The Archdiocese of Boston, as explained here, says that "The law of the Archdiocese of Boston requires all clergy, archdiocesan personnel, and volunteers to contact the appropriate civil authorities when a person has knowledge or reasonable cause to suspect that a person under eighteen (18) years of age is being, or has been, abused or neglected."
And yet, Father Emile "Mike" Boutin, who is now being charged with indecent assault and battery on an adult male, has reflected on the abuse crisis within the Church at his Blog and has said that "..one of the 'serial offenders' was my friend and priest mentor. He was the pastor of my home parish, and served as my priest mentor in a number of parishes I worked in during the summer while in the seminary. On the day of my ordination, he was chosen by me to put the priestly vestment, the chasuble, over my head for the first time. He abused countless altar boys, including most of the ones who served at my First Mass as a priest...I don't look at my ordination or First Mass pictures any more...Why won't I name him? Why don't I just print his name here and destroy his life the way he destroyed so many other lives? Because I can't...and that's part of the problem."
And so, Father Boutin refuses to comply with both civil and ecclesiastical law. And in refusing to report crimes against innocent children, Father Boutin betrays justice: the giving to another of what is due him. The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us that, "Justice toward men disposes one to respect the rights of each and to establish in human relationships the harmony that promotes equity with regard to persons and to the common good." (1807).
Father Boutin would rather ignore the rights of those abused by a "serial offender" in order to protect a friend, a "mentor." Some mentor. And so he turns his back on innocent children. He refuses to look at pictures which might disturb his conscience.
It was Cardinal O' Malley who said, during his Installation Homily given on July 30, 2003, that: "...the Catholic Church is working to create a safe environment for young people in our Churches, schools and agencies. It must never be business as usual, but rather a firm commitment of every diocese, parish and school to do all we can to avoid the mistakes of the past and create safeguards for the future."
I guess Father Boutin wasn't in the audience that day.
Mentor indeed. Was Father Mike abused by his "mentor"? And if his "mentor" was such a positive role model, why is Father Mike now charged with indecent assault? All valid questions. Here's another question: Father Mike posted this at his Blog back in April - almost 3 months ago - why is it that no one from the Archdiocese of Boston has called upon Father to provide the name of this "serial offender"?
ReplyDeleteThe words moral sewer are coming to mind. Sacred Heart of Jesus, cleanse our local Church.
Let me get this straight. The same priest who called upon Cardinal Law to resign because he felt he didn't do enough to protect children has himself failed to protect children.
ReplyDeleteJesus said it best when he spoke these words to the Pharisees: Do as they say not as they do.
We have our Pharisees today. Quick to condemn, but unwilling to live up to the same standard they impose on others.
Father Mike is a hypocrite. He wrote, "..this is sin of the highest order: alleged priests who abused the trust of their people to satisfy their own needs and with the most vulnerable of their parishioners. When I think of what these guys have done, all I can see are my nieces and nephews, and how beautifully innocent and trusting they all are, and how they really do believe that the adults who are responsible for them will provide the best for them… and I see that beautiful innocent glimmer in their eyes, that look of delight at new things, that silly laughter at the most ridiculous of things… and I think of how these men when they raped these children not only robbed them of their sexual innocence, but of their trust and capacity to be open and loving and believing in the goodness of our world… and I am repulsed.
ReplyDeleteBut then I think of the bishops who had to understand, and still did nothing. No, wait… they did do something. They moved these men around so that they would have other victims on whom to prey.."
How is he any better? He knows of a priest who abused "countless boys" but he says nothing.
Sheer hypocrisy!