There was a time when we needed a group called Catholic Whistleblowers, but this assembly is a little too late: they missed the boat by a half-century. The homosexual scandal began in the mid-1960s and ended 20 years later. Today, it hardly exists. In 2012, six credible allegations were made against approximately 40,000 priests. To put it differently, if someone said in 1955 that we must do something about polio, just after the approval of the Salk vaccine, we’d think him nuts.
One might think Catholic Whistleblowers would blow the whistle on bishops shielding molesting priests. But they can’t name one. The best they can do is mention Father Michael Fugee’s arrest in Newark for violating a judicial order. In the 12 years since his case was thrown out of court—for groping a teenager while wrestling in front of family members—there have been no complaints. No matter; this is all about getting Archbishop John Myers, not Fugee.
It’s Anne Barrett Doyle of BishopAccountability who is responsible for forming the new group. If she’s in earnest, she can begin by finally naming the 55 predator priests her entity says Cardinal Timothy Dolan is hiding. She knows the accusations are a lie.
Sr. Maureen Turlish is another member, known for calling allegations made against priests in the Philadelphia grand juries “facts,” although over 20 of them are patently untrue. Fr. James Connell, now a hero to victims’ groups, was himself charged with covering up for the worst molester in the history of the Catholic Church in America. Fr. Thomas Doyle believes Jesus Christ didn’t found the Catholic Church, and that the Mass is composed of “magic words.” Robert Hoatson, a former priest, picketed the building where the Catholic League is housed wearing a sign, “Cath. Lg. Opposed to Jesus.”
What a motley crew. They’re fighting a war long over. Alhough it’s not easy to do so, it’s about time to let go. Let the healing begin.
