Open Letter to the United States Conference of Bishops
To the Most Reverend Members of the USCCB,
I am a concerned Catholic professional with degrees in both civil and canon law. I am also a wife, a mother of three and a pro-life and anti-surrogacy activist. Consistent with the teachings of the Church, I have sponsored immigrants and assisted illegal entrants in attaining citizenship. My husband and I are active parishioners in San Francisco, California and Park City, Utah. We have raised our children in the Church and weathered with the Church the shocking exposure of suppressed incidents of sexual abuse against children by some of our clergy.
I have been faithful and involved.
The recent exposure of the sexual abuse by and lifestyle of Cardinal “Uncle Ted” McCarrick opens old wounds of betrayal by the clergy and a new, far more serious chapter in the moral authority of the Episcopal conference. The credibility and viability of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is now in question.
Those of us who have followed the Conference’s response to the 2002 Boston Globe expose found reassurance in the employment of the John Jay College of Criminal Justice to study, first, the scope of the sexual abuse and, subsequently, the causes and context of that abuse. We also embraced the USCCB’s 2002 Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People as a sincere statement of action and as a watershed moment creating transparency and cooperation with the laity to prevent any further abuse and scandal. Through contributions of time, talent and money, the laity stood side-by-side with the USCCB and our dioceses to expose, heal and compensate the gross sexual wrongdoing of clergy. We stood upon promises from our shepherds that reporting, exposure, and sexual safety were the new norms; admissions of wrong-doing and recompense and healing for victims, the new spiritual language; and zero tolerance of clerical predatory behavior, the uncompromised standard of all bishops.
Yet, here we awake again to scandalous headlines: “American Cardinal Accused of Sexually Abusing Minor Is Removed From Ministry” (NYT); “Man Says Cardinal McCarrick, His ‘Uncle Ted,’ Sexually Abused Him for Years” (NYT)); “Cardinal McCarrick, former archbishop of Washington, accused of sexual abuse and removed from ministry” (WashPost). Allegations now include sexual molestation of minors as well as sexual predatory behavior with young seminarians and priests.
More, media disclosures insist that the predatory behaviors of Cardinal McCarrick have been well known for decades. This from religion writer Julia Duin: “Numerous journalists – and Catholics – knew that McCarrick has been accused of this sort of thing for decades and that he cultivated male seminarians for sexual purposes for years.“ The American Conservative writer Rod Dreher makes similar assertions in his article “Cardinal McCarrick: Everybody Knew.”
Remember how, after Harvey Weinstein was busted as a serial sexual abuser, it emerged that a whole lot of people knew this about Weinstein, but never said anything about it? The same thing is true about Cardinal Theodore McCarrick . . . I had never heard that McCarrick abused minors, but I heard from many sources that he would go after seminarians. He had a habit of inviting them to his beach house and always inviting one more young man than there was bed space for. The unlucky mark had to bunk with the Archbishop, who loved to snuggle.
Allegations that Cardinal McCarrick’s inappropriate, predatory sexual behaviors were well known in journalistic and certain clerical circles raise a critical issue: Were the members of the USCCB aware of either these allegations against or the actual behaviors of Cardinal McCarrick’s? As the USCCB undertook the task of re-establishing credibility with the public and moral authority with the communal body after years of ignoring, misunderstanding and mishandling credible allegations of clerical abuse of children, was there knowledge that one of their own – then Archbishop McCarrick – should have been in the database of offenders, not sitting in the room?
As a lawyer, feminist and mother, I am reminded immediately, like Mr. Dreher, of Harvey Weinstein’s predatory behaviors and Hollywood’s blind eye. Has the USCCB behaved any differently than our civil celebrities who dared not cause public shame to one of their own?
I go further than Mr. Dreher, though, and reflect with alarm and dread on the conspiracy of silence that enabled and protected Jerry Sandusky of Penn State through his years of sexual predation. Is it possible that our Apostles of Christ disregarded known fact or allegations against “one of their own” even as they promised the laity that the USCCB would take every action necessary to provide a sexually safe environment for our young people?
While the USCCB is not a disciplinary body with respect to individual members, nor does it displace the primary relationship of each bishop with the Holy Pontiff, the conference functions as a primary community for the bishops. Its purpose is to foster “the communion of fraternal charity and zeal for the universal mission entrusted to the Apostles” and allow the bishops to “[pool] their abilities and their wills for the common good and for the welfare of the individual churches.” (Christus Dominus, 36).
The USCCB is not a union, a professional organization or a coaching staff. By canon law, it is committed “to promote the greater good which the Church offers mankind, especially through the forms and methods of the apostolate fittingly adapted to the circumstances of time and place, according to the norm of law.” (c. 447) This current scandal, along with pointed allegations in the press that Cardinal McCarrick’s predatory behavior was known to at least some of his fellow bishops (see Dreher, “Cardinal McCarrick: Everybody Knew”) raises legitimate concern that the USCCB, like Hollywood and the Penn State coaching staff, has enabled at least one of its members to engage in decades of sexually predatory behavior.
This scandal will not pass. It will not blow over. It is not a footnote to the sexual abuse crisis. Even as I write, I dread the headlines in the days ahead. How many more hurting, damaged victims of Cardinal McCarrick will finally be able to come forward? How many other bishops have engaged in similar predatory behavior or turned their backs on victims complaining of inappropriate sexual behavior by fellow bishops?
With this shameful exposure of Cardinal McCarrick’s history, the USCCB enters a new, ominous chapter. The bishops must confront serious questions about the role and credibility of the Conference itself, it’s ability to provide moral correction and guidance for the Catholic laity, and, whether it functions in compliance with Canon Law “for the common good and for the welfare of the individual churches” or has metastasized into an opaque organization for the positioning and protection of bishops.
I urge you toward disclosure, transparency, and communication. I urge you to commission a third study with a focus on how a sexually abusive bishop not only remained immune from the scrutiny that our priests underwent during the sexual abuse crisis but advanced in his Episcopacy. This study must detail what Cardinal McCarrick’s fellow bishops knew about both allegations and instances of sexual predation and what, if anything, the community of Bishops did to address the information. It must also fully and finally reveal the scope of sexual misconduct and allegations of misconduct by Cardinal McCarrick, as well as any other Bishop, detailing the Bishops’ own compliance with the standards imposed on all clergy in 2002.
I also urge the USCCB to promptly appoint a commission of laity to work with the USCCB on initiating this investigation and to formulate independent observations and recommendations regarding procedures for exposing, reporting and addressing sexual misconduct by our Bishops. It is critical to Catholics – who are called upon to encourage our sons toward the priesthood – to understand the scope of sexual predation, and its enabling, among our Bishops. The voice of the laity must be included and heard, for the voice of our Bishops has failed us.
In Christ,
Marjorie Murphy Campbell
How do we sign this in agreement?
I am astounded that we as a church are still running from the obvious. The hierarchy in many locations have concealed these criminal acts under the mistaken code of secrecy.
I was the attorney in 1983 who represented numerous victims of the abuse by Fr. Gilbert Gauthe in Louisiana. I speak from my knowledge that evil was present and will remain present until we as Catholics stop it
Excellent article! Now what do we as lay people who love our Catholic faith do??? I’ll copy & mail your open letter to my Bishop here in Orlando; but, then what? How can the laity get the ball rolling for a tough, non-partisan, civilian review board to scrutinize the awful history of the US CCB and fix things since they cannot do it themselves?
I would go to ChurchMilitant,com and go to the USCCB conference in November and protest in person,
I cannot believe there is not somewhere in canon law the requirement of excommunication for bishops who so gravely endanger the faith of millions by such scandalous and promiscuous behavior whether pedophilia or homosexuality. It is not enough to “laicize” them or to require a life of penance. Those who abuse their office should be excommunicated and left to “the mercy of God.” Luke 17:2
We may not be able to undo the evil done but we need to stop it from happening again. Free will is necessary to consummate a vow whether it be for marriage or religious life. Having a problem like homosexual tendencies negates the free will necessary to make the commitment. Ninety-five % of pedophiles are homosexual in nature. Thereby, those with homosexual tendencies should be disqualified from both Sacraments.
To hell with more investigations, studies, explanations, theories and palaver! The USCCB needs to be abolished by way of a spiritual nuclear bomb. Let the shepherds each tend their own flock answering directly to Peter as Christ himself established. This whole conference thing is just a worldly organizational device that advances power, pride and worldly politics into the simple and pure religion instituted be Jesus. Love first God and then your neighbor as yourself. Conference of Catholic Bishops indeed! A pack of “go along and get along” vipers.
Currently, sexual abuse in the Catholic Church is getting a lot of attention.
In Luke 12:2-3, Jesus said, “There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed on the housetops.” (All quotes are from the New American Bible ©2010)
When Jesus said that, nothing could be sent faster than the speed of a horse. Today, we have instant global communications in high-definition color. Secrets are hard to hide.
Pope Francis is to be congratulated and encouraged in his attempts to publicly deal with this problem. Even though he may have been part of it, let’s assume he is repentant enough to do something positive. However, so far, I have seen no solutions offered.
Try this solution: the rule that priests must be celibate may be a primary cause. Let’s look in Holy Scripture for some answers. Study 1 Timothy 3:1-13 and Titus 1:6-9. It is obvious that church leaders must be married men of good reputation, who are in the process of raising a family. This is a prerequisite for taking care of the church of God. When the Church is organized God’s way, success will be assured and blessings will follow!
The Bible is the Word of God, so why has The Church failed to take His words seriously?
Here are some strong words from Jesus Himself which have not been seriously considered and also completely ignored. Mark 9:36-37 & 42: Taking a child he placed it in their midst, and putting his arms around it he said to them, “Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me.” … “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe [in me] to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.”
A common argument for celibacy is, “It’s been the rule for over 1,700 years.”
Error, no matter how long perpetuated, never becomes truth.
Think about it.
You have many elements required to initiate yet another investigation into members of our USCCB. A vast and powerful majority of our current US Bishops are themselves men who are known among priests, bishops and laity to be child sexual molesters, rapists of adults and cover up artists. Various State Attorneys General must unify and file a massive multibillion or even a one or two trillion dollar class action suit against the Roman Catholic Church,
its USCCB, Insurance companies, Banks and the likes of complicit parties like the K of C. Together AGs must decide to protect its most vulnerable, even innocent citizens against these well organized sexual monsters hiding behind their self proclaimed virtuous lives, their avarice and human indifference toward sexual abuse victims of RC clergy! Their days of reckoning should first occur in courtrooms across America. Justice for the weak and vulnerable is decades past due. When will law enforcement and the courts stop shielding these evil ordained men? You must request both State and Federal Criminal investigate the current Catholic Church in the United States. Today there remains the last well protected, well financed, strongly legally represented very well politically connected and influential Organized Sexual Promiscuous Crime Mafia currently operating as the Roman Catholic Church here in the USA. Our bishops must be prosecuted and receive decades of jail time. Hundreds of thousand of kids and adults have been raped by our episcopacy and priests. Here in Washington DC Cardinal Gregory continues to champion the lies and coverups of world renown rapist Fr Adam Park. Just recently another child molester has been brought into the public square. Without Cardinal Gregory, Uncle Teddy could never have succeeded. I personally asked Gregory in my May, 2023 if he has ever lied down and had homosexual relations with men? I asked only for a Yes or No answer. He has not answered. This question should be aske to him in a court of law and under oath. He knows the true answer! So do others! Where are our police forces, the FBI, Treasury officials and use of the RICO Act? Do NOT laugh! This is an organized crime syndicate of ordained sexual predators! I wish I was wrong. A lot more work is needed here! The clergy will never clean up this mess. Only the laity will ever succeed. Either you really do something to destroy this powerful force of sexual evil, or simply stop complaining! Choices are ours together as decent human beings. No kids or adults ever deserved this kind of lifelong torture and anguish, suffering, self destruction and suicide, Its all up the the laity. I apologize if I shocked anyone. But what I have written is only the tip of a very horrendous power in our current American Catholic Church. Peace and blessings.
FR MICHAEL BRIESE
ARCHDIOCES OF WASHINGTON
What is really concerning is the report that ++McCarrick’s deviancy was an open secret yet nothing was done about it. This certainly gives the impression that other prelates were protecting him & enabling his treacherous acts against young seminarians. These prelates must be exposed immediately by those in the know – the victims & journalists who hold verifiable information about them. It is their duty to reveal their names & it would be an act of charity to the Bride of Christ as sodomites are opposed to CC Doctrine & want to rewrite scripture & the Ten Commandments. While it may well be said they have excommunicated themselves from Mother Church this excommunication must be visibly enforced, as they are not fit to be called successors to the First Apostles & their rise to high rank within the CC should be immediately terminated.
McCarrick’s successor, Donald Wuerl, is one of those prelates who “everybody knows” is a homosexual predator, and has known for decades. When Wuerl was rector of the seminary in Pittsburgh, the seminarians said that “you can’t get through St. Patrick’s without a twirl with Wuerl.”
How does one move a prelate from the “everybody knows” column into the “everybody finally says” column?
Thank you Arthur, I’ve been wondering the same thing. Are there any lawsuits against Wuerl that we don’t know about?
Wuerl is hiding and should be……………he will not escape.
I know seminarians who have left the seminaries wounded emotionally and spiritually because of homosexual harassment. Where can they reach out for help. Or be able to report for an investigation to be done
Anyone abused by catholic clergy is invited to a powerful program for healing abuse. Please check out Grief to Grace Ministries. Our program integrates psychological and spiritual perspectives and gives a place to work with memories and traumatic states followed by safely expressing anger and rage in order to release the profound grief as we reclaim our sexual dignity. This program is available in Latin America, USA, Europe, and Australia to provide hope and healing for victims of physical, emotional, sexual and spiritual abuse. It’s been spread by victims who searched desperately to find help that respected and understood the profound and shattering spiritual damage from abuse and it is considered an intensive “therapy for the soul.” Grief to Grace also work with many priests and nuns who have suffered abuse in their religious communities and seminaries. The clerical culture of secrecy and obedience is highly traumatizing, especially for those with previous histories of any form of child abuse or neglect. The church needs healing on every level. As one who has been working in the trenches of traumatic experiences for over thirty years, the McCarrick story is truly only the tip of the iceberg! I pray that all which has been hidden shall be revealed for the sake of the Gospel and the purification of the Catholic church. The backlash to whistleblowers CONTINUES TO BE swift and severe.
I am an active and committed lay Catholic in the archdiocese of Washington. As you say: this scandal can not be let stand. Our good priests I believe have heir hand tied. We need a vocal mass movement of laity to force the hierarchy to reveal: who knew, when did they know, who else. After that we need a clean out- down to the mustard seed if that’s what it takes. As for the Judas McCarrick: let him start by trying something he apparently has never done: a full confession: but this time to all of us. John 3:16
This author describes herself as a “lawyer, feminist and mother”? Is she perhaps aware that the conventional definition of “feminist” is diametrically opposed to the traditional concept of mother? Not to mention diametrically opposed to the teachings of the Catholic Church?
She, as well as I, believe that the “feminism” was highjacked by the nuts. We are pro life Catholic Feminists. Yes, she knows this and has written several articles on the topic.
Good to know— as that word “Feminist “ turned me off at the start of the article. Rest of it— spot on
This is your sole comment? Firstly, the author does not identify herself as a feminist. She writes for a website called NewFeminism. Have you visited this website? Perhaps it is 100% in line with Holy Mother Church’s teachings.
It is telling that you choose to put words in the author’s mouth rather than address her ideas. In an article about one more vile sexual predator harbored by the bishops, you chose to attempt to direct attention elsewhere by building a straw man. This is the same song and dance the faithful have been enduring at the hands of the clergy for decades.
My Sole comment? I will let the author address her own letter. I for one don’t think they will ever answer Marjorie or the people without cutting the funding out completely. Who built a straw man?
Not in the Webster dictionary. Check it out.
FIRST: Cardinal McCarrick has been REMOVED from ministry due to credible accusations of PEDOPHILIA, i.e. the Catholic Church has already investigated and determined McCarrick should be removed. The headlines and reports in the press (that alarm you and fill you w/dread) followed the Catholic Church’s announcement that McCarrick had been removed from ministry. What would be interesting to know is why they moved at all on McCarrick–was it pressure that headlines would be appearing? Did someone like Mo Rocca or other sodomites in the media tip the Church off that such headlines were coming?
When McCarrick was removed from ministry, all the dioceses in which McCarrick has ministered (ADW, ADNY, Newark & Metuchen) issued statements that this was the first they’d ever heard that McCarrick was a pedophile, but that they were all aware of his predatory behavior w/adults (they did not release the sex of the victims or that they were seminarians/priests, but, of course, they knew).
In some of the press stories that FOLLOWED McCarrick’s removal, writers of these stories testified that they knew of McCarrick’s predatory behavior against adults, specifically seminarians and priests under his direct employ.
You claim to reflect as a lawyer. a feminist and lastly a mother (never a catholic reflecting on her last end). You say you dread and are alarmed by the thought of MORE headlines. You claim that you believed the John Jay 2002 policies were being adhered to until suddenly these headlines burst over your ‘faithful’ head. And yet the allegations about McCarrick have been all over the blogosphere since at least 2008–surely you don’t claim that you never heard about sodomites and pedophiles in the priesthood? Why stop at the USCCB when the stories contain testimony that priests and cardinals went to Rome to personally tell the pope about McCarrick? Your entire letter is focusing on the past–not on the pedophiles and sodomites McCarrick has promoted (consecrated/ordained) as priest, bishop, cardinal, and pope. The actions you request (what a setup!) are ANOTHER lay board, another study, another commission. But why would those who cover up pedophiles and seek to discredit and destroy the victims (ala Hilary Clinton) suddenly incriminate themselves to a lay board that could destroy their careers, potentially land them jail and open them to financial damages in the billions of dollars (surely as a lawyer you should know better)?
To me you are writing as a Catholic ‘scribe’ who seeks first of all to cover/whitewash for your employer–like the scribes and pharisees of old. I know of no ‘faithful’ Catholic mother who had a family of three children until after 98% of Catholic women began using artificial birth control, until 30% of the abortions in the U.S. were procured by Catholic women. I know of no ‘faithful’ catholic feminist which is the advocacy of women’s “rights” on the basis of the equality of the sexes.. Feminism is the denial of women’s natural role to bear children (natural use of female body) which men cannot do. It furthers sodomy and pedophilia by mother forsaking children and motherhood (even to the extent of murdering own children; preventing their existence) to pursue selfishness. It is the female supreme court justices who married sodomites (what better proclamation of equality). You are the best friend of sodomite, pedophile clerics along w/those other faithful Catholics like Joe Biden and Governors O’Malley.and Brown who have forsaken Jesus Christ for earthly glory. Overall Catholics support sodomite marriage more than any other group (but oh the John Jay Report worked!). No doubt Catholics will be in the lead to support legalization of pedophilia if letters like this are any indication. Oh then there will be no more dreadful headlines that create uncomfortable questions for me and eliminate my pay raises/eliminate my jobs by taking ‘faithful’ money!
Who the hell are you talking to? Marjorie Murphy Campbell is exactly what she professes to be. She doesn’t “claim” to be any of these things…..she is all of these things and more. Because YOU don’t know any faithful Catholics, don’t believe that other have the same experience. How dare you attack the messenger for the message?!!!!! “lead support and legalization of pedophilia?” I am going to leave your comment because of my belief in freedom of speech…but truly you need to take your blame and anger elsewhere and not with Mrs. Campbell. I will be praying for you. –Claire Smith
I am a faithful Catholic wife, married 10 years, never used contraception, and only NFP to give me the best changes of conceiving. We have only ever had on pregnancy, and one child. I know several women in a similar situation with no children. The Bible is full of women who were infertile and only had one child. To base faithfulness to the Church on the size of one’s family is a false dichotomy.
I agree and want to sign this also http://www.woundedinourmidst.com June Council
Excellent letter! It is difficult for faithful Catholics to stand up for the Church while answering to these numerous cases of abuse. I have to keep reminding myself that the Church is the People of God and not these predators who have defamed The Body Of Christ.
Sexual sin is of grave consequence to Our Lord Jesus Christ-temptations/ deviant behaviour has been with mankind forever-
obviously the predatory-don’t ask don’t tell-behaviour is beyond the pale-more seeds of doubt sown-lives destroyed-The Body of Christ (The Church) literally puking due to malfeasance to the nth degree-All the “usual suspects” -those covering for and propagating their own sexual sin looking creepier and creepier-continuing to bring down the truly right and just shepherds-of which many are “called” – are they really “chosen”…
what is the answer-is there an answer-if you were Satan what Church would you chose to infiltrate and bring down?
Two points:
1. Sodomy differs from fornatication/adultery. The latter are natural acts committed by someone not married or by or with a married person. Both are grave matter, but they pale in comparison with sodomy. Sodomy is an unnatural act semper et ubique. That’s why it’s called a perversion.
2. Because a cleric or religious has been consecrated to God, these sexual acts are also sacrileges.
…St. Paul’s…
Thank you! Praying for all US Catholics at this difficult time (from across the Pond).
You will probably need to keep up the pressure: mobilise, petition, whistle-blow… You may well be attacked and abused, and there may be attempts to silence you. Keep going. Entrust everything to our Lady. What you have to do – like a long, dangerous surgical intervention – is of incalculable good for the Universal Church.
Thank you Ms. Campbell. I quite agree. This will not go away. In fact, I suspect it is revealing a far more dangerous iceberg beneath the surface: the extent to which homosexually-disordered men are controlling the Our Lord’s Church. Was it Phil Lawler who suggested we must know those clerics responsible for Cdl McCarrick’s promotions, as well as those whom he promoted? Though they may not be guilty, they are the first place to look if we are to begin unraveling this apparent network.
“I urge you toward disclosure, transparency, and communication. ” I don’t think you’ll see anything like that. Thank you, MMC, for this wonderful effort at bringing responsibility home to the USCCB. But it will never happen. A homosexual mafia runs the Church, and they won’t leave. They are like parasitical organisms in a host they find most congenial to their needs. They are wholly carnal. The level of their sin is very high — and very low in the sense of being deeply ingrained. The rest of us don’t count. Our spiritual needs don’t count. Certainly our opinions don;t count.
I have written up a pledge the likes of which we’ll all end up adopting someday. The only way to kill these parasites is to kill the host (in essence) by removing its money, its buildings and schools, and returning it to the catacombs.
The pledge:
“I swear that I will not contribute or help the American bishops raise a single penny for any individual bishop or the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops until those prelates resign who been involved in any way in homosexuality itself and/or the priest sex-abuse scandal – including merely being silent – or who are the ordinaries of any diocese that pays lawyers to defend any priest who has reasonably accused. God bless our priests, some of whom have been falsely accused, and many of whom have been oppressed, tyrannized, or persecuted for their orthodoxy by their bishops. We remind our bishops that they will one day answer not to us, the abused, abandoned, the mocked laity, but to God, the Lord of History. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is prudence.” (Proverbs 9:10) Amen.
AMEN! I couldn’t agree more.
Thank you Ron. I agree re withholding our financial contributions Our good friend, James Demers (RIP) had this message for unfaithful Bishops:
“To the bishops of North America who betrayed Christ, His sacraments, His holy Church, His Commandments, who denied Him His Divinity and
His mission as Messiah in their wholesale betrayal of Roman Catholic catechetics, one can only stand back and give them room to exhaust the torment their betrayal has ensured for them.
They, alas, have been warned that at the moment of their death, they will be the subject of a lightning-swift swap–their pectoral cross for a millstone. Their plummet to the depths will not occur in silence. They will be engulfed in the cries of a Niagara of lost souls cataracting into the abyss.”
James W. Demers (RIP) CHILDREN OF WINTER, How the Classroom is Murdering the Innocence of Your Child’s Soul
While our “Holy Father” sits on his throne in Rome chastising our leadership in America and lamenting about “global warming” affecting the globe, it seems theres a coverup conspiracy occurring right under his nose.
What a fraud this Papacy has been.
What does today’s Catholic church stand for?
Every one of his proteges, priests, bishops, Cardinals should be removed from their posts. But this will not happen. Probably he is the sacrificial goat given up by his peers.
No to studies and commissions or other bureaucratic blah,blah,blah. This is a very serious problem that will not be solved by the generation of even more paper.
The McCarrick news seems to me a diversion tactic. He is old and all but out of action, and he should be laicized. Once an active Archbishop or Cardinal is removed from office and laicized, then I’ll think that Rome is serious. Otherwise, it’s just show to appease the laity.
‘
Thank you, Marjorie Murohy Campbell.
If only Mother Angelica were at the head of our USCCB, I pray of her holy intercession to mend the Church Leaders and free our Church of these predators and silent onlookers.
May each of them be prosecuted to the full extent of the law, to protect evildoers is evil itself
Yes, we the lay people must keep an open eye and be not be afraid to speak up and stand up to evil we must be the good stewards of our Mother Church.
Thank you Marjorie for your continued work, faith and love of our Holy Church the Body of Christ, which is not brick and mortar nor lavish beachfront retreats.
“Ora et labora”
“work and pray!” Yes, we can pray that Mother Angelica intercedes for us.
There’s a typo here,
This study must detail what Cardinal McCarrick’s fellow bishops knew about both allegations and instances of sexual predation and what, if anything, the community of Bishops did [to] address the information.
Thanks!
How can we pressure the USCCB to act on this fine letter. I don’t think it is likely to happen unless Rome comes do wn hard, it only on the American bishops but on bishops throughout the world, as this is a crisis in the universal Church.
How sad that this is what we have to deal with in the Catholic Church
instituted by Christ. As if it were not enough that we had to deal with the revelations
of sexual predation by priests, publicized since 2001, now we hear of the truly despicable
actions of this man, a Cardinal of the church. Even worse, the fact that many priests and
bishops covered up these sinful behaviors and manufactured a “conspiracy of silence.”
What are we faithful Catholics supposed to do? I think the pledge given above in the
comments is a great idea. Get to the bottom of it, cough up all the gruesome details,
or we do not give money for building funds and other expenses of the church.
Thank you, Marjorie Murphy Campbell.
Thank you MMC, for being obedient to the call of the Gospel. There is a price to pay for being a prophet! May the Lord continue to sustain and guide you and all of us behind you. Pray to the Holy Spirit to show us the way to deal with the powers of evil once more. Pray with Ephesians 6.
Amen!
Very good letter!
Ya! You go girlfriend!! This is how accountability gets done. Hold their feet to the fire as long as you can. My heart was touched deeply at the thought of my own son going off to Seminary after college and coming back to me after having been raped or in other ways “turned” as if he’d gone to a prison and been jumped, instead of a Seminary of men trying to find holiness in their call to the Priesthood of Jesus Christ. The pain this must cause the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Sacred Heart of Jesus is incalculable. Precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of his faithful. The spiritual death of sexual assault sometimes takes an entire lifetime to heal. God bless all the victims of this predatory man, a real wolf in shepherds clothing. God bless. Ginnyfree.
Thank you. I will send your letter to my Bishop.
We converted to the Holy Roman Catholic Church during the period 2002 to 2005 in our old age – I was 71 at the time of our baptism at the Easter Vigil Mass in 2005. The 2001 – 2002 sexual abuse scandal was in full swing and making headlines all over this country, but we believed the theology and found supreme happiness in the love of Jesus and became confident this is God’s Church. This new rash of clerical abuse scandal now breaking over the world – Chile, Nicaragua, Ireland, the United States is disgusting and shameful. I listened to Marjorie Murphy Campbell twice on “The World Over” News on EWTN with Raymond Oroyo and read her letter carefully. I thank her for her forthright summary and urgings. The Bishops are derelict in their duty and responsibility if they fail to bring all facts to light immediately. Everyone should recall the words of St. Paul in First Corinthians, Chapter 6, Verses 7-11, “Do not be deceived; neither fornicators nor adulterers nor boy prostitutes nor sodomites …. will inherit the kingdom of God.” May God save His Holy Church.
The McCarrick-Wuerl position in favor of the mortal sin of giving Communion to pro-aborts, adulterers, sodomites, and lesbian Buddhists, is the position of all but about ten American bishops.
The moral corruption spread by McCarrick-Wuerl includes but goes far beyond use of male prostitutes, and rape of seminarians, priests, and children. Both McCarrick and Wuerl have been indefatigable crusaders for unworthy reception of Holy Communion.
read this in a comment box…. any other such reporting exist that affirms or denies? Must be determined, addressed. May Our Lord and Our Lady bring forth Their Victorious Triumph and Heart’s Reigns!
Good for you Marjorie! May the Holy Spirit cleanse our Church for we love it very much; and also to console all the innumerable good priests who are holy and serve the laity impeccably.
Read your letter last week and was with you on every heartfelt needed sentence. I just had a chance to see your interview with another true and courageous Christian; Raymond Arroyo. Very grateful for your stand and suggested solutions. Yesterday I was encouraged also in reading Ralph Martin’s letter ‘Dear Troubled Catholics’ on the Renewal Ministries website from Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Hi Ms. Campbell,
I saw you on Raymond Arroyo, and I was compelled to write you. My family recently went through an assault of a pedophile priest who was in our home. My wife and I did not know the gravity of this man’s abuse of boys until we received a letter from this priests archdiocese. I have brought this to the attention of many bishops who are revered as hierarchy and I was looked upon as a disease as though I was the one who abused 50 plus boys during a 20 year period. The letter was written on Feb. 12 of this year.. When you said that the laity need to be empowered to rid this pedophile problem from the Catholic church, I totally agree. I have given letter to people Archbishop Chaput, Rivitusa, Cardinal O’Malley and many more, and I was told over and over, the same thing, “This is not the right place for that letter”. Maybe I can send it to you, so that you can see the cover up of this man/priests pedophile? God bless you, Reuben Ortiz
When will our Catholic church understand that we are victims of our background, environment and upbringing?
Pope Francis is loved by the media and progressives because he is one of them and they love the fact they can backhand Catholic belief’s by “accepting” this socialist-leaning Pope. It is easy for the media to join Francis in his ideology (anti-conservative) while getting a pass from his belief’s to remain PRO ABORTION, supporting same sex marriage, and falsely support ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION which is an abuse of the citizens of Mexico while straining the hard working citizens of our country through the millions who access free government benefits including healthcare. The cost is NEVER disclosed but progressives always state, “they are hard working and pay taxes” yet this is not true since millions earn “under the table cash” and are not on the “books” yet the still access our citizen designed welfare programs so Wake UP … being selected as the new Pontiff was well orchestrated to feed the progressive and now disclosed gay community our Priests, Bishops and Cardinals have either participated in, kept under wraps … complicit in allowing it to flourish.
Repentance is now the only option, but not repentance as our society has become accustomed to but repentance and responsibility which can only be understood by resignation of their offices and collars. It is better for the Church to be a group of CHRISTians in ACTION and not word only.
The “go along to get along” attitude among our clergy and the Gospel of Love for everyone has created a church that has no, zero boundaries. This is NOT CHRIST’s teachings but those who sit in that world have used the Gospel of Love to be the condemnation of those of us who follow Christ’s teachings as the Bible dictates.
The Church has FAILED AT THE PULPIT for many years in its quest to be “accepted” and not set limits to its Parishioners and laying the falsehood of “God’s Love is sufficient” which does not coincide with both the Bible and Jesus’ teachings. It is time for a reckoning among all believers who call themselves Christian Catholics, yes that also include all of the Clergy, from Deacon, Priest, Monsignor, Bishop, Cardinal, and of course the Seat of Peter, our Pope. Repentance and responsibility is required and the Confessional is not a sufficient substitute for action required to absolve us from sin.
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