PENNSYLVANIA
Citizens Voice
BY THE EDITORIAL BOARD
Published: September 29, 2014
Ever since The Boston Globe exposed Cardinal Bernard Law’s shell game with pedophile priests about 15 years ago, the Vatican has struggled to deal effectively with innumerable cases that subsequently emerged around the world. From promoting Cardinal Law to a position in Rome to responding poorly to major cases in Ireland and elsewhere in Europe, the church has not achieved the moral clarity that the flock and society expect.
Against that checkered history, Scranton Bishop Joseph Bambera and Pope Francis deserve great credit for their fast and decisive actions relative to a priest from Northeastern Pennsylvania who was accused of molesting male students at the former St. Gregory’s Academy in Elmhurst Township.
In 2005 the church settled for $380,000 a federal lawsuit that had been brought by a former St. Gregory’s student against the Rev. Carlos Urrutigoity and another priest. Former Scranton Bishop Joseph Martino removed the Rev. Urrutigoity from the diocese, but he was accepted and promoted in the Paraguayan Diocese of Ciudad del Este.
Advocates for abuse victims learned of the Rev. Urrutigoity’s position and protested, demanding action. Bishop Bambera wrote to the Vatican, characterizing the Rev. Urrutigoity as “posing a serious threat to young people.”
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