U.S. Clergy Appeals to Vatican: 82% of Priests Fear False Allegations
Priests accused of sexual abuse are publicly ruined before any wrongdoing is proven, sometimes without evidence. A report from the 'Association of U.S. Catholic Priests', founded in 2011, criticizes this practice in a letter addressed to the Holy See, reports Zenit.org on July 17th.
The report is currently circulating among the U.S. Bishops' Conference.
Accused priests are usually suspended, publicly named, or otherwise penalized before any investigation.
The priests' association demands adherence to due process and canonical protections.
"It's not about shielding the guilty," said Rev Jim Musumeci, one of the report's authors. "It's about ensuring the innocent aren't preemptively condemned in the process."
The report argues that unproven accusations can severely harm a cleric’s reputation, especially when the charges are never substantiated or when the accused has died and cannot respond.
Bishop John Brungardt of Kansas retracted a list of alleged abusers in his diocese, citing canon …More
Please keep in mind that, though this statement may be correct and good, the Ass. of USCP is thoroughly heterodox.
I hope the Bishops’ conference pays heed to this report. Too many good priests have been “thrown under the bus” because of accusations. A priest should be presumed innocent, unless there is evidence to the contrary. Don’t priests have civil rights? The bishops need to wake up and stop sacrificing priests’ reputations.
Some allegations are false. But many have been verified. When a priest abandons his daily Rosary, it is the beginning of his downfall. Priests need to keep an intimate relationship with Our Lady. She will then keep them close to Her Son.