Eight years ago Fr. Emile R. Boutin, who was then serving at Immaculate Conception parish in Stoughton, Massachusetts, joined 57 other Boston-area priests including the infamous Fr. Walter Cuenin in calling upon Bernard Cardinal Law to resign. This 2002 letter said:
Dear Cardinal Law:
It is with a heavy heart that we write to request your resignation as Archbishop of Boston. We have valued the good work you have done here in Boston, including, but not limited to: your advocacy for the homeless, your outreach to the Jewish community, your opposition to capital punishment, and your leadership in welcoming immigrant peoples. However, the events of recent months and, in particular, of these last few days, make it clear to us that your position as our bishop is so compromised that it is no longer possible for you to exercise the spiritual leadership required for the church of Boston.
As leaders of many parishes that make up this Archdiocese, we hear from the people their call for a change in leadership. The revelations that have come to light a few days ago challenge the credibility of your public statements. The people of this Archdiocese are angry, hurt, and in need of authentic spiritual leadership. We believe that despite your good work in the past you are no longer able to provide that leadership.
While this is obviously a difficult request, we believe in our hearts that this is a necessary step that must be taken if healing is to come to the Archdiocese. The priests and people of Boston have lost confidence in you as their spiritual leader. See here.
Now, Fr. Boutin finds himself charged with indecent assault and battery.
Will Fr. Boutin now resign?
Talk about hypocrisy! Cardinal Law may have been wrong (hindsight is 20/20) to trust psychologists and others who assured him that priest-abusers were ready to return to ministry. But Father Mike has been actually charged with sexual assault.
ReplyDeleteThe letter which Fr. Boutin signed asking Cardinal Law to resign asserted that, "The people of this Archdiocese are angry, hurt, and in need of authentic spiritual leadership. We believe that despite your good work in the past you are no longer able to provide that leadership."
ReplyDeleteThe people of the Archdiocese are STILL hurt and angry and in need of authentic spiritual leadership. And Father's actions prove quite conclusively that he is not up to the task.
The same may now be said of him.
Although he has not been found guilty in a Court of Law, there evidently was sufficient evidence to charge Fr. Mike. Which is why he now faces criminal charges. Which is why the Archdiocese has removed him from ministry until this matter is resolved.
ReplyDeleteCardinal Law definitely mishandled abuse cases while in Boston. I don't think any thinking person disputes this. Which is why he resigned and apologized profusely. But he was not charged with a crime. Fr. Mike has been charged with a crime.
He demanded Cardinal Law's resignation. He should tender his own if found guilty. Or does he hold others to a standard he refuses to live up to?
You can be certain this was not the first evening soiree into the rest stop woods for Emile Boutin (I'll not reverence his name with "Father"). Anonymous sex at wooded rest stops continues to be a favorite activity for many promiscuous men with truly disordered sexual identity issues. Alcohol is frequently a factor in these episodes, so addiction must also be considered. Therapy (and AA) does work, and has benefitted numerous fellows like Mr. Boutin. God does want to heal you, but you must be willing to admit your failings and accept His healing.
ReplyDeleteWas there a minor involved with Mike Boutin ??
ReplyDelete