A lawyer hired by the Diocese of Springfield, Illinois, has found a whole lot of misconduct by priests and the former bishop.
The investigation confirmed serious, but not criminal, misconduct by eight priests in the diocese, four of whom were named in the report.
Serious, but not criminal. Now what would that be? Were they off having affairs with women?
They are Msgrs. Eugene Costa, John Renken and Kenneth Steffen and Lucas’ predecessor, Bishop Daniel Ryan. Costa, Renken and Steffen all held leadership positions under Ryan and were pastors of parishes in the Springfield area.
I’ve heard of Costa before. He used to be the vicar general until two young men beat him nearly to death in a park because he allegedly propositioned them. And Bishop Daniel Ryan’s peccadilloes have long been documented by the group Roman Catholic Faithful, right down to the men alleged to have lived with him.
Incidentally, as you read through the article look for the word that’s missing. It’s the elephant in the sacristy. Sure you see brief mentions of men soliciting other men, but nowhere is homosexuality stated as a cause for the sexual misconduct, what in an earlier age would simply be called sexual sin. Notice also that every single case has to do with homosexuality. Not a ingle case of heterosexual misconduct is mentioned.
Apparently, according to the report, Ryan surrounded himself with like-minded fellows, elevating them to positions of importance in the diocese. You’re seeing evidence of how the Lavender Mafia forms.
Technorati Tags:bishops, Catholic, homosexuality, scandal
It’s good to see RCF essentially vindicated by this report. I think RCF will have a response to it soon.
“Apparently, according to the report, Ryan surrounded himself with like-minded fellows, elevating them to positions of importance in the diocese”
Reminds me of Bishop Lori/Father Fay.
Zita, I think the insuation that Bishop Lori is comparablke to Bishop Ryan is a little beyond the pale. We have seen nothing that says that Lori is gay and your comment might be considered slanderous and calumnious.
I said the words in quotes remind me of Bishop Lori, not that the whole Bishop Ryan thing reminds me of Bishop Lori.
He appointed Father Fay to, what was it?, some commission on sex abuse? The only priest on the commission.
I can’t fathom a Bishop Finn, or Chaput, or Burke appointing someone like that…and by “like that” I am referring to reports I’ve read that describe the Father as a big spender, arrogant, etc.
According to reports, all kinds of red flags waving.
And yet still nothing seems to have been done until the whistleblowers took action.
Then who apologizes? Father Madden, the whistleblower. And the Bishop. Has Father Fay apologized? The last thing I read was that he had denied any wrongdoing.
Oh sorry then. Ther “like-minded fellows” thing threw me off.
I’m just wondering how many more “Lavender Mafias” there are out there. I predict we are going to see a few more scenarios exposed similar to the situation in Springfield. The elephant isn’t just in the sacristy, it’s in the chancery office as well.
Carrie’s question is certainly a valid one.
Dom, I interpreted Zita’s comments in the same way you did. He quoted this statement:
“Apparently, according to the report, Ryan surrounded himself with like-minded fellows, elevating them to positions of importance in the diocese”
…and Zita wrote that it reminded him of Bp. Lori, who appointed Fr. Fay.
Now, Fay is suspected of being an arrogant, high-living, big-spending, possibly gay embezzler; so suggesting that Bp. Lori found Fr. Fay a “like-minded fellow” looked like an absolute calumny.
Whether Zita meant to imply such a severe accusation or not, it was reckless writing. He indicates that he didn’t mean to imply all that, and I’ll choose to believe him.