Catholic Church Paid Cash to Child Molester Priests

In Milwaukee, Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan authorized the Catholic Church to pay up to $20,000 to priests who abused, molested, and raped kids to get them to leave the priesthood. Dolan doesn't appear to have notified the police about these child molesters and child rapists, he just offered them money.

That he knew what he was doing was wrong is revealed by the fact that when he was asked about this at the time, he denied it categorically.

"It was a way to provide an incentive to go the voluntary route and make it happen quickly, and ultimately cost less," said Jerry Topczewski, the spokesman for the archdiocese. "Their cooperation made the process a lot more expeditious."

Source: The New York Times

This would perhaps be consistent with not wanting the public or the authorities to learn about the molesters and rapists -- just keep things quiet and simple.

Cardinal Dolan, who is president of the national bishops' conference and fast becoming the nation's most high-profile Roman Catholic cleric, did not respond to several requests for comment.

Well, at least he's not lying by calling the report "false, preposterous and unjust," which are the words he used when first asked about this happening.

It's worth noting that this information has only come to light through documents unearthed during the bankruptcy proceedings that the Archdiocese of Milwaukee is going through. Without that, this information would still be kept secret from the world.

The newly revealed document is the minutes of a meeting of the finance council of the Milwaukee archdiocese from March 7, 2003, which Cardinal Dolan attended. The archdiocese was facing a flood of potential lawsuits by people claiming abuse, and the church's insurance company was refusing to cover the costs because it said the church had been negligent. The minutes noted that "unassignable priests" -- those suspected of abuse -- were still receiving full salaries.

The minutes say that those at the meeting discussed a proposal to "offer $20,000 for laicization ($10,000 at the start and $10,000 at the completion the process)." Instead of salary, they would receive a $1,250 monthly pension benefit, and, until they found another job, health insurance.

Maybe the police should just assume, as a matter of course, that Catholic diocese are all hiding evidence of criminal and/or unethical behavior and act accordingly?

It should be remembered just who Timothy Dolan is. As head of the Catholic Conference of Bishops, he has been at the forefront of all their most recent political activity. He has led the way in using the power and respectability of the Catholic Church to fight reproductive rights, gay rights, health care coverage, marriage equality, and more.

Timothy Dolan consistently argues that his religious rights trumps the civil rights of everyone else in society. I wonder if perhaps that same premise has informed his handling of priests who rape children?