The Archdiocese of Portland, Oregon, says it will file for bankruptcy. The Tucson diocese has already been making noise about this. Evidently they’ve learned from Boston where the threat of bankruptcy drove the lawyers to the bargaining table. What’s happened is that everything was paid out to the first lawsuits and now that everyone else is coming out of the woodwork, there’s nothing left. At least Boston had very valuable land to sell, but these other dioceses may not have even that.
So what does this mean? It’s not certain since no diocese has ever filed for bankruptcy protection, but it could mean that parishes will be closed and sold off to pay creditors. Once again, it means that parishioners suffer because of the bad actions of their bishops. All of those nickels and dimes donated over years and years by ordinary Catholics are going to pay lawyers and give millions to abuse victims who will never be healed because of the money they receive.
I thought the Vatican had to approve such filings. I don’t know anything about the particulars in Portland, but I still can’t believe the Vatican approved this.
A few moments ago I received word from an attorney friend telling me that she had just talked to the Plaintiff’s attorney. They really did file. It’s done. They must have received permission from the Vatican.
“In a deposition taken before his death, Grammond said, ‘‘I’d say these children abused me. They’d dive in my lap to get sexual excitement.’’ “
If your soul is rotting in hell, Father, we can make a pretty good guess as to why.
If your soul is rotting in hell, Father, we can make a pretty good guess as to why.
No, “Sinner,” there’s no “we” about it. YOU may claim to know the fate of souls—to say nothing about the reason for such fate—but I don’t.
Neither, incidentally, do you…unless, like far too many blog-ites I’ve come across, you’re “hearing voices” or “getting visions.”
Or have proclaimed yourself the Vice President in Charge of Judgment.
Sorry, but I’m tired of “sinners” damning people. Not your job, pals.
Look. You may be “hurt.” So bleepin’ what. So are we all.
But your (rather eerie) conversation with a dead man leaves me (pardon the pun) cold.
I don’t know your background at all, but in the Church I was raised in, we were taught to pray for the dead…not presume they were “rotting in Hell.”
You may consider trying it sometime. I mean, you’re a “sinner,” right? Maybe, just maybe, you’d like the favor returned when the time comes…just a thought.
I sure the heck hope he went to confession and repented before he died. That sentiment he voiced out loud will indeed send a person to hell if not repented of.
It is true that I can’t tell for sure who goes to hell, but I sure the heck can discern states of behavior that are wrong enough to send a person there. Anyone with a properly formed Catholic conscience can.
Ah… If I were Pope …
Sees of Washington, Oregon, and California suppressed. Bishops appointed to sees In Partibus and assigned to cool their heels in monasteries. Cardinal Mahoney appointed Arciprete of S. Paulo fuori le mura with mandatory residency in the centro storico. Appointment of ‘Apostolic Vicar’ to the “western district” of the U. S. under the supervision of the prefect of Propaganda. USCCB disbanded. Appointment of legate a latere to deal with American episcopacy. Order total fiscal consolidation and study to determine plan for see supression. Ecclesial equivalent of martial law.
Besides it’s a little to late to debate how guilty they are—I think that’s been pretty well shown. And because of it the diocese is going broke. Unless the diocese is making like broke and just trying to shift its money around and avoid paying—that’s a possibility here as well.
I wonder how many documents they’ll have to turn over. I often wonder if, when they get to the bottom of one of these situations, in one that the diocese loses power over information, if they won’t find some really really odd, as-yet-undisclosed information.
It is true that I can>
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rbitler@optonline.net
67.83.96.124
2004-07-07 07:52:52
2004-07-07 11:52:52
“Sorry, but Igard to many other issues.
I understand that you may disagree. So be it.
My misunderstanding, obviously.
Somehow I read into the words, regarding the man’s soul “rotting in Hell,” that a “pretty good guess as to why” strongly inferred a “pretty good guess” that the soul was more than likely, “rotting in Hell.”
Chalk it up to the difficulties inherent in communications transcending different universes.
Fair enough, Kelly. I actually hope strongly that this man’s soul is not rotting in hell – that he fully and completely repented of his awful, awful sins. But the idea that he would actually blame the children themselves – I mean – how much lower can one slink?
I hope we’re in the same universe again!!!
“To a certain extent, you can discern…but you cannot tell for certain, even about behaviors. Unless you are reflecting upon yourself.”
NOT.
There are some things which are objectively sinful. Abortion, murder, adultery, fornication, etc. etc.
I believe that Sinner has a point here about blaming children when they are raped by a priest. I did read a similar report a while back about a case where someone had sued the Church and the response from the Church attorneys filed in Court was that the molestation was due (at least in part) to the negligence of the boy and the parents. My understanding is that it is difficult for a child under twelve years old to commit a mortal sin, although he may commit a venial sin from age seven to twelve. However, when one is over thirty years old and has been instructed several years in Catholic theology to the extent that he has passed his seminary courses and is judged to have the requisite knowledge for being ordained to the Catholic priesthood, then I would say that such an individual should know that child molesting is seriously wrong.