Priest targeted after testifying in suit
RCF.org has tons of background on this issue. Arlingtonians come down on both sides - some supporting Fr. Haley and castigating the Bishop, some saying Fr. Haley is a disobedient snitch. Fr. Haley will be tried in ecclesiastical court next week at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary.
A Catholic priest who exposed the sexual misdeeds of fellow clergy at three parishes in the Diocese of Arlington is being prosecuted by his own bishop on five ecclesiastical charges.
The Rev. James R. Haley, an Arlington priest, will appear before a church tribunal to answer charges brought against him by the Most Rev. Paul S. Loverde, bishop of Arlington. Presiding as judge will be the Most Rev. Thomas G. Doran, bishop of Rockford, Ill.
At places like West Point, it's not called "snitching": it's called living up to the honor code.
Maybe people living in a crime-ridden neighborhood are used to covering things up with a "code of silence", but the priesthood of Christ deserves higher principles than omerta.
We've done this subject before. It is by no means obvious that Father Haley was obligated, morally or otherwise, to say what he did. He certainly tried to publicize his testimony as much as possible, and his deposition veered off into many irrelevant topics. I suspect that Bishop Loverde was right to silence Father Haley.
Funny how many people who call themselves faithful Catholics are willing to believe the worst about a bishop (or the bishops in general.)
As someone who lives in the Arlington Diocese--let me weigh in here.
Father Haley let the right people know of problems--but then he went and publicized the problems. If I were sick and went to a doctor, I would not want my doctor telling every intimate detail.
Just because things may not have been handled to *his* satisfaction gave him no right to do what he did. You do not kick a person in need of help...you intervene. There is at least one priest I am aware of in this matter who seemed to need help, not to be made a public spectacle of.
I applaud Bishop Loverde for handling the matters in a dignified, compassionate manner. To be blunt, Fr. haly is not someone I could trust in the Confessional or in any confidential setting.
Well at least he has a good judge. Bishop Doran is excellent.
Dear Jesus, the scandal. The scandal of it all.
One last note...I have gone to the RCF website and read Fr Haley's version of events. It struck me how it was just that...his version.
Good priests in the diocese who would never speak negatively of their bishop have spoken positively about Fr. Haley and that he was treated unfairly.
It seems that Fr. Haley let the "right people" know of the problems, and they did nothing. Those who question how faithful Catholics can believe the worst about their bishops, don't appear to have read much history, or followed the current events in the Church. I am personally delighted to have Fr. Haley, or anyone else for that matter, blowing the lid off this stuff. I'm trying to raise children in this once fine diocese.
I've only met with Father Haley twice before. The first was perhaps one of the most beautiful Masses I've ever heard. (He had tears in his eyes) The Second in the confessional. I can tell you from these two short meetings he is one of the Holiest, if not the Holiest man I have ever met.
As St. John Chrysostom said, "The floor of hell is paved with the skulls of bishops!"
Also a priest friend of mine says, "On Judgement Day don't stand near the bishops"
What is wrong is wrong. More people need to come out with the truth. I commend Father Haley for having the strength to do what is right. We need to quit protecting the ones who do not have the belief that we are all equal in God's eyes.