now 52-year-old man was forcibly fondled at the age of 13 by one
unnamed priest along with a Father Mike Tierney, who served at St.
Elizabeth from 1971 to 1976. Tierney is currently a pastor at Christ the
King in Kansas City.
Doe claimed he repressed memory of the events until 2008.
In 2008, I wrote about the shockingly high percentage of church sex scandal victims in Kansas City who claimed they were molested at St. Elizabeth ("The Ghosts of St. Elizabeth"). One victim described being dressed in short-shorts, given a feather duster, and asked to get up on ladders and clean while old priests ogled him. Another said it was an open secret while attending school that if you wanted to get by in class, you could always get friendly with the priests.
Had the former student who wanted to purchase the rectory been able to do so, his plan was to replace the structure with a memorial to the victims. It's a nice dream I wouldn't recommend waiting for.
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And another thing: the liberal, secular media (e.g. the KC Star and The Pitch) should adhere to some semblance of a journalistic ethic by not printing a one-sided story like this. Or, if they print it, they should at least omit the name of the priest as well. This, for the same reason that in the ubiquitous political ads, there is a requirement that when one politician slanders another, s/he take ownership of it per the phrase, "My name is ______, and I approved this message."
So this is the justice of our society - that a priest is made the subject of a horrendous allegation, which may or may not be true. And his accuser is not mentioned by name. Why? To protect his "dignity"? Nobody thinks twice about dragging the priest's name through the mud. But heaven forbid that the accuser, who, as John rightly points out, stands to make a small fortune, refuses to be made known. He conceals himself behind the shroud of anonymity...pathetic.
It's simply a money grab for most of these people. Their memories get better when dollar bills pop up when these groups let them know they can cash in.
The Catholic Church has money and it makes them a target for every huckster and attorney in the country.
My heart goes out to all the victims of childhood sexual abuse At St. Elizabeth parish in Waldo who have found the strength to come forward and name the crimes that have been perpetrated against them. It should never have happened.
It will never be known how many children would have escaped being raped and sodomized if those who knew and enabled such horrible acts did what they were supposed to do - protect the Lord's little ones. The statutes of limitation should be removed in every state in the country.
HOLDING CLERGY AND CHURCH LEADERS ACCOUNTABLE BEFORE THE LAW
Professor Marci Hamilton and Sister Maureen Paul Turlish on NPR's Radio Times on WHYY in Philadelphia, April 12, 2010
http://whyy.org/cms/radiotimes...
Sister Maureen Paul Turlish
Victims' Advocate
New Castle, Delaware
maureenpaulturlish@yahoo.com
____________________
Let every person with a repressed memory from 1971 (that's nearly 40 years ago) remember that they can try to make money off the Catholic Church.
Remember folks, there is $$$$$$$ to be made. Step up, make an accusation, and the cash registers will ring (in an attorney's office).
Thank goodness there is even an organization like SNAP to guide you.
Let's hope that every person who saw, suspected or suffered clergy sex crimes in Kansas City finds the strength and courage to come forward and get help. Healing is possible, but only if we are brave enough to speak up.
David Clohessy, Director, SNAP, Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, (7234 Arsenal Street, St. Louis MO 63143), 314 566 9790 cell (SNAPclohessy@aol.com)
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