Press Conference, The Diocese of Knoxville, April 15, 2010, Bishop Richard F. Stika
1 year ago
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62. Press Conference, The Diocese of Knoxville, April …
1 year ago
This is the entire press conference given on April 15, 2010 by Bishop Richard F. Stika at the Chancery in Knoxville, Tennessee.
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He didn't do anything heroic, or ground breaking, of so impressive that it would make you proud to be a Catholic or a Christian. He didn't speak from the heart. He spoke from prepared notes.
He did what any basic, reasonable human being would do. He acted swiftly and honestly, complying with the common laws of the land. He apologized to victims, and asked others to come forward. Yet he was the only one to do so in the entire Catholic church.
He did what any pagan manager from any company would do in a similar situation.
He clearly wasn't telling the truth at 7:20 mark. He said that the church has learned a lot about "protecting children, about doing pro-active things". Read the Philadelphia Grand Jury report at philadelphiadistrictattorney.com/images/Grand_Jury_Report.pdf to see how horrifying these cases were, and how indifferent the church STILL is today.
They haven't learned. Maybe he didn't read the report, but it's certainly his job to do so.
Catholics have really allowed the bar to be lowered when they are impressed by one man doing what any basic, decent average, man would do.
My three uncles were abused by a priest in the 1950's when they were kids in the Diocese of Denver. It took convictions in the State of California before Denver finally settled with them just a few years ago. What happened to my own blood is sick, but the actions of one deviant priest will never trump the beauty and life-long service of the rest of them as they give their lives in total service to Christ and live out their baptismal call.
As for 7:20, that is an absolute factual statement. We have been responding as a diocese to the norms set forth in the Virtus Program (keeping children safe) for years now. All people whether they are ordained or lay must complete this program's training and respond to monthly training as long as they are in contact with our kids.
Patrick, we are all learning about how to deal with a terrible mess created first by pedophile priests and later covered up by many bishops in the Church. The jig is up and times are changing, at least here in the Diocese of Knoxville.
My initial comments still stand in light of your thoughtful response. Peace, patrick murhy-racey