...The Vatican’s equivocation of women’s ordination and pedophilia, and the relative speed with which it has disciplined dissenters, is ironic given its less-than-rapid response to actual pedophiles and the bishops who covered up their actions.
In 2012 the CDF expelled Maryknoll Father Roy Bourgeois from the priesthood four years after he took part in the ordination of Sevre-Duszynska and stripped 92-year-old Jesuit Bill Brennan of his faculties as a priest three weeks after he said mass with Sevre-Duszynska at an annual protest at the School of the Americas. Bourgeois founded the School of the Americas Watch, which seeks the closure of the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation at Fort Benning, GA, formerly known as the School of the Americas, which trained notorious dictators such as Gen. Manuel Noriega and was implicated in a number of human rights abuses in Latin America, including the murder of six Jesuits.
In contrast to the relative alacrity with which the CDF moved against three elderly peace activists who celebrated mass with a woman, it took the Vatican 13 years to finally expel Michael Fugee from the priesthood in mid-March. Fugee admitted to fondling a 14-year-old boy in 2001 but his conviction was overturned on a technicality. Under an agreement with prosecutors, the archdiocese of Newark, NJ, agreed to supervise him and banned him from contact with children, but appointed him as chaplain of a hospital without informing the hospital of his history. Fugee continued to have contact with children, including traveling with them on retreats, until last year when a local newspaper brought his activities to light and a public outcry forced his ouster...."
Bridget Mary's Response:
It is outrageous that the Vatican punishes women priests and male priests for their support of gender equality in our church, yet fails to hold bishops accountable for turning a blind eye to the criminal behavior of priests who have raped and sexually abused Catholic children. Both women priests and our supporters are following our consciences. Yet the CDF puts us in the same category as pedophiles and treats us as criminals in our church. This is a travesty of justice in the Roman Catholic Church. It is my prayer that Pope Francis will take action soon to correct this grave in justice against women priests, male priests and our supporters. We are beloved sisters and brothers in the Catholic family and should be treated as such.
Bridget Mary Meehan, ARCWP, www.arcwp.org
Bridget Mary's Response:
It is outrageous that the Vatican punishes women priests and male priests for their support of gender equality in our church, yet fails to hold bishops accountable for turning a blind eye to the criminal behavior of priests who have raped and sexually abused Catholic children. Both women priests and our supporters are following our consciences. Yet the CDF puts us in the same category as pedophiles and treats us as criminals in our church. This is a travesty of justice in the Roman Catholic Church. It is my prayer that Pope Francis will take action soon to correct this grave in justice against women priests, male priests and our supporters. We are beloved sisters and brothers in the Catholic family and should be treated as such.
Bridget Mary Meehan, ARCWP, www.arcwp.org
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