The sex abuse scandal has increasingly entangled Pope Benedict XVI and Vatican in allegations of the cover-up of molesting priests. Now, one case has directly implicated the Pope after it was learned that in the 1990s then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger effectively spared an American molesting hundreds of deaf boys. The then Cardinal received letters from Wisconsin priests asking him to move against the Reverend Lawrence Murphy, who worked at the St John’s School for the Deaf in St Francis, Wisconsin. He appears to have blocked efforts to defrock Murphy.
The disclosure came as part of litigation against the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. In 1996 Murphy’s case was forwarded to the the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, headed by then Cardinal Ratzinger, who declined to act on the case even after the Archbishop of Milwaukee, Rembert Weakland, asked him to defrocked the priest.
Notably, the Pope’s right hand man, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone (now his Vatican’s secretary of state) had ordered a canonical trial but that was stopped by the Pope after Murphy wrote to the Pope asking for mercy. He wrote to the Pope that he was in bad health and “I simply want to live out the time that I have left in the dignity of my priesthood . . . I ask your kind assistance in this matter.” He appears to have gotten the assistance that he sought. He was able to live out his days as a priest.
This is the second major abuse case tied directly to the Pontiff this month, here.
UPDATE: The Vatican has issued a statement denying the allegations vis-a-vis Murphy, here.
For the full story, click here.
Bdaman:
I was talking Bud not bud. I know you would never do anything that was illegal 🙂
Raiford, google that MF
No Byron, I got a prescription. It’s not legal in Florida but I’ll just do what I do best and act dumb.
Bdaman:
how long and where? In Florida? Back then wasnt it chain gang type sh . . . t?
Can we get Texas checkin in tonight.
AY WASSSSUUUUPPPP 🙂
Did your dad go to chef school?
If you call prison chef school, then yea, and at the same time I guess it was on the job trainin.
Bdaman:
do you put that stuff in a beer bong?
AY:
Edgar was looking for the Golden pilsner urquell
I’m jus chillin, smokin a Bud, I mean sippin on a Bud.
WAASSSSSS UUUUUPPPPPPP?????????????????
Buddha,
How is NE LA going tonight?
Bdaman,
Seek and you shall find the solace you have in mind. Sometime near, sometime kept away by fear only you can tell how near someone is close to you by your fear…..
Has anyone seen Canadian Eh?
Bdaman:
I am having a few beers, so I am having happy hour.
Did your dad go to chef school? or did he learn on the job?
Here let me start.
Good Evening Mr. mespo72/3
Bryon, the El Dorodo poem by EAP is eerie if you consider the man and his behavior. And know, something you search for are merely an illusion and you shall never catch nor hold, as only your shadow knows…..
Isn’t that what socialism is, you socialize more?
Byron, were tryin to have a social hour here. It’s Friday, can you just give it a break for one day and lets just be people for a night. 🙂
Elaine:
They have done bad things and good things just like any other organization or human. All we can hope for in the end is that our heart balances the feather.
Buddah one of my favorite places was a place called Sharky’s Reef in Metairie, Jefferson Parish right outside NO. You ever been there?
Mespo my father did the country club circuit. He started at the Ponte Vedra Inn and Club 1957 then to Deerwood in the 60’s then Hidden Hills. Google them. All in North Florida/Jacksonville.
Byron–
“they is the RCC and that is the works of Newton, Copernicus and Galileo. The Church wrote down the works of Aristotle and other Greek philosophers. Aristotle’s works lead to William of Ockham’s work which lead to Copernicus, Galileo, Newton and others. Western civilization owes them a debt of gratitude although they dropped the ball on child molesting priests.”
That doesn’t change what the church did to Galileo when they sentenced him to house arrest. How many great scientific discoveries did not see the light of day because their discoverers feared what would be done to them. Do you suppose it’s a coincidence that Copernicus’s book on the revolution of celestial bodies wasn’t published until just before his death?
I’m in agreement with Buddha’s comments at 6:42 pm.
bdaman,
I’m out in the sticks in NE LA now, near Monroe, but I lived in N.O. for years and up and down the length of the state at various times.
Now if you will all pardon me, the kitchen calls.
I’m hungry. Thankfully this is a quick dish.