Irondale, Ala., Sep 4, 2012 (CNA) — Franciscan friar Father Benedict Groeschel has stepped down as host of EWTN’s Sunday Night Prime television show following his apology for making comments about the sexual abuse of minors.
“Father Benedict has led a life of tremendous compassion and service to others and his spiritual insights have been a great gift to the EWTN family for many years. We are profoundly grateful to him and assure him of our prayers,” Michael P. Warsaw, president and CEO of EWTN Global Catholic Network, said Sept. 3.
“At the same time, we ask our EWTN family to pray for all those who have been affected by this painful situation and in particular those who have been victims of sexual abuse.”
Fr. Groeschel decided to step down from the program after consulting with EWTN and with his religious community, the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, Warsaw said.
In a National Catholic Register interview published Aug. 27, Fr. Groeschel suggested that a minor is “the seducer” in “a lot” of sexual abuse cases. He said he was inclined to think that abusers on their first offense should not go to jail “because their intention was not committing a crime.”
Fr. Groeschel apologized for the remarks last week, saying he did not intend to “blame the victim.” He affirmed that a priest or anyone else who abuses a minor is “always wrong” and “always responsible.”
“I deeply regret any harm I have caused to anyone,” the priest said, adding that his mind and his way of expressing himself are “not as clear as they used to be.”
Warsaw said the comments at the EWTN-owned National Catholic Register “should never have been published” and “in no way” reflect the views of the Register or EWTN.
“It should have been obvious to the editor that Father Benedict’s physical condition and mental clarity have deteriorated and that the comments were completely inconsistent with his life’s work and witness,” the EWTN president said. “We apologize that these remarks were published and ask for forgiveness for this error.”
EWTN’s Sunday Night Prime program will continue with other Franciscan Friars of the Renewal serving as hosts.
You know, one DOES wonder about his mental capabilities, given not only his age, but perhaps the damage caused by the accident a while back. That is being charitable. On the other hand, anyone who has worked with MDSOs (mentally deviant sex offenders) or SVPs (sexually violent predators), recognize immediately the defense mechanism used by predators in blaming the victim (an almost universal excuse). Given my limited knowledge of deviant behavior, however, this comment IMMEDIATELY raised a red flag in my mind. It is a good decision to retire after such a comment.
As a Catholic woman and a victim of sexual abuse as a teenager, I have had to work very hard to forgive the entire Catholic Church, which I blamed at the time and for many years thereafter for playing a shocking role in my victimization. As an older Catholic woman now, reconciled with the Church of my childhood, I have been blessed to watch EWTN and benefit from all their programs, including Father Groeschel’s. He has suffered greatly physically over recent years and yet managed to soldier on in fruitful and humble service to God and his fellow creatures. This dear man has given so much to so many – of course he is forgiven by all of us who love and appreciate him so greatly, as I pray we all are when we need to be forgiven our trespasses. God knows his heart.
I found Fr Groeschell rather boring, rather psychologically indulging; it is not totally surprising that he’d say something like he said … You have to know where the line is drawn … It is this psychological version of religion that does not know, and despite his good intentions he got snared by it. Psychology is not Catholicism.
Right on JLS! You took the words out of my mouth. I always felt that way too about him but didn’t know how to describe it and you did a great job at conveying. I agree! Glad to know I wasn’t the only one who felt that way about him. But all in all, I’ll stay pray for him.
Yet another case of something that is based in truth but is not properly conveyed.
I know priest who have told me how some women pursue them and that they have to fight them off for the greater Glory of God.
It is also true that when an adult, any adult, accepts the advances of a minor, it is statutory rape!
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
Exactly, Kenneth, teachers and people who have worked with under aged students know that they get crushes on people older than them. It is always the adults fault if he or she gives into criminal behavior with such students, and it is.criminal. Fr. Groeschel wrote many excellent books, such as the Cross at Ground Zero and one on chastity, but evidently his way of expressing himself is no longer sound from age and the serous accident he had several years ago. (He was hit by a car and almost did not make it.) It might have caused some brain damage and age often causes such damage, too. I have a friend who told me that her father used vulgar and derogatory terms for people as he got older and dementia set in, that he never used before. It is common among the elderly at times when the brain is affected by aging. My prayers are with Fr. Groeschel, and I hope he finds joy in his retirement as only God can truly judge his culpability for what he said.
I must take credit for the reply to Kenneth from Anonymous, Sept. 5 at 5:38 PM but I did not write the other Anonymous postings.
This is truly damaging. Those comments are truly harmful…again more scandal…we need to pray for our church. There is something evil lurking, we need to pray the exorcism prayers for our church!
again I will express that I am disgusted by his comments! I do not share with his views at all!
On three separate occasions – NOTE: WITHOUT MY DOING ANYTHING TO ENCOURAGE IT AND WITHOUT RECIPROCATING IN THE SLIGHTEST – children under the age of 8 took inappropriate actions towards me. I GOT AWAY FROM THEM IMMEDIATELY. I know for a fact that what Fr. Groeschel said is true. This isn’t to argue that these children acted naturally. Their latency must certainly have been violated. This is enormously complicated. It is part of purification of the Priesthood that must occur in line with the second chapter of Malachi; remember that God isn’t running a polling operation or a popularity contest. It seems to be His intention to purify His Priesthood, regardless of whether denizens of this world throw themselves into the mouth of hell. At the same time, now that the homosexualists have nearly won in this country, and will soon accomplish the same success as the universal exportation of abortionism worldwide, the next target will be the normalization of child sexual abuse to the point of it being compulsory. Consider Genesis 19:5 – the implication of “Let us in, that we may know them”, is that every single man, woman and child in Sodom had been systematically sexually degraded, in the same way that Charlie Manson did to his followers in the late 1960s. Fr. Groeschel is uniquely qualified about certain facts of the clerical sexual abuse crisis that few people would know. He is a professional psychotherapist who was responsible for handling the attempted rehabilitation of scores of problematic priests and even bishops. Obviously, according to the official statement on EWTN, it was imprudent of Fr. Groeschel to make this statement, but it was not intrinsically untrue.
Speaking about child abuse,not forgetting Fr Groeschel and the unfortunate remarks he made-but I find the offences against minors by governments, parents and those who allow them to be abused by the use of the contraceptive pill and morning after pill, also the legality of young children under age who are legally given abortions and abused sexually by boys who do not have to answer for their crime.that I see when praying outside a Marie Stopes Abortion Clinic. That disgusts me more than Fr Groechal’s remark.!
He is a good and holy priest.
Thanks, Mary Helena
Someone cited in “One Man, One Woman: A Catholic’s Guide to Defending Marriage”, noted that, if just left alone, a majority of the 10% of mid-teens afflicted with Same Sex Attraction spontaneously achieve mature adult heterosexuality — witness of the fact that true, unadjusted adult SSA is only 1% to 3% of the population. So-called “anti-bullying” proselytizing children for the homosexual lifestyle occurs in the general culture’s hypersexualization of children, an ambient environmental form of what is called “traumatic early sexualization”.
uh, hello?
even if a child did (or seemed to) make an advance toward an adult, it’s the ADULT’S job to maintain boundaries, not to take advtange of the child.
adults who molest children are at fault.
they have the power to control themselves, to keep healthy boundaries, and to not use such incidents as an excuse for perversion.
way to go Max! I agree! Plus children are not thinking of sexual misconduct, they may be affectionate and playful but if the adult takes it wrong, it is the adult with a malice intention! Fr Groeschel comments were said because that is probably how he thinks and it tells a lot about his character! Max you are right, the adult should know it’s boundaries and lead by example. I recall in the news many years ago, an 8 year old was molested, her molester said that she liked it and was actually provoking him when she sat on his lap and was playful! How sick is that! The child is innocent, was only sitting on his lap because many children do that but this pervert took advantage of her innocence and made it something else! Sick! What Fr Groeschel did was open his comments up to debate and caused further scandal on children. The man/boy love homosexual agenda will love this….they want legalization of men sexual relationships with boys!
Amen
Zactly, max !!! It is the adult’s responsibility to direct, guide, teach, inform, form character in, and act charitably towards children. Regardless of what a child may do, the adult in the situation is called to define the boundaries, to show the child what is right and what is wrong. Running away from the child is failing and/or betraying one’s obligations to God, society, the child and one’s own self. But of course, as the Church teaches, one must avoid the temptations that one is not stronger than. So, if anonymous had to run away, then anonymous should likely find a way to shore up that evident weakness of character. Or perhaps it was only a reaction in fear of the unknown. In any case, anon. needs to find out and correct instead of burying the fault … After all, don’t want to get snared in it some day when in a weakened or vulnerable condition such as old age dementia or intoxication.
JLS, great post.
I fully agree with you…I will miss Fr. Groeschel and he is NOT a boring presence nor is he unprofessional. A slip of the intended comments about this subject was just unfortunate. God bless Fr. Groeschel into Eternity.
Professional psychology is limited in many critical ways that Catholicism is not. One needs to always realize the boundary between one’s profession and the deep blue sea of Catholicism. Psychology at best can be a bandaid to the soul; whereas, Catholicism can bring a soul from death back to life. Hopefully readers will try to understand the difference. And yes, after watching a dozen or so episodes of the initial programs of Fr. Groeschel, I found it to have bottomed out in terms of my interest … ie, got boring. Hopefully readers can understand the difference between calling someone boring and saying that someone’s program had become boring. Also, why are so many bloggers fawning over this priest, trying to dismiss the grave issue which he himself apparently has admitted? It is also odd that EWTN would simply blot out his files instead of airing out the situation … schmucks are in charge as far as I’m concerned … cover up specialists … the whole entire reason for all the weird scandals in the first place. This type of mentality cannot discern the difference between the scandal and the truth. Jesus never advised hiding the truth … so why are EWTN and countless bishops routinely and reflexively ever busy administering cover ups?
my reply was for ‘anonymous’…thanks
anonymous,
I have heard on a number of occasions, true stories that validate what you have written.Thank you for that truthful very well written post. Your words do not in any way make excuses for those clergy who have molested children. Adults will be accountable for keeping boundaries.
You are also right about the purification of the Priesthood and about the denizens of this world throwing themselves into the mouth of hell. For many years those who work in social services have witnessed the behavior of children who have been sexually violated. The numbers have increased at an alarming rate. Extremely young children have been allowed to view pornography and much worse. They have been sexually violated by siblings, by their own parents or by the friends of parents. These children have been sexualized and damaged terribly. Children as young as seven will approach a social worker and say something sexual that would absolutely stun you in disbelief. It is so heartbreaking to see this and this is when you cry to heaven for God’s mercy on our fallen world that is working non-stop to shut Him out.
Common sense tells you that their innocence has been severely affected. These are not just a few isolated cases either. The system is not helping these victims who have been so terribly violated. I have also heard social workers agree with what you have written. The next target will be “the normalization of child sexual abuse to the point of being compulsory.” We are witnessing the forewarned unveiling of the diabolical disorientation that has swept over the world. God is still in charge. God is purifying His Church and this will ultimately lead to the Triumph of the Immaculate Heart.
Catherine I’m glad you wrote what you wrote because people are forgetting that because adults are over sexualizing and over stimulating children. that it is becoming a compulsion…again it is society and the adults are to blame for this scandal on all children! What father commented only added more harm on children…kids learn from the best…the media, tv computers, parents etc…..they are highly influenced.
Marshall McCluen’s son was on Catholic Answers last night, and during this fascinating talk, Eric McCLuen said his dad told someone to keep their children from watching television. He knew the powerful impact it would have on young minds. Too many use it as a babysitter and many children see every form of sexual activity and violence. Oh, our poor little ones. Everything is directed at stealing their innocence and childish wonder at the world.
You have keen insight into a problem that is largely ignored. I wonder how many young post-pubescent males have found it exhilarating to have the power of seducing a priest. I know many women are guilty of that. Young men with same sex attraction and strong sexual impulses can be just as guilty. Billy Graham would never even get on an elevator with a woman alone for fear of being accused of sexual assault or having a woman try to seduce him. I’m sorry, but I was a teacher too long to think that all those young men were innocent choir boys. Without exception, a priest must avoid any intimacy with children! But where there is money to be made, I am skeptical enough to think there are parents who wouldn’t hesitate to accuse priests and set them up to be villified by using their children as victims and rake in the $ from lawsuits against the church! I’m sure many of you remember the hysteria in California in the ’80′s when so many day care center workers were accused of abuse and finally the sordid stories began to unravel. I’m just saying that people are not always what they appear to be, and Fr.Groeschel has seen the extremes, I’m sure. He was probably speaking of this in his interview and it was poorly edited. As a faithful watcher of Fr.Groeschel’s program, I’ve seen him slow down, but his mind is still sharp. The more fallen the society, the more eager people are to condemn others. He’s lived an exemplary life and done countless good for the poor and I think this mean-spirited condemnation of a loving, good man is despicable. Hypocrites! Scandalmongers! Where is the love that everyone is always extolling on this site?
In Fr. Groeschel’s defense he is one of the few who cancelled his appearance at the Archdiocese of Lost Angels REC after we informed him through Mother Angelica’s Sisters of the full nature of that Congress!
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
Minors many times ARE the seducers in sexual crimes between them and older people. An older minor who isn’t mentally impaired and seduces someone shares the guilt and should get some punishment as well with any culprit who takes part. So sad for Father. I’ll miss him on the Sunday night show.
I certainly agree with you. The real problem is how would anyone ever prove it whether he was your father or next door neighbor. I orginally started watching EWTN for one reason and that was Father Groeschel. Of course Father Groeschel undoubtedly was affected by his stroke and he openly talked about it but nevertheless maybe hated to give up since I did see much improvement at first. Don’t forget that children of all ages soon learn how to be manipulators for whatever they want including telling lies!
Mosaic Law prescribed death for both seducer and seduced. Both males were guilty of sodomy, and both incurred the death penalty … After all, God was trying to purify His creation. Jesus is continuing to purify His creation by transforming evil souls into repentant souls, which we see that PA rejects.
Dear Other Rose, bud, JLS, and others:
Father Groeschel made obscene remarks about victims of sexual abuse because of a mental impairment. What is your excuse?
” On three separate occasions – NOTE: WITHOUT MY DOING ANYTHING TO ENCOURAGE IT AND WITHOUT RECIPROCATING IN THE SLIGHTEST – children under the age of 8 took inappropriate
actions towards me. I GOT AWAY FROM THEM IMMEDIATELY”
under the age of 8???. this guy is another sicko!!!!!!
Try reading the post first, before commenting.
God bless Fr. Groeschel for all the good work he has done.
His health, head injury and age have contributed to his current situation.
Over the past several months on EWTN he could hardly get out a full sentence without difficulty. Many times his guests would help him finish sentences.
The NCR editor should have checked the article prior to printing.
Making it clear – – –
” Fr. Groeschel apologized for the remarks last week, saying he did not intend to “blame the victim.”
He affirmed that a priest or anyone else who abuses a minor is “always wrong” and “always responsible. ”
Has Fr. Groeschel become another “non-person” at EWTN? His files have disappeared from its document and audio libraries!
If they do, Warren, I’m not giving them another dime!!
I too am very disappointed by the actions of EWTN
I’m not…EWTN is still a great channel to watch…disappointed or not, they did what was right, perhaps Father needed rest now from the public eye..many here have said he wasn’t doing good.
I know some teachers who are sad that they can not give a student a hug when it is needed desparately by the student, a student who has a very difficult home life or even a death in the family.
Those who come in contact with children can easily be accused.
As Fr. Groeschel has stated it is always wrong to abuse children.
The comments that slipped out of Father’s mouth did much harm on all children, the abuse does not end, we can not take off the responsibility an adult has when they are around children, and we can not make excuses.
More jerk-knee reactions by those that just don’t want to accept the truth. Most of the “victims” of the horrible scandal were teenagers, and many of them knew what they were doing and why and I am NOT TALKING ABOUT THOSE THAT WERE FORCED, or the very young, as these poor children are truly innocent, but those that were looking for a good time. I have had some young girls that did not truly know of what they were doing, tried to get familiar with me, and, it was very difficult for me to stop them and to explain to them that what they wanted to do was very wrong and, of course, dangerous to themselves and to me. I shudder to think of the consequences if I had allowed things to get out of hand. What Father tried to say was right, he just didn’t explain himself very well and you all should realize just how difficult it is to walk away from such situations, unless you yourself have been there. I know that some will say that the older person should be mature, especially when one is a Priest, but, we all do have our weak moments, of which the devil knows very well. May God have mercy on all of you that have turned your back on this wonderful Priest and may none of you get old, feeble-minded or have an accident such as he did. +JMJ+
Children are taught to act-out sexually in school. Just by coincidence, a male child has a 12% chance, and a female child an 18% chance, of being sexually harassed or abused by a public school employee from K to 12. It’s public school administrators jargon, to say when they are approving perpetrators’ transfers to other districts, “Pass the Trash”. The Catholic Church is the safest place for children and the world leader in preventing and calling misbehavior to account. Be proud of being Catholic. Count it a blessing if the world hates you for the sake of Jesus.
An adult who teaches a child to act out his or her sexuality is a sex abuse predator. Many of them, both men and women, are taking part in it themselves, and more and more are being exposed and sent to prison.
many who are defending Father’s comments are making my sick… I don’t get their reasoning…an adult is still the authority and should behave so…
Father Groeschel is not the same man and priest that led the retreat I participated in at Sacred Heart in Alhambra in 1999. His accident was horrendous and he was not expected to survive. I have heard him speak about the sex abuse crisis before, and he was always spot on.
I am sorry to see his retirement in some ways, but it’s evidently appropriate when even he acknowledges his decline in mental faculties. It’s still sad to see such a powerful voice for good silenced. God Bless him !
It is irrelevent in relation to the guilt of the priest whether the child acted as seducer – if that is true it is evident of sexual violation elsewhere in the child’s life. That should be reported. Under no stretch of the imagination are Benedict Groeschel’s comments benign nor do I believe they are excusable due to an aging mind. People “misspeak” by slipping out their truth. He believes what he said. He believes that sex with a minor is not a crime unless the intention is to break a law – sex with a minor is OK in his statement.
Oh,my dear, you’re just too good to be true! That…je ne sais quoi? That PERFECT person! How lucky for you and how unfortunate you’re surrounded by an imperfect world. One hopes you’ll hold seminars on how to become that all-knowing and holier than Fr Groeschel even, person! Wow! Lucky you!
Shortly before she died, when she was enfeebled by old age, my grandmother used to complain that she was being harassed by “little people,” who seemed to just pop up at any time and anywhere (sometimes she’d spot them sitting on the car’s fenders when we’d be driving.) At times she’d swing her cane at them. To me it just looked like she was flailing away at empty air. I have never concluded, though, that this was proof that all her life she had hated short people. When she was younger and in her right mind, I never saw her being rude to midgets or making disparaging remarks about them. Nor did she evince any belief in the real existence of mythical supernatural little humanoids such as trolls, etc. So I would be very careful, Ms. Asher, about drawing firm conclusions about his character or what he believed and would have said in his younger and clear-headed days, from Father Groeschel’s recent batty comments which are obviously the products of a confused, wandering mind influenced not only by age but the aftereffects of traumatic brain injury. Maybe in the same position, you or I would make comments just as stupid, ill-advised and offensive. I don’t think Father Groeschel believes sex with a minor ought to be legal, any more than my grandmother believed in the existence of leprechauns, trolls, elves or gnomes when she was thinking clearly.
Excellent Larry!
His comments did more harm, they are now brought up for debate! The adults are still responsible! I don’t care how tempted they felt by a child! This is so sick …
and not all kids who are abused provoked it. This thinking has got to stop, it is destructive to think they asked for it!
Read the John Jay report: Nearly all of the documented sexual abuse was male on male–priest on ADOLESCENT boy. Even the casual observer would recognize the obvious there; yet, it seems that after all the scandal, all the heartbreak, and all the money (more than a billion $$$) that was spent to hide priests in “treatment” and pay claimants), some folks refuse to recognize that obvious fact: The sex abuse crisis was (is?) not about pedophile priests.
Wake up people! Homosexuals do not belong in the Catholic priesthood. Period!
Bubba, in the John Jay Report, 47% of the victims were pre-teens. Sorry, but I consider men that molest 10 and 11 year old children to be pedophiles. So yes, a lot of the problem was pedophile priests.
Mark from PA: those priests were and are homosexuals. +JMJ+
PA you will defend homosexuals until the very end….pedophile, pederast, homosexual there is no difference and dont respond with your typical waging your finger in my face…. The clergy needs to be purged of gays once and for all
By this logic, heterosexuals do not belong in the Catholic priesthood either.
YFC, you homosexuals always miss the point.
Your Fellow Catholic: Men with heterosexual desires do not have an inclination towards an action that is intrinsically evil, whereas the homosexual desire is a desire towards an intrinsically evil act. You cannot compare the two for heterosexual desire is ordered according the nature of man and homosexual desire is disordered and contrary to the nature of man. As a Catholic you should know this from reading the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition or wonderful documents such as the Theology of the Body. Although the Theology of the Body is not a binding document, the Catechism is binding and if you disagree with the Catechism, you are NOT in communion with the Church or her Magisterium. Catholics are called to put on the mind of the Church which is the mind of Christ for the Church is guided by His Holy Spirit and cannot error in matters of faith or morals. God Love You.
good grief!
i was so disxmayed when i read about father groeschel’s words.
after all the agony the children of our church have gone through, you’d think we would know better by now.
he has done much good, and i wish him a peace=filled retirement. to have such an important person say such things is a nightmare for the church, though, and a real chance for us to educate ourselves about reality and not blame the victims – as we did in the bad old days.
max, I knew you’d be wringing your hands and crying woe is me. Thanks for being so predictable…like Old Faithful, you always spout off!
max, it’s the blasted psychology discipline that is a subtle snare. I have no doubt that the “father of psychology” Sigmund Freud was a demoniac. The entire science of psychology needs to be purged of all elements of Freud … This of course would mean the end to the science of psychology though. But, hey, what about Catholicism? That might work.
This is truly sad because Fr. Groeschel is such a holy man who radiates the Lord’s love to all who encounter him. The true problem is not in the victim, but in our society. The problem is two-fold, men who were ordained as priests who have homosexual tendencies and children without the proper familial foundations. It is a poor combination to have children with emotional needs and priests who have a tendency towards a behavior that is inherently disordered and the result has been catastrophic. I will continue to pray for Fr. Groeschel because he will now endure a great deal of suffering. God Love You.
Children with emotional needs? No one has an emotional need to be molested or raped. What about the female victims? Many of the victims came from good two-parent families who made the mistake of trusting someone who could not be trusted.
K: a majority of the victims were post-pubescent boys with homosexually inclined priests. Statistically, the boys most vulnerable are those who do not have a father-figure and reach to the priest to fill this void. It is a lethal combination to have a boy with a longing for a father-figure and a man who has disordered sexual inclinations. As an adult, the priests in this situation should have had the prudence to avoid opportunities of temptation, but those who did not should be removed from the priesthood and punished for misusing their authority as representatives of Christ. This situation could have been avoided had seminaries not openly recruited same sex attracted men. In one seminary I know of there was a major problem with same sex attracted men in the seminary in the 60s and 70s and men who were at the seminary during these times will openly admit that the seminary not only welcomed men with SSA, but was actively recruiting them over men with heterosexual desires. I have heard this from several men who were at the seminary during these times and although I am disturbed by this having taken place, I know that it was a direct attack by satan to weaken the priesthood. This is why we need to vigorously pray for our priests and seminarians so they have the strength to truly be men of God, not of the world. God Love You.
MD, every victim matters and victims should not have to bear the stigma of having seduced the preist. It is 100% the priests responsiblity never to be sexual with anyone. Would you be tempted by an 8 year old? These people have something wrong with them. Predators groom their victims and their victim’s family. They seek out kids with emotional needs and exploit them. Stop blaming the children.
MD,
I certainly hope you can see through the clever methods of filibustering. The intended meaning of your words are being deliberately twisted to take the focus off of one of the very serious problems plaguing the Church. There are those who want to squelch any talk and delay any action being taken to keep homosexuals from entering the seminaries. There are those who fear their own removal.
You never once said that the victims did not matter. You did place the responsibility on the homosexual predator. You even said that the homosexual priest who violates that trust should be removed and punished. You never said that the victim should bear the stigma of being the seducer. No MD it you who is being punished for bringing up that red hot topic of the issue of homosexual priests preying upon post pubescent boys and the fact that homosexuals should have never been allowed in the seminary to begin with. In order to protect, they must deflect. They think that if they use the steady distracting drumbeat of blaming the scandals on paedophillia, then they will somehow erase reality. It isn’t working because it is not the truth. The majority of the sex abuse scandals were perpetrated by homosexuals.
K: I did in fact say that the responsibility is on the adult who made the decision to engage in sexual activity with a minor. You miss the fact that a majority of the victims are post-pubescent boys. The problem as I stated is the lethal combination of boys in need of fatherly attention and homosexually inclined men who became priests who did not have the courage to keep from occasions of sin and used their authority to prey on the vulnerability of minors. This is what I stated and if you do your research you will find that it is true. God Love You.
Catherine: Thank you so much for your post. I think you are absolutely correct in saying that people twist the facts because they don’t want to admit that the root of the problem is ordaining men with same sex attraction. I’m not saying it is impossible for a man with same sex attraction to be a good and holy priest, but this attraction adds a level of temptation to a man that is dangerous when he is a priest that cannot be overlooked and is not being overlooked as the Vatican has clearly stated that men with SSA cannot be admitted for priestly candidacy in any seminary; no exceptions permitted. Priestly celibacy is beautiful and Blessed John Paul the Great illustrates this beauty so well in the Theology of the Body. Thank you for your post and God Love You.
MD, the subject is who is responsible for the “conduct”. the minor or the adult. I am glad that you now seem to understand that the adult is at fault. The cases I personally know of were not like that. Even the ones that were same-sex, it was more an abuse of power on the part of the priest than any emotional need of the youth. All youth have emotional needs. Youth continue in these abusive situations because they do not know how to stop it. Many of the victims bear guilt and blame themselves for the abuse because the abusers put the responsiblity on the victims. I do not mean this snotty. I think that you should research not just the numbers of who did what but really listen to the victims. You are repeating stereotypes that are damaging to those who have already been harmed irreparably.
MD, sorry, I meant to say the people I know who were harmed by priests were not emotionally needy. One had an emotionally needy mother who was manipulated by the priest into letting him spend time with her son. Most of them just trusted and obeyed these men because they were priests and did not know how to stop it. I am not missing the fact that one-third of the victims were post-pubescent boys. You are not implying that they wanted to be abused are you? Are you saying these were “consensual”? Please, no.
K: Why are you trying to manipulate words and distort meanings? The fact that most of the victims are post-pubescent boys shows that the abuse stems from homosexual desire, not pedophilia as the secular media has dubbed the scandal. I have consistently blamed the priests for misusing their office of the priesthood to perpetuate such horrific actions, but unlike you recognize and accept that had the seminaries not recruited and admitted men with same sex attraction, the number of cases for sexual abuse would have been considerably lower. As far as emotional needs, some kids have more than others. Kids who grow up without a father in their home or just despondent fathers, boys especially have greater emotional needs than children who grow up in two parent households. The problem with fatherless children is plaguing our society. Just look at our prison system, most inmates grew up in fatherless homes. In regards to abuse, boys looking to fill the void of a father-figure turned to homosexually inclined priests who preyed on the boys emotional needs as the priest sought to fulfill his own disordered desires. These men should never have been admitted to the seminary or ordained as priests and this is the fact that has to be realized. God Love You.
MD, I honestly am not trying to disort any meaning. Your meaning was not clear.
MD, That was an excellent explanation. I have heard very good and faithful priests agree with what you just posted. God Love You!
Yes, K, there were female victims too. In regard to what Father Groeschel said, it needs to be acknowledged that some teen girls do flirt with older men. However, I must agree with Mr. Fisher when he says that any adult who takes advantage of the advances of a young girl is guilty of statutory rape. The adult is supposed to know better and establish boundaries. So the adult is still at fault in these cases. The Church needs to know and understand this. In regard to men abusing teen boys, it is very rare for the boy to make any advances. In most of these cases the man befriends the boy and engages in a process of grooming.
I was thinking of the 4 year old girl who was raped by a priest in the church cemetary. Adolescents try on behaviors. It is up to adults to admonish them if those behaviors are inappropriate. An adolescent girl may act flirty because this is what she has seen on TV and movies with no intention whatsoever of eliciting a sexual advance from a priest. In fact, feeling safe from sexual advances may make her behavior more bold.
K, thanks for your comments. It seems that some here are trying to make people think that there were no girls or women were victims in this. Some ended up pregnant and were conned into having abortions by the priest, often with the support of the bishops. As long as the priests didn’t leave the priesthood to marry the women, the bishops pretty much covered for them. Those that did the responsible thing and married the women that they got pregnant were scorned by the Church. Does the Church think that children need 2 parents if the father is a priest?
K, I mentioned this because more priests are involved with adult women than with young people of either sex. This is also an issue but not a legal issue in most cases because relationships with consenting adults are not illegal.
PA, quit equating boys and girls; they are not the same. Boys are male and girls are female. Study Catholic doctrine to discover the difference between them.
What are you talking about here, JLS? I was just pointing out that some victims were boys, some were girls and some were women. Also, I was pointing out that in the cases of boys, there was a process of grooming. A lot of the priests set themselves up as a buddy or big brother of the boy before they started abuse. This was different from cases where priests were involved with girls and women.
Explain, please, how truly holy men say bad stuff.
Precisely JLS….also JLS I usually see a priest as another Christ, I respect them and kiss their hand….can you imagine if someone accused me of provoking a priest and to think I was making a pass. That is disgusting….I would say why even allow those thoughts to cross, if they do, why not rebuke them because we may be falsely making a false accusation. Better to bite out tongues before we say something that harmful especially when one is in a leadership or celebrity role.
Right when you think that the Church is finally “getting it” on the issue of child abuse, this happens. Father should be forgiven for his remarks and allowed to retire with some dignity. However, EWTN’s statement that “the remarks never should have been published” again show that censorship still lives on and that isn’t helping our Church’s situation.
goodcause, Catholic organizations have an oblgation to correct errors to avoid Scandal.
Please read the CCC regarding the use of the media.
One of the big hypes of the age by the Church is that it considers the news of the sin to be the scandal, and not the sin. It is the worst of the pharisaical abominations that is running rampant among much of the clergy.
JLS you are like a good teacher…I love how you pointed that out. You are right. We speak of the scandal but forget to point out that it is displaying a sin, rather than addressing it we just yell scandal and it never gets fixed or so we think….JLS I love how you explained that. It is the most intelligent comments I read here tonight! God bless you…I will use that post of yours to teach my kids.
Abeca, I’d recommend first checking out such things I say with actual holy resources such as Scripture and writings of Saints. Even I myself when I think I “got it right” in some task or whatever, double and triple check matters. I consult various people, read all sorts of stuff … ie take counsel as best I can.
JLS yes that too is great advice..
So, I guess that GoodCause has never said anything in private that would be imprudent if published in public — if anyone dared say “You shouldn’t publish that”, it would be censorship. Of course, it’s all irrelevant, considering that our Lord proclaimed “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will render an account for every careless word they speak. By your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” – Matthew 12:36-37
Goodcause, a good editor will catch something like that and give the interviewee a quick heads up and say something like, “That didn’t come out quite right..is that what you meant to say.?” That isn’t censorship, that is good journalism. Usually it is just someone with a agenda that wants to trip someone up, but it can be someone who doesn’t know what he’s doing, as well. Fr. Groeschel brought something that will be lost forever on television…he represented a time when people spoke honestly, from the hip. That world is fast fading away. This mealy-mouthed. fusby-faced era is something G.K.Chesterton would have disliked most heartily!
(Fr.Benedict Groeschel
St.Crispin Friary
420 E. 156th St.
Bronx NY, 10455=1232)
And the EVIL ONE can put another notch in his belt!!!!!
Don’t you see everyone, this is another way of getting rid of a high
profile Priest???
He is a wonderful and Holy Priest and if anything was said incorrectly,
think about his age and the terrible car accident he was involved in….
nearly died!!!
The downside of the fact, as St. Louis de Montfort said, that this would be an age of some of the greatest Saints, is the fact that the higher one of our fine workers rises, the worse the attacks from satan. We had a Priest who founded a fine international prolife apostolate, expelled by his board, another who failed to respect boundaries of a woman under his spiritual care, one who is unparalleled in convincing, authentic prolife rhetoric suffering a challenge of obedience, another who was fearless in proclaiming the gospel felled by too much of an attack-dog tendency. satan is smarter than us all.We need to pray for our leaders that they will endure under persecution, misunderstanding & temptatoin — the better they seem to be doing, the fiercer the attacks that are coming at them. Pray to St. Pio of Pietrelcina, who suffered so many years of persecution and bore it as a resolute example to our Priests. “satan can impersonate a humble person, but never an obedient one.” – St. Faustina
There is no episcopal support for these priests you refer to. The episcopacy is extraordinarily weak and flimsy in our time.
But you know, of course, JLS, that those descriptions to unnamed Priests are some of the most famous once at the forefront of Catholic communications. Some of the Episcopate came to disapprove of them, but in general much of the hierarchy has come to rely on the communications efforts of the New Evangelization, even for supporting the formation of their seminarians with proper catechesis.
Yet another priest ousted from EWTN. I do watch EWTN but the time has come for it to throw out the Novus Ordo and return to The Traditional Latin Mass and disciplines now! Just because they throw in some Latin and insencse does not make it traditional. Come EWTN just do it and follow the Holy Fathers Moto Propio. Pray for Father Groeschel he is not a bad priest most likely mispoke as we all do.
EWTN is under special orders from the Vatican regarding Mass facing the people etc., The fight was between Mother Angelica and Cardinal Mahoney who wanted control over the TV station. Which Mass said was one of the few fights with Mahoney that Mother Angelica lost.
Please read: “Mother Angelica, The Remarkable Story of a Nun, Her Nerve, and a Network of Miracles” by Raymond Arroyo.
This is a real eye opener and includes religious politics within our Church in the USA.
EWTN will not disobey its directive from the Pope.
You also must remember that the majority of English speaking people prefer to have the Mass said in their own language, including non-Catholics who are considering converting through the efforts of EWTN.
Those of us who prefer the Latin Mass are still in a minority.
Lots of things “the majority of English speaking people prefer”, which is why society is going down the path of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Thanks for the voice of reason, Janek! In a sane world, we do misspeak and it doesn’t become some sort of crisis and people say to themselves, “boy, I’m glad I didn’t say that . phew! Poor guy. ”
I’m sure glad I’m not in a public position, for I know how people will turn on you in an instant like a pack of dogs. I’m glad he’s surrounded by the gentle, loving men in his order who will give him support and encouragement.
Janek, than you. There’s a wonderful picture of the dozens of altar boys with the three Priests at sacfssp.com . I feel this is what the Lord wants. But we need to have compassion for the confusion that was sewn in the aftermath of the Council. (James Likoudis and Kenneth Whitehead wrote in “The Pope, the Council and the Mass”, that there seems to be three generations of conflict following each Holy Ecumenical Council.) The average person is very confused about Latin in the Liturgy. When St. Stephen the First Martyr were allowed to bring the Extraordinary Liturgy to the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Sacramento, some of inexperienced people commented that the Latin Mas veils made them think of terrorists! There was a London Times advertisement in 1970 on the part of prominent non-Catholics, begging the Church not to abandon Latin in the Liturgy. Now all that is lost. The Catechism of the Catholic Church had to be composed in French, too few Priests can now understand Latin. Pray that the Holy Spirit will hasten His work restoring the Church’s ancient patrimony.
I’m amazed that some are even willing to turn the other way and act if these words were harmless! I will pray for this priest but penance is good too!
No Abeca, not willing to turn the other way, but willing to recognize that the man is very ill, and probably should not have been on TV this past year, since although he was trying, he had to have others finish his sentences.
If you had seen him recently you would understand.
Okay PETE I’ll take your words into account but I’m concerned that many will not understand and will only make his comments up for debate in this very secular and evil society we live in.
Does not some of the responsibility for this “scandal” lie with the editors at National Catholic Register? At first I thought I had mis-read the source, thinking this is something National Catholic Reporter (Distorter) would have gladly printed. Something is amiss when this article was allowed to be printed without questioning Fr. Groeschel for clarification. I smell a rat!!! Fr. Groeschel has been a faithful, holy priest for many decades and helped millions of lay people, and priests, in growing closer to God and understanding what holiness is, through his books, TV shows and retreats. He deserves our fervent prayers as this must be a great cross for him.
The National Catholic Register is owned by EWTN. It’s all the same people. I suspect there is much here that we don’t know about.
Sadly, I just noticed that EWTN has decided to remove all of Fr. Benedict’s .mp3 files from their audio archives. They did this to Fr. Frank Pavone’s shows as well after his bishop made him come back to Texas, and they have not been made available again even though the Vatican released a statement on his good standing in ministry. I wonder what will happen to John Burger, the REGISTER’s news editor who wrote the interview with Fr. Benedict?
” ‘Vengeance is mine’ says the LORD.” Perhaps someone will be praying for John Burger, who must be embroiled in the worst anguish of his life over this. I thank the Lord that it wasn’t me.
Sometimes because of age or illness, our brain rewires itself in ways we cannot understand or control. Please keep Fr. Groeschel in your prayers. I enjoyed listening to his archives but understand that the decisions made by EWTN were necessary.
The night this story broke I read the interview with Father Groeschel. I did not print it. Wish I had because they removed it. Another Catholic website ran a story from 2003 about how Fr. Groeschel was responsible for the return to ministry of abusive priests (That is how the Church operated before the Dallas Charter). I did not print it. It, too, has been removed. This a good example of why Internet research is so problematic. There was a lot more in the Register’s interview than just the remarks on clerical abuse. Renew America has those remarks in their entirety but not the whole interview.
very sad, all of EWTN’s YouTube videos with Fr. Benedict have been removed too.
Let me get this right. A minor (someone age 17 and under) can make her own decisions about seducing and having sex with another minor, obtaining birth control and/or obtaining a medical or surgical abortion without her parents consent or knowledge, yet it is beyond the pale to suggest that this same minor would have the capability of seducing a non-minor (someone age 18 and over).
Nowhere in this article do I see that Fr. Groeshel was referring to pre-pubesent boys or girls when he was talking about “minors”. I have a hard time believing that he was, but can acknowledge that it would have been safer if he had made this clear. It is so sad to me to think that EWTN took down all material related to Fr. Groeshel for this. Sad.
Tracy, if a 13 to 16 year old girl is flirty with a priest, that is certainly inappropriate but because of the age and the power differential, the priest needs to know how to handle this like an adult. Most of these young girls want attention and affection but they really don’t want a sexual relationship with someone that much older. No mature and intelligent priest could be “seduced” into a sexual relationship with a girl that young. Also it is one thing for a younger teen girl to get involved with an 18 or 19 year old boy, that is one thing; but involvement with a priest (or any man for that matter) over 30 is something else.
Mark from PA, I agree with you on all of the above. My only point is that this article does not differentiate any of this. It doesn’t even suggest that he is talking about priest. I have heard of cases where 19 year olds are convicted as sex offenders because they were with a 15 year old. In some countries this is perfectly acceptable. Actually, those who bring their cultures here to our country don’t find anything wrong when a 30 year old is with a 15 year old. We even have a Venerable in the Church, Venerable Pierre Trousant who married his wife under these circumstances.
As far as Fr. Groeshel goes I’ll bet there were more comments by him not printed in this article. I am only reacting to what is printed here.
Tracy, I imagine that most judges would take into consideration if an adult (18 I think) in this country would have a relationship with an under-aged teen just a few months to a year younger than them. The punishment would probably be much lighter, if at all, than one for an older person since they is such a slight age difference. Also, I would think that a judge would take into consideration if the victim had lied about their age to get into the military or if they had been previously married. Some states, probably most, allow a fifteen-year-old to get married with the permission of his or her parents. That probably makes them of age for consent for an affair, but I do not know. Every state has different laws, and I certainly would not recommend that anyone of age (considered an adult) have a sexual relationship with any under-aged person anyway.
i find it sad that father pavone’s material and father groeschel’s talks have been deleted from EWTN.
just because a priest, bishop or pope does something stupid, it doesn’t mean their whole life is negated, nor does it mean that everything they have said and accomplished throughout the decades means NOTHING.
why in the world this over-reaction, in deleting them?
Agreed. I thought EWTN would at least leave up the nightly rosary, but that was taken down off the air as well. I am usually driving home from work at this time and found paryaing the rosary with Fr. Groeschel refreshing.
When publications behave like the Queen of Spades character in Alice and Wonderland, I see no point in reading them further. Better fantasy and more truth is found in the likes of JRR Tolkien.
I loved praying it with him too.
This is sad for Fr. Groeschel. While I think his adherence to modern psychology has not served him well, and I definitely disagree with him in his opinions of traditional piety, and his views on the heroic virtues of the saints, I do think he is a man of goodwill.
I am, however, relieved that he will no longer be on EWTN. I always had to turn him off because, in my opinion, many of his statements flirted with heterodoxy & modernism.
May God Bless him and keep him safe.
I agree with you, and perhaps if we were to have our own television show and were able to fill an hour with our points of view on various topics might surprise ourselves with our inaccuracies and fallacies.What a sad way for such a devoted priest to end his ministry,though. You know the lyrics to “They will know we are Christians by our love”, and I feel that Fr.Groeschel is truly a Christian witness in a very hostile world. (despite his liberal leanings and modern justifications) I included his address earlier if anyone wants to wish him well. I always speak out against injustice, not always prudently, but when the vultures start circling, I immediately run in swinging to protect their intended victim. When I was nine I actually saw red when a little neighbor girl was viciously teasing my chickens. I went after her to chase her home and I couldn’t even see her for a minute…I saw red! I am sure many here would say I was a bully for she was only reflecting a poor upbringing or an impoverished existence.
When society regards homosexual behavior as destructive to civilization, then society will put an end to it. Same with abortion. But who is supposed to teach society about the will of God? If these people ever get around to doing so, then society will begin its morph to morality.
So now he was a modernist all along…those guys show up in the most unlikely guises!
Why a curtain of charity can’t be drawn for this old man whose faculties are clearly and by his own assertion, fading, is beyond me.
“curtain of charity” is nothing but a cover up, a device used to hide sin. Jesus is the light of the world, shining into the darkness … What is beyond me is that the actions of many Catholics in leadership positions prefer to keep it dark. The label for this is “mystery of iniquity”.
Are you accusing this priest of pedastry, JLS? You should be ashamed of yourself! A “curtain of charity” is simply not what you describe it to be. In this case it is to provide the privacy necessary to treat a frail man with dignity.
After decades of bringing Christ to us, Father Groeschel deserves our love, prayers, and support, not vouyerism, speculation, and ugly innuendo.
The thoughts and images are yours, Brian S. So, why are you trying to project them on me? Ever heard of bearing false witness against one’s neighbor? It is not speculation that Fr. G said a bad, and heinously bad thing. So, he apologized but he did not explain it yet, and no doubt his handlers will not allow that. It is an abuse of the seal of the Confessional to hide such stuff … same reason Cdl Law jumped ship and left the USA for good, so as to keep the veil of secrecy alive, at the expense of the victims.
“Projection”, indeed! You clearly accuse, then you accuse those who acknowledge it.
Why don’t you simply answer the question? Are you accusing Father Groeschel or not?
As for abuse of the confessional seal, I have no trust in your understanding of that, or any other theological matter…
JLS, if you are saying that a priest must tell if someone confesses a heinous crime in sacramental confession, the answer to that is that they cannot tell under any circumstances, not even in a court of law, not even if threatened with contempt of court. It is not an abuse of the seal of the Confessional.
Brian S., there is no accusation of any specific person in my posts. You apparently are so caught up in the sentiment that you impute what is not there in my post. But your false understanding makes it a convenient way for you to avoid the deeper issues, doesn’t it?
Your accusation was not against a specific person? Then it was quite irrelevant and misleading in a discussion of this article.
And of course, k is correct and your understanding of the confessional is incorrect. Check your catechism on that one. The Baltimore will do or the newer additions as well….
Brian S., I agree that class says to let it go. However the disappearance of the interview did not need to be done. Also, the article from 2003. Others are saying that his whole career on EWTN has disappeared. That is not charity. That is just weird.
Perhaps EWTN could treat him better, however there’s no difficulty in understanding their position. They can’t keep him on-air now, and they don’t want hostile traffic coming directly to their website.
EWTN always tries to do what is right. This was Mother Angelica’s instruction. They never want to propogate errors.
Brian S., so may I correctly understand that if the devil smiled at you, then you’d whitewash it?
What JLS pointed out sounds accurate, in a situation like this, it’s human curiosity as to why things were handled in such a way, why all the secrecy and hiding things? Why the removal of all his episodes? I don’t get it. JLS makes good points and I’m sure they are just points to ponder at, not to accuse or bash this priest. Our prayers are with Father still….
We have a huge problem…it use to be simple….when people had common sense and good common decency, it was simple, an adult knew his place….he knew not to scandalize a child, he maintained a certain amount of authority and respect….but society have become more wicked…now they have reasons and excuses for bad behavior…a child is a child…the adult should know better, keep it simple and stop trying to analyze everything as to why mankind sinned. Whether a child provoked something or not, it is irrelevant… and many and some priests seem to forget this.
Abeca Chrisitan, many teachers, instructional assistants and other adults who work with children need to make children use their titles and last names instead of often calling them by their first names as some do. At the very least they should call an adult “MRS. Jane, Ms. Sarah or Mr. Robert, etc.. I remember when a teacher of one of my daughters told her students, “You call Mr. Jones (the custodian and not his real name), Mr. Jones and do not use his first name. He is a grown up man doing a grown up man’s job.” she was right. It sets a professional tone. Americans now are way too familiar with each other in many places, all in the name of a false “equality”. There was a time in this country when no child called an adult by his or her first name. Also, until I reached a certain age, probably well into my late twenties or early thirties, I called all my superiors at work by their last names. It sets a tone that leaves out too much fraternizing. It is a way of saying to a boss who has the wrong ideas, “I do not want to get too familiar with you. Let’s keep it professional.”
Anne T I agree, I have noticed teachers encouraging their students to call them by their first name. I didn’t like that, I tried fighting that but I lost, my kids were made to feel guilty or weird for not going along with it, until they just gave up because all their peers did what the teachers told them what to do and that was not to use Mr or Mrs, Ms etc…..I since then pulled my children out of that school. But am growing weary, I can’t always keep fighting every battle, I know pick and choose my battles and home school, my boys are now in a charter school that has classes twice/sometimes three for electives, a week and the rest is home school, kinda like a college setting. It’s nicer but a lot of work still. The suffering we parents do to try to raise decent kids, I pray that it works…God have mercy on us, we need all the support possible.
Abeca, it seems from your many posts that you are optimizing parenthood. Suffering for the sake of His little ones goes a long way towards purchase of the ticket to Heaven.
JLS I’m trying. Thank you for your encouraging words, from time to time, when I am weak, I need reminding of your beautiful words. God bless you.
When I was growing up, I realized one of my friend’s and his younger sister called their parents by their first names. Decades later, my brother, who knew the sister better than I, told me he believed the father had used her sexually for a while. I can still feel the pain, and I think that was the case. She was a neat little kid when I knew her … what a horrible thing to have happened to her. The father was a member of the Playboy Club, and I learned at some point not to trust him. There is a critically necessary point to what Anne T. is saying about drawing the line between adults and children.
JLS poor little girl that you knew. What a wicked father! What you have posted here, it only tears me up even more. I;m sorry about your friend’s little sister. Hugh Hefner sure knew how to get in the homes of all families when men decide to invite his filth. I recall that one of his playboy bunnies, I think it was one of his girl friends, their dad came to visit her at his mansion, he was looking over at her portfolio, her own dad was looking at his daughter’s portfolio. She was giggling with her dad and mum as they were visiting. It’s so sick!
If there is any beauty to my words, Abeca, then thank God who makes it possible.
Rephrasing: Then let us all thank God Who makes beauty possible.
AMEN to that JLS!
no one “deserves” to be in the priesthood.
GOD, however, in spite of our undeservednessosity, does call some men to the priesthood, and some of them even respond – thank goodness!
otherwise, who would do my funeral?
or, more the point, the funeral of JLS, my older brother in the faith?
max that came off as inappropriate!
Fr. Groeschel would have continued working till death, had this thing not happened. Now he will get the retirement, in German, Ruhestand, a condition of rest, quiet, and relaxation, that he so richly deserves but had been denying himself for the sake of others.
Fr. Groeschel knows of cases of kids coming on to adults, because he is a confessor and psychologist.
When I was a ten year old, I used to come on to young adults and teenagers. Fr. Groeschel is right.
All the hatred and calumny that the abortion-loving, Satan-worshiping world can throw at him does not change the fact that he spoke the truth.
Here’s another truth: If Adolf Hitler or Joseph Stalin repented before their deaths, they beat hell. You might not like it. But it’s a fact.
I was sexually molested for years by my mother starting in infancy and then brutalized repeatedly by my father out of his insane bouts of jealousy – so believe me when I say that I know first hand the severe and dire effects of childhood sexual abuse. In response, I have had to battle deep seated anger for years from the profound and debilitating effects of the deep woundedness I endured throughout my childhood. I have lost dozens of jobs , practically penniless, never been married and have never been blessed with children. This is profound evil we are talking about, and Father Groeschel is wonderful – but still wrong. Adults should have boundaries and the 2 people who were entrusted with loving and taking care of me as a child completely abandoned and betrayed me.
Father spoke of enormous evil -just incorrectly. May God bless him as well as Mother Angelica and EWTN.
In Christ Jesus,
JBD
Denver
James Dehan, my condolences and my prayers.