A New Jersey priest, the former head of Catholic Charities in Newark, is suing various bishops and dioceses claiming a pattern of retaliation and harassment after Fr. Bob Hoatson made allegations that clergy sex-abuse was being covered up in New York. But the most explosive charge in the lawsuit is his claim to have evidence that Cardinal Edward Egan, Bishop Howard Hubbard of Albany, and Archbishop John Myers of Newark are all active homosexuals. And he says that their fear of exposure has led to their covering up of abuse.
Hmm, I’m not ready to jump on this with both feet. Undoubtedly there are some gay bishops. After all, we have heard stories of certain bishops by reliable third parties (not these bishops) and even acknowledgments of such behavior by bishops. But some things about this lawsuit smell.
Hoatson himself is questioned as to his reliability. The Newark archdiocese says he was placed on administrative leave because he abandoned his parish duties. Of the homosexuality charges, he says in his lawsuit that he has no problem with “consensual, adult private sexual behavior by these defendants.” As a Catholic priest, shouldn’t he have some problem with sexual behavior outside the bounds of marriage by a cleric and homosexual behavior at that? Additionally he’s represented by one of those odious and notorious plaintiffs’ attorneys, John Aretakis.
I’m filing this under “keep an eye on this.”
Technorati Tags: bishops, Catholic, homosexuality, lawsuits, sex abuse
