tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10326675.post8511737788799841345..comments2024-02-15T03:32:25.686-05:00Comments on Preludium, Anglican and Episcopal futures: Bishop Bennison guilty, but time ran out.Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06871096746243771489noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10326675.post-31156879300957527452010-08-10T15:28:34.353-04:002010-08-10T15:28:34.353-04:00The message of this history of abuse and trial is ...The message of this history of abuse and trial is exactly the same message which the Roman Cahtolic Church has sent. It seems to me that the Court of Review is saying that it is more concerned with protecting the institution and the powerful than providing justice for the victims of sexual abuse. <br /><br />Astonishingly, the Bishop continues to see himself as a victim in all this and can not admit that he did anything wrong. <br /><br />Kevin K.Kevin Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01192330313518885427noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10326675.post-87948917584546075492010-08-06T12:40:06.197-04:002010-08-06T12:40:06.197-04:00SNAP opines: 'It's also more proof that ...SNAP opines: 'It's also more proof that statutes of limitations only protect wrong-doers and should be abolished'.<br /><br />TEC has to date avoided the withering media scrutiny visited upon RC dioceses and archdioceses. Yet many of the same justifications for arbitrary Statues of Limitations exist here, as in the Roman communion. <br /><br />Here is a golden opportunity to do the right thing. <br /><br />Get rid of them now, entirely, and be more vigilant in protecting kids and vulnerable adults. <br /><br />John Iliff<br />parent-member of SNAPjohn iliff https://www.blogger.com/profile/02302505584191566477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10326675.post-43740315859881145732010-08-06T09:18:14.028-04:002010-08-06T09:18:14.028-04:00Why on earth wouldn't a bishop who helped cove...Why on earth wouldn't a bishop who helped cover up a sexual abuser's work not be considered an accomplice after the fact? The fact that Bennison isn't the one who seduced the girl doesn't mean that he didn't aid and abet that abuse by trying to shield his brother.The Religious PĂcarohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03620636294081499041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10326675.post-48917076533839976292010-08-06T09:05:01.733-04:002010-08-06T09:05:01.733-04:00I think the recent past history of the Diocese of ...I think the recent past history of the Diocese of Southern Virginia is instructive here. The fact is that there are levers that can be pulled to deal with priests who have committed no crime or immoral act and yet who through their ineptitude or arrogance or financial mismanagement have caused enormous harm to the community of faith. With respect to bishops, however, I don't know of any levers that can dissolve the pastoral relationship under those circumstances. In Southern Virginia, their Annual Council publicly appealed to the Presiding Bishop as a plea for help during the rocky episcopate of David Bane.<br /><br />This is one of the greatest weaknesses in our system of ecclesiastical governance. When it works, it works well. When it doesn't, it can result in a disaster of Titanic proportions.<br /><br />In the case of the Diocese of Pennsylvania, I think a rational person would graciously resign as bishop at this point and look forward to retirement with a monthly check from the Church Pension Fund. The likelihood of that not happening will be difficult to watch, even as an outsider. Lord, have mercy.Outside Observernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10326675.post-87328769338191099942010-08-06T01:11:35.506-04:002010-08-06T01:11:35.506-04:00A man who hung on to his office through out a casc...A man who hung on to his office through out a cascade of antipathy from opponents on the Standing Committee and in our D of P deaneries for close to a decade is not likely to retire. <br /><br />But there seems to be a larger point here -- that a lot of the anger at Bishop Bennison in the diocese had nothing to do with a cover-up. The cover-up allegations became another stick to beat him with.<br /><br />I'm not a defender of hmmm...my bishop, but I do wonder if, given the motives of the various actors, it would have been possible for ANYONE to emerge with clean hands.<br /><br />And, indeed, no one has, have they? Even the ecclesiastical judges, not to mention the PB, look silly if not inept.Elizabethhttp://www.nocheapshots.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10326675.post-91450782463467521992010-08-05T19:26:49.763-04:002010-08-05T19:26:49.763-04:00Thanks for sharing this, Mark. A few commenters o...Thanks for sharing this, Mark. A few commenters over at The Lead seem to have gotten their knickers in a twist when the word of the ruling first came out, but without having yet read the actual ruling from the Court of Review. (TLC has it posted, in an only-moderately-awkward format.) I'm not a lawyer, but the ruling seems to me to be very good and thoughtful work. The whole business is just very tragic, and of course especially for the young woman who was the victim. It seems to me that the Court of Review is telling us that we absolutely must take the sexual abuse of minors and related offenses very seriously, but with justice in accordance with (canon) law.WSJMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09712152737422347034noreply@blogger.com