IS TRUMP’S DOJ HOUNDING CATHOLIC CHURCH?

Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments on an AP story about a Trump administration probe of clergy sexual abuse in Pennsylvania:

The Associated Press has learned, from anonymous sources, that the U.S. Justice Department is investigating the Catholic Church in Pennsylvania. AP reports that U.S. Attorney William McSwain of Philadelphia has issued subpoenas seeking information on the clergy and seminarians who may have committed federal crimes. This follows the release in August of a Pennsylvania grand jury report on six dioceses in Pennsylvania.

A few years back, after one teacher, Brother Stephen Baker, in a northwestern Pennsylvania Catholic high school, was found to be an abuser in the 1990s, the Cambria County District Attorney asked the Pennsylvania Attorney General, Kathleen Kane, to launch a grand jury investigation into Bishop McCort Catholic High School.

Kane, who was subsequently found guilty on nine counts, including two felony perjury charges, dutifully complied. Next came a probe of six of the eight dioceses in the state (two had already been investigated).

The grand jury report by Kane’s successor, Josh Shapiro, was released in August. It was so incredibly delinquent—it is strewn with lies and unsubstantiated claims—that it occasioned a lawsuit by the Catholic League in September (it is before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court).

Why would the Trump administration decide to join the hunt for offending priests—most of whom are either dead or kicked out of the priesthood—at this juncture? If all it takes is one molester to trigger this avalanche of investigations, why is it that every other institution in Pennsylvania, beginning with the public schools, is free from scrutiny?

I have some suggestions for Mr. McSwain. He can begin by reading the Catholic League brief detailing the recklessness of Attorney General Shapiro. Then he should interview all the people named in our brief who contest the allegations made against them. Be sure to interview retired Bishop Donald Trautman and ask him about the lies made about him in the report. Ditto for Cardinal Donald Wuerl.

McSwain should then interview Shapiro and ask him why he won’t cooperate with those who are demanding the public release of a 10-year-old report on former East Stroudsburg University Vice President Isaac Sanders. He is charged with bribing students, sexually assaulting them, and forcing them to perform oral sex on him. Why is Shapiro protecting his buddies in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education who don’t want the truth known about one of their own?

The duplicity is sickening. We have one system of justice for the Catholic Church and one for everyone else. And now the Trump administration is jumping on board as well? Catholics need some fast answers.

So you approve of 2 systems of justice? You have completely missed the point. Public schools, where the problem is undeniably worse, will never get a grand jury investigation. The Attorney General Shapiro gets away with protecting his buddies and all you can do is harp over a 50 year old crisis that no longer exists. Every decent human being is appalled by clergy sex abuse and what you imply, that it's all news to Catholics and nothing has been done, is offensive.

Donahue is concerned about the erosion of rights. That is the subject. Anti-Catholics seem to be cheering on a double standard of justice. He is very much concerned about "crushed victims", but that is not the topic here. (you can find concern over "crushed victims" all over the League's web site) Frank Lee complains about "crushed victims" not being mentioned in every other line but cannot produce one Protestant that came face to face with any "crushed victims" and there are plenty of victims by Protestant clergy that will never see a grand jury investigation. ,Who does he think pays for the needed therapy? Every decent human being wants justice done, but what is described in the OP is not justice.

aspen said:

So donahue must be following the examples of the martyrs, huh?
Since when is Christianity about ensuring rights?

As far as the 300 priests in PA that formed their own pedophile ring......it is abhorant. We have nothing to say about it, but ‘I am sorry for turning a blind eye towards the leadership of my church and forsaking my brothers ans sisters in Christ. I will do my best to personally reach out and support you, the victims of this atrocity that occurred for years and is still occurring today, right under my nose. Please forgive me and hold me accountable for ministering to you, my brothers and sisters. Amen’

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Try reading the OP instead of joining up with the judicial lynch mob.

Frank Lee said:

Uncovering evidence against child rapists is not discrimination. Whether the pervert was wearing colorful priests robes or sears and roebuck overalls he should be stopped. Hiding behind some religion only magnifies the wickedness of the sodomites involved.

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Yes, it must be stopped, but not public school teachers. They are not Catholic so the judicial system gives them a pass. Wake up.