If only their crimes had been exposed 50 years ago…


More horrifying stories are emerging from the Altoona diocese. What needs to be kept in mind is that that area of Pennsylvania is perfectly ordinary and fairly conventional — it is no pit of depravity. It just happens to be a region where Catholic amorality is getting exposed.

“Father Francis McCaa was a monster,” the grand jury stated.

The investigation found 15 of his alleged victims, abused between 1961 and 1985.

“In some cases children tried to report their abuse to their parents … but were not believed … the grand jury aches at hearing the hopelessness these victims felt when being offended on by a pastor they were taught to respect and honor,” the report says. Some parents punished their children for accusing the “friendly” monsignor, the report says, though at one point the bishop at the time, James Hogan, was confronted by a group of “outraged parents” and promised action.

Hogan met with district attorney Gerald Long and assistant DA Patrick Kiniry, both now serving as judges in the area, the report says, though no charges were brought.

McCaa was removed from the diocese and replaced with a priest who is also named in the report as a pedophile.

McCaa retired in 1993 and died in 2007.

I guess he’s in heaven now. I wouldn’t be surprised if St Peter is in on the coverup.

Comments

  1. robro says

    He [Monsignor Michael Servinsky] said some priests were dismissed and others were allowed to retire “because if we dismissed them, they would not have any income, and that would not be just”.

    Income wouldn’t be a problem if they were in some form of correctional institution. Seems plenty just too.

  2. says

    From the linked article:

    Now the extent of abuse in the diocese is being unveiled, though notably after the statute of limitations has expired for both criminal and civil action

    I disagree. On RICO and Statute of Limitation:

    RICO Act itself does not contain a statute of limitations but the Supreme Court has held that civil RICO claims are subject to a four-year statute of limitations. […] However, the statute of limitations on a civil RICO claim tolls if the plaintiff pleads the following three elements with particularity: (1) wrongful concealment by the defendant

    I’m not a legal expert, but the cover up by the catholic cult reeks of being a long term and organized plan to protect its assets. Pedophilia and rape by its clergy is not limited to a single person, it’s a worldwide conspiracy among thousands to move around criminals and protect them and money. RICO laws have been successfully used against the mafia, and they would work just as well on the catholic cult.

    Every diocese is a disease, and society needs a cure.

  3. says

    Some parents punished their children for accusing the “friendly” monsignor,

    Ah, fuck, that’s all too familiar.

  4. Beatrice, an amateur cynic looking for a happy thought says

    I don’t actually expect Catholic Church as an institutions to finally start diligently reporting abusive priests instead of just relocating them. I do expect parents to believe their children when they report abuse and I expect individual priests or nuns who know about the abuse to report it.
    It’s shameful that this kind of thing is still happening with the blessing of Catholic authorities.

  5. mirrorfield says

    I guess he’s in heaven now. I wouldn’t be surprised if St Peter is in on the coverup.

    I have a sneaking suspicion that his final destination might be …bit lower… shall we say, although the final judgement belongs to …higher authorities. Ninth Circle, round 3, reserved for betrayers of their guests sounds about right. Maybe Eight Circle, Bolgia 6, reserved for hypocrites.

  6. says

    But all these people have been excommunicated and imprisoned now, right? I mean, the new pope is cleaning house, isn’t he? I’m sure I remember being told that this time everything would change.

  7. Alverant says

    @mirrorfield
    Before you assume he went to the other place, look up how old the Virgin Mary was when God knocked her up without her consent. I’ll give you a clue at how young she was; McCaa and God are probably swapping stories about the pleasures of young flesh.

  8. Pierce R. Butler says

    LykeX @ # 7: … the new pope is cleaning house, isn’t he?

    Francis vowed on taking office that he would clean up the pedophilia problem – just as his predecessors did.

    This promise will become a permanent part of the papal inaugural, a tradition that will continue for centuries beyond counting.

  9. says

    LykeX @7:

    I mean, the new pope is cleaning house, isn’t he? I’m sure I remember being told that this time everything would change.

    Please tell me you’re not holding your breath on that.

  10. robro says

    Apropos feature on the Wikipedia front page this evening about GRACE. And I quote…

    Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment (also called GRACE or G.R.A.C.E) is a Virginia 501(c)(3) non-profit organization formed by Basyle “Boz” Tchividjian to assist evangelical groups in confronting sexual abuse, particularly child sexual abuse, within their organizations. Tchividjian is the grandson of Billy Graham and a law professor at Liberty University, who formerly worked as a prosecutor on sexual abuse cases.

    Needless to say, it’s not just Catholics. Tchividjian seems to get part of the problem (authoritarianism, protecting the church), although I don’t think he gets the solution: “confess, repent, and reform” isn’t going to stop this beast. For example…

    GRACE’s first investigation was a school for missionary children in Senegal found run by an organization called New Tribe Missions. Naturally, they found that the “abuse had been more extensive than had previously been thought.” And, after that report, allegations at nine more schools run by the same organization emerged. At that, New Tribes Missions found another investigation organization. After two years they have completed one.

    So, yeah,a lot like Catholics.

  11. EnlightenmentLiberal says

    It’s shameful that this kind of thing is still happening with the blessing of Catholic authorities.

    Not just shameful. It’s outright criminal. The United States already makes it criminal to donate money to foreign terrorist organizations. Why not add all donations and money transfers to foreign elements of the Catholic Church to that list until they open up all of their documents concerning child rape, plus whatever measures are deemed necessary to stop this shit. It would be totally constitutional and legal. Oh wait, I know the answer. Because it’s a religion. Because it’s a religious organization, they can get away being an international child rape ring. That is shameful – and that reflects on most of the American population.