More unsubstantiated and baseless attacks on Catholics by the press today.

*Reports say some priests prey on nuns, seeking 'safe' sex*

Wednesday, March 21, 2001

By CANDICE HUGHES THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

VATICAN CITY -- The Vatican on Tuesday denied a report in the National Catholic Reporter saying sexual abuse of nuns by priests -- especially in AIDS-ravaged Africa -- is a serious problem.

The magazine article is based on five reports compiled by senior members of women's religious orders and a priest and dating to 1994. The publication said the reports have been discussed at high levels in the Vatican.

Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls acknowledged there were isolated cases of priests sexually abusing nuns, but said the problem is "restricted to a limited geographic area."

According to the National Catholic Reporter, priests afraid of contracting AIDS sometimes turn to young nuns, who are seen as safe sexual partners.

"In a few extreme instances, according to the documentation, priests have impregnated nuns, then encouraged them to have abortions," the magazine said.

In one case reported by Sister Maura O'Donohue, a physician and member of the Medical Missionary of Mary, a priest got a nun pregnant and then arranged for an abortion. She died during the procedure, the magazine said, and the priest officiated at her funeral Mass.

The reports cited by the National Catholic Reporter also say that nuns who become pregnant are often forced to leave their orders, while the priests involved are allowed to continue with their ministries.

The Vatican statement was issued Tuesday after the Italian media reported on the magazine article. The Vatican had refused comment to the National Catholic Reporter.

The National Catholic Reporter said there are no comprehensive statistics on the sexual abuse of nuns, but the "frequency and consistency of the reports ... point to a problem that needs to be addressed."

The reports cited by the National Catholic Reporter link the problem to cultural attitudes toward celibacy as well as to the fear of AIDS and to traditions of female subservience.

The Rev. Bernardo Cervellera, director of Fides, the news agency of the Vatican's missionary arm, said celibacy has always been a struggle for some priests, but he was surprised at the accounts of sexual abuse.

"I was a missionary for 25 years and I never encountered such a problem," he said. "Instead, I found priests and nuns who gave themselves wholly to people with leprosy, with AIDS ... priests and nuns who live their love for Christ."

-- Jim (jimr23hezomeae@hotmail.com), March 21, 2001

Answers

The National (Non-)Catholic Reporter is not owned or published by the Church, but by dissident laymen, who are "Catholic" in name only. This rag is not worth anyone's time. Naturally, the Associated Press (part of the similarly anti-Catholic secular media) would pay attention to the NCR.

-- J. F. Gecik (jgecik@desc.dla.mil), March 21, 2001.

Reporting the truth is considered an attack? What precisely in the article do you believe to be false and how would you substantiate that? If it's false, let the lawsuits begin and your victim mentality can be justified. If it's true, then stop claiming to be persecuted when others point out your sin. Stop sinning and no one will have any reason to "attack".

-- Lawrence (private@here.com), March 21, 2001.

I agree with both answers above. It probably did appear in a worthless rag and so much is probably false or at least exagerated.

On the other hand abuses my Catholic priests do occur and when these sins are brought to light it shouldn't be seen as an attack on the Church. Sin should be rooted out and dealt with not brushed under the carpet.

We all are mortal, we all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God. Just because sin is reported in the Catholic Priesthood does not necessarily constitute an anti catholic attack.

If these things are happening then they need to be stopped.

My prayers are with you.

-- Sharon Guy (sharon@sguy.couk), March 22, 2001.

I for one agree that those events take place in the Catholic Church! having a Form of Godliness but denying the power there in.

-- Joe. C (cc.designs@usa.net), March 22, 2001.

Dear Friends,
It would be wonderful to say that a priest is never guilty as charged, nor a bishop. In some cases, they aren't. One bishop a few years back in the eastern U.S. --was falsely accused by a deranged homosexual man of having ''abused'' him in the past. Subsequently, it was found the boy had lied. He lied basically because he hated the Church. The bishop, a very saintly cleric, died soon after, exonerated and forgiving of all who had bashed him.

But there are many cases of sinful priests; not more than in other churches, but very high-profile. Ultimately they are to blame for the scandal created by their acts; the news-media naturally exploits any scandal; it's part of their territory, that's all. The Church has done more harm than good in shielding some of them, and brought more scandal on itself, in many cases.

Jesus Christ told His disciples this all would come to pass. (Matt, 18: 7) Since He did so, we still hold the Church blameless, as long as she deals honestly with these problems.

-- eugene c. chavez (chavezec@pacbell.net), March 22, 2001.

Jmj

Eugene,
I agree with you completely.

I just wanted to say that the purpose of my comment, above, was NOT to "cover up" any genuine abuses, but to make sure that everyone here knew that the National "Catholic" Reporter is not to be trusted. Within the AP story, the statements of the Vatican -- which did admit limited improprieties by priest -- are believable.

I should mention that a different weekly newspaper in the U.S., the National Catholic Register CAN be trusted.
God bless you.
John

-- J. F. Gecik (jgecik@desc.dla.mil), March 22, 2001.

By 2000, the catholic church had paid out, in lawsuit settlements, over 1 billion dollars to victims who were sexually abused by catholic clergy. That number is for the U.S.settlements and doesn't include those cases settled out of court.

-- Peter.C. McDonough (31416@mediaone.net), March 26, 2001.

+

Indeed. Settlement by definition is an agreement to pay without prejudice. Every case may not have had substance, but the Church does not want to be dragged through the mud in the news media for months. It just might have been the best way to close the cases. That doesn't exonerate everyone, but it should be understood. Thank you Sir, for your helpful contribution to this page.

-- eugene c. chavez (chavezec@pacbell.net), March 26, 2001.

Mr. McDonough, could you please give us the source of your figure (one billion U.S. dollars), quoting a passage therefrom or giving us a link to a reliable Internet site? Thank you.

-- (jgecik@desc.dla.mil), March 27, 2001.

It is only fair to tell Mr. McDonough, all sin is hateful to the Catholic Church; sin by her own clergy more so. He is wrong to impute sin by association. Many Protestant ministers have been exposed in public scandals, and the Catholic Church never attacked any Protestant sect on those grounds. All clergymen are called to lead lives of holiness and purity in God's sight. Some fail, and they are called to repentance, as any sinner is.

There have been and continue to be countless good and holy priests, who lead lives of chastity and self-denial. They are mostly unsung and underappreciated. God will surely award them a crown in heaven one day. God will also exalt them in the sight of their detractors on that day; because God is Just.

Mary, Mother of Our Divine Saviour, pray for us! Amen.
Saint James, pray for us, Amen.

-- eugene c. chavez (chavezec@pacbell.net), March 27, 2001.