Here’s a rule of thumb: If a priest or bishop is accused of a sex crime and he compares the accusation to the persecution of Christ, I assume he’s guilty.
A Franciscan priest famous in Italy for the religious conversion of a leading porn star was in custody last night on charges of sexual harassment after a nun alleged that she was forced to take part in orgies at his monastery.
Fr Francesco Bisceglia, 68, and his deputy Antonio Gaudio, 39, were arrested yesterday after the unnamed sister made a police complaint against them.
... “I feel persecuted like Jesus,” the priest, known in Italy as Fr Fidele, said on his arrest. “It is all evidence fabricated against me. She [the nun] is mad.”
Yep, just like Jesus.
Jude 23 warns about ministry to sexual sinners:
The Church is called to evangelize them, but at a certain distance.
It seems that hierarchical monitoring of those involved in this sort of ministry has been woefully deficient across the board. Perhaps some general guideline ought to be developed by the Vatican?
The story reminded me of the famous street priest, whose name escapes me at the moment, who took in runaway kids off the streets of New York and abused them.
A good rule of thumb!