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  Fathers, Defrocked

The Journal News [New York]
July 13, 2005

Latest revelations from the Archdiocese of New York carry on, rather than clarify, hallmarks of the Catholic clergy abuse scandal: secret, dragged-out resolution efforts, leaving in their wake unresolved conflict, and due-process concerns for priests and the public alike. Parishoners of several Westchester, Rockland or Putnam Catholic parishes know only a little more today than they did three years ago about why many of their priests were removed from duties due to sexual misconduct allegations involving minors.

Six from the archdiocese have been defrocked by the Vatican; a seventh priest was assigned to live out his life in prayer and penance, it was announced late last week.

While there have been some criminal cases of often decades-old clergy abuse adjudicated since the scandal broke nationally about five years ago, the public remains largely in the dark about allegations against individual priests and whether victims have been fairly treated.

In 2002, American bishops considered establishing regional or national church courts or tribunals to hear disputed cases involving priests. Such courts were not established, though, leaving it to internal Catholic Church workings to resolve some matters and usually sealed civil proceedings to dole out millions of dollars to victims.

Then, more than three years ago, form letters from the New York archdiocese were read to congregations in six local parishes one weekend announcing that their priests had been removed.

That left bewilderment, betrayal and anger, at both the priests and the archdiocese for the lack of specifics to gaping questions. Many individual priests who were removed from ministry, meanwhile, complained bitterly that they were unfairly targeted and unable to properly defend themselves.

Late last week, the archdiocese announced via the July edition of its official publication, Catholic New York, that six priests from the region had been "reduced to the lay state." Five had served at some point in Westchester, Rockland or Putnam counties, staff writer Gary Stern reported. Not all were the same ones removed from ministry three years ago.

Meanwhile, about two dozen other cases of alleged abuse by priests out of the archdiocese await a final ruling by the Vatican. There is no timetable for when that might be.

Neither is there any reasonable expectation that the public will learn the facts. And that will allow the taint of the abuse, and the allegations, to linger over the church and the victims, and within local parishes, indefinitely.