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Donohue's Red Herring on a Pedophile Protector.
Murphy was a top aide in the Boston Archdiocese, where the pedophilia scandal broke in 2002, and who played a pivotal role in the cover-up. As Newsday reported:
Overall, the public records show that Murphy, as Cardinal Bernard Law's top deputy in Boston for almost eight years, was involved in almost one-third of the priest sexual abuse cases at the heart of the scandal there. Not only did Murphy supervise the assignment of priests, he was privy to all confidential records on accusers' complaints, treatment and settlements. He also took care of accused priests' legal bills and helped arrange housing and jobs for them. As well as:
The internal memos show that Murphy's participation went from reassigning suspected priests to other Boston parishes and arranging for priests to be transferred to dioceses in New Mexico, California, North Carolina and other states without fully revealing the clerics' history of abuse. Timothy Echausse has a right to be angry about abusive priests and the hierarchy that shields them. He was sexually abused by a priest while growing up in Long Island, where the Diocese of Rockville Centre as in the Archdiocese of Boston, a shell game of hide the pedophile priests was rampantly played. Since then he has fought for justice for victims such as, himself and accountability from the Church to punish the guilty. Tim still lives on Long Island. One day he received an email from his lawyer regarding SNAP. The organization was founded by Barbara Blaine back in the 1980's - well before the 2001 revelations. Blaine is a survivor, and an advocate helping passing legislation to help children of sexual abuse. He went to a couple of meetings and was subsequently asked to run the local chapter. When Pope Benedict met with six victims of Boston area pedophile priests during his recent U.S. visit, Tim was asked to comment. His reply was straight and direct:
Timothy Echausse, director of the Long Island chapter of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said Benedict should meet with abuse victims, which is not planned. He said the pope's words would be "hollow" if Bishop William Murphy of the Rockville Centre Diocese - a former top aide in the Boston Archdiocese, where the scandal broke in 2002 - is allowed to remain in office. In response, three days later Donohue commented on the Newsday story, going after Tim Echausse with his usual reckless bluster:
Timothy Echausse, head of the Long Island chapter of the Survivor's Network of those Abused by Priests, is a testament to the vicious and vindictive nature of the organization as a whole ("Victims: Action needed on abuse," April 16). In rejecting the pope's promise to protect kids from sex abuse as "hollow" unless Bishop Murphy is removed from his position as head of the Rockville Centre Diocese, Echausse shows himself willing to cast aspersions on innocent men so long as doing so will get SNAP in the news. I recently interviewed Timothy Echausse about the Pope's recent response to the pedophilia scandal, Bishop Murphy, his role in cover-up with the Archdiocese of Boston and of course, Donohue's comments. He began by explaining his anger at Bishop Murphy:
Bishop Murphy comes from the Archdiocese of Boston. In the past fifty years over 1600 victims have come forward to state they were abuse by a priest. That's about 3 victims per month over fifty years. Bishop Murphy committed the sin of Careerism. He placed his career and aspiration of becoming a Bishop before the Children of Boston. Never once when credible allegations came across his desk, did he ever call the Police. Legally, Bishop Murphy had no obligation to call the police, but morally he must answer to GOD. Today, Bishop Murphy is in charge of the fifth wealthiest diocese. Tim then discussed the Pope's recent meeting with pedophile victims:
Pope Benedict said in 2005 on Good Friday "We must clean the filth in the Church". Pope Benedict pleasantly surprised me with his openness to address this "Shame" on the Church. He met with six victims from Boston. He must continue to walk with the Victims of clergy abuse, but we the Victims are asking Pope Benedict to move to action. Bishop Murphy must be removed from his role as the Bishop of Rockville Centre. And I asked him to comment on Donohue's disparaging remarks:
Mr. Donohue from Catholic League for Civil Rights is an oxymoron. I ask Mr. Donohue, what have you done to protect the Civil Rights of the Victims, who were abused by clergy? Nothing!!!! As I observed in my last post the Pope's gesture is a positive step forward -- but it will be an empty gesture if not followed up by immediate action that holds those accountable for their actions - whether they be priests or Bishops. Jesus said that what you do to the least of these, my brethren, you do to me. Christianity, by any reasonable definition, is not about empty gestures on behalf of children victimized for decades by those who have been appointed to speak and act in Christ's name. But don't ask Bill Donohue about that.
The Catholic Right: A Series, by Frank L. Cocozzelli : | |||||||||||
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