>> > Ahem! >>> >>> Do you mean to say that a Catholic Priest is more likely to commit a >>> scandal than any other member of our civilization? >>> >> > JDG > >Well, if said Catholic Priest is an American Cardinal, then I suppose >the odds are more than 50% that they or their minions have (a) told >people complaining of child abuse by one of his priests that the >matter is being properly handled, (b) shipped the priest off to >another parish, and (c) not told anybody in the new parish what is >going on. > >That's a level of sinfulness which, thank God, very, very few of the >rest of us attain. But there's something about the process of >becoming a Cardinal that turns you into a moral imbecile, or worse... > > >I'd like to mention that no one has been *convicted* of such crimes yet.
But it ain't a crime. A Cardinal--Law or Egan or Mahony--or one of their auxiliary bishops comes in, reassures the family of the victim that the case is being properly handled and that the offender won't commit this crime again, transfers the guy to another parish in another part of the diocese, and tells everyone who knows to shush. That's not a crime (on the part of the Cardinal, or the auxiliary bishop). At least, that's never been a crime yet. It may well be a civil offense--the diocese may owe victims a h*** of a lot of money--but it isn't a criminal offense. But I think it's likely to become a crime in the future... Brad DeLong
