New York cardinal strikes back at priest-critics
Oct 24, 2006
In a tough response to priests who circulated an anonymous letter criticizing his leadership, New York's Cardinal Edward Egan has implied that the criticism was prompted by priests who have been accused of molesting young people.
Oct. 24 (CWNews.com) - In a letter to priests of the New York archdiocese, dated October 20, the cardinal promised to take action against priests who, after having been accused of sex-abuse violations, bring their complaints to the media.
The anonymous letter circulated by some New York priests earlier this month did not mention sex-abuse accusations. However, Cardinal Egan said in his response, "At the core of the letter… are stories that are being told by priests who have been found guilty of sexually abusing minors."
The cardinal said that anonymous accusations have damaged the archdiocese, especially because the media have amplified the priests' complaints. "This situation cannot be allowed to continue," he said in his October 20 letter.
The cardinal affirmed that the archdiocese has been fair and thorough in investigating complaints against priests, and expressed confidence that a thorough investigation of each case would demonstrate the fairness of the Church policies. However, he charge, priests who complain to the mass media are not forced to back up their complaints. "Unfortunately, no one challenges what they have to say," he said.
In the future, Cardinal Egan warned that after a priest is found guilty of sexual abuse, "if he is reported to be speaking untruthfully about the matter, he will be called in to see me and invited to write a letter correcting his statements and offering his apology. His letter will then be made public."
If the priest refuses to make a public apology, the cardinal continued, he will be brought before a special archdiocesan panel to review his case. While promising to abide by the panel's decision, the cardinal said, "I have no doubt what the conclusion of the panel will be."
In his October 20 letter Cardinal Egan does not address the specific complaints listed in the anonymous letter, which charged that his leadership has been characterized by arbitrary decisions and a lack of contact with the New York archdiocesan clergy. Those complaints appeared to reflect widespread opinions among New York priests, not merely those accused of sexual abuse.
New York cardinal strikes back at priest-critics