CATHOLIC WATCHDOG GROUP SAYS SPRINGFIELD BISHOP
“IS OUT OF CONTROL AND CANNOT RUN HIS OWN DIOCESE”
The leader of a Catholic watchdog
group announced today that the formation of a clergy misconduct review
board, while a good idea, would merit “no credibility” if it failed to
include his organization on its committee.
Stephen G. Brady, president of the
Roman Catholic Faithful, Inc. (RCF) cited RCF’s investigation of former
Springfield, IL Bishop Daniel Ryan in his organization’s ability to bring
truth to the investigation. “RCF has been the only organization or
individual with credibility in investigating Ryan and the clergy of this
diocese since 1995,” Brady stated. “While the diocese repeatedly denied
allegations against Ryan and belittled and mocked RCF, RCF was proven
truthful resulting in [Ryan’s] removal from active ministry.”
Current Springfield Bishop George
Lucas announced at a press conference earlier today that he has asked an
independent (sic) team of investigators to examine allegations of clergy
misconduct in the diocese.
In his response to the announcement,
Brady stated: “Bishop Lucas seems to be admitting that the problem is out of
control and he cannot run his own diocese.” Brady also questioned the
propriety of the arrangement. “Who is paying for this work? Does the
committee answer only to the Bishop? This Bishop has a history of protecting
corrupt priests.”
In addition, Brady cited two of the
prominent members named to the board as “wholly improper. First of all, the
head of the team is Bill Roberts, who admitted knowing Bishop Lucas and
regards him already as a ‘committed man of great conscience’. By his very
statement, he betrays an existing bias and should be disqualified. In the
case of the second member, Ellen Lynch, she is employed by a local Catholic
diocese [Rockford in Illinois]. As such, she as well as any other employee
of the Catholic Church demonstrates a conflict of interest and should be
immediately disqualified.” Brady, instead, recommended that the team leader
be selected by an independent organization, such as the Illinois Association
of Chiefs of Police (www.ilchiefs.org).
Brady suggested that this action by
Bishop Lucas “may be nothing more than a pre-emptive strike by the diocese,
because the Bishop is aware that I have obtained first-hand testimony from
an individual who claims to have engaged in homosexual sex with Lucas.”
## END ##
|