Media Release – Catholic Whistleblowers Steering Committee– Sept. 11, 2015

Catholic Whistleblowers
September 11, 2015

http://www.catholicwhistleblowers.com/

On Wednesday, September 16, 2015, the Catholic Whistleblowers Steering Committee will submit to Pope Francis’ newly-established Vatican tribunal cases of abuse of office against Cardinal Justin Rigali for his behavior in the Archdiocese of St. Louis, MO, and in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, PA, and Cardinal Raymond Burke for his behavior in the Diocese of La Crosse, WI, and the Archdiocese of St. Louis, MO.

What

A press conference sponsored by the Catholic Whistleblowers Steering Committee which will announce the filing of cases against both Cardinal Rigali and Cardinal Burke to the newly-established Vatican tribunal that investigates and holds accountable bishops who abuse their office in matters of sexual abuse of minors and vulnerable adults.

When

Wednesday, September 16, 2015 at 11:30 am

Where

St. John Chrysostom Albanian Orthodox Church, 237 N. 17th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Who

Members of the Catholic Whistleblowers Steering Committee: Rev. James Connell, retired priest of the Milwaukee, WI Archdiocese and canon lawyer; victims’ advocate Sister Maureen Paul Turlish of New Castle, DE, and Philadelphia, PA; former Newark, NJ, Archdiocesan priest Dr. Robert M. Hoatson, who will represent and speak on behalf of Carol A. Kuhnert, whose brother, Fr. Norman H. Christian, deceased of the St. Louis, MO, Archdiocese, sexually abused children before and during his years as a priest; and Arthur Baselice, father of Arthur Baselice III, who was sexually abused by a priest in Philadelphia and took his own life as a young adult.

Why

The efforts of the Catholic Whistleblowers Steering Committee to hold bishops accountable for the mishandling of cases of clergy sexual abuse have been affirmed by Pope Francis and his June 6, 2015 establishment of a new Vatican tribunal within the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to investigate (and discipline) bishops who have harmed people by abusing their power and authority in matters related to clergy sexual abuse of minors and vulnerable adults.

But, the new tribunal will not function if people do not bring to the attention of the tribunal those bishops and the circumstances of the problems. The Catholic Whistleblowers Steering Committee is bringing to the tribunal the cases of Cardinal Justin Rigali and Cardinal Raymond Burke for their culpable negligence regarding matters of clergy sexual abuse.

“Culpable negligence” is a key term in the Church’s Canon Law. It is not simply that a bishop did something or did not do something that harmed people; he should have known better and behaved better; his negligence was culpable.

The Catholic Whistleblowers Steering Committee is seeking a specific “just penalty” for Cardinals Rigali and Burke: removal from the College of Cardinals and all other offices; and, as to provide reparation, that Cardinals Rigali and Burke be required to listen to those harmed, provide any and all information sought by those who were harmed, and publicly apologize for using ecclesiastical power and authority in such a way that through their culpable negligence, their actions have harmed persons.

It’s all about protecting children, young people, and vulnerable adults, and holding the culprits accountable.

Contacts

Rev. James Connell, J.C.D., Milwaukee, WI – 414-940-8054

Sr. Maureen Paul Turlish, SNDdeN, New Castle, DE – 610-212-2770

Robert M. Hoatson, Ph.D., West Orange, NJ – 862-368-2800