 |
|
|
|
|
February 8th, 2012
08:24 PM ET
Retired New York Cardinal Egan retracts apology on Catholic priest sex abuseBy Laura Batchelor, CNN New York (CNN) - A decade after the sex abuse scandal that plagued the Catholic Church across the country, retired Cardinal Edward Egan has taken back his apology for how the church handled the issue. In an interview published this week in Connecticut Magazine, Egan denies any sex abuse happened under his watch in Bridgeport, Connecticut, or in New York. "I never had one of these sex abuse cases. ... Not one," he told the magazine. Referencing the apology he issued in 2002, Egan continued, "I should never have said that. I did say 'If we did anything wrong, I'm sorry,' but I don't think we did anything wrong." The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests responded with a press release saying Egan was "unrepentant, self-absorbed and painfully dismissive of the abject suffering of tens of thousands." "Most bishops have a dreadfully skewed and self-serving view of the crisis," the release said. "But most work very hard to conceal it." Egan successor as archbishop of New York, Timothy Dolan, spoke briefly on the matter at a news conference in the city Wednesday. "I'm not familiar with the extent of the interview, but all I know is I'm grateful for what Cardinal Egan did here," he told reporters. Brian Wallace, director of communication of the Bridgeport diocese, where Egan was bishop from 1988 to 2000, told CNN, "If there is one thing Catholics agree on, (it) is the abhorrence of child abuse, any form, and the need to make sure that it doesn't happen again." The timing of Egan's comment coincides with the Vatican's four-day summit on the sex abuse scandal, titled "Towards Healing and Renewal." CNN's senior Vatican analyst, John L. Allen Jr., says the attitude behind Egan's denial was in fashion 10 years ago but has been abandoned. "Based upon this week's Vatican summit on sex abuse, the position that Egan expresses in the interview would not be in line with the positions of the Catholic Church," Allen said. Egan also denied the church has a responsibly to report cases of abuse, telling Connecticut Magazine, "There really wasn't much in the way of (things being kept) hidden. I don't think even now you're obligated to report (abuse cases) in Connecticut." That contrasts with a statement at this week's summit by the Vatican's chief prosecutor of sex abuse, who said the church has an obligation to report sex abuse. "Egan is stuck in a mind set that just isn't the case any more," Allen said. And Wallace told CNN, "We know the abuse was real and it happened. Catholics are united and it won't happen again." |
  About this blog
The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.  |
|
|
|
Maybe someone should bend his chubby ass over and give it to him like they did those little boys through the years... I think he might change his mind again.
Well phrased.
What can ANYONE say to this? The Church Hierarchy is the "evil" of the Catholic Church. NOT the members, not even the parish priests. The EVIL is in the Church's Hierarchy, the same ones that want "special dispensation" not to PAY their employees the insurance premiums required
"I don't think even now you're obligated to report (abuse cases) in Connecticut." Seriously? Can anyone from Connecticut tell me how on earth he can even think such a thing? Part of the problem was the fact that so many priests and bishops didn't feel obligated to report child abuse to the police. They simply sent the abuser to another parish or to a retreat so they "reflect" on their actions. This is one sick bishop.
Sometimes the statutes requiring people to report suspected child abuse specifically exempt the clergy. They did in Massachusetts, which is why Cardinal Law was never charged with a crime.
Ah, so what he is saying could basically be true. How pathetically sad for the children. Thanks for the information.
Gag me with a crucifix! And tell Santorum to shove it.
I left the church at the age of fourteen. That was fifty years ago. My relationship with God is between Him and me.
I bet you got a hotdog up the a$$ from the priest.
Or Her, or It.
Asda – you are an A** hole.
The Catholic church hierarchy lost its credibility. They should have attacked these pedophiles with full venom by ex-communicating the low lifes and turning them over to the police. Instead they just shuffled the pedophiles around. What did they expect. Those hiding these child abusers are as guilty as those doing the infractions in my eyes. I am agnostic but hope to God there is a hell for these people.
Prayer takes people away from actually working on real solutions to their problems.
Prayer wears out your clothes prematurely.
Prayer contributes to global warming through excess CO2 emissions.
Prayer fucks up your knees and your neck and your back.
Prayer can cause heart attacks, especially among the elderly.
Prayer reveals how stupid you are to the world.
Prayer exposes your backside to pervert priests.
Prayer makes you think doilies are exciting.
Prayer makes your kids avoid spending time with you.
Prayer prevents you from getting badly needed exercise.
Prayer makes you frothy like Rick Santorum. Just google him to find out.
Prayer dulls your senses.
Prayer makes you post really stupid shit.
Prayer makes you hoard cats.
Prayer makes you smell like shitty kitty litter and leads you on to harder drugs.
Prayer wastes time.
Wow...although I kind of agree with you on many points, I think you could have said it slightly less emphatically.
I'm an non-believer and don't believe that prayer has any power; but if others believe, why ridicule them unless you have some kind of personality disorder, which I highly suspect.
I am an agnostic but respect what people believe. Church or faith can be a good conduit for people and you know it. Does religion screw up, yes but the pros far outweigh the negatives I think. Good people are good people no matter what they believe in as a religion. I actually envy people that truly believe and accept things but the world needs people like you to ask questions too. Just do not say they are idiots because they do not agree with you. It honestly makes you look foolish. Just disagree in a positive note.
I pray you can escape from your Nazi mentality.
Your fourth from the last show how much you pray!
atroy ... but if "Prayer is not healthy for children and other living things" believes that prayer is not healthy for children and other living things .. why ridicule "them" for their belief?
Apparently lack of prayer makes you think you are really clever and funny and then you type some long stupid post .........
He's ridiculing a regular poster (who deserves it). Very funny.
Beautifully put together!
God have mercy on your soul at the hour of your death.
C'mon, man. Leave cats outa this.
A Catholic Cardinal out of touch with reality? Nooooooo. Not the Catholic Clergy, they are so with it and in touch with reality, their pretend sky friends told them so.
Even if he really believes this why would he retract his statement now? His contradicting himself makes him at best a hypocrite. Even if he believed this does he not see how the public would perceive this? He is either an idiot or demented or both. I was brought up Catholic and respect the religion but not a lot of the leaders, like this one.
"If there is one thing Catholics agree on, (it) is the abhorrence of child abuse, any form, and the need to make sure that it doesn't happen again."
Um..... it is probably happening right now, this very moment in many locaitons.
Religion, the last refuge of scoundrels.
C'mon, gregg. Everybody knows that "religion" is any "firmly held belief" from which someone derives their moral, societal, financial, familial... indeed, all understandings.
I suggest you check out your kids coaches, teachers...check out your neighbors....check out the politicians....etc. You haven't done your homework.
Ha Ha Ha Ha ! All the good little catholic apologists are making their usual rebutals. Nothing has changed in this foul cult that has so terrorized them in their youth that they are still more afraid of any priest than they are the for the well being of their own children. They continue to "offer" them to their sickos. SILENCE IS CONSENT ! Deny, deny, deny . . . Halejulia !
I'm 60 and went through the Catholic school system without any fear of the sisters and priests. To this very day, I very much respect the holiness of their vocations. My parish priests are the most open minded, caring, kind men that I know. I do retreats with the sisters and come away spiritually centered. No cult, but a true relationship with God. I apologize for nothing.
Maybe if contraception was allowed in the Catholic Church some of these child molester priests and their enablers would never have been born. I'm just sayin'
Could anyone design a worse response to this? The Catholic Church is neither.
Time to start taxing these religious organizations!
Time to start making these religious leaders accountable for their crimes.
Time to start taxing unions too!
Religion is an industry like any other, this idea that it is somehow special & immune to reality needs to stop now.
And while we're taxing unions, how about the AMA, The Bar Association, The Rotary, The Masons, Skull and Bones, the Illuminati, National Association of Manufactureres, Chamber of Commerce....ALL UNIONS....ALL TAXABLE!
Fine with me – tax them all.
Everyone should pay their fair share – no argument with that.
archie bunker takes back his apology??? i thought he was dead
It's been a long time since this scandal began to break, and yet these creatures continue to surprise. That's saying something.
yes, they are stuck in one of those hamster wheels...they just go round and round doing/saying the same thiing.
The best comedy TV enactment of what goes on in the Catholic church was done on South Park, who are known for their gems of truth found in the profane and sometimes disgusting humor. Not that there's anything funny about abuse, but the show really told it like it is; as they always do.
Which Is why I keep a tray of Peeps by my microwave year-round.
The bishops, cardinals an pope are about as out of touch with reality as human beings can get.
But they are mostly old geezers, hanging on to their power and authority, and sooner or later they will all be gone along with
their rigid and dark views, When you see them or hear them speak, do you feel "Jesus" coming from any of them? Hardly.
Which "rigid and dark views", David? Seriously. No, I don't "feel 'Jesus' coming from any of them" and frankly find little difference between Catholicism pre-enlightenment and Catholicism today. Methodologies have been adjusted but the religion is largely the same as that promoted by Constantine. So, which "rigid and dark views"?
Dear Religion,
Please go away. You are obnoxious, divisive, insulting, and abusive. The wise among us will no longer give you a free pass. We know that you are the an immense obstacle to human chohesion, the greatest threat to civil liberties, the justification of last resort for delusional morons, and...well...just downright idiotic.
It's time for the adults to take the reigns. Those of you with imaginary friends need to go play with them quietly in the corner. Mr. Santorum will meet you there.
You and your Nazi party can go away.
Without religion the United States wouldn't be the way it is now. Emigration to the US was largely due in part to religious persecution in Europe–initially in England and during World War I and II. Your "freedoms" are largely based on religious ideals written into law.
Be careful of what you wish for.
+1 to you. Religion is a cancer than needs to be eradicated.
Everyone is "religious". Everybody knows that "religion" is any "firmly held belief" from which someone derives their moral, societal, financial, familial... indeed, all understandings.
archimedes .. I agree with you, however you can't expect to help them by calling them "delusional morons". They need help breaking the conditioning they've been subjected to for their entire lives. This will take some time.
The wise folks are very much in a relationship with God, and belonging to a 'religion' is one way to gather even more wisdom. Hope Jesus gives you a free pass at the hour of your death.
how can anyone be catholic???
at least 1000 years of abuse of all kinds
the history of the church is on record
it can be read.........
anyone who gives this church/business money CONTRIBUTES to the abuse
Unfortunately, all the good the church has done, all the good people, all the good priests....... is erased by the Church's "middle managers". What a shame!
I am Catholic. I could never belong to any other church. Catholicism is the church handed down by Christ. The other Christians (Protestants, Mennonites, Mormons etc) came into being because they "protested" against one or two dogmas/beliefs of the original Church of Christ. I contribute monetary help to my parish and other Catholic organizations to help them carry on Jesus' Mission. When I hear uninformed statements like you just made....I want to contribute even more.
@betty.............Lance is right. Your beloved church is one of the most corrupt organizations in human history and has done much to retard the advance of civilization. Over the centuries it has been unable to leave indigenous populations alone, preferring to enter there cultures and ruin them to "save" them. It has colluded with most of the historical tyrants of Europe for the sake of power. It continues to oppose the rational cause of free human choice...........all based on an ancient, but comforting, myth that we don't really die. Reality is tough, lady, and the intelligent in every generation have always figured out that religion is just exactly what the old reprobate Karl Marx called it – the opium of the masses. I know hundreds of people just like you – good hearted, generous, helpful, kind, moral and desirous of a better world – who are unfortunately trapped by the psychology of your own childhood into continuing to believe in and support the jewel-encrusted, money centered, intellectually stunted and morally arrogant churchs of the world. The Catholic Church supports some fine social organizations, but as a religion is as backwards as they get.
As far as Jesus granting me forgiveness at the hour of my death, get real. There ain't no Santa Claus, there ain't no Easter Bunny, and there ain't no Jesus. But thanks for thinking of me and old Lance, anyway.