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.

Massachusetts Attorney General Thomas F. Reilly is examining theories that the Boston hierarchy may have acted as accessories to the sexual abuse of minors because under their supervision suspected priests continued to molest.

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.

Murphy had a hand in dealing with some of the most notorious cases -- those of serial pedophile priests John Geoghan and Paul Shanley -- and other less-known cases, such as that of Rev. Thomas Forry, an alcoholic priest and accused child molester who allegedly threw a rectory housekeeper down the stairs.

In Boston, Murphy's official title was vicar general and moderator of the curia; in essence, he was the chief of staff to Law from 1993 until Murphy arrived on Long Island in 2001. Murphy had more scheduled meetings with Law than anyone else in the church hierarchy, Law's calendars from 1993 to 2001 show.

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.

Demanding Bishop Murphy be thrown out of his post is out-rageous. It would make more sense for SNAP to pack it in and disband.

By any objective sense, it is Donohue's dismissal of SNAP and its members that is outrageous.
                                   William A. Donohue

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!!!!

Mr. Donohue takes private donations from the clergy (Code word for Cardinals and Bishops). He is a puppet to the Bishops to go after SNAP.

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 :

Part One  Part Two  Part Three  Part Four  Part Five  Part Six   Intermezzo   Part Eight   Part Nine  Part Ten   Part Eleven   Part Twelve   Part Thirteen   Part Fourteen   Second Intermezzo   Part Sixteen   Part Seventeen   Part Eighteen   Part Eighteen   Part Nineteen   Part Twenty   Part Twenty-one   Part Twenty-two   Part Twenty-three   Part Twenty-four   Part Twenty-five   Part Twenty-six   Part Twenty-seven   Part Twenty-eight   Part Twenty-nine   Part Thirty   Part Thirty-one   Part Thirty-two   Part Thirty-three   Part Thirty-four   Part Thirty-five   Part Thirty-six   Part Thirty-seven   Part Thirty-eight   Part Thirty-nine   Part Forty   Part Forty-one   Part Forty-two   Part Forty-three   Part Forty-four   Part Forty-five   Part Forty-six   Part Forty-seven   Part Forty-eight   Part Forty-nine   Part Fifty   Part Fifty-one   Part Fifty-two   Part Fifty-three   Part Fifty-four