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  Victims: Accused Priests in Rome
They Cited a U.S. Newspaper Probe, and Called on Church Officials to Stop "Sheltering"

By Ken Dilanian
Philadelphia Inquirer [Rome]
April 14, 2005

ROME - A pair of American victims of clerical sex abuse yesterday called on church officials to stop "sheltering" accused priests who have been living near the Vatican.

At a news conference a block from St. Peter's Square, Barbara Blaine, founder of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, cited a newspaper investigation that located, here in Catholicism's world capital, six priests accused or convicted of sex abuse in the United States.

Blaine urged church leaders to use their moral authority to persuade the men to return to face justice.

"The place where these men should be is almost anywhere except Rome," she said. "It's important that no more children be abused."

One of the clerics, the Rev. Joseph Hennes, has been indicted on child sex charges in Phoenix. In September, Hennes was found living steps from St. Peter's Square at the headquarters of the Salvatorian religious order, according to the Dallas Morning News, which has been tracking dozens of accused priests living abroad.

The Maricopa County prosecutor's office is seeking to extradite Hennes, a process that could take years. A letter sent to the Vatican's secretary of state in 2003 was sent back marked "refused by the rightful addressee," Barnett Lotstein, a special assistant county prosecutor, said yesterday.

In a written statement, the Salvatorian order told the Morning News that it had instructed Hennes to return to Phoenix but that he had refused. He could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Blaine named five other accused priests found in Rome by the Morning News, including one who was charged in 2003 with abusing five boys in Massachusetts and who is working for another religious order. Others had been the subject of credible accusations and civil lawsuits but not criminal charges.

In some cases, church officials told the Morning News the men were sent to Rome to be supervised away from parishes. Many senior church officials believe that banishing a priest after a single infraction is counterproductive because he could offend again outside the supervision of the church.

On Monday, Blaine and another abuse victim, Barbara Dorris, went to St. Peter's Square to protest the hierarchy's decision to ask Cardinal Bernard Law to lead an important Mass in St. Peter's Basilica mourning Pope John Paul II.

Dorris said the group had intended to stay quiet during the pre-conclave period in deference to the late Pope, and only came to Rome because of Law's role at the Mass.

Law resigned as archbishop of Boston in December 2002 when unsealed court records revealed he had moved predatory priests among church assignments without notifying parishioners or civil authorities. He has apologized for his wrongdoing.

The Pope last year appointed Law archpriest of St. Mary Major Basilica in Rome, a ceremonial but highly visible post.

Cardinal Justin Rigali of Philadelphia was the only U.S. cardinal to attend Law's Mass. The archdiocese communications office said yesterday that Rigali would not comment on the matter, saying he is declining media interviews as he prepares for the papal-election conclave, which begins Monday.

Meanwhile, as speculation swirled about the next pontiff, two Italian papers carried what appeared to be the first leaks from the cardinals' inner circle.

Citing sources, Corriere della Sera, the highly regarded Milan daily, said at least 40 of the 115 cardinal-electors had voiced some backing for German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger during the daily meetings.

Another newspaper, La Repubblica, put the number of possible Ratzinger backers at 50, without identifying a source for the estimate. A candidate is elected with a two-thirds majority - 77 votes - for the first 30 ballots, after which it becomes a simple majority of 58.

The newspapers also reported the blocs opposed to Ratzinger had not united around a single name, suggesting a series of ballots might be needed before the leading contenders emerge.

The reports could not be independently verified. A staff member for a European cardinal, speaking to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity, expressed serious doubts that the cardinals were making such clear declarations at this stage.

Also, thousands lined up yesterday for a chance to pass briefly by John Paul's grave after the Vatican opened the site to the public. While the numbers did not compare to the estimated three million pilgrims who descended on Rome last week to view the Pope's body and attend his funeral, the emotions were no weaker.

"I felt at total peace," said Catherine Creen of New York, who met John Paul in 2000. "Every hair on my body just stood up."

 
 

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