East Longmeadow Priest James Scahill Says He Received Standing Ovations after Calling for Pope Benedict XVI to Resign, Jack Flynn, The Republican , April 12, 2010

East Longmeadow Priest James Scahill Says He Received Standing Ovations after Calling for Pope Benedict XVI to Resign

By Jack Flynn
The Republican
April 12, 2010

http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2010/04/east_longmeadow_priest_james_s_1.html

[2003 deposition of Fr. James J. Scahill in case of Susan F. Morris vs. Richard Lavigne, Joseph Maguire, Robert Thrasher and Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield]

Pope Benedict XVI greets faithful during the Regina Coeli prayer from the window of his summer residence of Castel Gandolfo, in the hills south of Rome.

EAST LONGMEADOW - The first Roman Catholic priest in Western Massachusetts to call for Pope Benedict XVI to resign says he received standing ovations from parishoners at two Masses this weekend.

The Rev. James J. Scahill, of St. Michael’s Church, called for the pope’s resignation during sermons on Saturday and Sunday, citing the questions about his role in church clergy abuse cases.

“There were standing ovations at two Masses, and applause at the others” said Scahill, a longtime critic of the church’s handling of clergy abuse scandals.

“And one parishoner booed – and shouted ‘heretic’,” Scahill added.

The priest said he chose the weekend to call for pope’s resignation because it was the feast of St. Thomas the Apostle, also known as “Doubting Thomas” for his initial skepticism about the resurrection of Jesus.

James J. Scahill

“I think a lot of lay people have strong doubts as to the veracity of our church leaders, in terms of what was known, for how long and by whom” Scahill said.

The pope has been subjected to intense criticism recently for the way he has dealt with some abuse cases. Scahill said because Pope Benedict has violated an important tenet of faith by not being truthful, he should step down.

St. Michael’s Parish Council president Thomas LaMondia said the congregation was largely generally supportive of Scahill’s message. A spokesman for the Diocese of Springfield called Scahill’s called comment unfortunate.

A prominent clergy abuse activist, Olan F. Horne, of Westfield, praised Scahill’s call for the pope’s resignation, saying it mirrored the sentiments of many clergy abuse survivors.

Horne said there are plans for a gathering in Rome on Oct. 31 to call attention to impatience with church’s efforts to deal with the crisis.

“His statement resonates exactly with what we are talking about,” said Horne, a Lowell native who met with Pope Benedict in Washington D.C. in 2008 to discuss the clergy abuse crisis.

Horne said area activists will invite Scahill to join them in Rome for the October event.