36 Comments

• Mousemess | Jun 02, 2012, 12:23 PM EDT

  Accountability and not hiding the clerical child abusers (of all denominations) from the legal consequences of their crimes is what's required. If I was Dolan (O Dubhshlain, I would have no qualms about asking the offender to call the police right there in my office and give his side of the story to them and let the police sort out the allegations against him or I would do so for him. There would be no go away hush-hush severance pay under me and I would let the entire diocese know what took place. Either the Catholic Church willingly ends the celebacy requirement and allows priests to get married, or priests willingly and knowingly enter the Catholic priesthood with the celebacy requirement in mind and leave it the minute they experience sexual urges for especially the underaged to protect the underaged and/or other clergy and to show respect for a vow they can no longer keep. They should know their pedophile desires endangers the church as a whole reputation-wise and otherwise and priesthood as societies these days will no longer support and attend any church will especially a pedophile problem.

• pilib04 | Jun 01, 2012, 09:42 PM EDT

  No surprise here. Dolan is as guilty as sin. He should resign at once. Paid off rapists! Unbelievable.

• bfg9000 | Jun 01, 2012, 09:00 PM EDT

  "A charitable gift?" HermitTalker, in what sick, twisted world pedophiles are given charity? Oh, wait... the Vatican world! These psychos should be excommunicated without any delay or financial compensation whatsoever and thrown into jail so that their newfound friends'll teach them the joys of anal rape.

• hermitTalker | Jun 01, 2012, 12:46 PM EDT

  Mr Roberts repeats the exact fake story today. It is on the writers and editor to take the blame for not reporting accurately. The facts are there, Tim Dolan had to point out the money was separation cash, a charitable gift to tide them over so they could get insurance on their own. How dumb can people be not to realise that the Church has its own Court system locally with final decision in Rome for all cases of violation of Church Law. Sadly, there is no place for liars who destroy lives and reputations. For those who violate that, and do not repent and make amends, the penalty is death, eternal death, for murder- check it out in your New Testament. Jesus was very kind to the "sex workers" and other shunned people.

• BulldogMania | Jun 01, 2012, 11:25 AM EDT

  @ JudyJones Unfortunately SNAP has ZERO CREDIBILITY. They have lost their focus. They should be doing nothing but seeking justice for the victims of clerical abuse...instead I read about their regional directors and members criticizing the Church at every turn. Really, married clergy, women priests, etc. - these and other issues have WHAT to do with clerical sex abuse? The Church is an evil institution...tell that to the MILLIONS of people in the USA every day that receive food, shelter and clothing...not to mention the rest of the world. Its sad but SNAP is no longer credible.

• BulldogMania | Jun 01, 2012, 11:21 AM EDT

  @ Narrowbackgal The story does not simply state anything. Like all the Church articles on this website, it spins the facts, draws conclusions from facts not presented and concludes the Church or its surrogates acted with malice. Unfortunately, what this does, is undermine ALL reporting by the liberal press (which in the USA is almost all the press) to the point that you can't believe anything you read. The story here is that Tim Dolan LIED about what he did. What he did, pay the prosecuted pedophile (because some have claimed the priests got away with it...no, they were both prosecuted) some money to speed up the laicization process and get rid of them, saving time and money for the Church. Had they not done this the liberal press would be attacking him and saying he harbored pedophiles and did nothing to get rid of them. I'm glad he did what he did...but I'm saddened he LIED about doing it. That's the story here, but it is missed in the spin and misrepresentation of the facts. SNAP does this all the time, which is sadly why they are no longer credible. For those of us that have left the Church, and won't come back until it's cleaned up...SNAP is not credible anymore.

• jamieLM | Jun 01, 2012, 09:47 AM EDT

  @RoryTrup, I know a place where these child sex abusing priests can "live and eat" for free - prison. They can even get a job to do while living there.

• IrelandNorth | Jun 01, 2012, 06:04 AM EDT

  Can't help but note from the St Louis Review photograph above that Jesus is crucifixing to the left, while Dolan is swinging to the right. Is this a case of graphic symbolism? For 'Jaysus' sake! Taken 'im down. He's been up there for 2,000 years. Even the Romans had the decency to take Him down after 6 hours. And I ain't talkin' about Dolan!

• JudyJones | May 31, 2012, 10:30 PM EDT

  Today Dolan's silence is extremely "LOUD"... Maybe that is because he lied... Once again we are seeing that the high ranking church officials do not have the victims or children's best interests at heart. These men will go to great lengths to protect themselves, their images, and the institution. Judy Jones, SNAP Midwest Associate Director, 636-433-2511 snapjudy@gmail.com (SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the world's oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. SNAP was founded in 1988 and has more than 12,000 members. Despite the word "priest" in our title, we have members who were molested by religious figures of all denominations, including nuns, rabbis, bishops, and Protestant ministers and increasingly, victims who were assaulted in a wide range of institutional settings like summer camps, athletic programs, Boy Scouts, etc).

• knockatee | May 31, 2012, 08:45 PM EDT

  I suppose I shouldn't be surprised but the actions of the Catholic Church hierarchy never fail to amaze me. How could the Pope elevate Archbishop Dolan to Cardinal knowing that he protected pedophiles and lied about it? The bribes were paid to get the priests out of the way - and where do you think they went? Did they abuse other children? Cardinal Dolan has a lot to answer for besides moving funds into a trust to avoid having to pay victims of abuse. His jolly manner may fool a lot of people but it sure masks a lot, doesn't it?

• snakehips | May 31, 2012, 06:52 PM EDT

  Again the hypocrisy of these "Defenders of Sexual Deviates" This chubby hypocrite has the balls (or not) to attack gays and attempts to pay for women's healthcare. Then they lie about it DISGRACE!!!!!!!!!!!!

• barneyjo | May 31, 2012, 06:44 PM EDT

  I only got to hear the Cardinal speak for the first time recently on an embedded video on this site. I have to say that from a point of view here in Ireland, this is the kind of senior Cleric Saint Pio alluded to in his 1913 letter to his Religious superior Friar Augustine, describing an apparition in which Jesus made very plain his displeasure about his church on earth. "The ingratitude and the sleep of my ministers increase the agony for me. They badly respond to my love! The greater torment for me is that these people add their contempt to their indifference and disbelief. How many times my wrath was to strike them like lightning, but I was stopped by the angels and the souls who love me" And this was from a Saint of our Church!! This is why I believe that the Holy Spirit is calling time on those who have moved far away from the truths bestowed by Our Lord on his chosen Disciples during his time on earth. This man makes even our Cardinal Brady in Ireland seem "Saintly" in my view :)

• bunkerisland | May 31, 2012, 04:40 PM EDT

  Seems the motivation was as much shut them up, move them out with a few dollars, deny doing it and limit the amount of victim compensation. Greed and secrecy prevailed.

• Portia777 | May 31, 2012, 03:48 PM EDT

  For those who state rape of children is just unfortunate..that children get over it.it is way more than that as explained "Sexual abuse: eclipse of the soul The trauma of childhood sexual abuse is almost incomprehensible. Here, Michael Corry and Aine Tubridy explain some of the consequences "I've come to realise that sexual assault is an imposed death experience for the victim. That is, the victim experiences her life as having been taken by someone else. — Evangeline Kane

• Porickseantuny | May 31, 2012, 03:25 PM EDT

  You can't have it both ways. You want the church to eliminate pedophiles but now you complain that they by avoiding a drawn out laicisation process with a settlement they are also doing wrong. I have represented a priest being laicised it is a long process and expensive. The church is never going to expose information given under the seal of confession. Also, the confession is not limited to statements made "in the box". The seal could apply to a conversation while walking around a lake or on a running track for that matter.

• eiriamach | May 31, 2012, 02:48 PM EDT

  Some RCC Defenders claim that Pope Benedict greatly improved the way the Church deals with pedophile priests. But what, actually, did the pope do? Did he require that every church official who has evidence of abuse report it to law enforcement? No. The pope only revised canon law to make the process of removing pedophile priests from ministry faster than it was (lengthy church trial, summoning witnesses, filing appeals, etc.). Now I understand why he streamlined the process. It saves the Church money to be rid of them quickly! At $20,000 a pop, and so many pedophiles, the payments must have been putting a dent in the Peter's Pence.

• McNamara31 | May 31, 2012, 02:21 PM EDT

  LoneThinker.... We "all" know there are child molesters in all walks of life; the point you fail to see is that parents would never have thought the RC Church would put their interests before that of the molested children.That's the point we can't get past, and that's why there has been a silent stampede away from the church leadership who act more like corporate lawyers than men of God.

• LoneThinker | May 31, 2012, 01:31 PM EDT

  What utter camel dung is thrown at the Catholic Church regularly. $20 K as separation money, the bishop can get a priest dismissed by going through Church Courts, not "bribe" him -read the actual story. SNAP has the credibility of the Eden Snake. Dr MCHugh, say your prayers and let the police and the bishops work out the location of the perpetrators, that is SOP today Then check your State schools in Illinois and the Rabbis in New York. The New York Times puts them inside and catholic clergy on page 1. All the camel dung that's fit to print

• Narrowbackgal | May 31, 2012, 01:30 PM EDT

  @ Bulldog: the story simply states what Dolan did. The fact that it puts him "in a bad light" is because what he did was WRONG. Why would you seek to defend someone who abused and betrayed the trust put in him? The church and her people deserve better leadership than this, don't you think?

• BulldogMania | May 31, 2012, 01:14 PM EDT

  @ manhattan I couldn't agree with you more...the sins committed against children by priests are centuries old, not just the past few decades as they would have us believe. You mention birth control, and I can't help but think this is only the first of many stories soon to appear painting Tim Dolan in a bad light. We see countless times that politics has no bottom when it comes to smearing an enemy for a cause. There is so much more to come.

• Narrowbackgal | May 31, 2012, 01:14 PM EDT

  It's "unfortunate" children were molested, borefield? It's way more than that. It's amoral and criminal. These priests belonged in jail, not being protected by the Church and getting paid off with the donations of the faithful. And did you miss the part where Dolan bald faced lied about these payoffs? This is a man who believes he has the moral authority to preach how others should live? Seriously? I think not. The good priests are suffering because of the actions of the leadership of the church, NOT because of those who are exposing those actions. Jesus would never condone protecting and rewarding those who molest children...so why should we, his people, be expected to?

• manhattan | May 31, 2012, 01:01 PM EDT

  I can't help but get angry when I think of the power that bad priests had over us. I can imagine what sins those pedophile priests have committed against children throughout the centuries. I'm so sorry for all the children who suffered and could not tell anyone. Dolan is more concerned about birth control then the monsters he protected from going to jail.

• BulldogMania | May 31, 2012, 01:00 PM EDT

  @ borefield - Great observation. I think SNAP has removed themselves from the conversation because of their unbalanced approach and unrealistic "goals." They want to see the end of the Church, and that's not going to happen. While I condemn the scandals in the strongest terms, and want jail time for these offenders, priest or lay...I'm smart enough to realize the problem permeates society. The Catholic Church is being hammered for only one reason...they have money. Have you ever read about a poor pedophile being sued? Every hater of the Church jumps on the band wagon and pretty soon you have a mess...and sadly, it's such a mess people tune them out. I believe the message of reform is necessary and urgent for the Church, but groups like SNAP have unfortunately marginalized themselves into the darkness of space.

• borefield | May 31, 2012, 12:43 PM EDT

  No matter what Cardinal Dolan did, didn't do, what he may do or say it will NEVER satisfy SNAP. I guess hanging him on the cross is all that is left. I don't even know if that would satisfy. Revenge is a terrible thing. Those that were molested will be forever maimed and that is so unfortunate. There are so many good decent priests out there. They do wonderful work and yet, they are all painted with the same brush. Has SNAP ever said exactly what it is they want as the final outcome. Obviously money is not the answer. I would really like to here from someone, with logic if possible, put the revenge and emotion aside for a moment.

• JuneAnnette | May 31, 2012, 11:53 AM EDT

  Yet another SCANDAL in the scandal-laden unholy Roman Catholic “church” and yet more compelling evidence that the RC “church” has zero credibility and even less moral authority.! Hush money to make predator priests go away instead of turning them over to the appropriate civil authorities is in keeping with those who presume they are “above the law”! Such disclosures neither inspire trust nor instill confidence in their followers, and will insure that the massive exodus from their pews continues unabated. The preservation of the RC's imagined good image is once more in view and continues to this day to be their prime concern. The coverage the media has provided in these matters is invaluable enabling both Catholic and non-Catholic alike to form informed opinions as to their viability, legitimacy and credibility as a religious institution. Roman Catholics must ask themselves the question posed by the Old Testament prophet Amos: “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3) Many former Catholics like myself are unable to reconcile conduct, practices and activities that are unarguably inconsistent with those who lay claim to be the one true church of Jesus Christ. As Christ said . . . "Ye shall know them by their fruits." (Matt. 7:16) Many former Catholics like myself .who have given these matters thoughtful and prayerful consideration have renounced the religion of Rome in order to wholeheartedly embrace the religion of Christ without contradiction. It is my fervent hope and prayer that many more will both hear and heed the command of the Lord Jesus Christ as it is found in Rev. 18:4: “Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.”

• DrMcHugh | May 31, 2012, 11:08 AM EDT

  Are these former pedophile priests, that the church has paid off to leave the priesthood, on any sexual predator lists, so that parents can protect their children from them? Have the leaders of the church acted responsibly, by protecting the predator priests from accountability in destroying the innocence of children? Where is the protection of the innocent by civil law in all of this? Why are church leaders not being made accountable for this continuing scandal and the soul-murder of so many? Charm can only get them so far. By their fruits, we are getting to know them better. The truth to me is that these celibate men do not reflect what Jesus would do. Protecting the innocence of children is more important than protecting the reputation of an institution that is losing its way. Sincerely, Dr Rosemary Eileen McHugh, Chicago

• BulldogMania | May 31, 2012, 10:56 AM EDT

  Why can't they just tell the truth. This makes sense...throw them a few dollars to get rid of them...its cheaper for the Church, rids the Church of pedophiles, etc. Yes, a bit distasteful to pay pedophiles, but if gets rid of them, and at a better price, so be it. The story here is not WHAT they did, but that they LIED about it, DENIED it, tried to COVER it up. When are they going to learn?

• McNamara31 | May 31, 2012, 10:24 AM EDT

  These are the types of men the Vatican has chosen to lead the church. They are not chosen for their moral compass they are chosen for their lack of it. These are ambitious, corporate minded, power brokers and the reason the church is in the state it is today.

• seanfer7 | May 31, 2012, 09:59 AM EDT

  braggart

• hollabackgurl | May 31, 2012, 09:55 AM EDT

  "In what other occupation, especially one working with families and operating schools and youth programs, is an employee given a cash bonus for raping and sexually assaulting children?"

• Murph46 | May 31, 2012, 09:54 AM EDT

  Let me see....play with little boys and get paid-the Priesthood!You are paying for it every offering!

• Laochra | May 31, 2012, 09:44 AM EDT

  My feeling is that if this was the cheapest, easiest way to get them out of the priesthood then that is exactly what should have been done. Cardinal Dolan has always been a stalwart against abusive priests and any insinuation to the contrary is ridiculous. If he instead chose not to pay them and then take an extra couple of years to remove them involuntarily, he would have been criticized as well. Time to get real on this one.

• jamieLM | May 31, 2012, 09:42 AM EDT

  Who said "crime doesn't pay"? It evidently does in the RCC. Where did all that money come from? Let me guess... "Creative financing" and lying - job requirements to be an Archbishop and then a Cardinal.

• CitizenWhy | May 31, 2012, 09:37 AM EDT

  Another right wing moralistic bloviator. Why isn't he prosecuted for aiding and abetting and covering up a crime? Within 10 years US prosecutors will not longer fear indicting bishops. It's about time. Of course they'll scream persecution and demand their "religious" freedom. They have proven themselves unworthy of the claim to freedom.

• Portia777 | May 31, 2012, 09:31 AM EDT

  So that means the child rapists were paid and set free onto society to rape again?mmmmm men of god have only the interests of themselves at hrart.

• hollabackgurl | May 31, 2012, 09:13 AM EDT

  Protect the firm's assets, consolidate its losses, and deny all wrongdoing. Jesus would do the same.