resign. The revelations continued over the years. The U.S. bishops organized their defense against the victims, treating them to deceitful pronouncements about how caring they are while at the same time doing everything in their power to avoid any accountability. Their true colors are obvious…they are afraid to reach out to victims, incapable to comprehending the horror of it all and equally incapable of any form of spiritual healing. |
Posted Sunday, February 12, 2012 4:40 PM By Steve H.
Sexual abuse of a minor is rightfully called Soul Murder. Many bishops, religious superiors and priests still refuse to accept the full significance of the real consequences of molestation by clergy and persist in relegating all the disastrous effects of abuse to the category of “sin”—a willful defiance of moral laws so easily forgiven under the guise of virtue. Even today the church does not take celibacy or its violation seriously in action. Documents, apologies, and words remain empty when not translated into action. Who is accountable? When St. Peter Damian in 1051 addressed Pope Leo IX about the sexual abuse of boys he held superiors responsible for their subordinates’ behavior and the harm done—he spoke a truth that prevails today. |
Posted Sunday, February 12, 2012 6:03 PM By JLS
JMJ, your post makes you sound ridiculous. How can you not realize by reading what I posted that I’m talking about in the flesh great saints. I never met Bl Teresa, nor Bl John Paul II, nor St Pio, nor others still walked the earth during my lifetime. I have met many people who likely are saints or shall become saints … but great ones? Ones recognized by the Church in canonizing them? I’ve likely read more holy books than you can count, JMJ. |
Posted Sunday, February 12, 2012 6:10 PM By JLS
Steve H., excellent posts. But if you are suggesting doing away with the papacy, then that would destroy any argument you make. Job was faithful; God allowed the devil to wreak havoc on all that Job had other than his life. He did, and Job came through it with his faith intact. God then restored blessings to Job: Same thing can be overlayed onto the papacy. Pope BXVI has said the Church shall become smaller and holier … ie the solution to the problems you account. He also has called the bishops to become holy. Sounds to me like reveille has sounded. |
Posted Sunday, February 12, 2012 9:23 PM By Anne T.
Joey Piscitelli, I am assuming you are the same Joey Piscitelli who is the director of the Bay Area SNAP (Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests), who also claims to be a witch, or sorceror for a man. One thing I can tell you is that pagan organizations will not help your problem if you really were molested by a priest as there is just as much molestation in pagan groups, if not more, as there are in the Catholic Church as many of the pagan gods practiced all kinds of immorality and taught others to do so. At least the Catholic Church tries to kick those kinds of priests out. The way I look at it, you have only jumped out of a supposed frying pan into the fire. |
Posted Sunday, February 12, 2012 9:37 PM By JLS
Exploring fully, exhaustively and totally clearly this situation involving Fr. Hardon would do an immense service to the Church and to all others. It would shed light on how these pedos deceive us. My hypothesis here is that Fr. Hardon was deceived. Can a saint be deceived? That is what we have the Sacrament of Confession for … and which even the popes make use of. The great Saints make use of Confession also, I’d think. I’ve never heard or read of one not confessing his or her sins. I read a book about St Thomas Aquinas and as I recall he would confess his sins. He was canonized for his holiness, and the book said his confessions were those at the level of a five year old … Now that is one extremely holy Saint, to have sins no worse than a typical five year old boy. What is it like to meet or hang out with such people? I hang out with some dogs because they are incapable of sin, and so it shows me many of my own every time I realize how badly I’ve treated one of them. And this helps in the journey to move from glory to glory. Maybe one day I’ll get to where JMJ is, as he has assured me that he hangs out with many great Saints on a daily basis. Me, I’m stuck with a few dogs to show me sinlessness. |
Posted Sunday, February 12, 2012 10:41 PM By Abeca Christian
Anne T I don’t know who Fr. John Hardon is. I don’t know anything about him, so I can’t comment. I was just reacting to the negative stuff some are saying about mother Theresa. |
Posted Monday, February 13, 2012 9:45 AM By Anne T.
Abeca Christian, I thought you might have known about Fr. John Hardon as I have mentioned him on here before as being one of the holier Jesuit priests. His catechism and prayer books are great, and he is being considered for sainthood and now this comes up. |
Posted Monday, February 13, 2012 11:25 PM By Abeca Christian
So sorry Anne T that I have not remembered about you mentioning Father John Hardon. Makes more sense. It’s my fault, I just scan some of the articles and keep going. Thank you for your post. |
Posted Tuesday, February 14, 2012 11:54 AM By Steve H
JLS, when the official church’s public relations apparatus proudly claims it has done more to deal with child sexual abuse than any other organization in society, there are two valid responses. On what is this gratuitous assertion based? There is no hard data to back it up. Second and more important, the official church, from the Vatican to the national bishops’ conference to the individual dioceses, would have done nothing were they not forced to act. If there had been no public exposure beginning in 1984 and no lawsuits and no grand jury investigations, nothing would have changed. The bishops would have known about sexually marauding clerics and done precious little to stop them much less extend compassionate care to the victims. There is no question that things have changed since 1984 but the changes have been forced on the Church by powers that the bishops have reluctantly realized, are greater than they are. |
Posted Tuesday, February 14, 2012 7:50 PM By JLS
Excellent explication, Steve H. I recall about 1986, a brief conversation among some Catholic prolife leaders … in hushed tones … that Cdl Bernardin had not only a questionable psycho-sexual orientation but a strongly suspected disorder. Bernardin was the lead bishop of the Americanization of the Catholic Church in this nation. He led the transition from Gospel to Seamless Thread as the goal of the Great Commission. |
Posted Tuesday, February 14, 2012 9:22 PM By JLS
Is it possible that a former priest was used as a set up man to attack the reputations of Bl Teresa and of Fr John Hardon? |
Posted Tuesday, February 14, 2012 9:44 PM By Anne T.
Abeca Christian, there is no need to apologize. I do the same thing myself as most of us are just too busy to read everyone’s post. |
Posted Thursday, February 16, 2012 2:10 PM By Steve H.
There are lessons that the secular society needs to learn from the Church’s experience. One essential lesson is that the first step toward genuinely healing the wounded and protecting the vulnerable is reforming archaic, arbitrary, predator-friendly laws (like the statute of limitations), so that victims who want to protect others have better options than just telling some chancery official they were hurt and hoping for the best. Our legal system is quite flawed. But it’s open, impartial, time-tested, and geared toward uncovering the truth, however imperfectly. Bishops, on the other hand, are often biased amateurs dedicated to hiding the truth. If we open the court house doors, and let juries (not church staff or volunteers) hear abuse allegations, everyone benefits. |
For well over a decade, the poisonous influence of the sex-abuse scandal has been spreading through the universal Church, shaking the faith and undermining the hierarchy in one country after another. Now the toxic influence of the scandal has seeped into yet another aspect of Catholic life, tarnishing the memory of potential saints.
Finally, when the sex-abuse scandal broke open across the United States—as victims grew more willing to come forward, and ecclesiastical superiors less likely to cover up evidence—those accusations caught up with him. Charged and convicted on several different counts, McGuire was dismissed from the Jesuit order in 2007 and laicized in 2008. He is now serving a 25-year federal prison term which, in light of his age (81) and ill health, is almost certainly a life sentence.
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