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A law suit, now pending in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, was filed on December 13 by Bob Hoatson--a 53-year-old New Jersey priest considered a stalwart ally among survivors of sexual abuse by clergy. Hoatson, the now-suspended chaplain for Catholic Charities in Newark, is suing Cardinal Edward Egan and nine other Catholic officials and institutions, claiming a pattern of "retaliation and harassment" that began after Hoatson alleged a cover-up of clergy abuse in New York and started helping victims.
But that's not all his lawsuit claims. Halfway through the 44-page complaint, the priest-turned-advocate drops a bomb on the cardinal:He alleges that Egan is "actively homosexual," and that he has "personal knowledge of this." His suit names two other top Catholic clerics in the region as actively gay - Albany bishop Howard Hubbard and Newark archbishop John Myers.
Let's see what the Pope does about this...
9 Comments:
I'm waiting for some of Pope Nazi's tricks to do the same.
posted by Anonymous, at
2/08/2006 9:32 PM
Of course none of us are surprised; the vatican will do what they always do--steely silence and pretend it doesnt exist. Gary (NJ)
posted by Anonymous, at
2/08/2006 11:36 PM
While I am not a fan of Cardinal Egan, I actually read the Village Voice article, and it is not about about outing gay priest, it is about perpetuating the idea that homosexulas=child molesters, which is stupid, illinformed and wrong.
Bishop Howard Hubard of Albany and the Bishop of Newark, in the other hand, are good people. They have suported AIDS work and have NEVER been like the other roman catholic nazis. They implemented in their Dioceses AIDS ministries that effectvelly helped people and were always inclusive, they -quietly- supported Gay and lesbian Ministries and are, for all this people of God.
The child molestation situation, while it is sad and painful, have been used wrongly by ultraconservatives to put make the asumption that homosexuals are all child molesters, which is stupid and wrong.
This article in the Village voice is not a good thing, is just another dirthy trick from the fundamentalists. Real Christians don't do what the fundamentalists do.
posted by Anonymous, at
2/09/2006 10:18 AM
Methinks you have missed the point entirely. The point of the "outing" of Egan and the others was to explain why the fear of blackmail by other priests who knew of their orientation and activities cowed the heirarchy into such shameful tactics with regard to pedophile priests and their victims. Hoatson states that he is in favor of full civil rights for gays, and believes that a homosexual orientation is compatible with service in the priesthood. He has been frustrated for years in his attempts to help victims and by the lack of empathy shown to them by the church. I think he is very brave in answering the all-important question that has flummoxed so many: why wouldn't these bishops want to agressively pursue abusive priests, replace ages of secrecy with transparency so as to restore faith in the institution, and return dignity to the good guys remaining? The answer, of course, is that they are living a lie, forced to pretend to a flawed church teaching because of their own orientations, and scared to death that all of the priests who have had sexual contact with them (or know of others who have)are capable of ruining them if they go after a pedophile with connections.
Hoatson may be a modern saint if he is successful in cleaning up this awful mess.
posted by Anonymous, at
2/12/2006 11:28 AM
I personaly think that there is more to the story, though I feel sorry for teh child if the abuse occured and fits into the New York State's definition of Sex abuse, since it has been found that many have lied to the court, to obtain quick cash form the Church. God Bless
Pope and Nazi should never be used in the same sentence, during WWII in 1940 the Pope was the only person who had the balls to stand up against Hittler. The Pope also sighned an agreement to protect ALL christian churches even orthodox and protostant churches. It seems that we have forgotten the good and greatness of the Roman Catholic Church. May peace be with you John M (NY)
posted by Anonymous, at
11/04/2006 11:37 AM
The Catholic Church has also been made to look like the whore from Revolations. The Sex Abuse cases, 2.5% of all American Priests have been accused, that includes informal and formaly. 1.2% were found guilty by the State courts and by Church courts. Also Catholic Priests are least lily to commit a sex realated crime since they can't marry. Protosant Ministers and Rabi's are about 220% more likly to commit a sex related crime. Thank you mass media!
