MISSOURI
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
Posted by Barbara Dorris on December 03, 2012
The New York Times reports that roughly half of the Kansas City diocese’s priests have no confidence in Bishop Robert Finn. Sadly those sentiments, unless backed by action, won’t change a thing.
Kansas City priests must find courage and take action if ever their diocese is to become safer and healthier. Privately expressing disapproval of a criminal behavior won’t get the job done.
A decade ago, some 50+ Boston priests publicly rebuked Cardinal Bernard Law seeking his resignation. They won.
The church is a feudal hierarchy. Bishops hold virtually all of the power. Priests, like lay people, are essentially serfs, so they are understandably reluctant to challenge bishops, even one who is a proven lawbreaker. (Bishops have clearly retaliated against brave whistleblowers, basically shunning them and transferring them to small, remote parishes for decades.)
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