African Priest at Chicago Holy Angels a symbol of Christian Reconciliation in Sex Abuse Case
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Accused Priest Formally Defrocked
Oct 26, 2009 9:19 pm US/Central
Accused Priest Formally Defrocked
Once-Popular Father At Holy Angels Was Accused Of Molesting Boys Reporting
Jay Levine CHICAGO (CBS) ― Click to enlarge1 of 1
Former priest John Calicott (file).
CBS
It's is a bittersweet victory for alleged victims of sexual abuse by a Chicago priest.
The Vatican has now formally removed Father John Calicott from the priesthood. Those victims first came to CBS 2 Chief Correspondent Jay Levine with their story more than five years ago.
It was the priest's denials that drove the victims to despair.
The last time Dave Lasley came to Holy Angels, he was asked to leave by parishioners who supported their former pastor John Calicott's campaign for reinstatement, despite the U.S. bishops' new zero-tolerance policy.
"One guy literally threatened, 'You either leave, or I'm gonna throw you out,'" Lasley said.
Monday, he was embraced by the new pastor, Father John Atoyebi, who hadn't heard that Rome has now severed all ties to Calicott. Calicott said in an interview five years ago that he had gone "to great lengths to show I am not a risk."
Lasley disagrees. He previously recounted how Calicott abused him when he was 11.
"I was assigned to his tent and I was sleeping next to him, only to be awokened in the middle of the night with him performing oral sex on me," Lasley said.
During his fight for reinstatement, Calicott and others who escaped prosecution were sent to a retreat house on the grounds of the Mundelein Seminary.
But their numbers are shrinking. According to the archdiocese of Chicago website, Calicott becomes the sixth Chicago priest laicized, or booted, in less than two years.
The quickened pace of enforcement some say is the result of a new Pope and new American Cardinal calling the shots.
But it's still not quick enough for Dave Lasley.
"There's still people out there suffering because of what they did, and there's still hierarchy in the Archdiocese that still haven't been held accounted for, for their actions, for their inaction, for their silence," he said.
He says he'll be thinking about the victims as he says his own prayers tonight.
"I'm gonna be thankful I even made it today," Lasley said. "You know, there's a lot of victims that don't make it to this day."
CBS 2 was unable to reach Calicott for comment. The Archdiocese of Chicago confirms that he is officially no longer a priest.
Posted by MagdaGraham at 6:15 AM
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
The African Synod 2009- Final Acts
The Special Assembly of Bishops, otherwise known as the African Synod II- 2009 ended recently in Rome. The promise of the synod is what is yet to be realized. Was it a mere talking shop, or a portent alchemy for pulverizing the growth in the Catholic faith on the continent, and also engendering reforms that would enable the African Catholic Churches across the continent to gain respectability, integrity, and credibility in the matters of faith and morals, but also social concerns for justice, peace, and reconciliation. The present tenuous structures, and indolent models of church governance that is purely the outgrowth of outmoded systems inherited from the colonial era and brute improvisation of the successors to the missionaries of the colonial period, remain too obsolete, aloof, and dissociated from the everyday concerns of most Africans dying of poverty, the glut of despair, sicknesses, and malgovernance.
*********************
SUMMARY OF SYNOD OF BISHOPS: 24 - 25 OCTOBER
- Final General Congregation of Synod
- The Synod Presents 57 Propositions to the Holy Father
(The faces of power in the African Church- Bishops and their Mighty Mitres)
- Church in Africa : Arise!
- Angelus: Recollection of Synod and Praise for Don Gnocchi
OTHER NEWS: 24 - 26 OCTOBER
- Other Pontifical Acts
- Pontifical Biblical Institute Celebrates 100 Years
- Meeting between "Ecclesia Dei" and Society of St. Pius X
- Audiences
___________________________________________________________
FINAL GENERAL CONGREGATION OF SYNOD
VATICAN CITY, 24 OCT 2009 (VIS) - During the twentieth and final General Congregation of the Second Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops, held this morning in the Synod Hall, the relator general, Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, archbishop of Cape Coast, Ghana, continued reading out the final list of propositions which he had begun during the session of yesterday afternoon. Subsequently the final vote on the propositions took place, using the procedure "placet" or "non placet". The president delegate on duty was Cardinal Theodore-Adrien Sarr, archbishop of Dakar , Senegal .
At 1 p.m. the participants in the Synod attended a luncheon with the Holy Father in the atrium of the Vatican 's Paul VI Hall.
Cardinal Sarr pronounced some words thanking the Pope for the "paternal concern, respect and diligence he had shown towards Africa and its peoples, the Churches of the continent and all their members" since the beginning of the Synod.
At the end of lunch the Pope addressed those present, expressing his satisfaction for the progress made by the Synod, the theme of which - reconciliation, justice and peace - "was not", he said, "an easy challenge".
"The subject matter", he went on, "clearly had strong political implications, even though it is obvious that reconciliation, justice and peace are not possible without a profound purification of the heart, without a renewal of the mind, a 'metanoia', without the newness that arises from the meeting with God.
"Yet even if this spiritual dimension is profound and fundamental", the Pope added, "the political dimension is also very real because without political achievements the novelties of the Spirit are not normally realised".
Hence the temptation could have been to politicise the theme, to speak less as pastors and more as politicians, and thus in a sphere which is not our own".
Benedict XVI went on: "The other danger was that, precisely in order to escape this temptation, we should retreat into a purely spiritual world, an abstract, beautiful but unrealistic world. Yet a pastor's words must be realistic, they must touch reality but within the perspective of God and of His Word.
"Maintaining this equilibrium means, on the one hand, remaining true to reality, careful to speak about what is really there and, on the other, not falling into purely political solutions. This means using words that are concrete but spiritual.
"This", the Pope concluded, "was the great problem facing the Synod, and it seems to me that, thanks to God, we managed to resolve it. For me this is another cause to give thanks because it facilitates the preparation of the post-Synodal document".
Before concluding his remarks, the Pope announced that he had decided to appoint Cardinal Turkson as the new president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, in which role he succeeds Cardinal Renato Martino.
SE/FINAL CONGREGATION/... VIS 091026 (480)
THE SYNOD PRESENTS 57 PROPOSITIONS TO THE HOLY FATHER
VATICAN CITY, 24 OCT 2009 (VIS) - The working sessions of the Second Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops concluded this morning with the approval of the fifty-seven propositions which the Synod Fathers have presented to Benedict XVI.
By order of the Pope, a provisional and unofficial version of the propositions has been made public by the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops. This is the third time that Benedict XVI has allowed the publication of the closing propositions of a Synodal assembly. Normally the propositions are given privately to the Pope for him to consider while preparing the Apostolic Exhortation, the official closing document of a Synod.
The first proposition aims at fomenting greater ecclesial communion at all levels, encouraging co-operation within the Church. The Synod Fathers wish to stimulate existing structures of ecclesial communion, at the same time promoting others such as, for example, the establishment of continent-wide councils for the clergy, the laity and Catholic women.
The prelates launch a "heartfelt appeal to all those who are at war in Africa and make their people suffer so much: 'Stop the hostilities and be reconciled!'" They likewise invite the international community "to give strong support to the struggle against all the manoeuvres which destabilise the African continent".
In proposition 20 the Synod Fathers affirm as "unacceptable" article 14 of the Maputo Protocol. The article concerns the reproductive rights of women, "authorising medical abortion in cases of sexual assault, rape, incest, and where the continued pregnancy endangers the mental and physical health of the mother or the life of the mother or the foetus". Yet, they say, this is "in contradiction with human rights and the right to life. It trivialises the seriousness of the crime of abortion and devalues the role of childbearing".
On the subject of the environment - another recurring theme of the Synod - the Synod Fathers note "an irresponsible degradation and senseless destruction of the earth, which is 'our mother'. In complicity with those who exercise political and economic leadership in Africa , some businesses, governments and multinational and trans-national companies engage in business that pollute the environment, destroy flora and fauna, thus causing unprecedented erosion and desertification of large areas of arable land".
The bishops also express their concern for "fifteen million migrants who are looking for a homeland and a place of peace. ... The principle of the universal destination of created goods and the Church's teachings on human rights, freedom of movement and the rights of migrant workers are increasingly violated by the world's restrictive migration policies and laws against Africans", they say.
In another of their propositions the Synod Fathers call for the defence of the family and of human life, which is facing the threat of "abortion, the devaluation of maternity (child-bearing), the distortion of the notion of marriage and the family itself, the ideology of divorce and a new relativist ethic".
On the subject of women in Africa , the prelates "condemn all acts of violence against women, such as the battering of wives, the disinheritance of daughters, the oppression of widows in the name of tradition, forced marriages, female genital mutilation, trafficking in women and several other abuses such as sex slavery and sex tourism. All other inhumane and unjust acts against women are equally condemned".
In another of the propositions, they describe HIV/AIDS as "a pandemic, together with malaria and tuberculosis, which is decimating African populations and severely damaging their economic and social life". AIDS sufferers in Africa "are victims of injustice, because they often do not receive the same quality of treatment as in other places. The Church asks ... that African patients receive the same quality of treatment as in Europe ". The Synod Fathers also call for "pastoral support which helps couples living with an affected spouse to inform and form their consciences, so that they might choose what is right, with full responsibility for the greater good of each other, their union and their family".
"This Synod", reads another proposition, "calls for the total and universal abolition of the death penalty".
Finally the Synod Fathers underline the importance of "the professional training and ethical formation of journalists to promote a culture of dialogue which avoids division, sensationalism, disinformation and the offensive trivialisation of human suffering, all of which could harm the harmony and peace of societies and communities".
SE/FINAL PROPOSITIONS/... VIS 091026 (740)
CHURCH IN AFRICA : ARISE!
VATICAN CITY, 25 OCT 2009 (VIS) - In the Vatican Basilica at 10 a .m. today the Pope presided at a Eucharistic concelebration with Synod Fathers to mark the closure of the Second Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops.
Commenting on this Sunday's readings in his homily, Benedict XVI explained that "God's plan does not change. Through the centuries and the upheavals of history, He always aims at the same goal: the Kingdom of freedom and of peace for all. This implies His predilection for those deprived of freedom and peace, for those whose dignity as human beings is violated. We think in particular of our brothers and sisters in Africa who suffer poverty, disease, injustice, war, violence and forced migration".
"The Church that is in Africa, through her pastors who have come from every country on the continent, from Madagascar and from the other islands, has welcomed the message of hope and the light to walk along the road that leads to the Kingdom of God. ... Faith in Jesus Christ - when it is well understood and practiced - guides mankind and nations to freedom in truth, or, to use the three words of the Synod's theme, to reconciliation, justice and peace".
After then highlighting how the Church in the world is "the community of reconciled persons, workers for peace and justice", the Holy Father made it clear that "for this reason the Synod has forcefully re-emphasised - and expressed - that the Church is the Family of God, in which there can be no ethnic, linguistic or cultural divisions. ... The reconciled Church is a powerful leaven of reconciliation in single countries and in the whole African continent", he said.
The Church transmits the message of salvation, "always associating evangelisation with human promotion", said the Pope. In this context he mentioned the "historic" Encyclical "Populorum Progressio", saying that what Paul VI wrote there "missionaries have put into effect and continue to put into effect in the field, promoting a development respectful of local cultures and the environment, according to a logic that now, forty years later, appears to be the only one able to bring the African people out of the slavery of hunger and disease.
"This means transmitting the announcement of hope in 'priestly form'", he added, "that is, living the Gospel in the first person, trying to translate it into projects and deeds consistent with the fundamental driving principle, which is love".
Pope Benedict encouraged the Church in Africa to arise. "Start down the road of new evangelisation with the courage that comes from the Holy Spirit", he said. "The urgent evangelising action that has been much discussed in these weeks also carries with it a pressing call to reconciliation, the indispensable condition for creating in Africa relationships of justice among mankind and for building an equitable and lasting peace while respecting every individual and every people: a peace that needs and opens up to the contribution of all persons of good will beyond the respective religious, ethnic, linguistic, cultural and social affiliations".
"Courage! Arise, continent of Africa !" the Pope cried. "Welcome with renewed enthusiasm the proclamation of the Gospel so that the face of Christ might illuminate with its splendour the multiplicity of the cultures and languages of your people. As she offers the bread of the Word and the Eucharist, the Church also dedicates herself to working with every available means to ensure that no African may be without daily bread. This is why, along with the primary task of evangelisation, Christians are active in the work of human promotion".
The Holy Father concluded his homily by calling on pastors of the Church in Africa , when they return to their communities, to "transmit to everyone the call that so often resounded in this Synod, of reconciliation, justice and peace".
HML/CLOSING AFRICA SYNOD/... VIS 091026 (650)
*********************
SUMMARY OF SYNOD OF BISHOPS: 24 - 25 OCTOBER
- Final General Congregation of Synod
- The Synod Presents 57 Propositions to the Holy Father
(The faces of power in the African Church- Bishops and their Mighty Mitres)
- Church in Africa : Arise!
- Angelus: Recollection of Synod and Praise for Don Gnocchi
OTHER NEWS: 24 - 26 OCTOBER
- Other Pontifical Acts
- Pontifical Biblical Institute Celebrates 100 Years
- Meeting between "Ecclesia Dei" and Society of St. Pius X
- Audiences
___________________________________________________________
FINAL GENERAL CONGREGATION OF SYNOD
VATICAN CITY, 24 OCT 2009 (VIS) - During the twentieth and final General Congregation of the Second Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops, held this morning in the Synod Hall, the relator general, Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, archbishop of Cape Coast, Ghana, continued reading out the final list of propositions which he had begun during the session of yesterday afternoon. Subsequently the final vote on the propositions took place, using the procedure "placet" or "non placet". The president delegate on duty was Cardinal Theodore-Adrien Sarr, archbishop of Dakar , Senegal .
At 1 p.m. the participants in the Synod attended a luncheon with the Holy Father in the atrium of the Vatican 's Paul VI Hall.
Cardinal Sarr pronounced some words thanking the Pope for the "paternal concern, respect and diligence he had shown towards Africa and its peoples, the Churches of the continent and all their members" since the beginning of the Synod.
At the end of lunch the Pope addressed those present, expressing his satisfaction for the progress made by the Synod, the theme of which - reconciliation, justice and peace - "was not", he said, "an easy challenge".
"The subject matter", he went on, "clearly had strong political implications, even though it is obvious that reconciliation, justice and peace are not possible without a profound purification of the heart, without a renewal of the mind, a 'metanoia', without the newness that arises from the meeting with God.
"Yet even if this spiritual dimension is profound and fundamental", the Pope added, "the political dimension is also very real because without political achievements the novelties of the Spirit are not normally realised".
Hence the temptation could have been to politicise the theme, to speak less as pastors and more as politicians, and thus in a sphere which is not our own".
Benedict XVI went on: "The other danger was that, precisely in order to escape this temptation, we should retreat into a purely spiritual world, an abstract, beautiful but unrealistic world. Yet a pastor's words must be realistic, they must touch reality but within the perspective of God and of His Word.
"Maintaining this equilibrium means, on the one hand, remaining true to reality, careful to speak about what is really there and, on the other, not falling into purely political solutions. This means using words that are concrete but spiritual.
"This", the Pope concluded, "was the great problem facing the Synod, and it seems to me that, thanks to God, we managed to resolve it. For me this is another cause to give thanks because it facilitates the preparation of the post-Synodal document".
Before concluding his remarks, the Pope announced that he had decided to appoint Cardinal Turkson as the new president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, in which role he succeeds Cardinal Renato Martino.
SE/FINAL CONGREGATION/... VIS 091026 (480)
THE SYNOD PRESENTS 57 PROPOSITIONS TO THE HOLY FATHER
VATICAN CITY, 24 OCT 2009 (VIS) - The working sessions of the Second Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops concluded this morning with the approval of the fifty-seven propositions which the Synod Fathers have presented to Benedict XVI.
By order of the Pope, a provisional and unofficial version of the propositions has been made public by the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops. This is the third time that Benedict XVI has allowed the publication of the closing propositions of a Synodal assembly. Normally the propositions are given privately to the Pope for him to consider while preparing the Apostolic Exhortation, the official closing document of a Synod.
The first proposition aims at fomenting greater ecclesial communion at all levels, encouraging co-operation within the Church. The Synod Fathers wish to stimulate existing structures of ecclesial communion, at the same time promoting others such as, for example, the establishment of continent-wide councils for the clergy, the laity and Catholic women.
The prelates launch a "heartfelt appeal to all those who are at war in Africa and make their people suffer so much: 'Stop the hostilities and be reconciled!'" They likewise invite the international community "to give strong support to the struggle against all the manoeuvres which destabilise the African continent".
In proposition 20 the Synod Fathers affirm as "unacceptable" article 14 of the Maputo Protocol. The article concerns the reproductive rights of women, "authorising medical abortion in cases of sexual assault, rape, incest, and where the continued pregnancy endangers the mental and physical health of the mother or the life of the mother or the foetus". Yet, they say, this is "in contradiction with human rights and the right to life. It trivialises the seriousness of the crime of abortion and devalues the role of childbearing".
On the subject of the environment - another recurring theme of the Synod - the Synod Fathers note "an irresponsible degradation and senseless destruction of the earth, which is 'our mother'. In complicity with those who exercise political and economic leadership in Africa , some businesses, governments and multinational and trans-national companies engage in business that pollute the environment, destroy flora and fauna, thus causing unprecedented erosion and desertification of large areas of arable land".
The bishops also express their concern for "fifteen million migrants who are looking for a homeland and a place of peace. ... The principle of the universal destination of created goods and the Church's teachings on human rights, freedom of movement and the rights of migrant workers are increasingly violated by the world's restrictive migration policies and laws against Africans", they say.
In another of their propositions the Synod Fathers call for the defence of the family and of human life, which is facing the threat of "abortion, the devaluation of maternity (child-bearing), the distortion of the notion of marriage and the family itself, the ideology of divorce and a new relativist ethic".
On the subject of women in Africa , the prelates "condemn all acts of violence against women, such as the battering of wives, the disinheritance of daughters, the oppression of widows in the name of tradition, forced marriages, female genital mutilation, trafficking in women and several other abuses such as sex slavery and sex tourism. All other inhumane and unjust acts against women are equally condemned".
In another of the propositions, they describe HIV/AIDS as "a pandemic, together with malaria and tuberculosis, which is decimating African populations and severely damaging their economic and social life". AIDS sufferers in Africa "are victims of injustice, because they often do not receive the same quality of treatment as in other places. The Church asks ... that African patients receive the same quality of treatment as in Europe ". The Synod Fathers also call for "pastoral support which helps couples living with an affected spouse to inform and form their consciences, so that they might choose what is right, with full responsibility for the greater good of each other, their union and their family".
"This Synod", reads another proposition, "calls for the total and universal abolition of the death penalty".
Finally the Synod Fathers underline the importance of "the professional training and ethical formation of journalists to promote a culture of dialogue which avoids division, sensationalism, disinformation and the offensive trivialisation of human suffering, all of which could harm the harmony and peace of societies and communities".
SE/FINAL PROPOSITIONS/... VIS 091026 (740)
CHURCH IN AFRICA : ARISE!
VATICAN CITY, 25 OCT 2009 (VIS) - In the Vatican Basilica at 10 a .m. today the Pope presided at a Eucharistic concelebration with Synod Fathers to mark the closure of the Second Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops.
Commenting on this Sunday's readings in his homily, Benedict XVI explained that "God's plan does not change. Through the centuries and the upheavals of history, He always aims at the same goal: the Kingdom of freedom and of peace for all. This implies His predilection for those deprived of freedom and peace, for those whose dignity as human beings is violated. We think in particular of our brothers and sisters in Africa who suffer poverty, disease, injustice, war, violence and forced migration".
"The Church that is in Africa, through her pastors who have come from every country on the continent, from Madagascar and from the other islands, has welcomed the message of hope and the light to walk along the road that leads to the Kingdom of God. ... Faith in Jesus Christ - when it is well understood and practiced - guides mankind and nations to freedom in truth, or, to use the three words of the Synod's theme, to reconciliation, justice and peace".
After then highlighting how the Church in the world is "the community of reconciled persons, workers for peace and justice", the Holy Father made it clear that "for this reason the Synod has forcefully re-emphasised - and expressed - that the Church is the Family of God, in which there can be no ethnic, linguistic or cultural divisions. ... The reconciled Church is a powerful leaven of reconciliation in single countries and in the whole African continent", he said.
The Church transmits the message of salvation, "always associating evangelisation with human promotion", said the Pope. In this context he mentioned the "historic" Encyclical "Populorum Progressio", saying that what Paul VI wrote there "missionaries have put into effect and continue to put into effect in the field, promoting a development respectful of local cultures and the environment, according to a logic that now, forty years later, appears to be the only one able to bring the African people out of the slavery of hunger and disease.
"This means transmitting the announcement of hope in 'priestly form'", he added, "that is, living the Gospel in the first person, trying to translate it into projects and deeds consistent with the fundamental driving principle, which is love".
Pope Benedict encouraged the Church in Africa to arise. "Start down the road of new evangelisation with the courage that comes from the Holy Spirit", he said. "The urgent evangelising action that has been much discussed in these weeks also carries with it a pressing call to reconciliation, the indispensable condition for creating in Africa relationships of justice among mankind and for building an equitable and lasting peace while respecting every individual and every people: a peace that needs and opens up to the contribution of all persons of good will beyond the respective religious, ethnic, linguistic, cultural and social affiliations".
"Courage! Arise, continent of Africa !" the Pope cried. "Welcome with renewed enthusiasm the proclamation of the Gospel so that the face of Christ might illuminate with its splendour the multiplicity of the cultures and languages of your people. As she offers the bread of the Word and the Eucharist, the Church also dedicates herself to working with every available means to ensure that no African may be without daily bread. This is why, along with the primary task of evangelisation, Christians are active in the work of human promotion".
The Holy Father concluded his homily by calling on pastors of the Church in Africa , when they return to their communities, to "transmit to everyone the call that so often resounded in this Synod, of reconciliation, justice and peace".
HML/CLOSING AFRICA SYNOD/... VIS 091026 (650)
Scriptural Quote of the day...
Jeremiah 12: 13 "They have sown wheat but reaped thorns; they have put themselves to pain but do not profit. But be ashamed of your harvest because of the fierce anger of the Lord."
The Myth of "Superstar" Archbishop Onaiyekan- An American coloration
John Allen is a journalist with the National Catholic Reporter (NCR). He had previously interviewed Archbishop John Onaiyekan and seemed to have falling head on in his adoration and admiration of this archbishop.
It is ironic how some in the west idolize and fetishizes others according to their own base interests, without taking a sweeping look at the bigger picture.
Onaiyekan is considered a superstar in John Allen's perspective given his tenacity to sell Onaiyekan to the western universe, probably with the hope of robustly furthering Onaiyekan's ambitions. Unfortunately, John Allen, who has in the past reported on priest's sex abuse and the desecration of vulnerable Catholics through the official church exploitation and cover-up cannot look beyond mere primordial instincts. He, therefore, obtusely blurred his vision in taking entire facts into considerations.
Yes, John Allen's the biographer of the Pope, Benedict XVI, the former Joseph Ratzinger is pitching his tent with John Onaiyekan, probably he intends to give him a touchdown. But this aspiration has gone sour and woefully awry. Yes! Sounds right! I mean no easy pitching for a homerun just yet!
If John Allen has spread his tentacle a little widespread, he would have come to see a muddled view of John Onaiyekan, a highly corrupt and opulently ambitious church official. If John was attentive enough, he would have unveiled and unwarped John Onaiyekan for who he is; a pedophiles and a hideous sexual molester, and sexual abusers of Catholic women, especially vvulnerable and young nuns whom he rapes and exploits to his pleasurable advantages.
What people, especially Nigerian priests and nuns, know about John Onaiyekan, would detonate a careful burial of the facts exploding the minefield of ecclesiastical desecration; the cemented sexual abuses occuring today within the African Church.
Onaiyekan, criticizes African leaders. But ironically, he refuses to look at the mirror to see himself at the other end, as representing an African leader, one who is equally corrupt and damaging the image of the Roman Catholic Church. As, he stated of African leaders, John Onaiyekan should also quit because he is tainted with abuses and seriously immersed in corruption. As a religious leader in Africa, he is no less an African leader serving a vital role, by the fact and virtue of his ecclesiastical and social standing.
Onaiyekan by every dint is a corrupt archbishop who dalliances with birds of the same quills, corrupt politicians, who feathers his cap of relevance. He takes stolen money from them, which they use to coopt and soil him. He argues pretentiously that if he does not take these stolen largese others would take it. He often attempt to argue that he takes and use these "blood money" for good causes. True, by so doing he ends up encouraging thievery and oiling the wheels of further corruption. In reality, it is not even true that the archbishop use such such lurch funds for the sake of the poor. Onaiyekan lives regally relishing opulence.
Does John Onaiyekan resemble the poor of Nigeria? He strides in different arrays of SUVs, lives in a mansion, and ally with the creme of corrupt Nigerian leaders, whom he now tries to make us believe he so much despise. What a jerk and a joke, using his office to embellish and propel falsehoods.
John Onaiyekan, looks every inch like a Nigerian "big man" reflecting more like an Obasanjo, Peter Odili, and James Onafe Ibori, some of his paymasters. Playing this usual game and tone of being adverse to corruption is playing to the gallery first to appease the Vatican authorities, and a project a dubious moral standing that he hardly possess. Such antics are also a well known tools deployed by numerous Nigerian rogue religious leaders, including the leaders of other churches, such as the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Christ's Embassy, Winners Chapel, some of whom enjoyed state patronage and privileges especially during the erstwhile Presidency of General Olusegun Obasanjo. Onaiyekan as Obasanjo's Yoruba kin benefitted immensely from that presidency.
John Allen, as a respectable journalist, albeit one working for a liberal Catholic newspaper and who seemed to take an interest in issues that are privileged by "Call to Action" one would to do a more thorough job of journalistic representation, rather than doing some publicity stunt in behalf of a corrupt and manipulative African archbishop.
Not only is this archbishop corrupt, he has continued to cause dissension by interfering in the governance of other local churches, through trying to hijack the episcopal making process in pushing forth his candidates, for whatever reasons. Today, his stooges are enthroned in many dioceses such as Minna, Otukpo, Idah, and Lokoja. At a time, he was forcefully pushing forth toward making his friend, Msgr. John Aniagwu, the impressionable Lagos priest and former rector of the Ibadan regional seminary, into becoming a bishop. Onaiyekan has since been frustrated in that singular venture.
However, he has not given up, he continues to poke his nose into the affairs of other dioceses with the aim of causing dissension and wrecking havoc; especially when he begin to sense a forthcoming episcopal vacancy. Then, he begins to pump funds into such dioceses and befriend the bishop, whom hitherto he had no concern whatsoever for. Greedy and crafty, he plans his antics. Yet, this was a man who was very vileful toward the former rector of the Nigerian Catholic Theological Institute, Port Harcourt, and also of Bigard Theological Seminary, Enugu, Fr. Peter Damien Akwupuno, a rare genuius and an outstanding Nigerian priest, now in Chicago, whose ambition of becoming a bishop he once helped scuttle.
Onaiyekan is a sick "psychosociopath" who enjoys the limelight and syncophants, just like most African politicians. The only reason that he bad-mouths these politicians is that his megalomaniac disposition makes him feel he is more important than them, and perceives himself as a parallel political and social order.
His constant outrage and lipserviced criticisms reflect a desperate and ambitious man, who is a danger to himself, and disgrace to the Catholic faith, and the global Roman Catholic episcopate. In all earnestness, Onaiyekan should be ashamed of himself in trying to cajole John Allen to furthering his ambitious cause, especially in the Vatican and within the United States.
John Allen, should be aware, and a journalist be savvy at investigating, a current movement in the process of unmasking and drawing attention to Archbishop John Onaiyekan's abuse of religious women (nuns) and excesses. It is brewing, it is boiling, and it is going to be very messy at the moment these women begin to spew their intimate knowledge of John Onaiyekan, a sham bishop, a shameless pretender, and iconic representation of the devil walking on human feet. Then, Onaiyekan's crafty way of stealing himself the Cardinal's hat would become a burden to himself and even more embarrassing to the Vatican.
It is a matter of time, and the clock is tickling. The unmasking of Onaiyekan in the market square, would truely be interesting!
African bishop on Islam, oil , and why selling the Vatican is a stupid idea
by John L Allen Jr on Oct. 16, 2009 NCR Today - National Catholic Reporter
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PDF versionRome -- Earlier this week, I interviewed Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Atlanta, the lone American member of the Oct. 4-25 Synod for Africa, and asked him how many of the African bishops he already knew. He ticked off several, beginning with Archbishop John Onaiyekan of Abuja, Nigeria -- but at that point Gregory stopped himself, saying, “I guess that doesn’t really count, because everybody knows Onaiyekan!”
Made a bishop at the tender age of 38, and now in full stride at 65, Archbishop John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan is Africa’s superstar prelate, known around the world as the voice of his continent.
How ubiquitous is Onaiyekan? Consider that he’s taking a break from the synod on Monday to fly to London, where that night he’ll debate the planet’s most famous atheist, Christopher Hitchens, on the topic of whether the Catholic church is a force for good in the world. The event is hosted by a renowned BBC anchor. Someone else might be cowed, but when my wife wished Onaiyekan good luck, he shot back: “Good luck to Hitchens!”
Onaiyekan is the immediate past president of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of African and Madagascar, the current president of the ecumenical Christian Alliance of Nigeria, the president of the West Africa conference of bishops, as well as the man responsible for drafting the concluding message for the present Synod for Africa.
Colleagues often say that Onaiyekan is the living embodiment of the Nigerian national character – brash, bold, unafraid to speak his mind and tell it like it is. Over the years, he’s earned a reputation for intelligence, candor, and good humor.
This afternoon, Onaiyekan sat down with a group of English-speaking journalists to talk about the synod so far. Topics included:
Why multinational oil companies such as BP and Shell feel free to do things in Africa they’d never get away with back home;
How the Catholic/Islamic relationship can get rolling if we forget about theology and focus on concrete social issues;
Why it’s a stupid idea to think the pope could help the poor by selling off the Vatican;
Why the synod has taken such a strikingly self-critical spirit;
How the mindsets of journalists and the Catholic church often don’t mix.
The following is a transcript of Onaiyekan’s session with journalists, which took place in the Press Office of the Holy See.
Opening remarks
This is not a lecture, this is an interactive session. We have been working for almost two weeks now. We have reached the stage when the work is not as interesting as when we are sitting there listening to beautiful stories. Now it’s time to really try and come out with something, to distill some clear ideas and messages and commitments. That’s a bit more difficult, less enjoyable but no less important. That’s where we are at present.
A lot of us [in the press] are not from Africa, and we’ve been going through the synod pulling out things that are of interest to us. For your people in the parishes, what do you think the main points, the main message, from this synod will be?
It depends on which of my people we’re talking about. The message is going to try and reach out to different categories within the church. For example, if you talk about the Archbishop of Abuja, he might have breakfast with the head of state in the morning, and in the evening he’s in one village talking to some poor women who needs him to convince her that it’s worthwhile to let her daughter go to school. So, you move from a beautiful mansion to a hovel in the middle of nowhere, all within an hour’s drive. That’s one of the challenges we have when we preach at Mass, because sitting in front of you is the whole gamut of the community, and you have to preach to all these people. You have to find ways of being able to identify different categories, and deliver to them the kind of message we believe they need.
So, to answer your question is not so simple. I’m not sure what I would tell them, except to say that they should all be very good Catholics, as much as they can, and they should let their Christian faith be reflected in all aspects of their lives, wherever God has put them. It’s a message that most of them know very well already, starting from the most humble and poorest … they have grasped this message very carefully. It’s really more challenging for those who are high up in society. Those who have responsibility for the way our country goes have more difficulty in marrying their faith with their professional and public lives, and that is a major challenge.
I would also tell them that I had a good time here these three weeks, that meeting other bishops from Africa, hearing their stories, has confirmed me in my faith. On my occasions, it’s helped me to get out of my own preoccupations with my problems, which I thought were very big, and I find that other people have far more serious problems than we are dealing with. With that kind of attitude, I’ll go back home very encouraged, and I will share that with my people. Things aren’t perfect, but don’t forget it could be worse. Of course, it could be better.
The post-discussion report mentioned that there’s a problem with multi-national mining companies in Africa, and talked about the idea of an international tribunal to hold these companies accountable. What is it exactly that you would like to see?
Of course, we are bishops, so we are very optimistic and we say nice things. Obviously, we will target our message to the ideal situation. We believe that there are certain things which just should not be done. The law of profit should have limits in terms of how you exploit natural resources. This is not only in terms of the economic conditions under which that’s done, how much you pay for the raw materials you’re taking out in relation to how much it’s actually worth – that’s an old story, and these are the old quarrels we’ve had – but also in terms of the environment. How much is anybody allowed to devastate the environment, simply because they want to extract resources, such as minerals, oil, and so on?
I will add two other considerations.
The first has to do with simple justice. Some of these multi-nationals operate with double standards. I can’t see BP, Shell, or Mobil doing what they’re doing in the Niger Delta in the North Sea, or in Texas. They’re the same people, which means that things they wouldn’t tolerate at home they do quite freely in Africa. Maybe they think Africa is a no-man’s land where anything can happen.
The second consideration, and it’s an item that has very much occupied and preoccupied the synod fathers, is the responsibility of our own leaders. Mobil, Shell, Agip … I have to make sure I mention different countries, so they won’t accuse me [of bias] … you can also add Elf. They all come, but they don’t just move in and start doing these things. In all the cases, there is some amount of so-called agreement with the local rulers, who claim to have negotiated on behalf of the people. Now, the synod has come out very strongly that our leaders ought to protect our environment. They ought to have their eyes wide open. If one is to be generous in judgment, you’d say perhaps [these leaders] are ignorant in judgment, but we’re not so sure they’re that stupid. We have very intelligent people, both in and outside of government, who ought to know to insist on a basic minimum.
That brings us back to the whole idea of an international code of conduct. It would be useless if it’s not going to be implemented, which has happened with many other codes that have been simply ignored. It seems that in the world of today, the more powerful you are, the more you can afford to ignore the rules which they quite happily impose on others. That’s the world we live in.
We may add, to, that more and more now we are realizing that we are not only on one planet, but in one village where we live together as a human family. Destroying the environment in Nigeria affects the whole of our planet. Maybe the more that is recognized, the kind of international approach might become more feasible because it would be seen as enlightened self-interest to really put some rules into the way things are. Just like every city has rules as regards what to do with the trash they produce, for the sake of the immediate environment, if we begin to see the whole world as one environment we will be ready to put our heads together – knowing that what happens in one place affects the other places.
I was in New York three weeks ago, with a team of lobbyists around the United Nations summit on climate change, and this matter came out very strongly. It became very clear that if we’re talking about the industrial growth of the rich countries, that is not only linked with the exploitation of raw materials from poor nations, but also with lots of consequences for the environment. How you produce, what you do to your factories here, is already having negative effects for places far, far away, such as islands. Some Pacific islands are disappearing, which have been there for centuries. At first, we did not see it in Africa. We used to think that floods and droughts are God’s work done to us, so we would go pray and sacrifice. Now we know that it’s not God’s cause, that people are responsible. Unfortunately, human beings are short-sighted, so they don’t look far enough. Maybe that’s where a group like ours, the bishops, together … and don’t forget, we’re not just Africans here. We have bishops from the U.S., from Europe, from Asia – we have a common mind on this matter. [We should] treat our planet well, and do all we can to make sure that every single individual in this family can live decently, so that all of us can live in peace.
Prior to the synod, you said you were disappointed with the preparatory document’s treatment of Islam, and you hoped more would come up in the discussion. You gave your own intervention [speech] on Islam. Will the synod offer any new ideas about relations with Islam?
Islam has come up. You rightly refer to my own intervention, which I must say surprised some of my older colleagues. I spoke about Islam also in 1994, and my language was, ‘Here where are with a group of people confronting us, threatening our very existence, and what do we do? We can’t just keep quiet, we must let them know that this can’t continue, not just in our country but in others.’ At that time, we insisted that we really need to talk with them, so the emphasis was on dialogue. This time, the very title of my intervention was, ‘From dialogue to collaboration.’ Having talked to each other for so long, we know each other fairly well, it’s about time we should be able to gather ourselves together.
The theme of the synod, I think, has helped us to move a bit further in the whole discussion of inter-religious dialogue. The problem with inter-religious dialogue is that it leaves the religions, especially Christianity and Islam, simply looking at each other, with the danger that you’re only looking at where you differ and where you’re quarreling. You’re only looking at the relative strengths of one against the other, and our competition for the souls and the hearts of our people. That’s generally not a very nice kind of operation. But when we start talking of conflicts, wars, poverty, reconciliation, disease, bad governance, corruption, we suddenly discover that these are things which are hitting everybody. Whether you’re a Christian or a Muslim in Nigeria, you find exactly the same thing. Without thinking of religion, we want to deal with it. Those who are on the receiving end, and they’re already doing it, have no difficulty putting their heads together to see what can be done. The way we go further is that, in all this, religion ought to be one of the positive instruments for overcoming these challenges. We feel we’ve reached a stage where we can actually move in this direction. It’s like this: by exercising, you begin to know how to get things done. If you don’t start working together, you won’t be able realize that you actually can work together.
If it remains on the level of dialogue, often it will seem useless. I don’t see what dialogue I can have with a Muslim on the person of Jesus. He says Jesus is a prophet, I say he’s God. There’s no meeting point, and it will remain like that. If I accept that he’s just a prophet, only a little bit less than Muhammad, then I have become a Muslim. If he agrees that Jesus is God, even if he says that Muhammad is the greatest prophet, then he becomes a Christian. In those areas, there’s really not much room for discussion.
To my surprise, and it’s not only me from Nigeria, but the bishops from the countries that are heavily Muslim, the emphasis all the time was on working together. I think that’s because of the theme of the synod, which forces us to focus our attention on reconciliation, justice, and peace. Many of us have also spoken from the point of view of experience, personal experience. Some of the African countries have given us examples of where the government itself invites, indeed pleads, with the religious leaders to come together to help them deal with certain situations.
We’ve noticed that generally, these kinds of operations are far more effective when they’re done on an inter-faith basis. The Catholic Church may be well-organized, perhaps, have many brilliant people, and all that, but when it comes to dealing with national issues, you may not be able to do it alone. If you reach out and join hands with other religious leaders, even if they are not as brilliant as you are, they do have their own following who respect them and who follow them. When the followers see their leaders working together, holding hands, talking to the press together and having photographs of themselves spread all over the television and the papers, it encourages them to continue what they actually have been doing all along.
Nigeria is to be taken as a good example. Religious difficulties have never really been among the people on the ground. They’ve always lived together in peace.
Can you give us a few examples?
Before the 2007 elections, the Nigerian Interreligious Council tabled the issue of elections as a major cause of concern to discuss at our meeting, and we did. At the end it was agreed that the Sultan, who leads all the Muslims, and myself as the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, would organize a press conference and appeal to all the politicians, ‘Please, allow our people to vote peacefully. All the political organization should eschew all violence, both physical and verbal.’ We also pleaded that the government should make sure that, this time around, the votes cast were counted, properly, so we would have a good democracy. We had that press conference, which was beautiful. Many people, most people, including the politicians, congratulated us. However, as you know, they went ahead and did whatever they wanted. We are like the sentries in Ezekiel. You warn the bad person to behave well. If you don’t warn him, you will pay for it. He will still pay for his own actions too. If you warn him and he changes, he will be saved and you will be saved for doing your work. If you warn him and he does not change, you have done your duty. He still has to answer to God for himself. That’s one example.
Another example is the whole question of HIV/AIDS. We realize the importance of the religious messages in the struggle to combat discrimination and stigmatization. When AIDS first came up, it was very difficult for religious people to handle. In fact, when I started talking about HIV/AIDS in the cathedral, a lot of people were a little bit worried. They felt that this kind of thing should not be mentioned by the archbishop, not to talk of it in the cathedral. I heard some mischievous people were saying, ‘Maybe the Archbishop is HIV-positive, and that’s why he’s always talking about these things.’ It was thought that HIV/AIDS only touches bad people. To make matters worse, there were some pastors and imams who carried the message that HIV/AIDS is punishment from God on bad people. So, we felt a greater responsibility to address this kind of thing.
We actually worked together. We had seminars, where Muslim and Christian religious came together, scholars, to pick texts and verses from the Qur’an and from the Holy Scriptures to sustain our work of combating discrimination and stigmatization, and also calling for care. Both the Qur’an and the Bible are full of texts you can use. Once you admit that HIV/AIDS is a disease, a calamity, and those who are under it deserve your care and your attention, it became easier. It also became easier for the government to bring in whatever little services they want to render.
That’s quite apart from the fact that the religious organizations had structures on the ground to deliver [care]. The Catholic Church obviously would tell them, ‘We’re not in the business of distributing condoms, but we’re in the business of doing a lot of [other] things which are very important.’ Our government understands that, and we work together. Fortunately, in this matter, we and the Muslims are more or less in agreement.
A third example, which is the most recent, is Malaria. Maybe because of the population of Nigeria, which is 150 million, the number of people who are suffering from malaria and even dying of malaria every day is very high in Nigeria. We are told that after Congo, we are perhaps the next highest number. The United Nations have decided to zero in on Nigeria with considerable resources to tackle malaria. By the way, malaria is killing more people in Nigeria than HIV/AIDS. It suddenly dawned on them that people are dying of other things. The UN Secretary General has a whole program on malaria, with a UN special envoy. They came to Nigeria, and our government had agreed to accept this assistance of the United Nations and from international organizations to really carry out a major program on malaria in Nigeria. At that point, however, someone in Washington insisted that they must involve the religious communities. So, we were informed. We didn’t know what was going on, and we jumped at it. We formed a group called Nigerian Interfaith Action Association (NIFA). This is properly established and registered as a non-profit organization, so that funds can be put into it with proper accountability. It’s more or less like a commission within the Nigerian Interreligious Council. This is the first time we’re doing that kind of job. The sultan and I are the joint chairmen of the Board of Trustees. We’ve brought in professionals – doctors, pediatricians, nurses, public health experts – from the two religions, They’re working together as professionals. The churches and the mosques have made themselves available to be part of the government program.
Malaria is another disease where the problem isn’t only medical. Take the example of advising people to sleep under the nets. A doctor cannot do much on that. But a parish priest in a village, talking to 2,000 people, can tell them: ‘I have nets in the parish house for each and every one of you. If you come tomorrow morning, everybody will collect his own. You must use it so as to protect yourself against mosquitoes.’ First, they will reach more people. Second, in a country where government has consistently told lies to the people, the people tend not to even listen to what the government says. If people who are credible say it, it goes a long way. We also know that malaria is spread around because of dirt around, simple hygiene, and the church can do a lot along those lines. But we told the government that these things cost money. If they want us to be involved, then some of the funds meant for the malaria program should also be made available to those who are joining this kind of effort.
A final example: Many of you are aware that two months ago, there was a major outbreak of violence in Maiduguri [in northern Nigeria]. It was a very stupid outbreak. I contacted the sultan at that time, because we [Nigeria] were always the first item on the news, in the most disturbing and shameful way, embarrassing. The sultan and I agreed that we would out put a joint statement, condemning what has happened and quite clearly saying that this cannot be justified by any religion. In this case, it was clear that people were shouting about Islam. I and the sultan jointly signed the statement, saying that this is not Islam. It was the first time I know, at that level, there was a common statement on a religious issue. Up to now, whenever these things happened, the best our decent Muslim leaders would do is simply keep quiet. They wouldn’t talk. Sometimes, they would even try to find a way of justifying what has happened. But now we have moved, we are beginning to look things straight in the face. If it is wrong, we’re prepared to say it together.
I believe this is because we started to get to know one another. I thank God that we have reached this stage. I didn’t know we would reach it fifteen years ago when we came here [for the first African synod]. My own reading of the situation is that once one opens up to others, we begin to recognize one another on the level of our humanity. It’s wonderful … a wonderful discovery.
There was hardly anything said in the synod about ecumenism, you in sub-Saharan African there’s a strong presence of all the mainline churches, to say nothing of the Pentecostals. Can you comment on that?
The first comment is that there was some interventions that took the angle of the need to work on these matters in collaboration with ‘others,’ meaning men and women of good will, and also mentioning an inter-religious approach and then an ecumenical approach. By the way, once or twice there were interventions that spoke of ecumenism more in a negative way, especially talking about the Pentecostals, who in certain places are actually very anti-Catholic in their approach and therefore are quite a problem. Even if you wanted to work ecumenically, they’re not prepared to work with you.
You are right to say that ecumenism has not loomed large in our discussion. Of course, the very presence of the fraternal delegates kept reminding us of it. One of them, the Lutheran from Tanzania, called on the synod fathers not to forget that it’s important to open up and work with other Christians.
The synod fathers were particularly concerned about what can we do [about the synod’s themes], so the emphasis was on ‘the church.’ When we say ‘the church’ in this context, you know what we mean. In many interventions, the question was how the church as it is can position itself better. Therefore, there was a lot of self-examination, admission of inadequacies in many ways. Many of the interventions [said] that within the church itself, we must sort our own problems of reconciliation, justice and peace. It’s this emphasis, and I believe it’s not a bad one, that can make it appear we’re only thinking about ourselves.
My hope is that if we indeed succeed in reorganizing ourselves better, it will naturally mean that we must also look around us and work with other people. I know that in many countries, there is that kind of rapport already among Christians. In Nigeria, we have the Christian Association of Nigeria. Indeed, we realize that it is issues like this that we all have to work on together. Beyond the national level, we do have some kind of relation at the continental level between SECAM and AACC, the “All Africa Council of Churches.” At the time it was set up, it was more or less the African chapter of the World Council of Churches. Since the Catholic church is not part of the WCC, SECAM never became part of AACC. As president of SECAM, I did reach out to the AACC so we can find a forum to work together. I do not think we have made much progress in that regard.
Just by the way, one of the issues that arose in the synod is a realization that no matter how beautifully you propound your messages in your sermons and homilies, at the end of the day they are the politicians, the people with power, who must do things to bring about peace, justice and reconciliation. There was emphasis that somehow, in each country, you have to devise ways and means of dialogue and working with those who control your governments – starting with those of them who are supposed to be Catholics and whom you should expect to listen to your guidance, before you talk to others. In that context, we also spoke about African generally, and our continental governmental organizations, especially the African Union. Very often when it comes to a major political crisis, the AU steps in. We said that the Catholic church, SECAM, has already started to have a kind of status within AU, so that we have a forum to be able to intervene, and also to make ourselves available if they needed us. I reminded the synod that from the very beginning of the AU, the AACC has always enjoyed observer status. They didn’t do much with it, though. I’m not even sure they attended the meetings of the AU, and I’ve never seen any initiative taken by the AACC in the context of African Union peace initiatives or whatever. We are now thinking we might consider finding some kind of joint working together, possibly within the already existing framework of the AACC position within the AU. Even if we’re going to have our own SEAC representation, we should certainly work together.
I know that in the African Council of Religious Leaders, which I co-chair, we’re also talking in the same line that we want to be in the AU. When people are discussing, and especially the heads of states, we should have the opportunity to call all of them to one small little meeting, or invite them to come and pray. In a way, when you call people to come and pray, you have a special facility to talk to them. We are already thinking along these lines.
Economic justice is a big theme in this synod, and you come from the world’s poorest continent. Recently an American comedian did a bit on the Vatican, asking if the pope really cares about the poor, why doesn’t he sell the Vatican and move into a more humble dwelling? Do you ever hear that, and how would you respond?
First, it would depend who is telling me that. If that person is from Europe or America, I can suggest a few other things that they could sell to help the poor. I would tell them to start there first, before coming to the Vatican. But if any person from our own poor countries were to say such a thing, and I hardly see that happening … the few poor people who come here have never said, ‘Oh, why don’t they sell this and give us money for food?’ They always say, ‘What a beautiful place.’ They admire it. Maybe it’s because man does not live by bread alone. It helps them to see how great our God is, and they’re not expecting the Vatican to sell it off. Anyway, to whom? Who would buy it, and what would it cost? The joke [from the comedian] isn’t only offensive and in bad taste, it’s stupid.
What they should be asking is, what is the Vatican doing about poverty in the world? That’s the question to be asked. If you’ve ever come up to see the pope’s apartment, it is very straight-forward and simple. This isn’t just his house, it’s not just his mansion. As you know, the whole building has all the offices, the Secretariat of State, the Vatican Museums which occupies a whole lot of space, all that. It’s like your White House isn’t just the bedroom of Obama. Maybe if there were no Vatican, the pope would still need to build a house for himself and his offices. It would not be built like this, because I don’t know that modern architects have the same kind of spirit as those who designed this, but that’s another question.
The answer I would give is that poverty in the world has to be dealt with by justice. All these big structures, all those unjust economic structures in the world, those are the things to move so that the poor can survive. I think we know that sadness and the tragedy of it, and we know what to do. It can be done, and it can be done without reducing everybody to the same lowest common denominator of misery. What we don’t have is the political, and I would say spiritual, will to do it. Will it come? I don’t know.
Many issues have been identified in the synod so far. What happens to those issues that don’t make it into the final documents?
The synod is first and foremost a meeting of the bishops to exchange ideas and to share concerns, so my conviction is that the record of the synod is in the synod fathers themselves as they go back home and share it with their brothers. What comes out in the papers … the message, even the post-synodal exhortation … these are just small bits of summary, a historical note to tell us that there was an African Synod II and these are some of the things they discussed. Therefore, the question of what happens to the other things doesn’t really arise. Most of us were taking notes, some of us furiously, throughout. A lot of bishops must have made up their minds about what has struck them and what they intend to take back home. In terms of the report of the relator, he’s looking for areas where the synod has generated a consensus. Some of the most brilliant ideas may not even get a consensus, so it will remain a brilliant idea that was floated around and it hit some people and they will take it back with them, but it will not feature in the propositions. I don’t think we need to worry too much about that. It’s well know that when you have a meeting, not just the church but the UN, etc., there’s the discussion that goes on and what people take back home, and there’s the report that is produced. Sometimes the report doesn’t always reflect the reality of the discussion. It’s like Jesus’ gospel: we got four versions of what he said and did in three years. John even said that there are many, many other things which he said and did that weren’t written down.
I also think you can’t talk about a synod in the church without bringing in the spiritual and theological dimension. The pope warned us on the very first Sunday, at the Angelus, that this is not a study session, nor indeed a session where we sit down to prepare a plan of action. Instead, this is God’s own doing, and we are there to listen to the Spirit talking to the church. If that is so, then the primacy for the actual drafting of the message of the synod must be that of the Holy Spirit, who will guide and direct people in different ways.
Consider the first African Synod, which took place fifteen years ago. Ecclesia in Africa [the post-synodal exhortation issued by Pope John Paul II] came out much later, but before that people were already doing things. They are still doing many things as a result of what happened. Different people did different things. Some people found certain aspects particularly relevant to their situations and focused very much on them, while others focused on other things. For me, that’s the beauty of the synod.
I’m the president of the commission for the message. We tried our best to project a message that will more or less give an idea of the spirit that moved within the synod. There was no intention at all of trying to give a comprehensive summary of what happened, nor were we preparing the scheme for the post-synodal exhortation. That will be a serious job for fifteen members of the council that work for the next two years before the draft is sufficiently in a position for the Holy Father to sign. Don’t forget, the synod is an ongoing process. Even before we met here, we had studied the synod themes. Many countries have already started taking action [on the basis of the preparatory documents], and at the end they will continue.
The church does not operate like journalists, who are always waiting for the latest news, and they want it in sound-bites! We wait for things to sink in and to mature, to grow.
John L Allen Jr's blog
Everyone should watch the
Submitted by scmoore (not verified) on Oct. 16, 2009.
Everyone should watch the Sarah Silverman piece that the archbishop was, unwittingly I believe, responding to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bObItmxAGc&feature=player_embedded
While Silverman is a little crude in her approach, I think she raises some good points about being the change we want to see. So, maybe the Vatican should cut back on its frivolous spending and give back even more than it already does. Or divert the millions of dollars that communities pay to make their founder/hero/whoever a saint. I mean, the pope himself declared excessive wealth a grave sin...and his dress alone would suggest that he is among the excessively wealthy.
Bringing it to a local level, I know plenty of priests who live very lavish lifestyles. Will we ever be able to bring about an end to poverty while our church leaders are living inordinately comfortable lives?
reply John - this is what you do
Submitted by Mara (not verified) on Oct. 16, 2009.
John - this is what you do best. But, please, when you comment on American politics, you're too partisan.
reply The only thing more stupid
Submitted by Bill Daugherty (not verified) on Oct. 16, 2009.
The only thing more stupid than Sarah Silvermans "Sell the Vatican, Feed the World" bit is asking this holy man to respond to it. Shame on the so-called journalist who asked it.
reply I so appreciate your columns
Submitted by Rita Schilling, ASC (not verified) on Oct. 17, 2009.
I so appreciate your columns John. You are doing us such a great service by sharing your gift of writing . I look forward to reading every article you give us by way of NCR.
reply The Silverman piece is a bit
Submitted by JayB (not verified) on Oct. 19, 2009.
The Silverman piece is a bit over the top, but it raises a serious issue. The issue she wittingly or unwittingly raises is the lavish lifestyles of the clergy, that is, many priests and all bishops. Clearly they do not own all of the trappings of office, but bishops even in the poorest of dioceses are paid well for their services. Add to that their control over millions in resources and personnel, along with the very beautiful homes, national and international travel, the gifts and freebies, and caretakers who take care of their every need, and it is a huge stretch to say that they live humble, simple lives of servants. Anything but. They live like millionaires. Whether Silverman intended to call attention to this fact is beside the point. The question is, can people who live such lavish lives be an example for the world in terms of living simple lives, as Pope Benedict said recently? It is a question of leadership by example, and we do not have the proper leadership in the US church today. What we have instead is the ultimate example of how to succeed as a CEO in corporate America, when their lives should be the very antithesis of a typical American CEO. The US bishops have demonstrated this most clearly in their handling of the sexual abuse scandal. Archbishop Gregory is still touting the reaction of the US bishops as THE model for the world, when in fact not one US bishop has been held accountable for his role in that scandal. Gregory may take great comfort in the strategy of teaching the laity how to identify predator priests, but that was never the problem. Sadly, what the US bishops have left us with is a pathetic example of what it means to succeed as a CEO in corporate America by avoiding responsibility. They make the callous greed of our bank executives look like child's play because the actions of the bishops are far more sinister. Yes, Bishop Onaiyekan might very well be satisfied with the pace of the RCC, but most of us don't live that long. The church needs to live in the Holy Spirit now--not two centuries from now.
reply When Ms Silverman called for
Submitted by anonymous (not verified) on Oct. 19, 2009.
When Ms Silverman called for selling the Vatican & using the money to feed the poor, perhaps she was thinking of the example of the former Archbishop who shored up his earthquake damaged cathedral enough to prevent further damage, but held off the major repairs for a few years while building a couple of houses for his poor congregations in each parish to get the reconstruction ball rolling...
Many times, the Church seems just like the Gulf Coast govts in LA & MS which after Katrina, rebuilt the casinos, before even discussing rebuilding the homes and schools...
reply Funny how those who live in
Submitted by Todd (not verified) on Oct. 19, 2009.
Funny how those who live in affluent society tell the Church to sell the beautiful things it has to give honor to God in order to serve the poor, while a holy man from Africa who sees poverty every day proposes that [gasp] we BOTH care for the poor AND honor God liturgically through beautiful buildings and robes. It's almost as if man lives on something more than bread alone, as the good archbishop reiterated. It brings to mind the sinful woman who spent all her money to buy spikenard for her Lord's feet, and the man who told her it was a waste of money. May God bless all the clergy of Africa, a land yearning for a voice of truth and compassion.
reply Interesting. After 30-odd
Submitted by John Ashworth (not verified) on Oct. 24, 2009.
Interesting. After 30-odd years working with the church in East and South Africa, I had never heard of Onaiyekan. I would have thought Arinze was Africa's best known Catholic prelate, or maybe Milingo. Or perhaps Onaiyekan is well-known everywhere except Africa? But even if he is well-known by everyone except me, "superstar" is a bit strong. I think Desmond Tutu is the only African prelate of any denominational flavour who could claim that title. Hyperbole in the NCR?
Cheers!
John
It is ironic how some in the west idolize and fetishizes others according to their own base interests, without taking a sweeping look at the bigger picture.
Onaiyekan is considered a superstar in John Allen's perspective given his tenacity to sell Onaiyekan to the western universe, probably with the hope of robustly furthering Onaiyekan's ambitions. Unfortunately, John Allen, who has in the past reported on priest's sex abuse and the desecration of vulnerable Catholics through the official church exploitation and cover-up cannot look beyond mere primordial instincts. He, therefore, obtusely blurred his vision in taking entire facts into considerations.
Yes, John Allen's the biographer of the Pope, Benedict XVI, the former Joseph Ratzinger is pitching his tent with John Onaiyekan, probably he intends to give him a touchdown. But this aspiration has gone sour and woefully awry. Yes! Sounds right! I mean no easy pitching for a homerun just yet!
If John Allen has spread his tentacle a little widespread, he would have come to see a muddled view of John Onaiyekan, a highly corrupt and opulently ambitious church official. If John was attentive enough, he would have unveiled and unwarped John Onaiyekan for who he is; a pedophiles and a hideous sexual molester, and sexual abusers of Catholic women, especially vvulnerable and young nuns whom he rapes and exploits to his pleasurable advantages.
What people, especially Nigerian priests and nuns, know about John Onaiyekan, would detonate a careful burial of the facts exploding the minefield of ecclesiastical desecration; the cemented sexual abuses occuring today within the African Church.
Onaiyekan, criticizes African leaders. But ironically, he refuses to look at the mirror to see himself at the other end, as representing an African leader, one who is equally corrupt and damaging the image of the Roman Catholic Church. As, he stated of African leaders, John Onaiyekan should also quit because he is tainted with abuses and seriously immersed in corruption. As a religious leader in Africa, he is no less an African leader serving a vital role, by the fact and virtue of his ecclesiastical and social standing.
Onaiyekan by every dint is a corrupt archbishop who dalliances with birds of the same quills, corrupt politicians, who feathers his cap of relevance. He takes stolen money from them, which they use to coopt and soil him. He argues pretentiously that if he does not take these stolen largese others would take it. He often attempt to argue that he takes and use these "blood money" for good causes. True, by so doing he ends up encouraging thievery and oiling the wheels of further corruption. In reality, it is not even true that the archbishop use such such lurch funds for the sake of the poor. Onaiyekan lives regally relishing opulence.
Does John Onaiyekan resemble the poor of Nigeria? He strides in different arrays of SUVs, lives in a mansion, and ally with the creme of corrupt Nigerian leaders, whom he now tries to make us believe he so much despise. What a jerk and a joke, using his office to embellish and propel falsehoods.
John Onaiyekan, looks every inch like a Nigerian "big man" reflecting more like an Obasanjo, Peter Odili, and James Onafe Ibori, some of his paymasters. Playing this usual game and tone of being adverse to corruption is playing to the gallery first to appease the Vatican authorities, and a project a dubious moral standing that he hardly possess. Such antics are also a well known tools deployed by numerous Nigerian rogue religious leaders, including the leaders of other churches, such as the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Christ's Embassy, Winners Chapel, some of whom enjoyed state patronage and privileges especially during the erstwhile Presidency of General Olusegun Obasanjo. Onaiyekan as Obasanjo's Yoruba kin benefitted immensely from that presidency.
John Allen, as a respectable journalist, albeit one working for a liberal Catholic newspaper and who seemed to take an interest in issues that are privileged by "Call to Action" one would to do a more thorough job of journalistic representation, rather than doing some publicity stunt in behalf of a corrupt and manipulative African archbishop.
Not only is this archbishop corrupt, he has continued to cause dissension by interfering in the governance of other local churches, through trying to hijack the episcopal making process in pushing forth his candidates, for whatever reasons. Today, his stooges are enthroned in many dioceses such as Minna, Otukpo, Idah, and Lokoja. At a time, he was forcefully pushing forth toward making his friend, Msgr. John Aniagwu, the impressionable Lagos priest and former rector of the Ibadan regional seminary, into becoming a bishop. Onaiyekan has since been frustrated in that singular venture.
However, he has not given up, he continues to poke his nose into the affairs of other dioceses with the aim of causing dissension and wrecking havoc; especially when he begin to sense a forthcoming episcopal vacancy. Then, he begins to pump funds into such dioceses and befriend the bishop, whom hitherto he had no concern whatsoever for. Greedy and crafty, he plans his antics. Yet, this was a man who was very vileful toward the former rector of the Nigerian Catholic Theological Institute, Port Harcourt, and also of Bigard Theological Seminary, Enugu, Fr. Peter Damien Akwupuno, a rare genuius and an outstanding Nigerian priest, now in Chicago, whose ambition of becoming a bishop he once helped scuttle.
Onaiyekan is a sick "psychosociopath" who enjoys the limelight and syncophants, just like most African politicians. The only reason that he bad-mouths these politicians is that his megalomaniac disposition makes him feel he is more important than them, and perceives himself as a parallel political and social order.
His constant outrage and lipserviced criticisms reflect a desperate and ambitious man, who is a danger to himself, and disgrace to the Catholic faith, and the global Roman Catholic episcopate. In all earnestness, Onaiyekan should be ashamed of himself in trying to cajole John Allen to furthering his ambitious cause, especially in the Vatican and within the United States.
John Allen, should be aware, and a journalist be savvy at investigating, a current movement in the process of unmasking and drawing attention to Archbishop John Onaiyekan's abuse of religious women (nuns) and excesses. It is brewing, it is boiling, and it is going to be very messy at the moment these women begin to spew their intimate knowledge of John Onaiyekan, a sham bishop, a shameless pretender, and iconic representation of the devil walking on human feet. Then, Onaiyekan's crafty way of stealing himself the Cardinal's hat would become a burden to himself and even more embarrassing to the Vatican.
It is a matter of time, and the clock is tickling. The unmasking of Onaiyekan in the market square, would truely be interesting!
African bishop on Islam, oil , and why selling the Vatican is a stupid idea
by John L Allen Jr on Oct. 16, 2009 NCR Today - National Catholic Reporter
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PDF versionRome -- Earlier this week, I interviewed Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Atlanta, the lone American member of the Oct. 4-25 Synod for Africa, and asked him how many of the African bishops he already knew. He ticked off several, beginning with Archbishop John Onaiyekan of Abuja, Nigeria -- but at that point Gregory stopped himself, saying, “I guess that doesn’t really count, because everybody knows Onaiyekan!”
Made a bishop at the tender age of 38, and now in full stride at 65, Archbishop John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan is Africa’s superstar prelate, known around the world as the voice of his continent.
How ubiquitous is Onaiyekan? Consider that he’s taking a break from the synod on Monday to fly to London, where that night he’ll debate the planet’s most famous atheist, Christopher Hitchens, on the topic of whether the Catholic church is a force for good in the world. The event is hosted by a renowned BBC anchor. Someone else might be cowed, but when my wife wished Onaiyekan good luck, he shot back: “Good luck to Hitchens!”
Onaiyekan is the immediate past president of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of African and Madagascar, the current president of the ecumenical Christian Alliance of Nigeria, the president of the West Africa conference of bishops, as well as the man responsible for drafting the concluding message for the present Synod for Africa.
Colleagues often say that Onaiyekan is the living embodiment of the Nigerian national character – brash, bold, unafraid to speak his mind and tell it like it is. Over the years, he’s earned a reputation for intelligence, candor, and good humor.
This afternoon, Onaiyekan sat down with a group of English-speaking journalists to talk about the synod so far. Topics included:
Why multinational oil companies such as BP and Shell feel free to do things in Africa they’d never get away with back home;
How the Catholic/Islamic relationship can get rolling if we forget about theology and focus on concrete social issues;
Why it’s a stupid idea to think the pope could help the poor by selling off the Vatican;
Why the synod has taken such a strikingly self-critical spirit;
How the mindsets of journalists and the Catholic church often don’t mix.
The following is a transcript of Onaiyekan’s session with journalists, which took place in the Press Office of the Holy See.
Opening remarks
This is not a lecture, this is an interactive session. We have been working for almost two weeks now. We have reached the stage when the work is not as interesting as when we are sitting there listening to beautiful stories. Now it’s time to really try and come out with something, to distill some clear ideas and messages and commitments. That’s a bit more difficult, less enjoyable but no less important. That’s where we are at present.
A lot of us [in the press] are not from Africa, and we’ve been going through the synod pulling out things that are of interest to us. For your people in the parishes, what do you think the main points, the main message, from this synod will be?
It depends on which of my people we’re talking about. The message is going to try and reach out to different categories within the church. For example, if you talk about the Archbishop of Abuja, he might have breakfast with the head of state in the morning, and in the evening he’s in one village talking to some poor women who needs him to convince her that it’s worthwhile to let her daughter go to school. So, you move from a beautiful mansion to a hovel in the middle of nowhere, all within an hour’s drive. That’s one of the challenges we have when we preach at Mass, because sitting in front of you is the whole gamut of the community, and you have to preach to all these people. You have to find ways of being able to identify different categories, and deliver to them the kind of message we believe they need.
So, to answer your question is not so simple. I’m not sure what I would tell them, except to say that they should all be very good Catholics, as much as they can, and they should let their Christian faith be reflected in all aspects of their lives, wherever God has put them. It’s a message that most of them know very well already, starting from the most humble and poorest … they have grasped this message very carefully. It’s really more challenging for those who are high up in society. Those who have responsibility for the way our country goes have more difficulty in marrying their faith with their professional and public lives, and that is a major challenge.
I would also tell them that I had a good time here these three weeks, that meeting other bishops from Africa, hearing their stories, has confirmed me in my faith. On my occasions, it’s helped me to get out of my own preoccupations with my problems, which I thought were very big, and I find that other people have far more serious problems than we are dealing with. With that kind of attitude, I’ll go back home very encouraged, and I will share that with my people. Things aren’t perfect, but don’t forget it could be worse. Of course, it could be better.
The post-discussion report mentioned that there’s a problem with multi-national mining companies in Africa, and talked about the idea of an international tribunal to hold these companies accountable. What is it exactly that you would like to see?
Of course, we are bishops, so we are very optimistic and we say nice things. Obviously, we will target our message to the ideal situation. We believe that there are certain things which just should not be done. The law of profit should have limits in terms of how you exploit natural resources. This is not only in terms of the economic conditions under which that’s done, how much you pay for the raw materials you’re taking out in relation to how much it’s actually worth – that’s an old story, and these are the old quarrels we’ve had – but also in terms of the environment. How much is anybody allowed to devastate the environment, simply because they want to extract resources, such as minerals, oil, and so on?
I will add two other considerations.
The first has to do with simple justice. Some of these multi-nationals operate with double standards. I can’t see BP, Shell, or Mobil doing what they’re doing in the Niger Delta in the North Sea, or in Texas. They’re the same people, which means that things they wouldn’t tolerate at home they do quite freely in Africa. Maybe they think Africa is a no-man’s land where anything can happen.
The second consideration, and it’s an item that has very much occupied and preoccupied the synod fathers, is the responsibility of our own leaders. Mobil, Shell, Agip … I have to make sure I mention different countries, so they won’t accuse me [of bias] … you can also add Elf. They all come, but they don’t just move in and start doing these things. In all the cases, there is some amount of so-called agreement with the local rulers, who claim to have negotiated on behalf of the people. Now, the synod has come out very strongly that our leaders ought to protect our environment. They ought to have their eyes wide open. If one is to be generous in judgment, you’d say perhaps [these leaders] are ignorant in judgment, but we’re not so sure they’re that stupid. We have very intelligent people, both in and outside of government, who ought to know to insist on a basic minimum.
That brings us back to the whole idea of an international code of conduct. It would be useless if it’s not going to be implemented, which has happened with many other codes that have been simply ignored. It seems that in the world of today, the more powerful you are, the more you can afford to ignore the rules which they quite happily impose on others. That’s the world we live in.
We may add, to, that more and more now we are realizing that we are not only on one planet, but in one village where we live together as a human family. Destroying the environment in Nigeria affects the whole of our planet. Maybe the more that is recognized, the kind of international approach might become more feasible because it would be seen as enlightened self-interest to really put some rules into the way things are. Just like every city has rules as regards what to do with the trash they produce, for the sake of the immediate environment, if we begin to see the whole world as one environment we will be ready to put our heads together – knowing that what happens in one place affects the other places.
I was in New York three weeks ago, with a team of lobbyists around the United Nations summit on climate change, and this matter came out very strongly. It became very clear that if we’re talking about the industrial growth of the rich countries, that is not only linked with the exploitation of raw materials from poor nations, but also with lots of consequences for the environment. How you produce, what you do to your factories here, is already having negative effects for places far, far away, such as islands. Some Pacific islands are disappearing, which have been there for centuries. At first, we did not see it in Africa. We used to think that floods and droughts are God’s work done to us, so we would go pray and sacrifice. Now we know that it’s not God’s cause, that people are responsible. Unfortunately, human beings are short-sighted, so they don’t look far enough. Maybe that’s where a group like ours, the bishops, together … and don’t forget, we’re not just Africans here. We have bishops from the U.S., from Europe, from Asia – we have a common mind on this matter. [We should] treat our planet well, and do all we can to make sure that every single individual in this family can live decently, so that all of us can live in peace.
Prior to the synod, you said you were disappointed with the preparatory document’s treatment of Islam, and you hoped more would come up in the discussion. You gave your own intervention [speech] on Islam. Will the synod offer any new ideas about relations with Islam?
Islam has come up. You rightly refer to my own intervention, which I must say surprised some of my older colleagues. I spoke about Islam also in 1994, and my language was, ‘Here where are with a group of people confronting us, threatening our very existence, and what do we do? We can’t just keep quiet, we must let them know that this can’t continue, not just in our country but in others.’ At that time, we insisted that we really need to talk with them, so the emphasis was on dialogue. This time, the very title of my intervention was, ‘From dialogue to collaboration.’ Having talked to each other for so long, we know each other fairly well, it’s about time we should be able to gather ourselves together.
The theme of the synod, I think, has helped us to move a bit further in the whole discussion of inter-religious dialogue. The problem with inter-religious dialogue is that it leaves the religions, especially Christianity and Islam, simply looking at each other, with the danger that you’re only looking at where you differ and where you’re quarreling. You’re only looking at the relative strengths of one against the other, and our competition for the souls and the hearts of our people. That’s generally not a very nice kind of operation. But when we start talking of conflicts, wars, poverty, reconciliation, disease, bad governance, corruption, we suddenly discover that these are things which are hitting everybody. Whether you’re a Christian or a Muslim in Nigeria, you find exactly the same thing. Without thinking of religion, we want to deal with it. Those who are on the receiving end, and they’re already doing it, have no difficulty putting their heads together to see what can be done. The way we go further is that, in all this, religion ought to be one of the positive instruments for overcoming these challenges. We feel we’ve reached a stage where we can actually move in this direction. It’s like this: by exercising, you begin to know how to get things done. If you don’t start working together, you won’t be able realize that you actually can work together.
If it remains on the level of dialogue, often it will seem useless. I don’t see what dialogue I can have with a Muslim on the person of Jesus. He says Jesus is a prophet, I say he’s God. There’s no meeting point, and it will remain like that. If I accept that he’s just a prophet, only a little bit less than Muhammad, then I have become a Muslim. If he agrees that Jesus is God, even if he says that Muhammad is the greatest prophet, then he becomes a Christian. In those areas, there’s really not much room for discussion.
To my surprise, and it’s not only me from Nigeria, but the bishops from the countries that are heavily Muslim, the emphasis all the time was on working together. I think that’s because of the theme of the synod, which forces us to focus our attention on reconciliation, justice, and peace. Many of us have also spoken from the point of view of experience, personal experience. Some of the African countries have given us examples of where the government itself invites, indeed pleads, with the religious leaders to come together to help them deal with certain situations.
We’ve noticed that generally, these kinds of operations are far more effective when they’re done on an inter-faith basis. The Catholic Church may be well-organized, perhaps, have many brilliant people, and all that, but when it comes to dealing with national issues, you may not be able to do it alone. If you reach out and join hands with other religious leaders, even if they are not as brilliant as you are, they do have their own following who respect them and who follow them. When the followers see their leaders working together, holding hands, talking to the press together and having photographs of themselves spread all over the television and the papers, it encourages them to continue what they actually have been doing all along.
Nigeria is to be taken as a good example. Religious difficulties have never really been among the people on the ground. They’ve always lived together in peace.
Can you give us a few examples?
Before the 2007 elections, the Nigerian Interreligious Council tabled the issue of elections as a major cause of concern to discuss at our meeting, and we did. At the end it was agreed that the Sultan, who leads all the Muslims, and myself as the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, would organize a press conference and appeal to all the politicians, ‘Please, allow our people to vote peacefully. All the political organization should eschew all violence, both physical and verbal.’ We also pleaded that the government should make sure that, this time around, the votes cast were counted, properly, so we would have a good democracy. We had that press conference, which was beautiful. Many people, most people, including the politicians, congratulated us. However, as you know, they went ahead and did whatever they wanted. We are like the sentries in Ezekiel. You warn the bad person to behave well. If you don’t warn him, you will pay for it. He will still pay for his own actions too. If you warn him and he changes, he will be saved and you will be saved for doing your work. If you warn him and he does not change, you have done your duty. He still has to answer to God for himself. That’s one example.
Another example is the whole question of HIV/AIDS. We realize the importance of the religious messages in the struggle to combat discrimination and stigmatization. When AIDS first came up, it was very difficult for religious people to handle. In fact, when I started talking about HIV/AIDS in the cathedral, a lot of people were a little bit worried. They felt that this kind of thing should not be mentioned by the archbishop, not to talk of it in the cathedral. I heard some mischievous people were saying, ‘Maybe the Archbishop is HIV-positive, and that’s why he’s always talking about these things.’ It was thought that HIV/AIDS only touches bad people. To make matters worse, there were some pastors and imams who carried the message that HIV/AIDS is punishment from God on bad people. So, we felt a greater responsibility to address this kind of thing.
We actually worked together. We had seminars, where Muslim and Christian religious came together, scholars, to pick texts and verses from the Qur’an and from the Holy Scriptures to sustain our work of combating discrimination and stigmatization, and also calling for care. Both the Qur’an and the Bible are full of texts you can use. Once you admit that HIV/AIDS is a disease, a calamity, and those who are under it deserve your care and your attention, it became easier. It also became easier for the government to bring in whatever little services they want to render.
That’s quite apart from the fact that the religious organizations had structures on the ground to deliver [care]. The Catholic Church obviously would tell them, ‘We’re not in the business of distributing condoms, but we’re in the business of doing a lot of [other] things which are very important.’ Our government understands that, and we work together. Fortunately, in this matter, we and the Muslims are more or less in agreement.
A third example, which is the most recent, is Malaria. Maybe because of the population of Nigeria, which is 150 million, the number of people who are suffering from malaria and even dying of malaria every day is very high in Nigeria. We are told that after Congo, we are perhaps the next highest number. The United Nations have decided to zero in on Nigeria with considerable resources to tackle malaria. By the way, malaria is killing more people in Nigeria than HIV/AIDS. It suddenly dawned on them that people are dying of other things. The UN Secretary General has a whole program on malaria, with a UN special envoy. They came to Nigeria, and our government had agreed to accept this assistance of the United Nations and from international organizations to really carry out a major program on malaria in Nigeria. At that point, however, someone in Washington insisted that they must involve the religious communities. So, we were informed. We didn’t know what was going on, and we jumped at it. We formed a group called Nigerian Interfaith Action Association (NIFA). This is properly established and registered as a non-profit organization, so that funds can be put into it with proper accountability. It’s more or less like a commission within the Nigerian Interreligious Council. This is the first time we’re doing that kind of job. The sultan and I are the joint chairmen of the Board of Trustees. We’ve brought in professionals – doctors, pediatricians, nurses, public health experts – from the two religions, They’re working together as professionals. The churches and the mosques have made themselves available to be part of the government program.
Malaria is another disease where the problem isn’t only medical. Take the example of advising people to sleep under the nets. A doctor cannot do much on that. But a parish priest in a village, talking to 2,000 people, can tell them: ‘I have nets in the parish house for each and every one of you. If you come tomorrow morning, everybody will collect his own. You must use it so as to protect yourself against mosquitoes.’ First, they will reach more people. Second, in a country where government has consistently told lies to the people, the people tend not to even listen to what the government says. If people who are credible say it, it goes a long way. We also know that malaria is spread around because of dirt around, simple hygiene, and the church can do a lot along those lines. But we told the government that these things cost money. If they want us to be involved, then some of the funds meant for the malaria program should also be made available to those who are joining this kind of effort.
A final example: Many of you are aware that two months ago, there was a major outbreak of violence in Maiduguri [in northern Nigeria]. It was a very stupid outbreak. I contacted the sultan at that time, because we [Nigeria] were always the first item on the news, in the most disturbing and shameful way, embarrassing. The sultan and I agreed that we would out put a joint statement, condemning what has happened and quite clearly saying that this cannot be justified by any religion. In this case, it was clear that people were shouting about Islam. I and the sultan jointly signed the statement, saying that this is not Islam. It was the first time I know, at that level, there was a common statement on a religious issue. Up to now, whenever these things happened, the best our decent Muslim leaders would do is simply keep quiet. They wouldn’t talk. Sometimes, they would even try to find a way of justifying what has happened. But now we have moved, we are beginning to look things straight in the face. If it is wrong, we’re prepared to say it together.
I believe this is because we started to get to know one another. I thank God that we have reached this stage. I didn’t know we would reach it fifteen years ago when we came here [for the first African synod]. My own reading of the situation is that once one opens up to others, we begin to recognize one another on the level of our humanity. It’s wonderful … a wonderful discovery.
There was hardly anything said in the synod about ecumenism, you in sub-Saharan African there’s a strong presence of all the mainline churches, to say nothing of the Pentecostals. Can you comment on that?
The first comment is that there was some interventions that took the angle of the need to work on these matters in collaboration with ‘others,’ meaning men and women of good will, and also mentioning an inter-religious approach and then an ecumenical approach. By the way, once or twice there were interventions that spoke of ecumenism more in a negative way, especially talking about the Pentecostals, who in certain places are actually very anti-Catholic in their approach and therefore are quite a problem. Even if you wanted to work ecumenically, they’re not prepared to work with you.
You are right to say that ecumenism has not loomed large in our discussion. Of course, the very presence of the fraternal delegates kept reminding us of it. One of them, the Lutheran from Tanzania, called on the synod fathers not to forget that it’s important to open up and work with other Christians.
The synod fathers were particularly concerned about what can we do [about the synod’s themes], so the emphasis was on ‘the church.’ When we say ‘the church’ in this context, you know what we mean. In many interventions, the question was how the church as it is can position itself better. Therefore, there was a lot of self-examination, admission of inadequacies in many ways. Many of the interventions [said] that within the church itself, we must sort our own problems of reconciliation, justice and peace. It’s this emphasis, and I believe it’s not a bad one, that can make it appear we’re only thinking about ourselves.
My hope is that if we indeed succeed in reorganizing ourselves better, it will naturally mean that we must also look around us and work with other people. I know that in many countries, there is that kind of rapport already among Christians. In Nigeria, we have the Christian Association of Nigeria. Indeed, we realize that it is issues like this that we all have to work on together. Beyond the national level, we do have some kind of relation at the continental level between SECAM and AACC, the “All Africa Council of Churches.” At the time it was set up, it was more or less the African chapter of the World Council of Churches. Since the Catholic church is not part of the WCC, SECAM never became part of AACC. As president of SECAM, I did reach out to the AACC so we can find a forum to work together. I do not think we have made much progress in that regard.
Just by the way, one of the issues that arose in the synod is a realization that no matter how beautifully you propound your messages in your sermons and homilies, at the end of the day they are the politicians, the people with power, who must do things to bring about peace, justice and reconciliation. There was emphasis that somehow, in each country, you have to devise ways and means of dialogue and working with those who control your governments – starting with those of them who are supposed to be Catholics and whom you should expect to listen to your guidance, before you talk to others. In that context, we also spoke about African generally, and our continental governmental organizations, especially the African Union. Very often when it comes to a major political crisis, the AU steps in. We said that the Catholic church, SECAM, has already started to have a kind of status within AU, so that we have a forum to be able to intervene, and also to make ourselves available if they needed us. I reminded the synod that from the very beginning of the AU, the AACC has always enjoyed observer status. They didn’t do much with it, though. I’m not even sure they attended the meetings of the AU, and I’ve never seen any initiative taken by the AACC in the context of African Union peace initiatives or whatever. We are now thinking we might consider finding some kind of joint working together, possibly within the already existing framework of the AACC position within the AU. Even if we’re going to have our own SEAC representation, we should certainly work together.
I know that in the African Council of Religious Leaders, which I co-chair, we’re also talking in the same line that we want to be in the AU. When people are discussing, and especially the heads of states, we should have the opportunity to call all of them to one small little meeting, or invite them to come and pray. In a way, when you call people to come and pray, you have a special facility to talk to them. We are already thinking along these lines.
Economic justice is a big theme in this synod, and you come from the world’s poorest continent. Recently an American comedian did a bit on the Vatican, asking if the pope really cares about the poor, why doesn’t he sell the Vatican and move into a more humble dwelling? Do you ever hear that, and how would you respond?
First, it would depend who is telling me that. If that person is from Europe or America, I can suggest a few other things that they could sell to help the poor. I would tell them to start there first, before coming to the Vatican. But if any person from our own poor countries were to say such a thing, and I hardly see that happening … the few poor people who come here have never said, ‘Oh, why don’t they sell this and give us money for food?’ They always say, ‘What a beautiful place.’ They admire it. Maybe it’s because man does not live by bread alone. It helps them to see how great our God is, and they’re not expecting the Vatican to sell it off. Anyway, to whom? Who would buy it, and what would it cost? The joke [from the comedian] isn’t only offensive and in bad taste, it’s stupid.
What they should be asking is, what is the Vatican doing about poverty in the world? That’s the question to be asked. If you’ve ever come up to see the pope’s apartment, it is very straight-forward and simple. This isn’t just his house, it’s not just his mansion. As you know, the whole building has all the offices, the Secretariat of State, the Vatican Museums which occupies a whole lot of space, all that. It’s like your White House isn’t just the bedroom of Obama. Maybe if there were no Vatican, the pope would still need to build a house for himself and his offices. It would not be built like this, because I don’t know that modern architects have the same kind of spirit as those who designed this, but that’s another question.
The answer I would give is that poverty in the world has to be dealt with by justice. All these big structures, all those unjust economic structures in the world, those are the things to move so that the poor can survive. I think we know that sadness and the tragedy of it, and we know what to do. It can be done, and it can be done without reducing everybody to the same lowest common denominator of misery. What we don’t have is the political, and I would say spiritual, will to do it. Will it come? I don’t know.
Many issues have been identified in the synod so far. What happens to those issues that don’t make it into the final documents?
The synod is first and foremost a meeting of the bishops to exchange ideas and to share concerns, so my conviction is that the record of the synod is in the synod fathers themselves as they go back home and share it with their brothers. What comes out in the papers … the message, even the post-synodal exhortation … these are just small bits of summary, a historical note to tell us that there was an African Synod II and these are some of the things they discussed. Therefore, the question of what happens to the other things doesn’t really arise. Most of us were taking notes, some of us furiously, throughout. A lot of bishops must have made up their minds about what has struck them and what they intend to take back home. In terms of the report of the relator, he’s looking for areas where the synod has generated a consensus. Some of the most brilliant ideas may not even get a consensus, so it will remain a brilliant idea that was floated around and it hit some people and they will take it back with them, but it will not feature in the propositions. I don’t think we need to worry too much about that. It’s well know that when you have a meeting, not just the church but the UN, etc., there’s the discussion that goes on and what people take back home, and there’s the report that is produced. Sometimes the report doesn’t always reflect the reality of the discussion. It’s like Jesus’ gospel: we got four versions of what he said and did in three years. John even said that there are many, many other things which he said and did that weren’t written down.
I also think you can’t talk about a synod in the church without bringing in the spiritual and theological dimension. The pope warned us on the very first Sunday, at the Angelus, that this is not a study session, nor indeed a session where we sit down to prepare a plan of action. Instead, this is God’s own doing, and we are there to listen to the Spirit talking to the church. If that is so, then the primacy for the actual drafting of the message of the synod must be that of the Holy Spirit, who will guide and direct people in different ways.
Consider the first African Synod, which took place fifteen years ago. Ecclesia in Africa [the post-synodal exhortation issued by Pope John Paul II] came out much later, but before that people were already doing things. They are still doing many things as a result of what happened. Different people did different things. Some people found certain aspects particularly relevant to their situations and focused very much on them, while others focused on other things. For me, that’s the beauty of the synod.
I’m the president of the commission for the message. We tried our best to project a message that will more or less give an idea of the spirit that moved within the synod. There was no intention at all of trying to give a comprehensive summary of what happened, nor were we preparing the scheme for the post-synodal exhortation. That will be a serious job for fifteen members of the council that work for the next two years before the draft is sufficiently in a position for the Holy Father to sign. Don’t forget, the synod is an ongoing process. Even before we met here, we had studied the synod themes. Many countries have already started taking action [on the basis of the preparatory documents], and at the end they will continue.
The church does not operate like journalists, who are always waiting for the latest news, and they want it in sound-bites! We wait for things to sink in and to mature, to grow.
John L Allen Jr's blog
Everyone should watch the
Submitted by scmoore (not verified) on Oct. 16, 2009.
Everyone should watch the Sarah Silverman piece that the archbishop was, unwittingly I believe, responding to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bObItmxAGc&feature=player_embedded
While Silverman is a little crude in her approach, I think she raises some good points about being the change we want to see. So, maybe the Vatican should cut back on its frivolous spending and give back even more than it already does. Or divert the millions of dollars that communities pay to make their founder/hero/whoever a saint. I mean, the pope himself declared excessive wealth a grave sin...and his dress alone would suggest that he is among the excessively wealthy.
Bringing it to a local level, I know plenty of priests who live very lavish lifestyles. Will we ever be able to bring about an end to poverty while our church leaders are living inordinately comfortable lives?
reply John - this is what you do
Submitted by Mara (not verified) on Oct. 16, 2009.
John - this is what you do best. But, please, when you comment on American politics, you're too partisan.
reply The only thing more stupid
Submitted by Bill Daugherty (not verified) on Oct. 16, 2009.
The only thing more stupid than Sarah Silvermans "Sell the Vatican, Feed the World" bit is asking this holy man to respond to it. Shame on the so-called journalist who asked it.
reply I so appreciate your columns
Submitted by Rita Schilling, ASC (not verified) on Oct. 17, 2009.
I so appreciate your columns John. You are doing us such a great service by sharing your gift of writing . I look forward to reading every article you give us by way of NCR.
reply The Silverman piece is a bit
Submitted by JayB (not verified) on Oct. 19, 2009.
The Silverman piece is a bit over the top, but it raises a serious issue. The issue she wittingly or unwittingly raises is the lavish lifestyles of the clergy, that is, many priests and all bishops. Clearly they do not own all of the trappings of office, but bishops even in the poorest of dioceses are paid well for their services. Add to that their control over millions in resources and personnel, along with the very beautiful homes, national and international travel, the gifts and freebies, and caretakers who take care of their every need, and it is a huge stretch to say that they live humble, simple lives of servants. Anything but. They live like millionaires. Whether Silverman intended to call attention to this fact is beside the point. The question is, can people who live such lavish lives be an example for the world in terms of living simple lives, as Pope Benedict said recently? It is a question of leadership by example, and we do not have the proper leadership in the US church today. What we have instead is the ultimate example of how to succeed as a CEO in corporate America, when their lives should be the very antithesis of a typical American CEO. The US bishops have demonstrated this most clearly in their handling of the sexual abuse scandal. Archbishop Gregory is still touting the reaction of the US bishops as THE model for the world, when in fact not one US bishop has been held accountable for his role in that scandal. Gregory may take great comfort in the strategy of teaching the laity how to identify predator priests, but that was never the problem. Sadly, what the US bishops have left us with is a pathetic example of what it means to succeed as a CEO in corporate America by avoiding responsibility. They make the callous greed of our bank executives look like child's play because the actions of the bishops are far more sinister. Yes, Bishop Onaiyekan might very well be satisfied with the pace of the RCC, but most of us don't live that long. The church needs to live in the Holy Spirit now--not two centuries from now.
reply When Ms Silverman called for
Submitted by anonymous (not verified) on Oct. 19, 2009.
When Ms Silverman called for selling the Vatican & using the money to feed the poor, perhaps she was thinking of the example of the former Archbishop who shored up his earthquake damaged cathedral enough to prevent further damage, but held off the major repairs for a few years while building a couple of houses for his poor congregations in each parish to get the reconstruction ball rolling...
Many times, the Church seems just like the Gulf Coast govts in LA & MS which after Katrina, rebuilt the casinos, before even discussing rebuilding the homes and schools...
reply Funny how those who live in
Submitted by Todd (not verified) on Oct. 19, 2009.
Funny how those who live in affluent society tell the Church to sell the beautiful things it has to give honor to God in order to serve the poor, while a holy man from Africa who sees poverty every day proposes that [gasp] we BOTH care for the poor AND honor God liturgically through beautiful buildings and robes. It's almost as if man lives on something more than bread alone, as the good archbishop reiterated. It brings to mind the sinful woman who spent all her money to buy spikenard for her Lord's feet, and the man who told her it was a waste of money. May God bless all the clergy of Africa, a land yearning for a voice of truth and compassion.
reply Interesting. After 30-odd
Submitted by John Ashworth (not verified) on Oct. 24, 2009.
Interesting. After 30-odd years working with the church in East and South Africa, I had never heard of Onaiyekan. I would have thought Arinze was Africa's best known Catholic prelate, or maybe Milingo. Or perhaps Onaiyekan is well-known everywhere except Africa? But even if he is well-known by everyone except me, "superstar" is a bit strong. I think Desmond Tutu is the only African prelate of any denominational flavour who could claim that title. Hyperbole in the NCR?
Cheers!
John
Canadian Bishop Resigns over Porn found on Computer
Canadian bishop arrested on Charges of Possessing Child Pornography
10/2/2009
Catholic News Agency (www.catholicnewsagency.com)
Bishop Raymond Lahey of the Diocese of Antigonish, Nova Scotia resigned and turned himself into police.
Bishop Raymond Lahey of the Diocese of Antigonish, Nova Scotia as he turned himself into Police.
OTTAWA, Canada (CNA) - Bishop Raymond Lahey of the Diocese of Antigonish, Nova Scotia resigned and turned himself into police after being charged with possessing and importing child pornography. The accusations have particular significance because of his role in addressing sexual abuse accusations against his diocese’s priests.
Officers conducting a search at the Ottawa Airport found images “of concern” on Bishop Lahey’s laptop and seized it along with other media devices when the 69-year-old prelate reentered Canada on Sept. 15. When a forensic examination revealed child pornography, files were charged against the bishop and a warrant was issued for his arrest last Friday, the Globe and Mail reports.
The bishop turned himself in to Ottawa police on Thursday.
On Saturday, September 26, Archbishop of Halifax Anthony Mancini was named apostolic administrator of Antigonish, according to the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB).
The CCCB reported that Pope Benedict XVI accepted the resignation of the accused bishop, who asked to leave office for “personal reasons.”
“I have already left the diocese to take some much-needed time for personal renewal. I simply ask for your prayers, as I assure you of my continued prayers for you all,” the bishop wrote in a letter to his diocese.
According to the Globe and Mail, Diocese of Antigonish spokesman Fr. Paul Abbass said there had been “a ton of speculation” about the reasons for the bishop’s resignation, with many believing it was due to stress or his health.
“We know the reason now and now we have to deal with that,” he remarked.
He described the former bishop as warm, respectful and “very pastoral.” In the priest’s view, Bishop Lahey was “absolutely committed” to resolving allegations of clerical sexual abuse, but the new charges were “pretty devastating” in light of the recent sexual abuse settlement.
In August the diocese reached a $15 million class-action settlement with known and alleged former child victims of sexual abuse by its priests dating back to 1950.
The Globe and Mail reports that Bishop Lahey, who was not implicated in the allegations, apologized to those abuse victims.
“Sexual abuse, indeed any abuse, is wrong. It is a crime and it is a serious sin in the eyes of God,” he had told a press conference. “I want to assure you that for some time our diocese, like others throughout Canada, have been taking steps to protect children and youth.”
A Wednesday press release from the Archdiocese of Halifax reported that Archbishop Mancini learned of the charges against Bishop Lahey through the news media.
“I am shocked and saddened by this devastating news. For the priests and people of Antigonish Diocese, this is a terrible moment,” the archbishop said.
Archbishop Mancini told CTV News that he assumed that Pope Benedict knew “the gravity of the matter” when he accepted the bishop’s resignation.
Bishop Lahey had been bishop of Antigonish since June 2003. Previously, he had been Bishop of St. George’s, Newfoundland and Labrador since July 1986.
According to the CCCB, the Diocese of Antigonish has a Catholic population of 129,730 in 118 parishes and missions. They are served by 114 diocesan priests, three religious priests, one permanent deacon and 272 religious sisters
- - -
Founded in continued response to Pope John Paul II’s call for a “New Evangelization,” the Catholic News Agency (CNA) has been, since 2004, one of the fastest growing Catholic news providers to the English speaking world.
*************
We want to urge in the light of the following Associated Press statement to take a serious view of the bishop's actions, until we are fully certain both legally or through his confessions, that he actually engaged in this hideous acts. If the AP investigation is anything to go by, innocent persons can be so easily framed and entered into legal troubles in a way that is damaging and totally embarrassing to individuals. This is no apologia for the bishop. Please, use your discernment. On our part, we would not like to be seen to be intentionally doing damage to the church and her institutions, whom we are a part, except if in a controvertible way we are certain of our facts and data. Thanks. Moderator.
#####
AP IMPACT: Framed for child porn — by a PC virus
By JORDAN ROBERTSON, AP Technology Writer - Sun Nov 8, 2009 12:17PM EST
Of all the sinister things that Internet viruses do, this might be the worst: They can make you an unsuspecting collector of child pornography.
Heinous pictures and videos can be deposited on computers by viruses — the malicious programs better known for swiping your credit card numbers. In this twist, it's your reputation that's stolen.
Pedophiles can exploit virus-infected PCs to remotely store and view their stash without fear they'll get caught. Pranksters or someone trying to frame you can tap viruses to make it appear that you surf illegal Web sites.
Whatever the motivation, you get child porn on your computer — and might not realize it until police knock at your door.
An Associated Press investigation found cases in which innocent people have been branded as pedophiles after their co-workers or loved ones stumbled upon child porn placed on a PC through a virus. It can cost victims hundreds of thousands of dollars to prove their innocence.
Their situations are complicated by the fact that actual pedophiles often blame viruses — a defense rightfully viewed with skepticism by law enforcement.
"It's an example of the old `dog ate my homework' excuse," says Phil Malone, director of the Cyberlaw Clinic at Harvard's Berkman Center for Internet & Society. "The problem is, sometimes the dog does eat your homework."
The AP's investigation included interviewing people who had been found with child porn on their computers. The AP reviewed court records and spoke to prosecutors, police and computer examiners.
One case involved Michael Fiola, a former investigator with the Massachusetts agency that oversees workers' compensation.
In 2007, Fiola's bosses became suspicious after the Internet bill for his state-issued laptop showed that he used 4 1/2 times more data than his colleagues. A technician found child porn in the PC folder that stores images viewed online.
Fiola was fired and charged with possession of child pornography, which carries up to five years in prison. He endured death threats, his car tires were slashed and he was shunned by friends.
Fiola and his wife fought the case, spending $250,000 on legal fees. They liquidated their savings, took a second mortgage and sold their car.
An inspection for his defense revealed the laptop was severely infected. It was programmed to visit as many as 40 child porn sites per minute — an inhuman feat. While Fiola and his wife were out to dinner one night, someone logged on to the computer and porn flowed in for an hour and a half.
Prosecutors performed another test and confirmed the defense findings. The charge was dropped — 11 months after it was filed.
The Fiolas say they have health problems from the stress of the case. They say they've talked to dozens of lawyers but can't get one to sue the state, because of a cap on the amount they can recover.
"It ruined my life, my wife's life and my family's life," he says.
The Massachusetts attorney general's office, which charged Fiola, declined interview requests.
At any moment, about 20 million of the estimated 1 billion Internet-connected PCs worldwide are infected with viruses that could give hackers full control, according to security software maker F-Secure Corp. Computers often get infected when people open e-mail attachments from unknown sources or visit a malicious Web page.
Pedophiles can tap viruses in several ways. The simplest is to force someone else's computer to surf child porn sites, collecting images along the way. Or a computer can be made into a warehouse for pictures and videos that can be viewed remotely when the PC is online.
"They're kind of like locusts that descend on a cornfield: They eat up everything in sight and they move on to the next cornfield," says Eric Goldman, academic director of the High Tech Law Institute at Santa Clara University. Goldman has represented Web companies that discovered child pornographers were abusing their legitimate services.
But pedophiles need not be involved: Child porn can land on a computer in a sick prank or an attempt to frame the PC's owner.
In the first publicly known cases of individuals being victimized, two men in the United Kingdom were cleared in 2003 after viruses were shown to have been responsible for the child porn on their PCs.
In one case, an infected e-mail or pop-up ad poisoned a defense contractor's PC and downloaded the offensive pictures.
In the other, a virus changed the home page on a man's Web browser to display child porn, a discovery made by his 7-year-old daughter. The man spent more than a week in jail and three months in a halfway house, and lost custody of his daughter.
Chris Watts, a computer examiner in Britain, says he helped clear a hotel manager whose co-workers found child porn on the PC they shared with him.
Watts found that while surfing the Internet for ways to play computer games without paying for them, the manager had visited a site for pirated software. It redirected visitors to child porn sites if they were inactive for a certain period.
In all these cases, the central evidence wasn't in dispute: Pornography was on a computer. But proving how it got there was difficult.
Tami Loehrs, who inspected Fiola's computer, recalls a case in Arizona in which a computer was so "extensively infected" that it would be "virtually impossible" to prove what an indictment alleged: that a 16-year-old who used the PC had uploaded child pornography to a Yahoo group.
Prosecutors dropped the charge and let the boy plead guilty to a separate crime that kept him out of jail, though they say they did it only because of his age and lack of a criminal record.
Many prosecutors say blaming a computer virus for child porn is a new version of an old ploy.
"We call it the SODDI defense: Some Other Dude Did It," says James Anderson, a federal prosecutor in Wyoming.
However, forensic examiners say it would be hard for a pedophile to get away with his crime by using a bogus virus defense.
"I personally would feel more comfortable investing my retirement in the lottery before trying to defend myself with that," says forensics specialist Jeff Fischbach.
10/2/2009
Catholic News Agency (www.catholicnewsagency.com)
Bishop Raymond Lahey of the Diocese of Antigonish, Nova Scotia resigned and turned himself into police.
Bishop Raymond Lahey of the Diocese of Antigonish, Nova Scotia as he turned himself into Police.
OTTAWA, Canada (CNA) - Bishop Raymond Lahey of the Diocese of Antigonish, Nova Scotia resigned and turned himself into police after being charged with possessing and importing child pornography. The accusations have particular significance because of his role in addressing sexual abuse accusations against his diocese’s priests.
Officers conducting a search at the Ottawa Airport found images “of concern” on Bishop Lahey’s laptop and seized it along with other media devices when the 69-year-old prelate reentered Canada on Sept. 15. When a forensic examination revealed child pornography, files were charged against the bishop and a warrant was issued for his arrest last Friday, the Globe and Mail reports.
The bishop turned himself in to Ottawa police on Thursday.
On Saturday, September 26, Archbishop of Halifax Anthony Mancini was named apostolic administrator of Antigonish, according to the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB).
The CCCB reported that Pope Benedict XVI accepted the resignation of the accused bishop, who asked to leave office for “personal reasons.”
“I have already left the diocese to take some much-needed time for personal renewal. I simply ask for your prayers, as I assure you of my continued prayers for you all,” the bishop wrote in a letter to his diocese.
According to the Globe and Mail, Diocese of Antigonish spokesman Fr. Paul Abbass said there had been “a ton of speculation” about the reasons for the bishop’s resignation, with many believing it was due to stress or his health.
“We know the reason now and now we have to deal with that,” he remarked.
He described the former bishop as warm, respectful and “very pastoral.” In the priest’s view, Bishop Lahey was “absolutely committed” to resolving allegations of clerical sexual abuse, but the new charges were “pretty devastating” in light of the recent sexual abuse settlement.
In August the diocese reached a $15 million class-action settlement with known and alleged former child victims of sexual abuse by its priests dating back to 1950.
The Globe and Mail reports that Bishop Lahey, who was not implicated in the allegations, apologized to those abuse victims.
“Sexual abuse, indeed any abuse, is wrong. It is a crime and it is a serious sin in the eyes of God,” he had told a press conference. “I want to assure you that for some time our diocese, like others throughout Canada, have been taking steps to protect children and youth.”
A Wednesday press release from the Archdiocese of Halifax reported that Archbishop Mancini learned of the charges against Bishop Lahey through the news media.
“I am shocked and saddened by this devastating news. For the priests and people of Antigonish Diocese, this is a terrible moment,” the archbishop said.
Archbishop Mancini told CTV News that he assumed that Pope Benedict knew “the gravity of the matter” when he accepted the bishop’s resignation.
Bishop Lahey had been bishop of Antigonish since June 2003. Previously, he had been Bishop of St. George’s, Newfoundland and Labrador since July 1986.
According to the CCCB, the Diocese of Antigonish has a Catholic population of 129,730 in 118 parishes and missions. They are served by 114 diocesan priests, three religious priests, one permanent deacon and 272 religious sisters
- - -
Founded in continued response to Pope John Paul II’s call for a “New Evangelization,” the Catholic News Agency (CNA) has been, since 2004, one of the fastest growing Catholic news providers to the English speaking world.
*************
We want to urge in the light of the following Associated Press statement to take a serious view of the bishop's actions, until we are fully certain both legally or through his confessions, that he actually engaged in this hideous acts. If the AP investigation is anything to go by, innocent persons can be so easily framed and entered into legal troubles in a way that is damaging and totally embarrassing to individuals. This is no apologia for the bishop. Please, use your discernment. On our part, we would not like to be seen to be intentionally doing damage to the church and her institutions, whom we are a part, except if in a controvertible way we are certain of our facts and data. Thanks. Moderator.
#####
AP IMPACT: Framed for child porn — by a PC virus
By JORDAN ROBERTSON, AP Technology Writer - Sun Nov 8, 2009 12:17PM EST
Of all the sinister things that Internet viruses do, this might be the worst: They can make you an unsuspecting collector of child pornography.
Heinous pictures and videos can be deposited on computers by viruses — the malicious programs better known for swiping your credit card numbers. In this twist, it's your reputation that's stolen.
Pedophiles can exploit virus-infected PCs to remotely store and view their stash without fear they'll get caught. Pranksters or someone trying to frame you can tap viruses to make it appear that you surf illegal Web sites.
Whatever the motivation, you get child porn on your computer — and might not realize it until police knock at your door.
An Associated Press investigation found cases in which innocent people have been branded as pedophiles after their co-workers or loved ones stumbled upon child porn placed on a PC through a virus. It can cost victims hundreds of thousands of dollars to prove their innocence.
Their situations are complicated by the fact that actual pedophiles often blame viruses — a defense rightfully viewed with skepticism by law enforcement.
"It's an example of the old `dog ate my homework' excuse," says Phil Malone, director of the Cyberlaw Clinic at Harvard's Berkman Center for Internet & Society. "The problem is, sometimes the dog does eat your homework."
The AP's investigation included interviewing people who had been found with child porn on their computers. The AP reviewed court records and spoke to prosecutors, police and computer examiners.
One case involved Michael Fiola, a former investigator with the Massachusetts agency that oversees workers' compensation.
In 2007, Fiola's bosses became suspicious after the Internet bill for his state-issued laptop showed that he used 4 1/2 times more data than his colleagues. A technician found child porn in the PC folder that stores images viewed online.
Fiola was fired and charged with possession of child pornography, which carries up to five years in prison. He endured death threats, his car tires were slashed and he was shunned by friends.
Fiola and his wife fought the case, spending $250,000 on legal fees. They liquidated their savings, took a second mortgage and sold their car.
An inspection for his defense revealed the laptop was severely infected. It was programmed to visit as many as 40 child porn sites per minute — an inhuman feat. While Fiola and his wife were out to dinner one night, someone logged on to the computer and porn flowed in for an hour and a half.
Prosecutors performed another test and confirmed the defense findings. The charge was dropped — 11 months after it was filed.
The Fiolas say they have health problems from the stress of the case. They say they've talked to dozens of lawyers but can't get one to sue the state, because of a cap on the amount they can recover.
"It ruined my life, my wife's life and my family's life," he says.
The Massachusetts attorney general's office, which charged Fiola, declined interview requests.
At any moment, about 20 million of the estimated 1 billion Internet-connected PCs worldwide are infected with viruses that could give hackers full control, according to security software maker F-Secure Corp. Computers often get infected when people open e-mail attachments from unknown sources or visit a malicious Web page.
Pedophiles can tap viruses in several ways. The simplest is to force someone else's computer to surf child porn sites, collecting images along the way. Or a computer can be made into a warehouse for pictures and videos that can be viewed remotely when the PC is online.
"They're kind of like locusts that descend on a cornfield: They eat up everything in sight and they move on to the next cornfield," says Eric Goldman, academic director of the High Tech Law Institute at Santa Clara University. Goldman has represented Web companies that discovered child pornographers were abusing their legitimate services.
But pedophiles need not be involved: Child porn can land on a computer in a sick prank or an attempt to frame the PC's owner.
In the first publicly known cases of individuals being victimized, two men in the United Kingdom were cleared in 2003 after viruses were shown to have been responsible for the child porn on their PCs.
In one case, an infected e-mail or pop-up ad poisoned a defense contractor's PC and downloaded the offensive pictures.
In the other, a virus changed the home page on a man's Web browser to display child porn, a discovery made by his 7-year-old daughter. The man spent more than a week in jail and three months in a halfway house, and lost custody of his daughter.
Chris Watts, a computer examiner in Britain, says he helped clear a hotel manager whose co-workers found child porn on the PC they shared with him.
Watts found that while surfing the Internet for ways to play computer games without paying for them, the manager had visited a site for pirated software. It redirected visitors to child porn sites if they were inactive for a certain period.
In all these cases, the central evidence wasn't in dispute: Pornography was on a computer. But proving how it got there was difficult.
Tami Loehrs, who inspected Fiola's computer, recalls a case in Arizona in which a computer was so "extensively infected" that it would be "virtually impossible" to prove what an indictment alleged: that a 16-year-old who used the PC had uploaded child pornography to a Yahoo group.
Prosecutors dropped the charge and let the boy plead guilty to a separate crime that kept him out of jail, though they say they did it only because of his age and lack of a criminal record.
Many prosecutors say blaming a computer virus for child porn is a new version of an old ploy.
"We call it the SODDI defense: Some Other Dude Did It," says James Anderson, a federal prosecutor in Wyoming.
However, forensic examiners say it would be hard for a pedophile to get away with his crime by using a bogus virus defense.
"I personally would feel more comfortable investing my retirement in the lottery before trying to defend myself with that," says forensics specialist Jeff Fischbach.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
African Synod Ends- Pope invokes an African Redivivus
Africa Resurrection, Renaissance, Redivivus- Promise of Hope, Light at the end of the Tunnel.
Commentary:
The Pope Benedict XVI Closes African Synod 2-2009- with the Advice for Africa to rise up. This is in line with the idea of the resurrection. Africa must arise with Christ, our Lord and saviour. African must over the real and imagined realities of death, gloom, despair, and discouragement. Africa must rise up, she must stand again. Africans must provide that anchor, while the stimulus of faith through personal believe and community action, especially through the transparent, honest, responsible and accountable instrumentality and guidance of the Christian spirit and Church, to enable her sputter forth in being fully alive, healthy, and productive.
In spite of many conditions and circumstances that seems to militate and mitigate against the promise of Africa, and even those situations within the church, that clouds and dents, such possibilities, may the hope and promise of the resurrection see this continent of great potentials, resources, vitality, and animated and expressive humanity through to experience the fullness of life in the world, aided by grace.
There is no shying away, but we must be responsible agents within our different callings, statuses, positionalities, and interests to be both agents of the Catholic faith and of our African and black, Arab, Oriental, and white identities, utilizing our multicultural heritages to serve the needs of this continent, to the best of our abilities.
‘Rise up!’ Pope Benedict tells Africa at close of Synod
var addthis_pub="jzapata";
Vatican City, Oct 25, 2009 / 10:01 am (CNA).-
Pope Benedict XVI’s homily for the close of the Synod of Bishops for African concluded the Lord of history does not tire of renewing oppressed humanity since the time of Moses. “Rise up, African continent, the land which received the Savior when as a child he had to flee with Joseph and Mary to Egypt so as to save his life from the persecution of King Herod,” Pope Benedict proclaimed. Benedict XVI’s homily turned to Sunday’s first reading from Jeremiah. In the Book of Lamentations, there is an announcement of hope for the people of Israel, laid low by the invasion of the army of Nebuchadnezzar, the devastation of Jerusalem and the Temple and the deportation to Babylon. In the Gospel, Jesus encounters along the road to Jerusalem Bartimaeus, who has lost his sight. “God is light and creator of light,” the Pope explained. “Man is the son of light, made to see light, but has lost his sight and wanders.” “Brothers, we give thanks because this ‘mysterious meeting of our poverty and the greatness’ of God is realized also in the Synodal Assembly for Africa, which today concludes,” he added. “God has renewed his call: ‘Courage! Rise up…” “And also the Church in Africa, through the bishops, come from all the Countries of the Continent, from Madagascar and the other islands, has received the message of hope and light to walk the way leading to the Kingdom of God,” the Holy Father continued. “Bartimaeus becomes a witness to the light, giving a firsthand account of healing, renewal, regeneration.” “This is the Church in the world, a community of persons reconciled, workers of justice and peace, ‘salt and light’ amid a society of men and nations… Moving testimony has demonstrated to us that even in these most dark moments of human history, the Holy Spirit is at work transforming the hearts of victims and persecutors so that they recognize brothers.” The Pontiff directed the synod fathers to the example of the encyclical “Populorum progressio,” elaborated by the Servant of God Paul VI and which missionaries have realized and continue to realize promoting a respectful development of local culture and locale. The Pope added, “After more than forty years, this appears to be the only logic capable of freeing the African people from the slavery of hunger and sickness.” Before the Angelus prayer, Pope Benedict spoke of the rich reality of the local Churches presented by the Synod Fathers. Animated by the Word of God and the Eucharist, he explained, the Church works so that “no one is without the necessities to live and so that all can have an existence worthy of a human being.” Benedict XVI said he shared the joys of the Christian communities, “which continue to grow in quantity and quality.” He added, “Naturally, the actual problems of Africa and the great need of reconciliation, justice and peace were immersed in the Assembly.” “Today I desire to address all the African populations, especially those that share the Christian faith, so as to ideally entrust to them the ‘Final Message’ of the Synodal Assembly,” the Holy Father continued. “Dear brothers and sisters who hear me in Africa, I entrust in a special way to your prayers the fruit of this work of the Synod Fathers and I encourage you with the words of the Lord Jesus: You are the salt and light of the beloved African land!” The Holy Father concluded by recalling next year’s Synod of Bishops for the Middle East, for which the “instrumentum laboris” will be presented during his visit to Cyprus. After the Angelus prayer, the Pontiff extended his greeting to thousands of faithful gathered outside of Milan, Italy’s cathedral for the beatification of Father Carlo Gnocchi: “Father Gnocchi worked ‘to restore the human person,’ gathering children orphaned and mutilated by the Second World War and offering them help and education. He gave his all until the very end and dying, donated his corneas to two blind children. His work has continued to develop and today the Father Gnocchi Foundation offers rehabilitation therapy to needy people of all ages. While I greet Cardinal Tettamanzi, Archbishop of Milan, and rejoice with the entire Ambrosian Church, I make my own the theme of this beatification: ‘Alongside life, forever.’
Commentary:
The Pope Benedict XVI Closes African Synod 2-2009- with the Advice for Africa to rise up. This is in line with the idea of the resurrection. Africa must arise with Christ, our Lord and saviour. African must over the real and imagined realities of death, gloom, despair, and discouragement. Africa must rise up, she must stand again. Africans must provide that anchor, while the stimulus of faith through personal believe and community action, especially through the transparent, honest, responsible and accountable instrumentality and guidance of the Christian spirit and Church, to enable her sputter forth in being fully alive, healthy, and productive.
In spite of many conditions and circumstances that seems to militate and mitigate against the promise of Africa, and even those situations within the church, that clouds and dents, such possibilities, may the hope and promise of the resurrection see this continent of great potentials, resources, vitality, and animated and expressive humanity through to experience the fullness of life in the world, aided by grace.
There is no shying away, but we must be responsible agents within our different callings, statuses, positionalities, and interests to be both agents of the Catholic faith and of our African and black, Arab, Oriental, and white identities, utilizing our multicultural heritages to serve the needs of this continent, to the best of our abilities.
‘Rise up!’ Pope Benedict tells Africa at close of Synod
var addthis_pub="jzapata";
Vatican City, Oct 25, 2009 / 10:01 am (CNA).-
Pope Benedict XVI’s homily for the close of the Synod of Bishops for African concluded the Lord of history does not tire of renewing oppressed humanity since the time of Moses. “Rise up, African continent, the land which received the Savior when as a child he had to flee with Joseph and Mary to Egypt so as to save his life from the persecution of King Herod,” Pope Benedict proclaimed. Benedict XVI’s homily turned to Sunday’s first reading from Jeremiah. In the Book of Lamentations, there is an announcement of hope for the people of Israel, laid low by the invasion of the army of Nebuchadnezzar, the devastation of Jerusalem and the Temple and the deportation to Babylon. In the Gospel, Jesus encounters along the road to Jerusalem Bartimaeus, who has lost his sight. “God is light and creator of light,” the Pope explained. “Man is the son of light, made to see light, but has lost his sight and wanders.” “Brothers, we give thanks because this ‘mysterious meeting of our poverty and the greatness’ of God is realized also in the Synodal Assembly for Africa, which today concludes,” he added. “God has renewed his call: ‘Courage! Rise up…” “And also the Church in Africa, through the bishops, come from all the Countries of the Continent, from Madagascar and the other islands, has received the message of hope and light to walk the way leading to the Kingdom of God,” the Holy Father continued. “Bartimaeus becomes a witness to the light, giving a firsthand account of healing, renewal, regeneration.” “This is the Church in the world, a community of persons reconciled, workers of justice and peace, ‘salt and light’ amid a society of men and nations… Moving testimony has demonstrated to us that even in these most dark moments of human history, the Holy Spirit is at work transforming the hearts of victims and persecutors so that they recognize brothers.” The Pontiff directed the synod fathers to the example of the encyclical “Populorum progressio,” elaborated by the Servant of God Paul VI and which missionaries have realized and continue to realize promoting a respectful development of local culture and locale. The Pope added, “After more than forty years, this appears to be the only logic capable of freeing the African people from the slavery of hunger and sickness.” Before the Angelus prayer, Pope Benedict spoke of the rich reality of the local Churches presented by the Synod Fathers. Animated by the Word of God and the Eucharist, he explained, the Church works so that “no one is without the necessities to live and so that all can have an existence worthy of a human being.” Benedict XVI said he shared the joys of the Christian communities, “which continue to grow in quantity and quality.” He added, “Naturally, the actual problems of Africa and the great need of reconciliation, justice and peace were immersed in the Assembly.” “Today I desire to address all the African populations, especially those that share the Christian faith, so as to ideally entrust to them the ‘Final Message’ of the Synodal Assembly,” the Holy Father continued. “Dear brothers and sisters who hear me in Africa, I entrust in a special way to your prayers the fruit of this work of the Synod Fathers and I encourage you with the words of the Lord Jesus: You are the salt and light of the beloved African land!” The Holy Father concluded by recalling next year’s Synod of Bishops for the Middle East, for which the “instrumentum laboris” will be presented during his visit to Cyprus. After the Angelus prayer, the Pontiff extended his greeting to thousands of faithful gathered outside of Milan, Italy’s cathedral for the beatification of Father Carlo Gnocchi: “Father Gnocchi worked ‘to restore the human person,’ gathering children orphaned and mutilated by the Second World War and offering them help and education. He gave his all until the very end and dying, donated his corneas to two blind children. His work has continued to develop and today the Father Gnocchi Foundation offers rehabilitation therapy to needy people of all ages. While I greet Cardinal Tettamanzi, Archbishop of Milan, and rejoice with the entire Ambrosian Church, I make my own the theme of this beatification: ‘Alongside life, forever.’
Irish-born Nigerian Archbishop of Benin City in Pedophile Sex Abuse Quagmire
Vatican Investigates Archbishop Richard Anthony Burke, Archbishop of Benin City at Center of African Pedophile Sex Abuse Scandal
(Front row, Archbishop Richard Anthony Burke, SPS, Archbishop of Benin City and Administrator of Warri diocese)
Commentary:
We have been at the forefront of transparency, responsibility, and accountability within our African Church. We have pointed out the sad issues of sexual and emotional exploitation of Africans within our Catholic fold. We, know that the church is essentially holy as the church of God (cf. John 8:23), while human weak and imperfect, drawing enormous strength from her divine master and savior, Jesus Christ. In spite of that only the truth can set free (John 8:32). Even Jesus when he was confronted about his identity, though he could have easily denied declared assertively the truth regarding his honest identity (Jn. 18:4-9).
Few months ago, the Vatican acted against two bishops in the Central African Republic, with the President of that country's episcopal conference and archbishop of Bangui resigning because of allegation that their priests were living profligate lifestyles, and in concubinage. The priests sided with their bishops and went on strike, in support of their bishops and in defiance to the Vatican. They asserted that they felt that the Vatican was playing double-standard, because white bishops and priests who were in similar situations were left untouched. This white holier-than-thou and unequal treatment is what makes the case of archbishop Burke interesting, and even more intriguing as to how the Vatican will treat this case. The transparency and integrity of the Vatican is at stake here.
This case also tend to minimize the subtle and hideous supposition that it is only African, or non-European priests, who have difficulties leaving out their priestly commitments.
Now, Archbishop Burke's case would now show how much racism is not a case when it pertains to a non-African bishop at the centre of sexual abuses. This is a litmus test for the Vatican and one that is critical for the mode of equal or differential treatment within the same church. Currently, many Africans, including bishops and priests, inwardly believes that the current Pope Benedict XVI is very not comfortable, like the late Pope John Paul II, with the African realities, issues of inculturation, and the integration of the African church into the full life of the universal church.
The poor choices of episcopal candidates, some showing inferior credentials, indicates how this papacy is ready to compare and contrast, in creating second tier or third class bishops, that would make the western bishops feel superior. The arguments among many western clergy today is that some Africans and Asians are ordained priests and bishops, because of the lack of qualitative candidates, such of the needs.
This kind of subjugation of the African clergy within the reasoning and action of western clerics, attempting to diminish the quantitative and quantum leap in vocations and faith response on the continent, seems supported by some of the calibre of bishops Rome has named for some dioceses in Africa- sounding all too often, like good for them. Afterall, it is not us! Such thinking hurts the sense of pride of the African Catholic, and minimize the ideal notion of the ideology of Catholicism as framing universality- a true Catholicity of spirit, belongingness, and constituted purview of human convivality- a family or assembly of God's faithful people.
Having stated this, we know that the Church is made up of weak, sinners, and imperfect people (Hebrew 5: 2-3, New Catholic Catechism (NCC) #823-828). The church calls us then to remember that All members of the Church, including her ministers must acknowledge that the are sinners. In everyone, the weeds of sin will still be mixed with the good wheat of the Gospel until the end of time. Hence, the Churchg gathers sinners already caught in Christ's salvation but still on the way to holiness" (NCC #827).
While calling for transparency, responsibility, and accountability, we owe it as a first duty to encourage prayers for the priests. It is not easy being a Christian, talkless of the added responsibility of being a leader of the Christian assembly. The evil one would always continue to roar and roam, looking for those to devour (1 Peter 5:8-9 ).
As African Christians and Catholics, we must realize that none of us is without sin. There, we "go but for the grace of God." But for the avoidance of scandal, the forging of charity, and in the spirit of forgiveness, as a sign of renewal and reconciliation, the church must continue to uphold core values that are essential to building community, sanctifying the body of Christ- the Church, and offering a pleasing offering (1 Peter 2:5), in spite of imperfection, weakness, and sin, to God, to pursue holiness as the ultimate goal of our lives toward our salvation (Lev. 19: 2; Matt: 5:48; 1 Peter 1:16).
It is here that the demand for handling cases with justice toward the goal of creating peace and harmony become paramout. Our call is not intended to discount or vilify the good works, even priests and bishops, nuns, and laity in their work of the faith have, even in their struggles and challenges, worthily and credibly rendered. In the intermix between the good and bad, even when the bad and ugly rear its head, it cannot take away from the good that has been performed.
We, also indulgently request a thorough investigation, so that the good name of people are not just simply ruined, due to false accusations. We want a thorough, sound, and transparent investigation in this matter. Currently, in Kenya, an Italian Comboni missionary, Fr. Kizito Sessena is being accussed of molesting minors. The African writer, Malidoma Patrice Some, had also pointed out in his book, Of Water, and the Spirit, how he and other students at a Catholic High School were despicably subjected to sexual molestation, harrassment, and inappropriate touching by some priests.
In the light of these events, while we honour, respect, and laud the intrepid, bold, and courageous witness of western missionaries in their evangelizing mission, some of their ways has continued to be a cog in the ways many Africans perceive the gospel and the church. The church cannot continue to harbour the lifestyles and dubious behaviours that harm not just victims, but equally and greatly hurt and work against her own interests of evangelization and salvation, thus minimizing her influence and denting her identity.
*******************
Archbishop Richard Burke's Folks taken aback and angry
Tipperary Star
Date: 29 October 2009
By Staff Reporter
By Eoin Kelleher
PARISHIONERS in Fethard are surprised and disappointed about the allegations being made against local man Archbishop Richard Burke, a Kiltegan Bishop who served with the Society of African Missions (SMA).
Appointed as the Bishop of Warri in Niger
ADVERTISEMENTia prior to his promotion last year as Metropolitan Archbishop of Benin City by Pope Benedict XVI, Archbishop Burke came under fire during the week when Dolores Atwood - a Nigerian-born Canadian politician - made allegations in her book about what she says was an inappropriate relationship between herself and the Archbishop when she was under the age of consent.
One local man who spoke to the Tipperary Star said older members of the parish felt let down. The parish remains strong, and committed to their faith. "We have a great parish priest here," he said. Still, "we're shocked. It's totally against the run of the mill."
The family of Archbishop Richard Burke hail from the Lisronagh area originally, though he grew up in Fethard before moving to Africa with the SMA. "He was one of our own. You couldn't have seen this coming. People feel let down." However, discussion in the village has centred more on the recent death of a local man, rather than the allegations contained in Ms Atwood's book.
"He seems to have taken control of the situation. He blames himself. Nobody really knows yet what has happened."
New Catholic church crisis as Irish Archbishop suspended by Vatican in sex abuse probe
Archbishop believed to be in U.S. after being removed from post
By
JAMES O'BRIEN
IrishCentral.com
Father Tim column / Angry? Anglican? The Catholic Church wants you! / Click here
An Irish-born Archbishop has been suspended by the Vatican over an allegation that he carried on a 20-year relationship with a woman that began when she was only 14.
The archbishop is currently said to be in the U.S. and once served in New Jersey.
Archbishop Richard Burke, from Fethard, County Tipperary, a member of the Kiltegan Fathers, a missionary order in County Wicklow, has been removed from his post as Archbishop of Benin in Nigeria after church officials described the person who made the allegations, Dolores Attwood (40) now resident in Canada as as "a credible witness."
It is believed the abuse started in 1983 when Ms Atwood was just 14 and a patient in a Catholic hospital in Nigeria. She kept notes, tickets and other documentation of the relationship which she gave to Catholic authorities.
Atwood stated she was 14 and in hospital in Wari Nigeria in April 1983 when Burke, then a priest, kissed her in her bed and fondled her when the lights went out.
"I was sick in the hospital with fever and Fr. Burke came to visit me. When he and I were alone in my hospital room he touched and kissed me in a very inappropriate manner," she said.
She says that they had full intercourse a month later.
She said the relationship went on for five more years until Burke left Nigeria for the U.S.
Atwood states, "During the past 25 years I did not tell anyone of our relationship, because he told me not to talk about it to anyone no matter what and also fear of the negative impacts on him and the Catholic Church. Richard Burke left Nigeria in 1989 when he was sent to New Jersey in the USA and then back to Ireland with St. Patrick’s Society.
"In 1993 I met my husband, who was a Canadian volunteer working in Nigeria, while I was studying at University. My husband and I were married in 1995 in Canada and have had 3 children together. From 1989 to 1995 Father Burke and I continued communications by letters.
"When I told him that I was planning to get married in 1994, he became upset with me and told me that I should never tell anyone about the relationship between himself and I.
"Richard Burke returned to Nigeria in 1996 as Bishop of Warri Diocese. From 1996 to 1998, my husband and I left Canada and worked in Thailand.
"In 1998 Bishop Burke and I began regular communications by phone again. In 2000 while I was expecting my second child, Bishop Burke said that he would help get my youngest sister to come to Canada for a visit.
"I suspected that there was something not right when things did not work out and Bishop Burke began to take a keen interest in my youngest sister's well being. Once again, our relationship intensified with frequent amorous telephone conversations.
"In 2005 I found out that Bishop Burke had had a sexual relationship with my youngest sister.
The “friendship” between Bishop Burke and myself began to deteriorate as, once again, I started to become aware of other young girls that he was molesting.
In fact, I suspect that Richard Burke has molested or sexually abused hundreds of young
Nigerian girls during his time as a priest and Bishop in Nigeria. "
The Vatican-based "Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith" now has jurisdiction over the matter and has suspended Archbishop Burke who was appointed to his current position in 2007 by Pope Benedict XV1.
Monsignor Charles Scicluna, a Vatican prosecutor has stated that the file on Archbishop Burke, who has been in Holy Orders for 34 years has been received and is being investigated.
Irish prelate in Nigeria withdraws from ministry after abuse charges
By Cian Molloy
Catholic News Service
DUBLIN, Ireland – An Irish archbishop who serves in Nigeria has withdrawn from active ministry while the Vatican investigates allegations of sexual abuse.
The St. Patrick’s Missionary Society, known as the Kiltegan Fathers, said Oct. 25 that the allegations against Archbishop Richard Burke of Benin City, Nigeria, are being investigated by the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The charges came from a Nigerian woman, Dolores Atwood, 40, who now lives in Canada, where she is married and has run for public office.
Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, refused to comment on the issue Oct. 26.
The newspaper Irish Mail on Sunday reported Oct. 25 that Atwood claimed she had been attacked by Archbishop Burke when she was a 14-year-old hospital patient in Warri in 1983; he is said to have continued to have sexual relations with her until 2003.
Atwood lodged a formal complaint against the archbishop last year, and Kiltegan Fathers Gary Howley and John Marren met with her in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in December. Afterward, in a summary of what was discussed, Father Marren wrote: “Her allegation was very credible and was supported by corroborative evidence. ... She is a very capable person.”
The Irish Mail on Sunday also published a statement from the Kiltegan Fathers expressing “the deep sorrow and regret of the society for the suffering the complainant and her family are going through.”
“We affirmed the society’s commitment to child protection,” the statement said. “We assured her that the society’s child protection policy and procedures would be adhered to. The society offered to provide counseling for the complainant.”
Kiltegan Father Seamus O’Neill met with Archbishop Burke in Rome in January and wrote Atwood three days later, saying that “the society has accepted your statement as a credible allegation and we are now applying our society’s policy and procedures for the protection of children.” Father O’Neill said the archbishop had said he would not make any contact with Atwood while an investigation was taking place.
The Irish Mail on Sunday said Archbishop Burke reportedly contacted Atwood only hours after his meeting with Father O’Neill in Rome; the transcript of his phone conversation was published by the newspaper.
“I know that you have been hurt very deeply. And I accept full responsibility,” the transcript quoted him as saying.
Archbishop Burke was named coadjutor bishop of Warri in 1996 and became bishop in 1997; he was transferred to Benin City in 2007.
Oct 26, 2009
Sunday, October 25, 2009
11 °C Dublin » MON12 °C TUE13 °C WED14 °C YOUR WEATHER »
irishtimes.com
ireland.com
Last Updated: Sunday, October 25, 2009, 18:39
Allegations against archbishop investigated
MICHAEL O'REGAN
The Vatican is investigating an allegation of child sex abuse against an Irish-born archbishop based in Africa, his missionary order confirmed today.
Archbishop Richard Burke (60), from Clonmel, Co Tipperary, was ordained a priest for St Patrick’s Missionary Society, known as the Kiltegan Fathers, in Co Wicklow, in 1975. He was ordained a bishop in 1997, and installed as Archbishop of Benin, Nigeria, in March of last year.
In a statement, the society said it had received a complaint last December from a 40-year-old woman against Archbishop Burke.
“She alleged that she was sexually abused as a child by Richard Burke. We expressed the deep sorrow and regret of the society for the suffering the complainant and her family are going through and we affirmed the society’s commitment to child protection,’’ it added.
“We assured her that the society’s child protection policy and procedures would be adhered to. The society offered to provide counselling for the complainant.’’
The statement pointed out that although Archbishop Burke was a member of the society, he had ceased to be under its jurisdiction when he became a bishop and was now under the direct jurisdiction of the Holy See.
“However, he agreed to follow the society’s child protection procedures and voluntarily withdrew from ministry while the complaint is being investigated,’’ it added.
“The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith requested that all relevant documents relating to the allegation be forwarded to Rome so that it can exercise its full jurisdiction in the matter. The society has done this.’’
The society, said the statement, had kept in contact with the complainant, and informed her regularly of the steps being taken in accordance with policy and procedures. She had also been informed of the direct jurisdiction of the Holy See in the matter.
“The society is committed to ensuring that justice is done and that no child is put at risk through the behaviour of our members,’’ it added.
The Irish Mail on Sunday featured an interview with Dolores Atwood, who said that the abuse began when she was 14 years old and a patient in a hospital at Warri, Nigeria, in April 1983.
She alleged the archbishop continued to have a sexual relationship with her as recently as 2003.
Ms Atwood, who now lives in Nova Scotia, Canada, said she believed she was “manipulated and controlled’’ as a teenager.
She said she eventually confessed the relationship to her husband because she was wracked with guilt. She wrote to the Vatican and the society reporting the allegations.
Ms Atwood said she had provided phone recordings, letters and airline tickets to Church authorities as proof of their relationship.
Irish Independent:
Archbishop accused of abusing 14-year-old girl: Damages Ireland's Catholic ImageBy John Cooney Religion Correspondent
Monday October 26 2009
THE Irish Church's standing in Rome has been dealt a further damaging blow with a high-level Vatican investigation into a complaint of child sexual abuse against a Tipperary-born archbishop.
This is the first instance of an official charge of clerical child molestation being made against an archbishop of Irish nationality, and it comes as the Irish Church is preparing "for the worst" with publication of the Murphy report on abuse in the Archdiocese of Dublin.
It was learned yesterday that Richard Burke, the 60-year-old Archbishop of Benin, a city in southern Nigeria, stepped aside earlier this year pending the outcome of an ecclesiastical trial by the Vatican's doctrinal watchdog body, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
The Kiltegan missionary archbishop from Fethard, Co Tipperary, who is believed to be in the United States, has not commented on the allegation.
He is accused by Dolores Atwood, a 40-year-old married woman now living in Canada, of sexually abusing her when she was a minor, aged 14, and ill in a Nigerian hospital that he visited as a priest.
She also alleges that she suffered "emotional torture" during a 20-year secret affair that he conducted with her contrary to his vow of celibacy.
Last night, St Patrick's Missionary Society in Kiltegan, Co Wicklow, also known as the Kiltegan Fathers, revealed it received a complaint from a 40-year-old woman against Archbishop Burke on December 16 last.
"We expressed the deep sorrow and regret of the society for the suffering the complainant and her family are going through and we affirmed the society's commitment to child protection," a statement said.
"We assured her that the society's child protection policy and procedures would be adhered to. The society offered to provide counselling for the complainant."
The statement confirmed that the society had complied with a request from the Doctrinal Congregation to send to Rome all relevant documents relating to the allegation so that Rome could exercise full jurisdiction.
"Although a member of St Patrick's Missionary Society, Archbishop Burke ceased to be under the jurisdiction of the society when he became a bishop and is now under the direct jurisdiction of the Holy See," the Kiltegan Fathers said.
It was the late Pope John Paul II who consecrated Richard Burke Bishop of the Nigerian diocese of Warri in March 1997, and in December 2007 Pope Benedict XVI promoted him to Archbishop of Benin City.
According to Monsignor Charles Scicluna, a senior advocate for the congregation, the Pope has been informed of the charges against Archbishop Burke, who will be called to Rome for interrogation before it completes its investigations under oath of confidentiality.
Disclosures
If the congregation upholds the complaint, Archbishop Burke will face permanent removal from his duties as archbishop.
But Vatican officials fear that the detailed disclosures made by Ms Atwood in a Sunday newspaper undermine his chances of a fair hearing.
Pope Benedict XVI told the Irish bishops shortly after the publication of the report into the diocese of Ferns to get to the roots of the clerical child abuse scandals.
Earlier this year the Pope also expressed his anguish at the systematic abuses contained in the Ryan report on child institutions run by religious orders.
Last February, the pontiff ordered the removal of former papal secretary, Bishop John Magee, from jurisdiction of the diocese of Cloyne pending a government investigation into his failure to enforce child protection procedures.
The Burke case is the latest sexual scandal to rock the Irish Church going back to 1992 when Bishop of Galway Eamon Casey resigned after having a son with American divorcee, Annie Murphy.
In 2002 Bishop Brendan Comiskey resigned from the diocese of Ferns over his failures in handling paedophile priests such as the late Fr Sean Fortune.
- John Cooney Religion Correspondent
Irish Independent
***************************************
Catholic Report:
Reader Comments
On Tuesday, June 23, 2009 at 07:10 am, Dolores Atwood writes:
I am writing this note concerning the past and present conducts of ArchBishop Richard Burke S.P.S of the Arch Dioceses of Warri and Benin in Nigeria a Irish citizen. I am a 41-year-old woman who has been living in Canada since 1995 with my husband and 3 children. In 1982 as a young girl from a Muslim home I began my journey into the Catholic faith and first met Father Richard Burke a Catholic priest at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Warri Nigeria. In 1983 when I was 14 years old, I became the victim of (what I now know to be) a sexual assault. When I was 14, I was sick in the hospital with a fever and Father Burke came to visit me. When he and I were alone in my hospital room, he touched and kissed me in a very inappropriate manner. During my teenage years, I suffered through the divorce of my parents, Richard Burke was there for me and the relationship between myself and he intensified. I became so attached to Richard Burke, that there seemed to be no one else that could be a part of my life, even though I knew that he was having relations with other young Nigerian girls. During the past 25 years I did not tell anyone of our relationship, because he told me not to talk about it to anyone no matter what and also fear of the negative impacts on him and the Catholic Church. Richard Burke left Nigeria in 1989 when he was sent to New Jersey in the USA and then back to Ireland with St. Patrick’s Society. In 1993 I met my husband, who was a Canadian volunteer working in Nigeria, while I was studying at University. My husband and I were married in 1995 in Canada and have had 3 children together. From 1989 to 1995 Father Burke and I continued communications by letters. When I told him that I was planning to get married in 1994, he became upset with me and told me that I should never tell anyone about the relationship between himself and I. Richard Burke returned to Nigeria in 1996 as Bishop of Warri Diocese. From 1996 to 1998, my husband and I left Canada and worked in Thailand. In 1998 Bishop Burke and I began regular communications by phone again. In 2000 while I was expecting my second child, Bishop Burke said that he would help get my youngest sister to come to Canada for a visit. I suspected that there was something not right when things did not work out and Bishop Burke began to take a keen interest in my youngest sisters well being. Once again, our relationship intensified with frequent amorous telephone conversations. In 2005 I found out that Bishop Burke had had a sexual relationship with my youngest sister. The “friendship” between Bishop Burke and myself began to deteriorate as, once again, I started to become aware of other young girls that he was molesting. In fact, I suspect that Richard Burke has molested or sexually abused hundreds of young Nigerian girls during his time as a priest and Bishop in Nigeria. I also know that he has taped past conversations that I have had with him and have told others, including his family in Ireland as well as my husband that I am obsessed with him in order to discredit me and make me appear to be crazy. Over a year ago, following a major dispute between myself and Bishop Burke, I confessed to my husband that I had had an intimate relationship with Bishop Burke. This was the first time that I had ever told anyone of this affair. Since my confession, my husband and I have gone to marriage counseling and I have taken private counseling to deal with the stress, trauma and confusion that I have had to deal with over the past 26 years. Following my counseling sessions, I have learned that a man that I though had loved and cared for me has in fact manipulated and controlled me. I know that Richard Burke is self-serving and that he does not serve the Church. In fact the Church serves Richard Burke by providing him access to the young girls that look up to him and then become his victims of unwanted sexual advances. I believe now, that Richard Burke is a pedophile I have been corresponding with St. Patrick\\\'s Society since 2007 about this and have shared with them taped conversations that I had with Richard Burke in the past where he admits to having inapproprite sexual relations with young girls, married women, religious sisters and prostitutes. I have saved notes letters and emails that Richard Burke had sent me in the past, which I have shared with those of St. Patrick\\\'s that are \\\"investigating\\\" him. I know that Richard Burke was sent for an assessment at St. Luke\\\'s in Manchester in March of this year, and that Richard Burke is continuing with his public ministry in Nigeria and is having access to young girls in Nigeria. I do not beleive that St. Patrick\\\'s Society in Kiltegan County Wicklow, Ireland has taken my complaints seriously. I do not trust them, and believe that they are trying to help Richard Burke escape prosecution and justice for the crimes he has committed.
On Friday, August 14, 2009 at 05:01 pm, Johnson writes:
i know the archbishop personally and it is indeed very sad to see a thing like this. i do not fully know but i doubt most of the exaggerations in the text. The Lord's will be done.
On Saturday, August 15, 2009 at 07:51 am, writes:
Is n't this a lie against a man who has been working in Nigeria for so many years assisting the poor people of Nigeria. Arch-Bishop Burke is a God fearing man,he is humble and have great interest in the Poor. I am not a close person to the arch -Bishop, but I believe God will vindicate him in this serious allegation. Can this writer tell us her trauma, what is pushing her now to bring up this allegation against a man of God. I wish Arch-Bishop Burke God's protection and guidance at this critical time. I believe, time will tell. have faith in God.
On Saturday, August 15, 2009 at 08:02 am, Christy. writes:
The Arch-Bishop that I know talk less, he is hardworking and love the Poor. he is commited to his ministry as a Priest of God. What is the problem with the young lady, I hope she knows that she is dealing with God. I do not believe a word of her accusation. We pray God to intervene and put the devil to shame. Darkness has no power over the Light. God bless you Bishop Richard Burke.
On Tuesday, August 18, 2009 at 02:09 pm, Vicky writes:
Archbishop Burke is a man of God. I hope this young woman is not being used by those who are seeking power of position. This is very malicious of a married woman. Is she not happily married. What is she looking for. Anyway God sees everything, but I do not believe what she is saying about the gentle man of God.
On Wednesday, September 02, 2009 at 06:52 am, Paul. writes:
Everyone who reasons without biase would know this is a set up. My people do say thet the trap set for an Elephant may trap Him but cannot pull him down, nor stop him from going to where he planned to go. God had never deserted his people. This would not be a diffrent case. It is just time becase God is aware. I pray for the Man Of God without fear that God is on his side.
On Friday, September 11, 2009 at 08:17 pm, Nneka writes:
Be strong His Grace, and may God strenghten you through this trial. Continue to be the humble, God fearing person that we know you to be in Warri. May the Lord heal Dolores of her pains too whatever the source.
On Tuesday, September 15, 2009 at 03:13 am, Nicholas writes:
Evil, evil, evil. it is self evident that this writer is an agent of satan. how can you write such malicious statement against a holy man of God. you claim that that "Richard Burke has molested or sexually abused hundreds of young Nigerian girls during his time as a priest and Bishop in Nigeria" state your case and bring your proofs. Hell awaits your soul for what you have done but more torments awaits those who prompted you to do this. You have sinned against Charity and God who is love shall cast his wrath upon you and your household.
On Friday, September 18, 2009 at 07:59 am, Okanatoto tega writes:
My lord i have always known you to be a humble and gentle man of God.and that you will continue to be for all of us in warri diocese.we will always continue to rmber you in our prayers in this trying period of yours.but for those who are behind this act,like JESUS,we will still say and tell them,FORGIVE THEM FATHER FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY ARE DOING.
On Saturday, September 19, 2009 at 12:35 pm, Rose writes:
A simple analysis fro9m a new non-biases d mind can tell that this story above is clearly motivated. But for God\"s sake no matter your motives, consider the life long implications for this simple man while you may just be trying to achieve your aim. If its about money like many made in the U.S.A. a while ago, then trust me, it will not work.
On Saturday, September 19, 2009 at 12:41 pm, Olukunle writes:
Ha!!! fear God! the way i see it, you must have a nature of trying your hands on white people before you finaly got one as husband.
On Saturday, September 19, 2009 at 12:44 pm, writes:
please my dear lady even if this were true, is this internet thing the next thing for you. This is seriously on African. what has become of your African ways
On Saturday, September 19, 2009 at 12:51 pm, Anthonia writes:
If this is true, dont worry. But if not, just find your way back to this same forum to undo the wrong you may have done to this Man that we all know so well. Let God and your conscience guide you. But I still feel this forum was not your next choice. very bad.
On Saturday, September 19, 2009 at 12:55 pm, writes:
since you published this article, why has other so called "hundreds of Nigerian girls" not written to say they testify to your claims with their personal experience of the Bishop. as someone observed in a comment earlier on this page, in case its not true, please redress it and in good time. God knows it all.
On Monday, September 21, 2009 at 10:36 am, Daniel Kevwe writes:
His Grace, be Strongand stand firm has been our Lord\'s encouragement.However, Istronglybelieve that that one doing this is not far from the household of God.God knows and sees all things, He ll vindicate youlike Sussanaand the three men in the book of Daniel.The truth llalways cometolight,keepon standing forthe truth.Stay wellmy His Grace
On Saturday, September 26, 2009 at 06:51 pm, Ferdinand writes:
Can you come out with the names and contacts of other girls that you cliam that he molested? This lady, let me give you this christian advice, go before the holy alter of God and pray for bishop Burk and pray for forgiveness of your sins. Am sure somebody must have offered you something to do this, remember God is still there, be careful what you say about men of God.
On Saturday, October 10, 2009 at 10:44 am, helen , warri. writes:
You all are sick people ,that is why africa is were it is today. these many also touched my breaset at age of 17. it is veru said that you all because of the food and money he has ggiven you all. paul wre you not the one richard promise to send to further you studyies in london. how well do you all know this man, that you all say all this. which nigeria girl will want to come out to go through this. SHME ON YOU ARCH BISHOP RICHARD BURKE. May the good lord jurge you.
On Saturday, October 10, 2009 at 10:57 am, Rose, Port harcourt. writes:
I find it difficult to call you bishop. You hurt this lady,confess and admit it. i konw somebody who know this lady in question,.She has a reputation for being a honest person,thant is all that I have been hearing. Some of you sound as if you were asked by richrd burke to do this and I will not be sueprise that one of his girkfriends is among. This lady is doing the church a great help.the book of ephesians chapt5:10-18.read it. Our prays are with you miss Dolores.
On Saturday, October 10, 2009 at 11:22 am, Gina, canada writes:
Thanks Rose and Helen, There is a saying that the truth have a way of coming out.The church is so rioting and corrupt. I believe this poor lady. Richard burke will not end with her, he will continue.
On Saturday, October 10, 2009 at 02:15 pm, joel angelo writes:
I\'m truely amazed at you all! Truely! I have heard times without number the saying that behind every rumor,there\'s an element of truth.why would a married woman confessed to this?have you ask yourselves that question?what makes you think richard burke will be innocent?what if he\'s a wolf in sheep clothing? what if his silent and calm nature is a deceptive one?what if he took advantage of your life styles as nigerians? you all should have a second thought.what if she\'s correct?i can bet you,no woman will love to know a man that had an affair with heir had also had an affair with her younger sister.what she kept as secret for 26yrs has come back to hunt her.she should have expose him then! those who think they are benefiting from him now,that are covering him or refuse to investigate for the truth,just as it came hunting her after 26yrs,it will definately come back at them because what goes around comes around!ferdinand,if this lady happen to be telling the truth and your sister is a victim and she refuse to tell the truth,how will you feel? Daniel kevwe,you are right.God sees all things! why don\'t you just let Him be the Judge? Other so called girls in nigeria can\'t come out.how many knows this is on the net?how many can access the net?what about the shame and stigma that kept this lady for 26yrs?what about the hungry life styles of this girls that makes them vulnerable? have you ever try to see the evidence of this lady?have you ever beleived that the devil was once an angel of light sitting right next to God?Anthonia you are right but someone has to stop this man.don\'t know how old how you but your sister,your cousin,your relatives even your daughter may be the next victims.i don\'t trust any of this priest anymore for all the things i have seen about them makes me never want to searve God cos i sometimes think that God is just sitting up there allowing these crazy people to have their way.(God forgive me if i\'m wrong!)Olakunle please tell the bishop to fear GOd.Rose i feel for you cos you are a woman and i realised what you mean by motivation.okonatoto tega you should be happy that God is exposing him.Nicholas becareful what you call evil.what if you are wrong?Nneka you are right.God should heal and God should also bring justice to both parties.Paul you already projected the bishop as your messiah.is that how it should be?you sound like a benefactor.Vicky God truely blesses everything.why would she be happily married?imagine being abused or taken advantage of and same person is doing same to your yunger sister,your aunty even your mom.how would you or your dad feel?christy you are right! God should intervane.that is exactly what is happening.darkness can never overcome light!working in nigeria for so many years or you mean taking advantage of nigerians for so many years?Thank you very much johnson.it\'s you alone that makes alot of sense. God will definately judge and His judgement will begin in His house.i\'m not trying to say it\'s true but you all should consider her part of the story instead you all are busy painting the bishop as a messiah.i\'m a catholic like you all.i\'ve seen what priest and so called bishops have done in terms of politics,power,sexual immorality,mis mangement of church funds and taking advantage of the less empowered people.if i come out and say it,who will beleive me? they have all the power to cover it up,their superiors they make returns to and whom they inherited it from are ready to go at any lenght to protect him. i do like you all to know that these are all the signs of the end times.i\'m not sayingi\'m innocent or free from it but it\'s a shame it\'s coming from an arch bishop who is surpose to preach against this and who people look up to as i read in your comments as messiah or elephant as the case may be, to be the one tearing the church of God apart.if all this is true,he will have no peace as there\'s no [peace for the wicked]!
On Saturday, October 10, 2009 at 02:18 pm, susan writes:
the bishop is a green snake under tha green grass!he is absolutely guilty! thank God someone had to stand up and talk.i could'nt myself.he his a shameless bastard.i wish and hope he perishes in hell if he does'nt repent!
On Saturday, October 10, 2009 at 04:42 pm, iyabo writes:
I really commend your boldness Dolores to come out publicly with this and i really do hope that the many Nigerian girls who are still sleeping with priests for the financial advantage will have a rethink, repent and stop bcos our poverty in Nigeria is not an excuse. What is wrong is wrong.It is so unfortunate that in Nigeria young girls are molested everyday and nothing is been done. Infact we are all quick to blame the girls that it is there fault. Our culture of shame will not even allow us to give the many victims of sexual abuse a fair hearing as result of the fear of stigmatization and shame many innocent girls keep silent. I\\\'m really ashamed but at the sametime not surprised at the comments of the likes of christy,paul,johnson,olukunle and rose. Our culture allows men to get away with rape, sexual harrassment and molestation. Richard Burke i\\\'m sure knows that if these evils he has committed took place in his home country he will go to prison but he is very lucky that it happened in Nigeria where we see white men as our ticket out of poverty and escape to a better life. I do not doubt Dolores i only hope that Almighty God will intervene for her and bring this priest to justice bcos we all know that the catholic church is very notorious for covering up for their preists in cases like this. We hear it all the time on CNN and BBC.
On Saturday, October 10, 2009 at 05:57 pm, writes:
Its only a 'dunce' that would thnk "men of God" can see no evil and do no evil. In fact the very mindset betrays an ignorance that forms one of the basis of the oppression and repressions of Africans by fellow Africans and by people of other races. Africans are given to ascribing virtues to elders, peronalities and religious leaders wihtout prior proof that such an individual deserved that by their lifestyles whether in public or in private. The guys here trumpeting the virtues of a Richard Burke (i dont know him) betray the African disease of listlessly and mindlessly singing about what they do not know. we sing about people in leadership to the high heavens especially if they have been our benefactors in one way or the other. we are more concerned about ourselves rather than do things that may make the case for the common good. why are we like this? I am a pentecostal minister and i have heard and have known ministers who have not only fallen into sex sins but who also have remained perpetually involved with other women to whom they have not been married. so what makes a catholic priest different? is it because he wears white? And when will you get your proof that the priest may be guilty? when he sleeps with your mother? or with your sister or daughter? We all know that immoral sex acts are not done in public. so its always a case of your word against his.This woman says she has taped evidences of the words of this man recounting his escapades with even married women. My problem is not only with this case but with the way we africans think. this has over time become the basis of our fundamental dificulties as a race and as our diffenrent nationalities. we dont think! we have a mind but we hardly use it. Maybe if you just waited a while and think you may just by some little-tiny-whimpy chance realize that men of God are 'men' first before they are 'of God'. Just three letter words...MAN OF GOD. so he is still a man and he can be used of the devil just like other men are atimes or even at all times. The other day bill clinton claimed to have seen no evil and done no evil, but when investigations were done he came back begging for forgiveness.I believed him then and i eagerly hoped all miss Lewinsky had to say was just 'trash', because i really liked Mr Clinton (and i still do).But the end he admitted to having "an inapproriate relationship" with miss lewinsky A man inAustria camped his own daughter in the basement of his own house and made her into a sex-slave for some 16 years plus. she eventually had 4 children for by him. Abeg my brother and sister...lets start opening our minds up. Let us start using our minds. Maybe Richard Burke will still come back asking for forgiveness (that is if he ever repents) when he does Im sure it would be without prior consultation with his 'trumpeters'. And what will you then do? Please lets start using our minds and lets start knowing that in this present world...ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE....including the ones you dont want to hear!
On Saturday, October 10, 2009 at 06:00 pm, Nick writes:
the riddle is getting clearer. the wicked shall not go un punished. we are beginning the unravel the plot. the one who was looking for means to get a pound of flesh thus masterminded this report. know that the rot of God which has been upon you for your evil shall spread to members of your family for such an acusation against a holy man of God. The Archbishop has made effort in living a Holy life. your ambition failed you thus you sort a way of vengence. your phone calls to promote the news, your jubilations are well spelt out. its an unfortunate situation that your continued your evil plots to this level.
On Saturday, October 10, 2009 at 06:02 pm, Dele writes:
THE COMMENT IMMEDIATELY ABOVE WAS WRITTEN BY ME DELE FROM ABUJA, NIGERIA
On Saturday, October 10, 2009 at 06:11 pm, Dele, Abuja nigeria writes:
Mr Nick or is it Miss Nick whatever you are and whoever you are...ask Burke, "how much did this woman demand of you before making the story public"? or what do you think she stands to gain by exposing you"? you (Nick)have reduced human beings to animals. even animals have a conscience. And i want to let you know that its not everything an individual does that have some 'plot' behind it...sometimes you do things by the obligations of your conscience. Thats fundamental to human beings...i mean real human beings.
On Saturday, October 10, 2009 at 06:25 pm, Nick, Warri writes:
thank you Dele. we may say we do not know every action of a person but from evidence this man is not what was painted in the account given by this lady. let her present more facts. you cannot from abuja which is about 600 km from warri aplaud the story of this lady.
On Saturday, October 10, 2009 at 06:34 pm, writes:
if mr. Clinton admitted it is because he was guilty. should a man admit being guilty of what he has no idea of. in recent times this lady has been visited by an ambitious man who has failed in his ambition. if she says her sister was involved let her provide details so that her sister can testify. if she says hundred of nigerian girls let her state other even two will be sufficient. she said she was admitted in a hospital where the event took place, provide details of the hospital let us go and check the records if anyone like her was admitted during that period. it is so amazing the evil continues to triumph to such a tempo. are we so irritated by the presence of the rightous that we plot to kill them just the way the life of the prophet Jerimiah was threatened? this message was first published by This day news online under comment but when they scrutized it they probably thought it wise to remove it because of the incredulity of the assertions. it was then repeated hook, line and sinker here. it is definitely clear that the author has an agenda that is yer to be spelt out.
On Sunday, October 11, 2009 at 07:50 am, emmenuel from benin writes:
some of you amazed me on how you think! those of you suporting the bishop are doing so based on who he is to you and how you've known and see him.which is entirely not wrong.but pause for a while and rethink.why will a woman doing well in canada with a good family want to do a thing like this?that's because she has learnt over the years that what we see as nothing in nigeria is incredibly a cruel,wicked,damaging,stimagizing and punishable offence.the effect it has on the victims sometimes makes them unable to come out and expose him.first of all how many of our women have the proper education about abuse or being taken advantage of?those of you suporting him, what if it were your sister or mum?would you have allowed someone to provide the evidence or would you have allowed them to come out publicly expecially in front of your dad,classmates,family etc?even you would'nt want that as an african and that is the stigma and shame that is also extended to you who is not the primary victim and the advantage the bishop is taking because he knows it will be difficult for these people to come out.i just hope non of these people are your fiancees,or loved ones,then you will learn to to trust people by their looks or religous positions.i was i manservant i have seen what this priest can do to ladies.its so sad that people who they have been nice to will never want to beleive a thing like this.Nick,Dele doesn't have to be in warri before he knows.what if he was once there and he witnessed it?those of you who are closer see less than those who are far away.where you with him in agbarho or new jersey or in benin or even in ireland?how about the priest in ireland and other parts of the uk who abused 32,000 teenagers?how about the bishop in canada that was recently caught in the airport importing ponography and doing prostisution trade with people in cambodia,thailand and other developing country?this same bishop was reported 20yrs ago when he was still a priest and nobody did anything about it.they even went as far as to make him a bishop.now what goes around comes around.God is just exposing them and no one can stop God.hide the truth,bend the truth,twist the truth but it always have its way of finding itself! you all we see beyound every reasonable doubt that this lady is right atleast to some extent and you shall know that the Lord alone is the only true and righteous Judge! this bad priest are stigmatizing the good ones.when they try to oppose them,they'll be tyransfered to remote area and be threatened.giving bad names to the church of God.what a shame!
On Monday, October 12, 2009 at 07:44 am, writes:
@Nick...I may be 600kilometers from Warri, but its so easy for me to applaud the story of this lady BECAUSE I HAVE HEARD THE RECORDED TAPES WHERE BISHOP BURKE ADMITTED TO THESE OFFENCES AND APOLOGISED TO HER PROFUSELY ABOUT THESE CRIMES. The sad thing is you havent heard these tapes yourself. Really it would have been just ok if he had apologised all the way, but to apologise to her and then deny all of these to other people is intolerable!
On Monday, October 12, 2009 at 08:02 am, Ifeoma, Ibadan writes:
Dolores, I do not know what you stand to gain by this publication, remember Jesus words "Touch not my annointed and do my prophet no harm " Do have a re-think, may God forgive you!!!
On Monday, October 12, 2009 at 12:44 pm, writes:
Dear ifeoma,since you decided to go with the bible,so be it. The book of Ephentian chapter 5 ,verse 10 to 14 says "Try to learn what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the worthless things that people do, things that belong to the darkness. Instead ,bring them out to the light.{it is really too shameful even to talk about the things they do in secret.} And when all things are brought out to the light,then their true nature is clearly revealed; for anything that is clearly revealed becomes light. That is why it is said ,"wake up sleeper,and rise from death and christ will shine on you." Someone have said they have listen to the tapes and I too have done the same. it is very said and depressing for me to know that archbishop richard burke have done and commited such a crime and not resign. What can of a gospel is he preaching? Africa is going to be the next place that God is going to face with this sex abuse by priest. Ifeoma, God himself said "my judgement will began in my own house" Touch not my anionted is for good chilren of God. archbishop richard burke cannot be anointed and at the same time sextually involve with vonurable young girls who hardly can eat once a day. that contradict the word or God. We all have to be careful what we say. This lady have done what most of us can not do. May the good lord bless her. Everone is normal, until you get to know them. It is a sad day for the church. Dolores ,you did a good job coming out to expose this shameleess Richard Burke. I hope they dont send him back to nigeria. Even lied to his fellow prisrt that he is going for treatment. he is also a lier. wolf in sheep clothing.
On Monday, October 12, 2009 at 02:17 pm, writes:
"In Gemany they came first for the communists and I didnt speak up,because i wasnt a communist. Then they came for the Jews and I didnt speak up,because I wasnt a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionist and I didnt speak up,because i wasnt a trade unionist. Then they came for the protestants and I didnt speak up,because I am a catholic. Then they came for me and by that time ,no one was left to speak up." Do you have to be abuse first for you to belief that ARCHBISHOP RICHARD BURKE , AN IRISH, ABUSE THIS LADY?
On Monday, October 12, 2009 at 04:46 pm, Lynda writes:
What did our Lord Jesus Christ say to the Pharisees who wanted to stone the adulterous woman, He said he who is without sin should be the first to cast the stone at her, they all dropped their stones and walked away. We all are sinners before God, and none is free, so whatever anyone has done, he or she does not deserve a public condemnation, but we need to pray that the grace of God may abound in all of us to enable do His will always. May the name of the Lord be praised both now and forever more. Amen.
On Tuesday, October 13, 2009 at 02:18 pm, Eddy, Warri writes:
Thanks Mr. Emmanuel from Benin. its an unfortunate thing that all effort mounted to prevent him from assuming the seat of the archbishop ofBenin proved abortive but resulting to such a step ... is more unfortunate for Benin. it is beyond being malicious.
On Tuesday, October 13, 2009 at 02:31 pm, Odiri writes:
Emmanuel well done for your comment. You have reasoned finely. But it is clear from your opening statement that you are yet to proceed beyond the boundaries of Edo state. I even wonder if you have moved as much as ekpoma or maybe you stopped at Ehor thinking you have entered ishan. You think paupers are not in canada? hic ... find out the reson many people who travel abroad refuse to return home for even a visit after 10 years. some cant afford a ticket, others have nothing to show for wasted time while their mates who endured the difficulties of the system here have either cars or houses as a reward. fame is a desire of many abroad. it makes them feel like celebrities. Dont be suprise, there is a lot the woman tends to gain from all this. Nick, I appreciate your comment.
On Wednesday, October 14, 2009 at 08:14 am, Joseph, Warri. writes:
I have personally met a lady who has confided in me on this kind of issue about this same bishop. I will speak with her again and make her understand she must come out to talk. I am amazed at people when they speak as if it is impossible for this kind of act to happen. We have seen in the news before where people have to defend men of God for acts like this only for such men of God coming out at the end to admit their crime. For those who are in doubt,please i`d advise you to sit, wait and see. Don`t defend what you don`t know. I will advise the victim of this act that i know, to use this forum at the minimum to tell you her story. I am proud to be a catholic but i am ashamed of acts like this. Dolores,i dont know you but based on the evidence that i have about a victim,i believe you. Please fight on and people like me are behind you. And if the bishop dedides to be a hardened sinner and refuse to confess and repent,we all know what will befall him,the bible is not ambiguous about it.
On Wednesday, October 14, 2009 at 12:09 pm, Oke writes:
Please those believing the story of the lady should ask themselves what is thier interest and what do they stand to gain? From the argument of those who support the woman, it is clear that is a plot because of the strength of your argueent and hatred for the archbishop. This is amazingly disappointing. How can u condemn a man you have not seen or lived with? Please stop this nonsense and face your lives. if the arcbishop is guilty, leave that to God. Dnt play God\'s role and be a judge. if he is not guitly, you should also leave it to God. Which person among those supporting this woman has not committed sin before. Pleasse use your time to pray for the growth of church, insstead of being an agent of the devil destroying the church. let us mind our business and leave this matter for those who are hanling it, while we pray for the church. Please stop playing God on this matter.
On Wednesday, October 14, 2009 at 12:18 pm, JANE writes:
Thank you Oke. Let us leave this issue alone. We are fighting ourselves here over an issue that we barely know so much about. Like Oke said, we should leave this whole thing to God. Soe people are acting as if they are paid to destroy the archbishop. What are you going to profit. Some of you speak in a manner you will not even speak about your enemy. Please give some credit to the archbishop. Do not be disrespectful to him and speak in manner that is not right. A good christian will only pray at such a time like this. let us pray instead of trading words right here.
On Wednesday, October 14, 2009 at 12:19 pm, JANE writes:
Thank you Oke. Let us leave this issue alone. We are fighting ourselves here over an issue that we barely know so much about. Like Oke said, we should leave this whole thing to God. Soe people are acting as if they are paid to destroy the archbishop. What are you going to profit. Some of you speak in a manner you will not even speak about your enemy. Please give some credit to the archbishop. Do not be disrespectful to him and speak in manner that is not right. A good christian will only pray at such a time like this. let us pray instead of trading words right here.
On Saturday, October 17, 2009 at 05:34 pm, nichol, from kenya writes:
All of u are mumus,I mean fools and i mean all of u who are supporting richard burke and those against him.Judge ur lives.Face ur lives.Remember the one u did the other day,.is it bcos no body is saying it?Are ur hands clean?God knows his people
On Sunday, October 18, 2009 at 06:48 pm, johnson writes:
Things are not often as they appear. but let he who is without sin be the first to cast the stone. time, time is a sincere judge. but let those who know nothing be quiet and those who claim to have listened to a tape. let them tell us where to find it.
On Sunday, October 18, 2009 at 07:39 pm, writes:
Are you the bossman johnson? May God help you. We are trying to locate you. Open your eyes. I wish you Gods help in life.
On Sunday, October 18, 2009 at 08:49 pm, priscal,nigeria benin city writes:
i have carefully followed the aligation of Dolores Atwood and other rational contributions from different individuals from different part of the world.my contribution is going to come from a different angle.it could be true that our bishop did exactly what this woman is saying and it could never be false that he did not do it.my argument for saying the above is based on my personal experience with some priests.,89%of our priest sleep with women more than married men,so many of our young girls today are been dis-virgin by our catholic priest most especially when this young girls go to church for one spiritual activities or the others.as am writing now so many girls are in the priest rooms doing what?some who entered this sexual relationship very early find it very difficult to let go because all her want are meet.i wish to wake all young and old women who must have suffered what Dolores Atwood suffered stand up and do same,come out with facts.doing so, we are helping our priest to keep to their vows,an protecting our unborn child from such sacrilege.
On Sunday, October 18, 2009 at 09:16 pm, jude benin city writes:
your Grace,i know you must have been felling bad about this issue,well THAT is life for you.if what the woman said is true beg God for forgiveness and apologies to the lady.but if it\'s untrue,take as your cross and beg GOD to forgive her.above all advice your priests there own may be worse.
On Tuesday, October 20, 2009 at 06:37 am, Okemutie,Benin. writes:
Let everyone who reads and hears about this restrains his or herself. Only God knows the truth.Mere conjecture will not help,neither the proponents or the opponents. In all,let us not jugde,rather,we should pray for the parties involved.Even if it is true,we all should learn to temper justice with mercy afterall we are human and if you have never sinned both in private and public keep casting the stone...only God will save us all.
On Tuesday, October 20, 2009 at 06:48 am, Ogbemudia Otas,Benin City writes:
May God have mercy on us. Difficult times are bound to come.No one should support wrong doing of anykind.All should be careful while we condemn the Archbishop even before he is given the chance to defend himself.Dolores,please take things easy,you may the correct but there are other enemies of the Catholics priesthood who may want to exploit the situation.I am praying for you and the whole church whose good name will be highly injured by these varied comments.
On Tuesday, October 20, 2009 at 06:57 am, Franka writes:
What is you people's argurement? If actually the archbishop is guilty, did he commit the sin alone? so why should he appologise to a lady that is an ingrate, after she has enjoyed all the goodies associated with being close to an archbishop, she can now open her mouth wide to talk against the archbishop. I have no doubt that it was through the connection of the archbishop that she met her Canadian husband - what an ingrate!!! What is our christian life all about if not for prayer, forgiveness and reconcilliation - I think it is high time we stopped all comments on this same issue, it is not glorifying God.
On Tuesday, October 20, 2009 at 07:06 am, Abigail,NY writes:
An awesome tail,isnt it? This is a funny shit.Its no good to blackmail the entire church.I am some sure there are still good pastors all over the world.It happens here quite often and people get huge pay packets.Guys pray for your priests,they are in real danger men.I am no priest,I don even go to church but this whole shit is worrysome you know.
On Tuesday, October 20, 2009 at 08:39 am, ONOME,WARRI. writes:
Franka! I am sure if you have the opportunity to sleep with the "BISHOP" for the so called gooooodies,you will. It is clear from your statement. I am sorry for you. Anyway,if Dolores got her connection through the "BISHOP",please kindly look for one bishop in your area for your own connection. I am ashamed of your comment...
On Thursday, October 22, 2009 at 06:11 am, IrishCanonlawyerPriester writes:
This is in deed sad. But no one should doubt these events. If anyone has been following events the news in Ireland the church is paying dearly now for past abuses in children homes, for emotional and physical abuse. News, of the Paraguay bishop, now President of that country who impregnated a young woman, and whom he began to sleep with as minor, the case of archbishop Pius Ncube of Bulawayo, and rumours regarding the unsuccessful sexual harrassment and intended molestation of a Nigerian nun, Paschaline Aligweke by a former Bishop of Okigwe; and including known rumours related to the current archbishop of Nigeria, Abuja, John Onaiyekan and Nigerian nuns must all give us goose bumps but not to deny these stories. Let Burke resign. Let him come out to disprove this woman. This woman a moslem convert, has so much personal details of this man that the burden is now more on Bishop Burke to disprove these allegations. What if this woman's sister comes out publicly? People think. Yes, the church is of God, but it is human beings made of flesh and blood that are in it. People do make mistakes. If married people with one wife cannot stay with their one wife and look around, we know how hard it can be for a priest without one. Yes, there are some cold days too and we all feel this. But the issue is that this kind of pattern of exploitation must be investigated. If the St. Patrick's fathers have any shame at all, they must conduct a transparent investigation and notify the Vatican immediately about what they are hearing. My hunch is that since this is a third world country, where the legal system is not well developed to accomodate those needs, they would play some games. But I bet given that this woman is now located in Canada, if she is able to prove her case beyond any reasonable doubt, the Bishop Burke, should be angling for trouble. More so, the woman should contact the diocese in New Jersey where Burke worked to see if there is any pattern there too, once a U.S. link can evolve then they can do a class action case or individual case, with one acting as witnesses. These allegations if credible would truly incriminate the Bishop Burke. I know a lot of Irish priests and bishops have women here, and some old missionaries transported this to Nigeria it seems. Remember the 1992 case of the former bishop of Galway, fathering a child with an American woman?
On Thursday, October 22, 2009 at 06:38 am, IrishCanonlawyerPriester writes:
I posted one above. However, following a quick web research on Dolores Atwoods, I found the following opinion that she wrote when Archbishop Milingo married in 2001. In a BBC June 11, 2001-"should Catholic Priests Marry?" Dolores, stated this- [Nobody is forced to be a priest. Anyone who is a priest, knows the rules before becoming one, that is why we have other churches. If you like to be a married minister, you can choose from the many other good churches out there. It doesn't have be the Catholic Church, it's all a matter of choice. Not everyone is called to marry. Is anything wrong if we have some few people in this world who want to dedicate their lives to the service of GOD? Those who choose to marry should do so like me, and those who choose to be a priest should remain so. Dolores Atwood, Nigerian living in Canada ] I wonder, how someone could write that favourable statement, and now turn around to go after another archbishop who may or may not have had an affairs. I am trying to put the legal puzzles together and see whether this make any sense. Dolores, if you still signed on please reply. YOur credibility is on the line, and should this go legally on-line your entire history would be somewhat put on display.
On Thursday, October 22, 2009 at 06:57 am, IrishCanonlawyerPriester writes:
If this is the same Dolores Atwood, she seems enterprising. But I wonder why it took her this long to come out- when in fact, she kept talking to the archbishop. Was her needs not met financially? was she in danger of divorce? was she in financial crises? In spite of all, she continued to be actively involved in her church, serving as lector and all that. I wonder whether this is typical of those abused? Is this a case of jealousy, thinking that the archbishop who is fond of her, is now closer also to her sister? was the archbishop been a good friend continuing to support her, and in her marriage? If the intention is not evil why did she make those tapes- in many places in North America, except for the government, tapes made without disclosure/consent of the other party are not tenable in court. Is this a publicity stunt? Delores needs to clear this questions for the sake of her integrity, especially as one who is interested in politics. I do hope that this is not all targeted toward making her promote her politics using church/priests' sex abuse as a scaffold to a brighter career? My job here is to ensure there is integrity and not just some dummy ass accusations against an innocent clergy, though the Catholic Church as I alerted prior has gotten lots of bad press.
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Atwood, Dolores CANDIDATE DETAILS Affiliation Liberal Name Dolores Atwood Address Yarmouth, Nova Scotia , Canada Email None Website None Born Unknown Died Still Living (2009 years) Contributor John Hodgman Last Modifed John Hodgman Jun 04, 2006 09:49am Tags Info Dolores Atwood is a very active, vocal and hard working community leader with a strong commitment in seeing Yarmouth grow. Since coming to Yarmouth in 1999, Dolores has served the community by sitting on the Town & Municipal Joint Heritage and Yarmouth Municipal Planning Advisory Committees. She has served as the President of the Business and Professional Women’s Club of Yarmouth and Nova Scotia and is actively involved with the local Women in Business initiative. She sits on the Board of Directors for the Yarmouth Arts Regional Center (Th’ YARC) and has joined the newly formed Immigration Initiatives Committee. Dolores is involved within the Church and serves as a lector at St. Ambrose Catholic Church. She has taught Sunday school at Our Lady Queen of Peace, Brooklyn and in the past has taught Catechism and Religious studies. Dolores is also active with the “After Five Club”, a non-denominational group that meet monthly. She was born in Ondo State Nigeria in 1969. She studied a bachelor in International Relations at Oba Femi Awolowo Federal University (OAU) from 1989 to 1993 and was the Vice President of the International Relations Student Association at OAU. She Immigrated to Canada in 1995 and married her husband Chris Atwood. From 1996 to 1998, Dolores was employed with the Government of Thailand as a community development coordinator. While in this position, she played a leading role in obtaining domestic and international funds to assist in the establishment of a Childcare Development Center in the Province of Phrae. After returning to Canada in 1998, Dolores served as the Nova Scotia representative on the CUSO (Canadian University Services Overseas) Atlantic Council. Dolores is a mother of 3 school age children and has worked as a teacher’s aid at the Port Maitland Elementary School. She has been a Board member of Parents Place and is presently involved with the Meadow Fields Home and School Association. In 2004 Dolores’ concerns over the challenges and issues facing local schools prompted her to run for a position on the Tri-County School Board. During this close race, Dolores had the opportunity to talk to many people living in the Municipality of Yarmouth and to discuss the challenges that are being faced not only in Education but also in regards to Health and Economic growth. Dolores believes that Yarmouth’s strength is its people and their resilience and determination to progress. Dolores has proven her commitment and desire to work and serve her community of Yarmouth and has shown, time and time again, the leadership and vision that Yarmouth needs to progress
On Friday, October 23, 2009 at 02:31 pm, Nick writes:
Thank you very much, irishcanonlawyerpriester! it's clear there are many things yet unspoken in this whole case. Archbishop Burke had no problem until he got to a land where he was not welcomed. benin wanted their son ( indigene ) to become the archbishop and seat on the throne. It appears that it is this hatred that is further spearheaded and has been hatched in this case. From warri, it is clear that the archbishop is a holy man of God. both catholics and non-catholics as well as christians and non-christians testify to this. may God protect his servants from the plans of the evil one.
On Friday, October 23, 2009 at 03:32 pm, paul writes:
It is very sad to hear that another priest from ireland is pretending to be aan irishcanonlawyer to cause more pain to the christian community. If this man has coomitted this crime in ireland , he will be in prison by now. Why will a pretend priest say he is a irishcanonlawyer who do exatly the same thing as his friend richard burke go and search on this lady as if she is the one who abuse children? ARCHBISHOP RICARD BURKE commit a crime and you are going after the victim? SHAME ON YOU.
On Friday, October 23, 2009 at 03:34 pm, helen writes:
Irishcanonlawyer my foot and SHAME ON YOU AND RICHARD BURKE,both of you are child abusers.
On Friday, October 23, 2009 at 03:49 pm, Abidal writes:
Personally, I did contacted this lady,because I wanted to know the truth. I first wrote in this forum, and I was among those who critised her, But from all I have been hearing out there that is a devoted catholic that have brought convert to the church, that included her moslim family, and again what surprises me again from what I heard, that she is a very honest and compationate person, so I decided to make contant with her and hear her own story and the tapes she hear. She was indeed what they say she is. Very frank and straight forward. I asked her about the tapes. She said wait a minete and returned back with it and I listen to it. My jaw drop. Dele was right when he wrote from above that he hadf heard the takes. I felt bad ,because of all that I have said about this lady. may God forgive me . I thought the bishop was innocent, in fact we all own this lady an apology. Why should a lady who is happy married and doing very well want lie. She is telling the truth. Archbishop richard burke. you have wrong this lay ,,please resign and get help. You have missled us all. I am a proud catholic, but I am ashame end of you abuse and how you have divided our church. I am very soory miss dolores Atwood. Please keep up the fight.
On Friday, October 23, 2009 at 05:46 pm, irishcanonlawyerpriester writes:
Some of you herein are just have small minds. In my first post, I have made the point that this abuse is intolerable and sympathized with Dolores Atwoods. I do not know what it is and how it works in the courts in Nigeria, but in the west, the personality, character, outward and gestured demeanours and other personal aspects are focused and scrutinized to provide a clear picture of the parties, offer the jury and opportunity to contemplate upon the crime to reach a definitive decision. The law must scrutinize both parties decisively and thorougly. My point in researching Dolores is to point out that she is real. Her achievements speak for her. However, she has not made a clear case beyond using the tools of the internet to vilify archbishop Burke. Here are my reasons. Dolores feels strongly about the Catholic priesthood and their celibacy. At the time she was writing (2001), she felt she was already violated and still was a strong advocate for a celibate priesthood. She continues to be active in her Catholic faith, which is laudable, in spite of the acclaimed abuses she had experienced, without feeling betrayed and hurt. The criminal justice system does work in looking at the whole picture. Allegations are easy to make. Motives can be everything and this is what in litigation every sound lawyers would be driving at. That, in fact, does not exonerate archbishop Burke, my country man and fellow priest. It only states that the structure of the legal system may not work to Dolores advantages. Both Dolores and Archbishop Burke have all erred enormously, in ways that legally complexify the so-called crimes. Lets take a peep into the reason. First, for Dolores. Dolores, even after she got married was still infactuated with the archbishop in a long distance relationship. She seemed to have continued the relationship from day, and thereafter, knowing as she alleged that this man was having affairs with other women. The simple legal test is: why did she choose to remain in the relationship, and for that long? Why was this relationship with an abuser not feel damaging. For archbishop Burke, here is his fault. Even, if she truly cared for this woman and her ordeals, he should have stopped conversing with her, and put an instant stop to the relationship; more so knowing that she was already married and with children. Further, he had no business, if Dolores facts are correct of continuing to discuss with her husband. They were already dealing with a lot, and he was still not leaving the scene. Now, I do not know how Nigerians see issues but here are my opinions. Most Nigerians are very narrow minded in their selected preferences and biases. Those who decry archbishop Burke and siding with Dolores, and those pro-Burke and anti-Dolores. Most are not ready to scrutinize this issue thoroughly. Most are hearing just one version and they are ready to take side. That is not how the criminal justice system work, especially the English Common Law that I suppose frame most of Nigerian legal practices and systems. More fundamentally, there are legal issues here too of whether, even if Delores is credible, the statutes of limitations have expired in this case. Further, what legal jurisdiction does she intend to utilize, Nigerian, Canadian, Irish, Roman, and what kind criminal, civic, canon law? It is not a straight answer here. My hunch is that Dolores would be unable to legally outwit the archbishop given some of these topical and complex problems. In Nigeria, the scene where the supposed crime(s) occurred, even if the statute of limitation has not expired,my impression is that it would be difficult to win due to the institutional constraints, Nigerians religiosity, the trauma of isolation and shame (cultural factors in that society) etc. It would also be long as Nigerian judicial systems are often clogged and takes long number of years to adjudicate on pending cases. I do not think that if no crime is committed in either Canada or Ireland (Burke's country of origin), that she can sue there. Her most viable option is that if she contacts the diocese where Burke worked in New Jersey and someone surface, she can acting as that person witness, and in the event that person win her case, use that to her legal advantage. Even this is doubtful given that she is not an American resident. I know how painful abuses are, and scrippling and damaging. But to also be fair to archbishop Burke, could it be stated that following immigration, and under the direct influence of some fake psychologists, they induced Delores to recall memories that lead to such framing, and without basis? This do happen at times, and of course many families have been damaged as a result of psychologists' insinuations that are not true in reality but rather induced. But again, is Dolores mad because her sister was also close to Burke, is this a case of sibling jealousy and rivalry, and fight for relevance, benefits and accruing privileges? Does she feel sidelined and despised? Fundamentally, where is Dolores sister, is she on her side? Is she talking? Is she ready to take the stand in a legal tussle against Burke and in favour of her sister? Dolores story would be more credible if more people come out and are able to prove beyond all means and reasonable doubt that Burke also violated them. All of these beg for thorough understanding and scrutiny. Having done an attempt to present these issues, as Nick herein raised, there are a lot of other motives that can be at work here. The case of Warri diocese and Benin archdiocese, where there was a tussle for the bishop's office may be a motive here. Is anyone using the closeness of a disgrunted Dolores (suspecting her sister is sleeping around with her best lover) to try to supplant Burke? We may never know. But the fact that Dolores also selected to fight her fight on the internet, shows she has limited access or even valued confidence that her case would make it through the judicial system(s). It shows some desperation. More so, she was using an opinon segment of a major Catholic newspaper, such intent shows malice, including desperation. That is not far fetched. Abuse of any kind must be decried. But even as an adult, and for many years Dolores did not put herself in a good position as she was very much enthuses with Burke. Burke also acted poorly, in a way that makes me doubt the competency of his judgement as a bishop of a major archdiocese in Nigeria. Abidal issue about a woman who is happily married with kids, sound very naive? Don't married people with children have motives, poor judgements, and also low self-esteemed? Such arguments are in deed porous and devoid of critical sense as an instrumentation in pursuing legal liability. How do we even know that this woman is happily married? If she was happily married she would not be contacting a bishop, who did not want her married to her husband in the first place, as she recounts. As Irish and a Priest, I might be biased, but I have shared this facts because I believe any and all unwarranted, non-mutual abuses are demeaning and damaging. Consentual and mutual affairs, even if they are in poor tastes, happening between adults are a different matter. I have put myself against the church in pointing out against what I perceive as archbishop Burke's actions, and have even called on him to resign if these events are factual.
On Friday, October 23, 2009 at 09:01 pm, prisca writes:
You are obviously not a spiritual priest and a friend to richaid burke ,because of the way you discribed the nigerian people and that you are very insencitive of others and you just generalise,because you are not hearing or like what people are saying about richard burke. I do not believe that there is a motive behind this. I think you are trying to discourage dolores from pursuing this case. You mention about culture factor and isolation and shame, shows that richard knows and took advantage of it. Well you cannot distroy the truth.I believe that this lady is strong and I think this issue is going to be bigger than we think. Alot of people here are behind this lady and I heard that she is already have people calling her for support. She has a very good reputation, judging from those who went to school with her and well respected at her university and very smart too and you can not even find any wrong even when you search.I believe that richard burke abuse this lady at 14th. A lady who went to a forign counties and have acheive all this in a short period of time, shows she is responsible. Her life and who she is spoke of her. she loves her family and everyone knows that.By the way,a priest did something teribly wrong to my family, but we never left the church. He left eventually. Richard burke must have groom this lady , i know it is all phychological that he keep communicating with her shows that he has been afriad of this lady exposing him for a long time and manupulating her and that is why the communication ,not that she was having a sextual relationship with him.. You will be surprise how she will fight back.
On Friday, October 23, 2009 at 10:50 pm, Angela writes:
Fr patrick, I heard you were booted out of nigeria in relation to all this, and that you have a good knowledge of what richard burke was doing and you were also invoved. No more free women, driver and the warm sun weather,? now you are cold and wish you are back in nigeria. Sorr.Thank you cadinal olubummy
On Friday, October 23, 2009 at 11:51 pm, Seeker of Justice and Truth writes:
I am writing this note in response to irishcannonlawyerpriest. Though you have made some valid points, you have also been somewhat biased and skewed in your “legal” opinions and you have also made some very reckless assumptions, if you are writing your comments from a truly neutral and uninfluenced position. In an earlier statement you have said that “tapes made without disclosure/consent of the other party are not tenable in court”, this is not necessarily true, in fact, taped conversations are OFTEN used as evidence and are examined with the same lens as letters and other documents in criminal law. I would suggest that you hit your law books Fr. P.C.. Secondly, you make a dangerous assumption, if you are truly commenting as an observer of this blog. You have google searched Dolores Atwood and have pasted her bio and comments from a BBC site. Canada is a country of more than 30 million people, how are you sure that the info that you have inserted is that of the “Dolores Atwood” making the complaint against Richard Burke? If you do not have intimate knowledge of this, you, as a lawyer have opened yourself up to a number of serious allegations! I will base the rest of what I write on your assumptions. In your “unbiased” statement on Dolores’ faith you question how could someone who was abused remain active and involved in the Church? I know that you are playing the “devils advocate” and for those other gentle readers of this site, I would propose; There are many people who have been abused at a young age by religious people and remain actively involved in the Church and do not disclose their abuse because of the shame and guilt that they feel. It is often not until they are much older when they disclose the abuse. Some people who are abused as youngsters become abusive when they get older. Who is not to say, that Richard Burke was not abused by a Saint Augustan Brother when he was attending school and that his abusive sociopathic tendencies are not a result of this? We must also delve more seriously into the allegation of the abuse and when the abuse started. Dolores states that she was 14 years old and that her parents were separating. For a young girl this must have been traumatic. She was looking for counseling and for someone to listen to her. Richard Burke, at the same time would have been… 35 years old! Do I need to draw a picture? A 35 year old white man, who is in a position of power and a vulnerable 14 year old Nigerian girl (wake up!). Now, let us look at Dolores’ youngest sister. I will assume that she was 17 to 19 years of age when Richard molested her. We must now ask again, how old was Richard? Was he 50 to 51 years of age? The though of such an old man with young women is revolting and disgusting as well as being illegal! Now let us look at culture. I will assume once again, that irishcannonlawyerpriest you have spent some time in Nigeria and are aware of some of the cultural “faupas” of that Country. You are then probably aware that if a man were to knowingly engage in sexual relationships with two sisters (same mother/same father) that that would be considered a Nigerian CULTURAL ABOMINATION! Gentle readers, could we not assume that this may have been the tipping point that made Dolores want to come forward? Now for a moment let us return back to the “relationship” that existed between Richard Burke and Dolores Atwood in most recent times. It is obvious, if we take Dolores’ account as being credible, as St Patrick’s Missionary Society has done, that Richard Burke often used manipulation and intimidation to perpetuation the relationship. Richard Burke, would tell Dolores that “if anyone found out about the relationship, that it would be bad for him and bad for the Church” he would also state “ If your husband found out about this he will surely divorce you and take the children”. Imagine, a woman living in a foreign country, without any relatives and hearing such threats, do you not think that she would be afraid to speak out? Richard Burke has shown very little regard towards Dolores or her sister. If we look at Richard Burke’s nature and the cycle of abuse that is obviously seen in evidence submitted, we start to see signs of a serial abuser with sociopathic tendencies. I would suggest that anyone who is not familial with the signs or profile of a sociopath go to this site: http://www.mcafee.cc/Bin/sb.html . Irishcannonlawyerpriest, you have chosen to keep your identity a secret, that is your choice as it is mine. You have also chosen to play the “devils advocate” and to provide skewed “legal” opinions disguised as being objective, but clearly ignoring many of the allegations raised against the Archbishop by Dolores Atwood. As members of the Body of Christ, we have a responsibility to respect life and humanity and to ensure justice and peace for all within our Church. God’s Judgment will start in His Own House. We must look beyond our fraternities and remember our obligations to God and Jesus, or else, we are no better than the Pharisees and Sadducees of Old. Let us join to stop the abuse and heel the suffering.
On Saturday, October 24, 2009 at 04:16 pm, irishcanonlawyerpriester writes:
Seekerofjustice and truth, I appreciate this response. Somehow, I think it is Dolores voice being articulated, but that does not make a difference. In my initial post here, I did sympathized enormously with Dolores' conditions, and I asked her to seek justice, even by contacting authorities in the New Jersey diocese that Burke worked. If allegations do surface there, there is a more likely and higher possibility of Dolores having her day in court, at least if not for herself but as a witness bringing attention to a critical issue. I do definitely understand abuse and I have enjoined options that may not be attuned to the thinking of the majority of Catholics, including authorities within my own church. You put it better, here was is been done is playing the "devil's advocate" and that is what the judicial system does to arrive at the facts. Emotional and physical abuses, which additional details seekerofjustice and truth has presented that is not within the original posting herein, offers more details- though it is this that makes me think, Dolores or any of her surrogate is the one posting. But no big deal.\ Surely, I did spend sometime in Nigeria for a number of years and traveled the world. The point I made about making tapes secretly is a general norm in the United States and Canadian legal system. I was trying to weight and measure, candidly the different trajectories open to Dolores to pursue her case, while also bringing to the fore the enormous challenges, including heightened additional emotional crises that would be generated during the litigation, especially trial scenario. These processes are cruel and painstaking. That is the bare truth. No one is saying that what the archbishop did, if it is true, is appropriate. But again, human life and affairs are not that simplistic, and the legal options, are not often as easy as many people sometimes think. It is draining and time consuming, it can be humiliating and strenuous on the psyche. That is my point precisely. However, Dolores' intents would be scrutinized. More so, the way I understand the current Nigerian legal system, there is no systematic framework in place to deal with some of these allegations, at least as I know it. I would conjecture that the bulk of the allegations did happen in Nigeria, and so this is where the judicial determination would naturally have to take place, except if Dolores can prove that some of this occurred while she was in Canada, in which case, she was then an adult. Given that she continued to engage the archbishop in endearing and amorous conversations may constitute a problem for validating even if such occurred that this was not a consentual relationship. Then, the bishop's lawyers can get him to agree it was consensual, and the best alternative recourse to Dolores, would then not be a criminal option, but a civil law suit. All, I was doing is playing out these entire scenario. For Dolores, as hard as these events are, her location in the west privileges her. But her motives would always continued to be questioned and suspect, even if she is telling the truth. The structures and systems of our human society respect institutions. It is taking societies like the United States, Canada, and now Ireland many years to come to terms with events that happened many decades ago. It is not often that easy. The issue is not about the veracity here, but more about after all these allegations, denting, and public revelation, what next for both Dolores and also for Burke. In everyway, through whatever lenses and angles, it is a sad occurence, because this is no game. These actions have ramifications for the lives of the individuals involved, their present, future, and probably both physical, mental, emotional, ethical, social, and spiritual wellbeing. How they are coping is something that one would imagine is hard, in everyway. No one, not myself privileges evil, but evil in spite of all good intents or goodwill do occur in human society. We also know that in today's world, if Burke was not a priest this would hardly even draw attention. Many men, not that it is good and to be encouraged, play this game all the time. If this was done by Dolores' secondary school teacher, in Warri, this would have largely not caught on. Yet, teachers like priests, are in position of authorities and respectability. This is what compounds the problem, because if not the image of the priest, many Nigerians and expatriates do molest and harrass women all the time, pregnant them, pass on diseases to them. As a church and society, what is been called for here, is the audacity to help to foment changes, in ways that we do not unduly violate the rights of anyone, including women, whether in the church or society. Few years ago, the Irish head of the worldwide Congregation of Medical Missionaries of Mary, documented the abuse of young and vulnerable, women, especially nuns by priests and some bishops. The situation of the Zimbabwean archbishop Pius Ncube is also well-known, even though that was a consensual case, in which he denied but confronted with visual images and other facts, he came clean by accepting and apologizing to his supporters. Of course, many were livid and felt he took advantage of their loyalty. Mind you, Ncube, was someone at the time that a section of Zimbabwean society, were trying to coopt to run as that country's President to hound Mugabe out of office. We know, this things do exist. The case of the President of Paraguay, which I alluded to, in my initial posting is a case in point. He fathered a child with a woman, whom he started dating as a minor, but he did apologized and came clean. Healing comes from acceptance, humility, apology, and the attempt to make amend. Finally, as to whether the internet research proved it was the same Dolores, that was not a definitive statement either- it was a suppositional position, that expressed "if it is the same...." It was not a settled and definitive bold assertion. I do agree that they might be many Dolores Atwoods in a country of 30 million people, but the probability that it might be the same Dolores Atwood is high given that correlation of many incidental facts- described or ascribed as a Nigerian living in Canada, or an immigrant from Nigeria resident in Canada, and as one who equally happen to be Catholic. All these correlates with identities that are claimed or resembles her posted profile relative to this case. Uppermost in my mind is the healing of those who are victims and have been abused. Even more significantly is the spiritual and emotional healing of both the victims and the alleged abuser. I am sorry, both as Irish and a priest, that this even emerged at all. One thing that comes also to the fore is that most times, many people tend to think the problem of celibacy or abuse is an African problem, within a racial ranking that consider Africans somewhat as less capable of living their celibate vows in some ecclesiastical quarters. As an Irish priest and missionary, it is now time for us to own up, that we might have wrongfully presented such notion of defective priestly lifestyle to the Africans we helped evangelized, creating a dichtomy between the "normative" and the "actuality" of priestly practice. We must own up that the issue of struggling with celibacy, and even abuse, is one that is not bounded by cultural or national markers. But overall, it helps us see that the Church too is human, made up of human beings struggling to be better. The image of the church that enthrones priests as angelic, incapable of acting as other humans, sets them up for trouble. I have seen many African priests think the hell of themselves as a kind of surrogate- God, and the people rank them that way. In fact, when I was a young missionary in Nigeria and Uganda, some Africans were surprised that a priest could eat ordinary food, use the restrooms, and so excluded them by virtue of religion from the order of ordinary people. This kind of rating has its consequences in the kind of action, Dolores and her sister claim to have suffered. Finally, the entire notion of escape, and using "coyotes" or conduits for immigration; the quest for a good westernized and materialized life, subjects many young African women to the wrong people- sexual predators, international sex rings, and dubious characters. Africans must begin to see their traditional values and environment as not as sad as presupposed, because such notions also embed the seed for exploitation and ripping off young women. I am not here to be callous. I go at length to respond to this because I am saddened by it all, and I know that it is a very complex situation. I wish God's healing for all those involved; that they may know that our God can do superfluously more than we can ever imagine in bringing his peace, healing, and joys even into the most broken realities and desperate of all human situations. I look forward to Dolores and her sister's healing, while I also beg the same, especially healing, conversion of heart, even for the alleged abuser. One cannot say, that incidence such as this totally eclipse some of the good acts both for the Church, Society, and persons carried out by archbishop Burke. He might need help, for which he had never hard. It is truly at times hard to be a priest- there is a limited room for venting, debriefing, and destressing, and so, without being apologetic for archbishop Burke's actions, asking for some benevolence of heart, since we cannot except for God know the full reasons or minds of any individuals. I seek justice for acts that they are responsible, liable, and culpable, but I also think that beyond revenge, beyond revealed truths, worthwhile as they may be, justice must lead ultimately to peace. The residue of hurt, hate, violence, and revenge can be a combustive detonator whose outbursts can only boost further hates, hurts, violence, low-self-exteem, revenge, and negativity. We all have all sinned and fallen short of God's glory, but we all are also equally created in the radiance of God's love, joy, and peace. We must not allow grievance to destroy us, and that I think it is the reason St. Paul states " Be angry, and do not sin: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, Nor give place to the devil...Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and all evil speaking be put away from, and with all malice. And be kind to one anotner, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you" (Eph. 4: 26-26, 31-32). It worthwhile that Dolores had adhered to the St. Paul (Eph. 4: 25)- "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for you are members of one another."
On Saturday, October 24, 2009 at 04:59 pm, prisca. writes:
You have forgeting the book of Eph5:5:10-14. You seems to attack this lady, for you it seems personal. I suggest you phone her or send her an e-mail and asked her these questions,why you who claim to be a priest not act as one. Go and call her. But you prefer to judge her her.You have not acted wisely and you seems to be a trouble maker and not happy that she is exposing what you believe in. Richard burke is a sociopath like seeker of truth and justice put it.,Richard burke ,patrick iriskcananonlawyerpries,why dont you phone her? The fact you did not contact her before coming to this forum as you critized her tell alot about you. You mentioned that the nigerians are narrowminded people and you a broad minded irish priest is complaining to narrowminded people, what does that say about you? Even the devil can quot the bible. You are out for this lady and that is why you met your match,seeker of truth and justice. This man did very well. I hope he does not waste his time with you. What happen to Nairaland, did you corrupt them too? But you cant with the catholic Report, USA base , patrick.
On Saturday, October 24, 2009 at 08:34 pm, irishcanonlawyerpriester writes:
Prisca, You see what you want to see. You are opinionated and that is alright by me. If you think you know better, then go to the court of law. You are not helping this young woman, who seems to be exceedingly bright, but got into a situation that is not pleasant for her wellbeing and good coping. You language of vitrol is also very appalling. If you want to assist someone, you got to be honest and let them see the whole sides of the issue. Let's be frank, the jury of the internet or media cannot rectify this situation justly. Many people are hurt, and it is their pastoral wellbeing and their ability to once again ease their pains and help them be more fully human that is at stake- not just some showy concern. Every concern that is not genuine on the long run does not stand the rigorous tests of life's complexities. Insolence and verbiage solves no issue, at least not in the manner of your narrowmindedness.
On Saturday, October 24, 2009 at 09:09 pm, Seeker of Justice and Truth writes:
I need to “applaud”, my Brother in Christ, Irishcannonlawyerpriest in his ability to transform from “apt” legal advisor to “spiritual” councilor & cleric. Again, you have made many valid points. Given the current discussion, we must take what we have presented before us as stated above as fact. I must speak to the need for healing, which is the theme of Irishcannonlawyerpriest discussion. However, before we begin the journey of healing, we will need complete disclosure. Given the facts that have been presented, Richard Burke himself needs to come forward (as opposed to hiding in the Church) and confess his wrongs, not only to Dolores, who is the principal of this complaint, but to all those that have been hurt and victimized by his self-indulgences and seemingly unquenchable lust of the flesh. This includes his other victims, the parishioners of the Churches that he has served, The SPS, the Catholic Church at large, his family and in fact, the whole nation of Ireland, for which he represents when serving abroad. Given the facts that have been presented before us, we can only conclude that Richard Burke’s current situation is solely of his own making. If in 1982 when he first met Dolores and if he had done his JOB as a priest, which was to provide spiritual and emotional support and counsel, none of this would be coming out today. Irishcannonlawyerpriest is again correct, that the attention that this topic is being given is because of the rank that Archbishop Richard Burke has attained within the Church. Again, was it not Richard Burkes’ ambitious nature that brought him to his current position? It is true that this would most likely not be getting the same level of attention if the abuser had been a teacher, doctor or other professional. However, in stating that, if the abuser had been a teacher, doctor or other professional, that individual would have had their professional credentials and or licenses stripped and they themselves would have been removed from their practices immediately once the allegation was made. This would have been done long before the courts would have had an opportunity to review the facts and allegations. This leads to another very disturbing fact of this case. We know, that a written complaint was made to the Church back in March 2008, and we can only suspect that the allegations against Richard Burke were probably made verbally even earlier than that. Why then, was Richard Burke allowed to stay in Ministry and in Nigeria until July 2009? Negligence in these matters are not an excuse for the Church, given that the Church has adopted strict policies and procedures to address sexual abuse allegations. I fear that the Church’s neglect in this matter may once again cost the Church much embarrassment. This is very sad, especially when we examine the process that Dolores Atwood began. It is apparent, from the facts that we have before us, that Dolores Atwood felt that by coming forward to the Church with her complaint, that the Church would be willing and able to address this grave and serious matter. The Church, as it has done so often in the past chose to play the game known as “pass the buck” in the hopes that the situation would just go away. As I stated in my earlier comments, we, the people that represent the Body of Christ need to look beyond our fraternal obligations and return to the fundamentals of our faith, which was bought by the Blood of Christ. Instead of trying to “demonize” the victims in cases such as these, we need to embrace them, not with hollow words of “ We are sorry” but with strong actions against offenders. Let us not forget what the Catholic Church is, which is the “Universal” Church of God. It should not be up to the worldly courts of the nations to teach us morality. It should be our responsibility to teach the world a higher standard of morality through living our lives as our Savior Jesus Christ taught us. “More is expected to whom more is given”! We must not forget that our faith teaches us, that at the end of our days there is only one true court and that is the Court of The All Mighty, and His judgment of each one of us will be both true and just. Are you prepared for The Judgment?
On Saturday, October 24, 2009 at 09:33 pm, prisca writes:
You are not a very serious person, you are curnny . you intentionally came to this forum to insult this innocent lady who have done the right thing to speak out,you dont like it and that was confirmed by the seeker of justice and truth. You have a temper and I can tell from the way you write. Yourself and richard have been invoved in this seek and hide game or sick game for many years until you were inplicated yourself and you were booted out. You call yourself a priest with a bad temper. Please stay in your ireland, no body need you were narrowminded people live. you are lucky that for now ,you got away because those village girls are not knowledgeable enough to put you away,but one day you will be caught, that is why you can open your mouth without shame to say what you are saying. You just quot the bible some few time ago and now you are calling me narrowminded person,you are a shame to your st patrick congregation,you abandon priest. you are a bitter man. If ARCHBISHOP RICHARD BURKE have any shame as some as a needle eye, he will resign and if you have any shame yourself you will stop communicating in this forum patrick.
On Saturday, October 24, 2009 at 09:42 pm, prisca writes:
Are you bright,? you are not.Yes , Dolores Atwood is very bright,we all know that, and that is why richard burke was exposed. She was 14 ,richard burke was 35years, .Tell me,who should know better. She is not in a mess. How many qualify canonlawyers do you know or heard that put themselves to this low? The good priest are all behind this lady and praying for her and you are here attacking her and myself, because we are not saying what you want to hear.
On Sunday, October 25, 2009 at 09:48 am, David writes:
I ran out of reading as after ten posts the brain wash was affecting me.Thankfully the last post has come down from the clouds. I have met these type of power hungry monsters and their double act is quite amazing, mostly from show biz but quite a number of priests in mIreland.
On Sunday, October 25, 2009 at 01:42 pm, irishcanonlawyerpriester writes:
The best response to this issue has been the one that seekerofjusticeandtruth has presented. That says it all. The kind of verbiage by folks like Prisca, would only end up diminishing the significance of this behaviour, which I have counted as appalling, distateful, and had in my first posting called for certain lines of actions such as Dolores to contact the church in New Jersey to see if she could come up with some additional supportive facts, and had equivocally called for Archbishop Burke to resign. Folks like Prisca and her tribe are just so eaten up by their gut feelings, without looking at the entire facts of this matter. That does not help. Healing occurs at many level for individuals and communities. I do agree that a public confession and acceptance of responsibility is essential here. Archbishop Burke cannot continue to hide within the canopy of prestige and privilege to scuttle this. His reaction, I agree is a kind of trying to buy time, so that the passage of time would let this go into oblivion. I also agree that the St. Patrick's fathers must also respond to this serious allegations. I am afraid that being afraid of their culpability they are scare of the consequences of litigation. It is in this that I agree, that while the church is Holy, and also imperfect in its human constitution, that it must live above board and act honestly. The church must, as seekerofjusticeandtruth has stated be more than the rest of society, offering prime examples of accountability and responsibility. I must also state that we must not be gullible here too. Priests are human beings, with all the characteristics that accrue to all humans, which includes weaknesses and sinfulness. They too are struggling people who need to overcome sin in their own constitution, both personally and institutionally. The structures and systems of the church needs healing. I therefore agree too, that the Nigerian Catholic Bishop Conference, must also react to this unfolding drama, and call the shot in ensuring a transparent investigation, rather than pretend nothing is happening. As I stated in my first post, here in Ireland, like the rest of the world, principally in the United States, Australia, Austria, and elsewhere, we have had to deal increasingly with this situation, in a way that is saddening. In this vein, while I would like to gloss over Prisca, unintelligible ravings and rantings, I must state that I loved the Nigerian people, and I love the Church. Nonetheless, I would not subject issues like this to mere sentimentalism, without drawing acutely upon the various vignettes to see how best to resolve this- especially mainly for Dolores Atwood, who is a pained and allegedly violated victim. But more significantly, one has also to be concerned that while Dolores case may be germane, some fake people who hate any priest or public figure can just create hoaxes that would damage the reputation of a good public official. This would also be unfair. In today's world, the legal system is the definitive arbiter in "she-say-he-say."
On Sunday, October 25, 2009 at 03:07 pm, Irishcanonlawyerpriester writes:
This is getting more elaborately official now. It is in today's Irish Times that the Vatican is investigating this case.- Hosted by Back to Google NewsArchbishop accused of sex assault (UKPA) – 7 minutes ago An Irish archbishop is accused of sexually assaulting a teenage girl in Africa before having a 20-year affair with her, it has emerged. The Vatican is investigating a complaint made against Archbishop Richard Burke, who stepped down from his post with the Archdiocese of Benin in Nigeria earlier this year. He is one of the most senior members of the Catholic Church to be accused of assaulting a minor. Archbishop Richard Burke was a member of St Patrick's Missionary Society, based in Kiltegan, Co Wicklow. In a statement the society, also known as the Kiltegan Fathers, confirmed it received a complaint from the woman last December. "She alleged that she was sexually abused as a child by Richard Burke," it said. "We expressed the deep sorrow and regret of the society for the suffering the complainant and her family are going through and we affirmed the society's commitment to child protection. The society offered to provide counselling for the complainant." Archbishop Burke, who is from Co Tipperary, was ordained a priest 34 years ago and later worked as a missionary in Nigeria. He became an archbishop in 2008. It is alleged he sexually assaulted the victim in April 1983, when she was a 14-year-old patient in a hospital. The victim, a married 41-year-old mother of three who now lives in Canada, maintains she also had a relationship with the cleric for more than two decades. Archbishop Burke withdrew from ministry while the complaint is being investigated. Copyright © 2009 The Press Association. All rights reserved. Related articles Abuse llegations against archbishop investigated Irish Times - 20 minutes ago Archbishop accused of sex assault The Press Association - 2 hours ago Rome investigating abuse complaint RTE.ie - 5 hours ago More coverage (1) »
On Sunday, October 25, 2009 at 03:45 pm, Johnson Grant writes:
Fr patrick corcoran, what kind of a man are you? No shame? I read through your writing, all I see, is unstable person,changing his strory and views like a papper being blow around by the wind to different dirrection. You are not a good priest. I do not mean to offend you,but it is the truth. You miss lead richard burke, thinking you know it all and you are doing just that in this forum.All that prisca wrote about you is true. You are going to reap all that you had sow. You are happy to be the first one to annouced the bad news to this forun. What the man did was wrong, however ,should you be the first to annouce it? You are a trator. i just want to let you know that.
On Sunday, October 25, 2009 at 04:26 pm, irishcanonlawyerpriester writes:
It seems that Prisca and Johnson Grant and one and the same person- except for the split personality. The language and mode of writing are the same with their flawed English, punctuations, that are typically characteristic. I wonder, where the name of Fr. Patrick Corcoran comes from. You seem to be a manufacturer of identity- such an industry! Who is Fr. Patrick Corcoran? This priest did something to you, and you cannot voice, and you prefer to hide under the cloak of Dolores story, then come out and be bold like Dolores, who has shown tenacity and audacity. You also seem to read superficially, maybe less than a fourth grade student. Anyway, my friend, you are truly a unique character among humans! You surely enjoy chaos and all that make you feel relevant. Good luck, small and myopic mind- and of course not to add psycho. In that I can only hope that you seek a good psychiatrist for help.
(Front row, Archbishop Richard Anthony Burke, SPS, Archbishop of Benin City and Administrator of Warri diocese)
Commentary:
We have been at the forefront of transparency, responsibility, and accountability within our African Church. We have pointed out the sad issues of sexual and emotional exploitation of Africans within our Catholic fold. We, know that the church is essentially holy as the church of God (cf. John 8:23), while human weak and imperfect, drawing enormous strength from her divine master and savior, Jesus Christ. In spite of that only the truth can set free (John 8:32). Even Jesus when he was confronted about his identity, though he could have easily denied declared assertively the truth regarding his honest identity (Jn. 18:4-9).
Few months ago, the Vatican acted against two bishops in the Central African Republic, with the President of that country's episcopal conference and archbishop of Bangui resigning because of allegation that their priests were living profligate lifestyles, and in concubinage. The priests sided with their bishops and went on strike, in support of their bishops and in defiance to the Vatican. They asserted that they felt that the Vatican was playing double-standard, because white bishops and priests who were in similar situations were left untouched. This white holier-than-thou and unequal treatment is what makes the case of archbishop Burke interesting, and even more intriguing as to how the Vatican will treat this case. The transparency and integrity of the Vatican is at stake here.
This case also tend to minimize the subtle and hideous supposition that it is only African, or non-European priests, who have difficulties leaving out their priestly commitments.
Now, Archbishop Burke's case would now show how much racism is not a case when it pertains to a non-African bishop at the centre of sexual abuses. This is a litmus test for the Vatican and one that is critical for the mode of equal or differential treatment within the same church. Currently, many Africans, including bishops and priests, inwardly believes that the current Pope Benedict XVI is very not comfortable, like the late Pope John Paul II, with the African realities, issues of inculturation, and the integration of the African church into the full life of the universal church.
The poor choices of episcopal candidates, some showing inferior credentials, indicates how this papacy is ready to compare and contrast, in creating second tier or third class bishops, that would make the western bishops feel superior. The arguments among many western clergy today is that some Africans and Asians are ordained priests and bishops, because of the lack of qualitative candidates, such of the needs.
This kind of subjugation of the African clergy within the reasoning and action of western clerics, attempting to diminish the quantitative and quantum leap in vocations and faith response on the continent, seems supported by some of the calibre of bishops Rome has named for some dioceses in Africa- sounding all too often, like good for them. Afterall, it is not us! Such thinking hurts the sense of pride of the African Catholic, and minimize the ideal notion of the ideology of Catholicism as framing universality- a true Catholicity of spirit, belongingness, and constituted purview of human convivality- a family or assembly of God's faithful people.
Having stated this, we know that the Church is made up of weak, sinners, and imperfect people (Hebrew 5: 2-3, New Catholic Catechism (NCC) #823-828). The church calls us then to remember that All members of the Church, including her ministers must acknowledge that the are sinners. In everyone, the weeds of sin will still be mixed with the good wheat of the Gospel until the end of time. Hence, the Churchg gathers sinners already caught in Christ's salvation but still on the way to holiness" (NCC #827).
While calling for transparency, responsibility, and accountability, we owe it as a first duty to encourage prayers for the priests. It is not easy being a Christian, talkless of the added responsibility of being a leader of the Christian assembly. The evil one would always continue to roar and roam, looking for those to devour (1 Peter 5:8-9 ).
As African Christians and Catholics, we must realize that none of us is without sin. There, we "go but for the grace of God." But for the avoidance of scandal, the forging of charity, and in the spirit of forgiveness, as a sign of renewal and reconciliation, the church must continue to uphold core values that are essential to building community, sanctifying the body of Christ- the Church, and offering a pleasing offering (1 Peter 2:5), in spite of imperfection, weakness, and sin, to God, to pursue holiness as the ultimate goal of our lives toward our salvation (Lev. 19: 2; Matt: 5:48; 1 Peter 1:16).
It is here that the demand for handling cases with justice toward the goal of creating peace and harmony become paramout. Our call is not intended to discount or vilify the good works, even priests and bishops, nuns, and laity in their work of the faith have, even in their struggles and challenges, worthily and credibly rendered. In the intermix between the good and bad, even when the bad and ugly rear its head, it cannot take away from the good that has been performed.
We, also indulgently request a thorough investigation, so that the good name of people are not just simply ruined, due to false accusations. We want a thorough, sound, and transparent investigation in this matter. Currently, in Kenya, an Italian Comboni missionary, Fr. Kizito Sessena is being accussed of molesting minors. The African writer, Malidoma Patrice Some, had also pointed out in his book, Of Water, and the Spirit, how he and other students at a Catholic High School were despicably subjected to sexual molestation, harrassment, and inappropriate touching by some priests.
In the light of these events, while we honour, respect, and laud the intrepid, bold, and courageous witness of western missionaries in their evangelizing mission, some of their ways has continued to be a cog in the ways many Africans perceive the gospel and the church. The church cannot continue to harbour the lifestyles and dubious behaviours that harm not just victims, but equally and greatly hurt and work against her own interests of evangelization and salvation, thus minimizing her influence and denting her identity.
*******************
Archbishop Richard Burke's Folks taken aback and angry
Tipperary Star
Date: 29 October 2009
By Staff Reporter
By Eoin Kelleher
PARISHIONERS in Fethard are surprised and disappointed about the allegations being made against local man Archbishop Richard Burke, a Kiltegan Bishop who served with the Society of African Missions (SMA).
Appointed as the Bishop of Warri in Niger
ADVERTISEMENTia prior to his promotion last year as Metropolitan Archbishop of Benin City by Pope Benedict XVI, Archbishop Burke came under fire during the week when Dolores Atwood - a Nigerian-born Canadian politician - made allegations in her book about what she says was an inappropriate relationship between herself and the Archbishop when she was under the age of consent.
One local man who spoke to the Tipperary Star said older members of the parish felt let down. The parish remains strong, and committed to their faith. "We have a great parish priest here," he said. Still, "we're shocked. It's totally against the run of the mill."
The family of Archbishop Richard Burke hail from the Lisronagh area originally, though he grew up in Fethard before moving to Africa with the SMA. "He was one of our own. You couldn't have seen this coming. People feel let down." However, discussion in the village has centred more on the recent death of a local man, rather than the allegations contained in Ms Atwood's book.
"He seems to have taken control of the situation. He blames himself. Nobody really knows yet what has happened."
New Catholic church crisis as Irish Archbishop suspended by Vatican in sex abuse probe
Archbishop believed to be in U.S. after being removed from post
By
JAMES O'BRIEN
IrishCentral.com
Father Tim column / Angry? Anglican? The Catholic Church wants you! / Click here
An Irish-born Archbishop has been suspended by the Vatican over an allegation that he carried on a 20-year relationship with a woman that began when she was only 14.
The archbishop is currently said to be in the U.S. and once served in New Jersey.
Archbishop Richard Burke, from Fethard, County Tipperary, a member of the Kiltegan Fathers, a missionary order in County Wicklow, has been removed from his post as Archbishop of Benin in Nigeria after church officials described the person who made the allegations, Dolores Attwood (40) now resident in Canada as as "a credible witness."
It is believed the abuse started in 1983 when Ms Atwood was just 14 and a patient in a Catholic hospital in Nigeria. She kept notes, tickets and other documentation of the relationship which she gave to Catholic authorities.
Atwood stated she was 14 and in hospital in Wari Nigeria in April 1983 when Burke, then a priest, kissed her in her bed and fondled her when the lights went out.
"I was sick in the hospital with fever and Fr. Burke came to visit me. When he and I were alone in my hospital room he touched and kissed me in a very inappropriate manner," she said.
She says that they had full intercourse a month later.
She said the relationship went on for five more years until Burke left Nigeria for the U.S.
Atwood states, "During the past 25 years I did not tell anyone of our relationship, because he told me not to talk about it to anyone no matter what and also fear of the negative impacts on him and the Catholic Church. Richard Burke left Nigeria in 1989 when he was sent to New Jersey in the USA and then back to Ireland with St. Patrick’s Society.
"In 1993 I met my husband, who was a Canadian volunteer working in Nigeria, while I was studying at University. My husband and I were married in 1995 in Canada and have had 3 children together. From 1989 to 1995 Father Burke and I continued communications by letters.
"When I told him that I was planning to get married in 1994, he became upset with me and told me that I should never tell anyone about the relationship between himself and I.
"Richard Burke returned to Nigeria in 1996 as Bishop of Warri Diocese. From 1996 to 1998, my husband and I left Canada and worked in Thailand.
"In 1998 Bishop Burke and I began regular communications by phone again. In 2000 while I was expecting my second child, Bishop Burke said that he would help get my youngest sister to come to Canada for a visit.
"I suspected that there was something not right when things did not work out and Bishop Burke began to take a keen interest in my youngest sister's well being. Once again, our relationship intensified with frequent amorous telephone conversations.
"In 2005 I found out that Bishop Burke had had a sexual relationship with my youngest sister.
The “friendship” between Bishop Burke and myself began to deteriorate as, once again, I started to become aware of other young girls that he was molesting.
In fact, I suspect that Richard Burke has molested or sexually abused hundreds of young
Nigerian girls during his time as a priest and Bishop in Nigeria. "
The Vatican-based "Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith" now has jurisdiction over the matter and has suspended Archbishop Burke who was appointed to his current position in 2007 by Pope Benedict XV1.
Monsignor Charles Scicluna, a Vatican prosecutor has stated that the file on Archbishop Burke, who has been in Holy Orders for 34 years has been received and is being investigated.
Irish prelate in Nigeria withdraws from ministry after abuse charges
By Cian Molloy
Catholic News Service
DUBLIN, Ireland – An Irish archbishop who serves in Nigeria has withdrawn from active ministry while the Vatican investigates allegations of sexual abuse.
The St. Patrick’s Missionary Society, known as the Kiltegan Fathers, said Oct. 25 that the allegations against Archbishop Richard Burke of Benin City, Nigeria, are being investigated by the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The charges came from a Nigerian woman, Dolores Atwood, 40, who now lives in Canada, where she is married and has run for public office.
Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, refused to comment on the issue Oct. 26.
The newspaper Irish Mail on Sunday reported Oct. 25 that Atwood claimed she had been attacked by Archbishop Burke when she was a 14-year-old hospital patient in Warri in 1983; he is said to have continued to have sexual relations with her until 2003.
Atwood lodged a formal complaint against the archbishop last year, and Kiltegan Fathers Gary Howley and John Marren met with her in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in December. Afterward, in a summary of what was discussed, Father Marren wrote: “Her allegation was very credible and was supported by corroborative evidence. ... She is a very capable person.”
The Irish Mail on Sunday also published a statement from the Kiltegan Fathers expressing “the deep sorrow and regret of the society for the suffering the complainant and her family are going through.”
“We affirmed the society’s commitment to child protection,” the statement said. “We assured her that the society’s child protection policy and procedures would be adhered to. The society offered to provide counseling for the complainant.”
Kiltegan Father Seamus O’Neill met with Archbishop Burke in Rome in January and wrote Atwood three days later, saying that “the society has accepted your statement as a credible allegation and we are now applying our society’s policy and procedures for the protection of children.” Father O’Neill said the archbishop had said he would not make any contact with Atwood while an investigation was taking place.
The Irish Mail on Sunday said Archbishop Burke reportedly contacted Atwood only hours after his meeting with Father O’Neill in Rome; the transcript of his phone conversation was published by the newspaper.
“I know that you have been hurt very deeply. And I accept full responsibility,” the transcript quoted him as saying.
Archbishop Burke was named coadjutor bishop of Warri in 1996 and became bishop in 1997; he was transferred to Benin City in 2007.
Oct 26, 2009
Sunday, October 25, 2009
11 °C Dublin » MON12 °C TUE13 °C WED14 °C YOUR WEATHER »
irishtimes.com
ireland.com
Last Updated: Sunday, October 25, 2009, 18:39
Allegations against archbishop investigated
MICHAEL O'REGAN
The Vatican is investigating an allegation of child sex abuse against an Irish-born archbishop based in Africa, his missionary order confirmed today.
Archbishop Richard Burke (60), from Clonmel, Co Tipperary, was ordained a priest for St Patrick’s Missionary Society, known as the Kiltegan Fathers, in Co Wicklow, in 1975. He was ordained a bishop in 1997, and installed as Archbishop of Benin, Nigeria, in March of last year.
In a statement, the society said it had received a complaint last December from a 40-year-old woman against Archbishop Burke.
“She alleged that she was sexually abused as a child by Richard Burke. We expressed the deep sorrow and regret of the society for the suffering the complainant and her family are going through and we affirmed the society’s commitment to child protection,’’ it added.
“We assured her that the society’s child protection policy and procedures would be adhered to. The society offered to provide counselling for the complainant.’’
The statement pointed out that although Archbishop Burke was a member of the society, he had ceased to be under its jurisdiction when he became a bishop and was now under the direct jurisdiction of the Holy See.
“However, he agreed to follow the society’s child protection procedures and voluntarily withdrew from ministry while the complaint is being investigated,’’ it added.
“The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith requested that all relevant documents relating to the allegation be forwarded to Rome so that it can exercise its full jurisdiction in the matter. The society has done this.’’
The society, said the statement, had kept in contact with the complainant, and informed her regularly of the steps being taken in accordance with policy and procedures. She had also been informed of the direct jurisdiction of the Holy See in the matter.
“The society is committed to ensuring that justice is done and that no child is put at risk through the behaviour of our members,’’ it added.
The Irish Mail on Sunday featured an interview with Dolores Atwood, who said that the abuse began when she was 14 years old and a patient in a hospital at Warri, Nigeria, in April 1983.
She alleged the archbishop continued to have a sexual relationship with her as recently as 2003.
Ms Atwood, who now lives in Nova Scotia, Canada, said she believed she was “manipulated and controlled’’ as a teenager.
She said she eventually confessed the relationship to her husband because she was wracked with guilt. She wrote to the Vatican and the society reporting the allegations.
Ms Atwood said she had provided phone recordings, letters and airline tickets to Church authorities as proof of their relationship.
Irish Independent:
Archbishop accused of abusing 14-year-old girl: Damages Ireland's Catholic ImageBy John Cooney Religion Correspondent
Monday October 26 2009
THE Irish Church's standing in Rome has been dealt a further damaging blow with a high-level Vatican investigation into a complaint of child sexual abuse against a Tipperary-born archbishop.
This is the first instance of an official charge of clerical child molestation being made against an archbishop of Irish nationality, and it comes as the Irish Church is preparing "for the worst" with publication of the Murphy report on abuse in the Archdiocese of Dublin.
It was learned yesterday that Richard Burke, the 60-year-old Archbishop of Benin, a city in southern Nigeria, stepped aside earlier this year pending the outcome of an ecclesiastical trial by the Vatican's doctrinal watchdog body, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
The Kiltegan missionary archbishop from Fethard, Co Tipperary, who is believed to be in the United States, has not commented on the allegation.
He is accused by Dolores Atwood, a 40-year-old married woman now living in Canada, of sexually abusing her when she was a minor, aged 14, and ill in a Nigerian hospital that he visited as a priest.
She also alleges that she suffered "emotional torture" during a 20-year secret affair that he conducted with her contrary to his vow of celibacy.
Last night, St Patrick's Missionary Society in Kiltegan, Co Wicklow, also known as the Kiltegan Fathers, revealed it received a complaint from a 40-year-old woman against Archbishop Burke on December 16 last.
"We expressed the deep sorrow and regret of the society for the suffering the complainant and her family are going through and we affirmed the society's commitment to child protection," a statement said.
"We assured her that the society's child protection policy and procedures would be adhered to. The society offered to provide counselling for the complainant."
The statement confirmed that the society had complied with a request from the Doctrinal Congregation to send to Rome all relevant documents relating to the allegation so that Rome could exercise full jurisdiction.
"Although a member of St Patrick's Missionary Society, Archbishop Burke ceased to be under the jurisdiction of the society when he became a bishop and is now under the direct jurisdiction of the Holy See," the Kiltegan Fathers said.
It was the late Pope John Paul II who consecrated Richard Burke Bishop of the Nigerian diocese of Warri in March 1997, and in December 2007 Pope Benedict XVI promoted him to Archbishop of Benin City.
According to Monsignor Charles Scicluna, a senior advocate for the congregation, the Pope has been informed of the charges against Archbishop Burke, who will be called to Rome for interrogation before it completes its investigations under oath of confidentiality.
Disclosures
If the congregation upholds the complaint, Archbishop Burke will face permanent removal from his duties as archbishop.
But Vatican officials fear that the detailed disclosures made by Ms Atwood in a Sunday newspaper undermine his chances of a fair hearing.
Pope Benedict XVI told the Irish bishops shortly after the publication of the report into the diocese of Ferns to get to the roots of the clerical child abuse scandals.
Earlier this year the Pope also expressed his anguish at the systematic abuses contained in the Ryan report on child institutions run by religious orders.
Last February, the pontiff ordered the removal of former papal secretary, Bishop John Magee, from jurisdiction of the diocese of Cloyne pending a government investigation into his failure to enforce child protection procedures.
The Burke case is the latest sexual scandal to rock the Irish Church going back to 1992 when Bishop of Galway Eamon Casey resigned after having a son with American divorcee, Annie Murphy.
In 2002 Bishop Brendan Comiskey resigned from the diocese of Ferns over his failures in handling paedophile priests such as the late Fr Sean Fortune.
- John Cooney Religion Correspondent
Irish Independent
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Catholic Report:
Reader Comments
On Tuesday, June 23, 2009 at 07:10 am, Dolores Atwood writes:
I am writing this note concerning the past and present conducts of ArchBishop Richard Burke S.P.S of the Arch Dioceses of Warri and Benin in Nigeria a Irish citizen. I am a 41-year-old woman who has been living in Canada since 1995 with my husband and 3 children. In 1982 as a young girl from a Muslim home I began my journey into the Catholic faith and first met Father Richard Burke a Catholic priest at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Warri Nigeria. In 1983 when I was 14 years old, I became the victim of (what I now know to be) a sexual assault. When I was 14, I was sick in the hospital with a fever and Father Burke came to visit me. When he and I were alone in my hospital room, he touched and kissed me in a very inappropriate manner. During my teenage years, I suffered through the divorce of my parents, Richard Burke was there for me and the relationship between myself and he intensified. I became so attached to Richard Burke, that there seemed to be no one else that could be a part of my life, even though I knew that he was having relations with other young Nigerian girls. During the past 25 years I did not tell anyone of our relationship, because he told me not to talk about it to anyone no matter what and also fear of the negative impacts on him and the Catholic Church. Richard Burke left Nigeria in 1989 when he was sent to New Jersey in the USA and then back to Ireland with St. Patrick’s Society. In 1993 I met my husband, who was a Canadian volunteer working in Nigeria, while I was studying at University. My husband and I were married in 1995 in Canada and have had 3 children together. From 1989 to 1995 Father Burke and I continued communications by letters. When I told him that I was planning to get married in 1994, he became upset with me and told me that I should never tell anyone about the relationship between himself and I. Richard Burke returned to Nigeria in 1996 as Bishop of Warri Diocese. From 1996 to 1998, my husband and I left Canada and worked in Thailand. In 1998 Bishop Burke and I began regular communications by phone again. In 2000 while I was expecting my second child, Bishop Burke said that he would help get my youngest sister to come to Canada for a visit. I suspected that there was something not right when things did not work out and Bishop Burke began to take a keen interest in my youngest sisters well being. Once again, our relationship intensified with frequent amorous telephone conversations. In 2005 I found out that Bishop Burke had had a sexual relationship with my youngest sister. The “friendship” between Bishop Burke and myself began to deteriorate as, once again, I started to become aware of other young girls that he was molesting. In fact, I suspect that Richard Burke has molested or sexually abused hundreds of young Nigerian girls during his time as a priest and Bishop in Nigeria. I also know that he has taped past conversations that I have had with him and have told others, including his family in Ireland as well as my husband that I am obsessed with him in order to discredit me and make me appear to be crazy. Over a year ago, following a major dispute between myself and Bishop Burke, I confessed to my husband that I had had an intimate relationship with Bishop Burke. This was the first time that I had ever told anyone of this affair. Since my confession, my husband and I have gone to marriage counseling and I have taken private counseling to deal with the stress, trauma and confusion that I have had to deal with over the past 26 years. Following my counseling sessions, I have learned that a man that I though had loved and cared for me has in fact manipulated and controlled me. I know that Richard Burke is self-serving and that he does not serve the Church. In fact the Church serves Richard Burke by providing him access to the young girls that look up to him and then become his victims of unwanted sexual advances. I believe now, that Richard Burke is a pedophile I have been corresponding with St. Patrick\\\'s Society since 2007 about this and have shared with them taped conversations that I had with Richard Burke in the past where he admits to having inapproprite sexual relations with young girls, married women, religious sisters and prostitutes. I have saved notes letters and emails that Richard Burke had sent me in the past, which I have shared with those of St. Patrick\\\'s that are \\\"investigating\\\" him. I know that Richard Burke was sent for an assessment at St. Luke\\\'s in Manchester in March of this year, and that Richard Burke is continuing with his public ministry in Nigeria and is having access to young girls in Nigeria. I do not beleive that St. Patrick\\\'s Society in Kiltegan County Wicklow, Ireland has taken my complaints seriously. I do not trust them, and believe that they are trying to help Richard Burke escape prosecution and justice for the crimes he has committed.
On Friday, August 14, 2009 at 05:01 pm, Johnson writes:
i know the archbishop personally and it is indeed very sad to see a thing like this. i do not fully know but i doubt most of the exaggerations in the text. The Lord's will be done.
On Saturday, August 15, 2009 at 07:51 am, writes:
Is n't this a lie against a man who has been working in Nigeria for so many years assisting the poor people of Nigeria. Arch-Bishop Burke is a God fearing man,he is humble and have great interest in the Poor. I am not a close person to the arch -Bishop, but I believe God will vindicate him in this serious allegation. Can this writer tell us her trauma, what is pushing her now to bring up this allegation against a man of God. I wish Arch-Bishop Burke God's protection and guidance at this critical time. I believe, time will tell. have faith in God.
On Saturday, August 15, 2009 at 08:02 am, Christy. writes:
The Arch-Bishop that I know talk less, he is hardworking and love the Poor. he is commited to his ministry as a Priest of God. What is the problem with the young lady, I hope she knows that she is dealing with God. I do not believe a word of her accusation. We pray God to intervene and put the devil to shame. Darkness has no power over the Light. God bless you Bishop Richard Burke.
On Tuesday, August 18, 2009 at 02:09 pm, Vicky writes:
Archbishop Burke is a man of God. I hope this young woman is not being used by those who are seeking power of position. This is very malicious of a married woman. Is she not happily married. What is she looking for. Anyway God sees everything, but I do not believe what she is saying about the gentle man of God.
On Wednesday, September 02, 2009 at 06:52 am, Paul. writes:
Everyone who reasons without biase would know this is a set up. My people do say thet the trap set for an Elephant may trap Him but cannot pull him down, nor stop him from going to where he planned to go. God had never deserted his people. This would not be a diffrent case. It is just time becase God is aware. I pray for the Man Of God without fear that God is on his side.
On Friday, September 11, 2009 at 08:17 pm, Nneka writes:
Be strong His Grace, and may God strenghten you through this trial. Continue to be the humble, God fearing person that we know you to be in Warri. May the Lord heal Dolores of her pains too whatever the source.
On Tuesday, September 15, 2009 at 03:13 am, Nicholas writes:
Evil, evil, evil. it is self evident that this writer is an agent of satan. how can you write such malicious statement against a holy man of God. you claim that that "Richard Burke has molested or sexually abused hundreds of young Nigerian girls during his time as a priest and Bishop in Nigeria" state your case and bring your proofs. Hell awaits your soul for what you have done but more torments awaits those who prompted you to do this. You have sinned against Charity and God who is love shall cast his wrath upon you and your household.
On Friday, September 18, 2009 at 07:59 am, Okanatoto tega writes:
My lord i have always known you to be a humble and gentle man of God.and that you will continue to be for all of us in warri diocese.we will always continue to rmber you in our prayers in this trying period of yours.but for those who are behind this act,like JESUS,we will still say and tell them,FORGIVE THEM FATHER FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY ARE DOING.
On Saturday, September 19, 2009 at 12:35 pm, Rose writes:
A simple analysis fro9m a new non-biases d mind can tell that this story above is clearly motivated. But for God\"s sake no matter your motives, consider the life long implications for this simple man while you may just be trying to achieve your aim. If its about money like many made in the U.S.A. a while ago, then trust me, it will not work.
On Saturday, September 19, 2009 at 12:41 pm, Olukunle writes:
Ha!!! fear God! the way i see it, you must have a nature of trying your hands on white people before you finaly got one as husband.
On Saturday, September 19, 2009 at 12:44 pm, writes:
please my dear lady even if this were true, is this internet thing the next thing for you. This is seriously on African. what has become of your African ways
On Saturday, September 19, 2009 at 12:51 pm, Anthonia writes:
If this is true, dont worry. But if not, just find your way back to this same forum to undo the wrong you may have done to this Man that we all know so well. Let God and your conscience guide you. But I still feel this forum was not your next choice. very bad.
On Saturday, September 19, 2009 at 12:55 pm, writes:
since you published this article, why has other so called "hundreds of Nigerian girls" not written to say they testify to your claims with their personal experience of the Bishop. as someone observed in a comment earlier on this page, in case its not true, please redress it and in good time. God knows it all.
On Monday, September 21, 2009 at 10:36 am, Daniel Kevwe writes:
His Grace, be Strongand stand firm has been our Lord\'s encouragement.However, Istronglybelieve that that one doing this is not far from the household of God.God knows and sees all things, He ll vindicate youlike Sussanaand the three men in the book of Daniel.The truth llalways cometolight,keepon standing forthe truth.Stay wellmy His Grace
On Saturday, September 26, 2009 at 06:51 pm, Ferdinand writes:
Can you come out with the names and contacts of other girls that you cliam that he molested? This lady, let me give you this christian advice, go before the holy alter of God and pray for bishop Burk and pray for forgiveness of your sins. Am sure somebody must have offered you something to do this, remember God is still there, be careful what you say about men of God.
On Saturday, October 10, 2009 at 10:44 am, helen , warri. writes:
You all are sick people ,that is why africa is were it is today. these many also touched my breaset at age of 17. it is veru said that you all because of the food and money he has ggiven you all. paul wre you not the one richard promise to send to further you studyies in london. how well do you all know this man, that you all say all this. which nigeria girl will want to come out to go through this. SHME ON YOU ARCH BISHOP RICHARD BURKE. May the good lord jurge you.
On Saturday, October 10, 2009 at 10:57 am, Rose, Port harcourt. writes:
I find it difficult to call you bishop. You hurt this lady,confess and admit it. i konw somebody who know this lady in question,.She has a reputation for being a honest person,thant is all that I have been hearing. Some of you sound as if you were asked by richrd burke to do this and I will not be sueprise that one of his girkfriends is among. This lady is doing the church a great help.the book of ephesians chapt5:10-18.read it. Our prays are with you miss Dolores.
On Saturday, October 10, 2009 at 11:22 am, Gina, canada writes:
Thanks Rose and Helen, There is a saying that the truth have a way of coming out.The church is so rioting and corrupt. I believe this poor lady. Richard burke will not end with her, he will continue.
On Saturday, October 10, 2009 at 02:15 pm, joel angelo writes:
I\'m truely amazed at you all! Truely! I have heard times without number the saying that behind every rumor,there\'s an element of truth.why would a married woman confessed to this?have you ask yourselves that question?what makes you think richard burke will be innocent?what if he\'s a wolf in sheep clothing? what if his silent and calm nature is a deceptive one?what if he took advantage of your life styles as nigerians? you all should have a second thought.what if she\'s correct?i can bet you,no woman will love to know a man that had an affair with heir had also had an affair with her younger sister.what she kept as secret for 26yrs has come back to hunt her.she should have expose him then! those who think they are benefiting from him now,that are covering him or refuse to investigate for the truth,just as it came hunting her after 26yrs,it will definately come back at them because what goes around comes around!ferdinand,if this lady happen to be telling the truth and your sister is a victim and she refuse to tell the truth,how will you feel? Daniel kevwe,you are right.God sees all things! why don\'t you just let Him be the Judge? Other so called girls in nigeria can\'t come out.how many knows this is on the net?how many can access the net?what about the shame and stigma that kept this lady for 26yrs?what about the hungry life styles of this girls that makes them vulnerable? have you ever try to see the evidence of this lady?have you ever beleived that the devil was once an angel of light sitting right next to God?Anthonia you are right but someone has to stop this man.don\'t know how old how you but your sister,your cousin,your relatives even your daughter may be the next victims.i don\'t trust any of this priest anymore for all the things i have seen about them makes me never want to searve God cos i sometimes think that God is just sitting up there allowing these crazy people to have their way.(God forgive me if i\'m wrong!)Olakunle please tell the bishop to fear GOd.Rose i feel for you cos you are a woman and i realised what you mean by motivation.okonatoto tega you should be happy that God is exposing him.Nicholas becareful what you call evil.what if you are wrong?Nneka you are right.God should heal and God should also bring justice to both parties.Paul you already projected the bishop as your messiah.is that how it should be?you sound like a benefactor.Vicky God truely blesses everything.why would she be happily married?imagine being abused or taken advantage of and same person is doing same to your yunger sister,your aunty even your mom.how would you or your dad feel?christy you are right! God should intervane.that is exactly what is happening.darkness can never overcome light!working in nigeria for so many years or you mean taking advantage of nigerians for so many years?Thank you very much johnson.it\'s you alone that makes alot of sense. God will definately judge and His judgement will begin in His house.i\'m not trying to say it\'s true but you all should consider her part of the story instead you all are busy painting the bishop as a messiah.i\'m a catholic like you all.i\'ve seen what priest and so called bishops have done in terms of politics,power,sexual immorality,mis mangement of church funds and taking advantage of the less empowered people.if i come out and say it,who will beleive me? they have all the power to cover it up,their superiors they make returns to and whom they inherited it from are ready to go at any lenght to protect him. i do like you all to know that these are all the signs of the end times.i\'m not sayingi\'m innocent or free from it but it\'s a shame it\'s coming from an arch bishop who is surpose to preach against this and who people look up to as i read in your comments as messiah or elephant as the case may be, to be the one tearing the church of God apart.if all this is true,he will have no peace as there\'s no [peace for the wicked]!
On Saturday, October 10, 2009 at 02:18 pm, susan writes:
the bishop is a green snake under tha green grass!he is absolutely guilty! thank God someone had to stand up and talk.i could'nt myself.he his a shameless bastard.i wish and hope he perishes in hell if he does'nt repent!
On Saturday, October 10, 2009 at 04:42 pm, iyabo writes:
I really commend your boldness Dolores to come out publicly with this and i really do hope that the many Nigerian girls who are still sleeping with priests for the financial advantage will have a rethink, repent and stop bcos our poverty in Nigeria is not an excuse. What is wrong is wrong.It is so unfortunate that in Nigeria young girls are molested everyday and nothing is been done. Infact we are all quick to blame the girls that it is there fault. Our culture of shame will not even allow us to give the many victims of sexual abuse a fair hearing as result of the fear of stigmatization and shame many innocent girls keep silent. I\\\'m really ashamed but at the sametime not surprised at the comments of the likes of christy,paul,johnson,olukunle and rose. Our culture allows men to get away with rape, sexual harrassment and molestation. Richard Burke i\\\'m sure knows that if these evils he has committed took place in his home country he will go to prison but he is very lucky that it happened in Nigeria where we see white men as our ticket out of poverty and escape to a better life. I do not doubt Dolores i only hope that Almighty God will intervene for her and bring this priest to justice bcos we all know that the catholic church is very notorious for covering up for their preists in cases like this. We hear it all the time on CNN and BBC.
On Saturday, October 10, 2009 at 05:57 pm, writes:
Its only a 'dunce' that would thnk "men of God" can see no evil and do no evil. In fact the very mindset betrays an ignorance that forms one of the basis of the oppression and repressions of Africans by fellow Africans and by people of other races. Africans are given to ascribing virtues to elders, peronalities and religious leaders wihtout prior proof that such an individual deserved that by their lifestyles whether in public or in private. The guys here trumpeting the virtues of a Richard Burke (i dont know him) betray the African disease of listlessly and mindlessly singing about what they do not know. we sing about people in leadership to the high heavens especially if they have been our benefactors in one way or the other. we are more concerned about ourselves rather than do things that may make the case for the common good. why are we like this? I am a pentecostal minister and i have heard and have known ministers who have not only fallen into sex sins but who also have remained perpetually involved with other women to whom they have not been married. so what makes a catholic priest different? is it because he wears white? And when will you get your proof that the priest may be guilty? when he sleeps with your mother? or with your sister or daughter? We all know that immoral sex acts are not done in public. so its always a case of your word against his.This woman says she has taped evidences of the words of this man recounting his escapades with even married women. My problem is not only with this case but with the way we africans think. this has over time become the basis of our fundamental dificulties as a race and as our diffenrent nationalities. we dont think! we have a mind but we hardly use it. Maybe if you just waited a while and think you may just by some little-tiny-whimpy chance realize that men of God are 'men' first before they are 'of God'. Just three letter words...MAN OF GOD. so he is still a man and he can be used of the devil just like other men are atimes or even at all times. The other day bill clinton claimed to have seen no evil and done no evil, but when investigations were done he came back begging for forgiveness.I believed him then and i eagerly hoped all miss Lewinsky had to say was just 'trash', because i really liked Mr Clinton (and i still do).But the end he admitted to having "an inapproriate relationship" with miss lewinsky A man inAustria camped his own daughter in the basement of his own house and made her into a sex-slave for some 16 years plus. she eventually had 4 children for by him. Abeg my brother and sister...lets start opening our minds up. Let us start using our minds. Maybe Richard Burke will still come back asking for forgiveness (that is if he ever repents) when he does Im sure it would be without prior consultation with his 'trumpeters'. And what will you then do? Please lets start using our minds and lets start knowing that in this present world...ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE....including the ones you dont want to hear!
On Saturday, October 10, 2009 at 06:00 pm, Nick writes:
the riddle is getting clearer. the wicked shall not go un punished. we are beginning the unravel the plot. the one who was looking for means to get a pound of flesh thus masterminded this report. know that the rot of God which has been upon you for your evil shall spread to members of your family for such an acusation against a holy man of God. The Archbishop has made effort in living a Holy life. your ambition failed you thus you sort a way of vengence. your phone calls to promote the news, your jubilations are well spelt out. its an unfortunate situation that your continued your evil plots to this level.
On Saturday, October 10, 2009 at 06:02 pm, Dele writes:
THE COMMENT IMMEDIATELY ABOVE WAS WRITTEN BY ME DELE FROM ABUJA, NIGERIA
On Saturday, October 10, 2009 at 06:11 pm, Dele, Abuja nigeria writes:
Mr Nick or is it Miss Nick whatever you are and whoever you are...ask Burke, "how much did this woman demand of you before making the story public"? or what do you think she stands to gain by exposing you"? you (Nick)have reduced human beings to animals. even animals have a conscience. And i want to let you know that its not everything an individual does that have some 'plot' behind it...sometimes you do things by the obligations of your conscience. Thats fundamental to human beings...i mean real human beings.
On Saturday, October 10, 2009 at 06:25 pm, Nick, Warri writes:
thank you Dele. we may say we do not know every action of a person but from evidence this man is not what was painted in the account given by this lady. let her present more facts. you cannot from abuja which is about 600 km from warri aplaud the story of this lady.
On Saturday, October 10, 2009 at 06:34 pm, writes:
if mr. Clinton admitted it is because he was guilty. should a man admit being guilty of what he has no idea of. in recent times this lady has been visited by an ambitious man who has failed in his ambition. if she says her sister was involved let her provide details so that her sister can testify. if she says hundred of nigerian girls let her state other even two will be sufficient. she said she was admitted in a hospital where the event took place, provide details of the hospital let us go and check the records if anyone like her was admitted during that period. it is so amazing the evil continues to triumph to such a tempo. are we so irritated by the presence of the rightous that we plot to kill them just the way the life of the prophet Jerimiah was threatened? this message was first published by This day news online under comment but when they scrutized it they probably thought it wise to remove it because of the incredulity of the assertions. it was then repeated hook, line and sinker here. it is definitely clear that the author has an agenda that is yer to be spelt out.
On Sunday, October 11, 2009 at 07:50 am, emmenuel from benin writes:
some of you amazed me on how you think! those of you suporting the bishop are doing so based on who he is to you and how you've known and see him.which is entirely not wrong.but pause for a while and rethink.why will a woman doing well in canada with a good family want to do a thing like this?that's because she has learnt over the years that what we see as nothing in nigeria is incredibly a cruel,wicked,damaging,stimagizing and punishable offence.the effect it has on the victims sometimes makes them unable to come out and expose him.first of all how many of our women have the proper education about abuse or being taken advantage of?those of you suporting him, what if it were your sister or mum?would you have allowed someone to provide the evidence or would you have allowed them to come out publicly expecially in front of your dad,classmates,family etc?even you would'nt want that as an african and that is the stigma and shame that is also extended to you who is not the primary victim and the advantage the bishop is taking because he knows it will be difficult for these people to come out.i just hope non of these people are your fiancees,or loved ones,then you will learn to to trust people by their looks or religous positions.i was i manservant i have seen what this priest can do to ladies.its so sad that people who they have been nice to will never want to beleive a thing like this.Nick,Dele doesn't have to be in warri before he knows.what if he was once there and he witnessed it?those of you who are closer see less than those who are far away.where you with him in agbarho or new jersey or in benin or even in ireland?how about the priest in ireland and other parts of the uk who abused 32,000 teenagers?how about the bishop in canada that was recently caught in the airport importing ponography and doing prostisution trade with people in cambodia,thailand and other developing country?this same bishop was reported 20yrs ago when he was still a priest and nobody did anything about it.they even went as far as to make him a bishop.now what goes around comes around.God is just exposing them and no one can stop God.hide the truth,bend the truth,twist the truth but it always have its way of finding itself! you all we see beyound every reasonable doubt that this lady is right atleast to some extent and you shall know that the Lord alone is the only true and righteous Judge! this bad priest are stigmatizing the good ones.when they try to oppose them,they'll be tyransfered to remote area and be threatened.giving bad names to the church of God.what a shame!
On Monday, October 12, 2009 at 07:44 am, writes:
@Nick...I may be 600kilometers from Warri, but its so easy for me to applaud the story of this lady BECAUSE I HAVE HEARD THE RECORDED TAPES WHERE BISHOP BURKE ADMITTED TO THESE OFFENCES AND APOLOGISED TO HER PROFUSELY ABOUT THESE CRIMES. The sad thing is you havent heard these tapes yourself. Really it would have been just ok if he had apologised all the way, but to apologise to her and then deny all of these to other people is intolerable!
On Monday, October 12, 2009 at 08:02 am, Ifeoma, Ibadan writes:
Dolores, I do not know what you stand to gain by this publication, remember Jesus words "Touch not my annointed and do my prophet no harm " Do have a re-think, may God forgive you!!!
On Monday, October 12, 2009 at 12:44 pm, writes:
Dear ifeoma,since you decided to go with the bible,so be it. The book of Ephentian chapter 5 ,verse 10 to 14 says "Try to learn what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the worthless things that people do, things that belong to the darkness. Instead ,bring them out to the light.{it is really too shameful even to talk about the things they do in secret.} And when all things are brought out to the light,then their true nature is clearly revealed; for anything that is clearly revealed becomes light. That is why it is said ,"wake up sleeper,and rise from death and christ will shine on you." Someone have said they have listen to the tapes and I too have done the same. it is very said and depressing for me to know that archbishop richard burke have done and commited such a crime and not resign. What can of a gospel is he preaching? Africa is going to be the next place that God is going to face with this sex abuse by priest. Ifeoma, God himself said "my judgement will began in my own house" Touch not my anionted is for good chilren of God. archbishop richard burke cannot be anointed and at the same time sextually involve with vonurable young girls who hardly can eat once a day. that contradict the word or God. We all have to be careful what we say. This lady have done what most of us can not do. May the good lord bless her. Everone is normal, until you get to know them. It is a sad day for the church. Dolores ,you did a good job coming out to expose this shameleess Richard Burke. I hope they dont send him back to nigeria. Even lied to his fellow prisrt that he is going for treatment. he is also a lier. wolf in sheep clothing.
On Monday, October 12, 2009 at 02:17 pm, writes:
"In Gemany they came first for the communists and I didnt speak up,because i wasnt a communist. Then they came for the Jews and I didnt speak up,because I wasnt a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionist and I didnt speak up,because i wasnt a trade unionist. Then they came for the protestants and I didnt speak up,because I am a catholic. Then they came for me and by that time ,no one was left to speak up." Do you have to be abuse first for you to belief that ARCHBISHOP RICHARD BURKE , AN IRISH, ABUSE THIS LADY?
On Monday, October 12, 2009 at 04:46 pm, Lynda writes:
What did our Lord Jesus Christ say to the Pharisees who wanted to stone the adulterous woman, He said he who is without sin should be the first to cast the stone at her, they all dropped their stones and walked away. We all are sinners before God, and none is free, so whatever anyone has done, he or she does not deserve a public condemnation, but we need to pray that the grace of God may abound in all of us to enable do His will always. May the name of the Lord be praised both now and forever more. Amen.
On Tuesday, October 13, 2009 at 02:18 pm, Eddy, Warri writes:
Thanks Mr. Emmanuel from Benin. its an unfortunate thing that all effort mounted to prevent him from assuming the seat of the archbishop ofBenin proved abortive but resulting to such a step ... is more unfortunate for Benin. it is beyond being malicious.
On Tuesday, October 13, 2009 at 02:31 pm, Odiri writes:
Emmanuel well done for your comment. You have reasoned finely. But it is clear from your opening statement that you are yet to proceed beyond the boundaries of Edo state. I even wonder if you have moved as much as ekpoma or maybe you stopped at Ehor thinking you have entered ishan. You think paupers are not in canada? hic ... find out the reson many people who travel abroad refuse to return home for even a visit after 10 years. some cant afford a ticket, others have nothing to show for wasted time while their mates who endured the difficulties of the system here have either cars or houses as a reward. fame is a desire of many abroad. it makes them feel like celebrities. Dont be suprise, there is a lot the woman tends to gain from all this. Nick, I appreciate your comment.
On Wednesday, October 14, 2009 at 08:14 am, Joseph, Warri. writes:
I have personally met a lady who has confided in me on this kind of issue about this same bishop. I will speak with her again and make her understand she must come out to talk. I am amazed at people when they speak as if it is impossible for this kind of act to happen. We have seen in the news before where people have to defend men of God for acts like this only for such men of God coming out at the end to admit their crime. For those who are in doubt,please i`d advise you to sit, wait and see. Don`t defend what you don`t know. I will advise the victim of this act that i know, to use this forum at the minimum to tell you her story. I am proud to be a catholic but i am ashamed of acts like this. Dolores,i dont know you but based on the evidence that i have about a victim,i believe you. Please fight on and people like me are behind you. And if the bishop dedides to be a hardened sinner and refuse to confess and repent,we all know what will befall him,the bible is not ambiguous about it.
On Wednesday, October 14, 2009 at 12:09 pm, Oke writes:
Please those believing the story of the lady should ask themselves what is thier interest and what do they stand to gain? From the argument of those who support the woman, it is clear that is a plot because of the strength of your argueent and hatred for the archbishop. This is amazingly disappointing. How can u condemn a man you have not seen or lived with? Please stop this nonsense and face your lives. if the arcbishop is guilty, leave that to God. Dnt play God\'s role and be a judge. if he is not guitly, you should also leave it to God. Which person among those supporting this woman has not committed sin before. Pleasse use your time to pray for the growth of church, insstead of being an agent of the devil destroying the church. let us mind our business and leave this matter for those who are hanling it, while we pray for the church. Please stop playing God on this matter.
On Wednesday, October 14, 2009 at 12:18 pm, JANE writes:
Thank you Oke. Let us leave this issue alone. We are fighting ourselves here over an issue that we barely know so much about. Like Oke said, we should leave this whole thing to God. Soe people are acting as if they are paid to destroy the archbishop. What are you going to profit. Some of you speak in a manner you will not even speak about your enemy. Please give some credit to the archbishop. Do not be disrespectful to him and speak in manner that is not right. A good christian will only pray at such a time like this. let us pray instead of trading words right here.
On Wednesday, October 14, 2009 at 12:19 pm, JANE writes:
Thank you Oke. Let us leave this issue alone. We are fighting ourselves here over an issue that we barely know so much about. Like Oke said, we should leave this whole thing to God. Soe people are acting as if they are paid to destroy the archbishop. What are you going to profit. Some of you speak in a manner you will not even speak about your enemy. Please give some credit to the archbishop. Do not be disrespectful to him and speak in manner that is not right. A good christian will only pray at such a time like this. let us pray instead of trading words right here.
On Saturday, October 17, 2009 at 05:34 pm, nichol, from kenya writes:
All of u are mumus,I mean fools and i mean all of u who are supporting richard burke and those against him.Judge ur lives.Face ur lives.Remember the one u did the other day,.is it bcos no body is saying it?Are ur hands clean?God knows his people
On Sunday, October 18, 2009 at 06:48 pm, johnson writes:
Things are not often as they appear. but let he who is without sin be the first to cast the stone. time, time is a sincere judge. but let those who know nothing be quiet and those who claim to have listened to a tape. let them tell us where to find it.
On Sunday, October 18, 2009 at 07:39 pm, writes:
Are you the bossman johnson? May God help you. We are trying to locate you. Open your eyes. I wish you Gods help in life.
On Sunday, October 18, 2009 at 08:49 pm, priscal,nigeria benin city writes:
i have carefully followed the aligation of Dolores Atwood and other rational contributions from different individuals from different part of the world.my contribution is going to come from a different angle.it could be true that our bishop did exactly what this woman is saying and it could never be false that he did not do it.my argument for saying the above is based on my personal experience with some priests.,89%of our priest sleep with women more than married men,so many of our young girls today are been dis-virgin by our catholic priest most especially when this young girls go to church for one spiritual activities or the others.as am writing now so many girls are in the priest rooms doing what?some who entered this sexual relationship very early find it very difficult to let go because all her want are meet.i wish to wake all young and old women who must have suffered what Dolores Atwood suffered stand up and do same,come out with facts.doing so, we are helping our priest to keep to their vows,an protecting our unborn child from such sacrilege.
On Sunday, October 18, 2009 at 09:16 pm, jude benin city writes:
your Grace,i know you must have been felling bad about this issue,well THAT is life for you.if what the woman said is true beg God for forgiveness and apologies to the lady.but if it\'s untrue,take as your cross and beg GOD to forgive her.above all advice your priests there own may be worse.
On Tuesday, October 20, 2009 at 06:37 am, Okemutie,Benin. writes:
Let everyone who reads and hears about this restrains his or herself. Only God knows the truth.Mere conjecture will not help,neither the proponents or the opponents. In all,let us not jugde,rather,we should pray for the parties involved.Even if it is true,we all should learn to temper justice with mercy afterall we are human and if you have never sinned both in private and public keep casting the stone...only God will save us all.
On Tuesday, October 20, 2009 at 06:48 am, Ogbemudia Otas,Benin City writes:
May God have mercy on us. Difficult times are bound to come.No one should support wrong doing of anykind.All should be careful while we condemn the Archbishop even before he is given the chance to defend himself.Dolores,please take things easy,you may the correct but there are other enemies of the Catholics priesthood who may want to exploit the situation.I am praying for you and the whole church whose good name will be highly injured by these varied comments.
On Tuesday, October 20, 2009 at 06:57 am, Franka writes:
What is you people's argurement? If actually the archbishop is guilty, did he commit the sin alone? so why should he appologise to a lady that is an ingrate, after she has enjoyed all the goodies associated with being close to an archbishop, she can now open her mouth wide to talk against the archbishop. I have no doubt that it was through the connection of the archbishop that she met her Canadian husband - what an ingrate!!! What is our christian life all about if not for prayer, forgiveness and reconcilliation - I think it is high time we stopped all comments on this same issue, it is not glorifying God.
On Tuesday, October 20, 2009 at 07:06 am, Abigail,NY writes:
An awesome tail,isnt it? This is a funny shit.Its no good to blackmail the entire church.I am some sure there are still good pastors all over the world.It happens here quite often and people get huge pay packets.Guys pray for your priests,they are in real danger men.I am no priest,I don even go to church but this whole shit is worrysome you know.
On Tuesday, October 20, 2009 at 08:39 am, ONOME,WARRI. writes:
Franka! I am sure if you have the opportunity to sleep with the "BISHOP" for the so called gooooodies,you will. It is clear from your statement. I am sorry for you. Anyway,if Dolores got her connection through the "BISHOP",please kindly look for one bishop in your area for your own connection. I am ashamed of your comment...
On Thursday, October 22, 2009 at 06:11 am, IrishCanonlawyerPriester writes:
This is in deed sad. But no one should doubt these events. If anyone has been following events the news in Ireland the church is paying dearly now for past abuses in children homes, for emotional and physical abuse. News, of the Paraguay bishop, now President of that country who impregnated a young woman, and whom he began to sleep with as minor, the case of archbishop Pius Ncube of Bulawayo, and rumours regarding the unsuccessful sexual harrassment and intended molestation of a Nigerian nun, Paschaline Aligweke by a former Bishop of Okigwe; and including known rumours related to the current archbishop of Nigeria, Abuja, John Onaiyekan and Nigerian nuns must all give us goose bumps but not to deny these stories. Let Burke resign. Let him come out to disprove this woman. This woman a moslem convert, has so much personal details of this man that the burden is now more on Bishop Burke to disprove these allegations. What if this woman's sister comes out publicly? People think. Yes, the church is of God, but it is human beings made of flesh and blood that are in it. People do make mistakes. If married people with one wife cannot stay with their one wife and look around, we know how hard it can be for a priest without one. Yes, there are some cold days too and we all feel this. But the issue is that this kind of pattern of exploitation must be investigated. If the St. Patrick's fathers have any shame at all, they must conduct a transparent investigation and notify the Vatican immediately about what they are hearing. My hunch is that since this is a third world country, where the legal system is not well developed to accomodate those needs, they would play some games. But I bet given that this woman is now located in Canada, if she is able to prove her case beyond any reasonable doubt, the Bishop Burke, should be angling for trouble. More so, the woman should contact the diocese in New Jersey where Burke worked to see if there is any pattern there too, once a U.S. link can evolve then they can do a class action case or individual case, with one acting as witnesses. These allegations if credible would truly incriminate the Bishop Burke. I know a lot of Irish priests and bishops have women here, and some old missionaries transported this to Nigeria it seems. Remember the 1992 case of the former bishop of Galway, fathering a child with an American woman?
On Thursday, October 22, 2009 at 06:38 am, IrishCanonlawyerPriester writes:
I posted one above. However, following a quick web research on Dolores Atwoods, I found the following opinion that she wrote when Archbishop Milingo married in 2001. In a BBC June 11, 2001-"should Catholic Priests Marry?" Dolores, stated this- [Nobody is forced to be a priest. Anyone who is a priest, knows the rules before becoming one, that is why we have other churches. If you like to be a married minister, you can choose from the many other good churches out there. It doesn't have be the Catholic Church, it's all a matter of choice. Not everyone is called to marry. Is anything wrong if we have some few people in this world who want to dedicate their lives to the service of GOD? Those who choose to marry should do so like me, and those who choose to be a priest should remain so. Dolores Atwood, Nigerian living in Canada ] I wonder, how someone could write that favourable statement, and now turn around to go after another archbishop who may or may not have had an affairs. I am trying to put the legal puzzles together and see whether this make any sense. Dolores, if you still signed on please reply. YOur credibility is on the line, and should this go legally on-line your entire history would be somewhat put on display.
On Thursday, October 22, 2009 at 06:57 am, IrishCanonlawyerPriester writes:
If this is the same Dolores Atwood, she seems enterprising. But I wonder why it took her this long to come out- when in fact, she kept talking to the archbishop. Was her needs not met financially? was she in danger of divorce? was she in financial crises? In spite of all, she continued to be actively involved in her church, serving as lector and all that. I wonder whether this is typical of those abused? Is this a case of jealousy, thinking that the archbishop who is fond of her, is now closer also to her sister? was the archbishop been a good friend continuing to support her, and in her marriage? If the intention is not evil why did she make those tapes- in many places in North America, except for the government, tapes made without disclosure/consent of the other party are not tenable in court. Is this a publicity stunt? Delores needs to clear this questions for the sake of her integrity, especially as one who is interested in politics. I do hope that this is not all targeted toward making her promote her politics using church/priests' sex abuse as a scaffold to a brighter career? My job here is to ensure there is integrity and not just some dummy ass accusations against an innocent clergy, though the Catholic Church as I alerted prior has gotten lots of bad press.
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Atwood, Dolores CANDIDATE DETAILS Affiliation Liberal Name Dolores Atwood Address Yarmouth, Nova Scotia , Canada Email None Website None Born Unknown Died Still Living (2009 years) Contributor John Hodgman Last Modifed John Hodgman Jun 04, 2006 09:49am Tags Info Dolores Atwood is a very active, vocal and hard working community leader with a strong commitment in seeing Yarmouth grow. Since coming to Yarmouth in 1999, Dolores has served the community by sitting on the Town & Municipal Joint Heritage and Yarmouth Municipal Planning Advisory Committees. She has served as the President of the Business and Professional Women’s Club of Yarmouth and Nova Scotia and is actively involved with the local Women in Business initiative. She sits on the Board of Directors for the Yarmouth Arts Regional Center (Th’ YARC) and has joined the newly formed Immigration Initiatives Committee. Dolores is involved within the Church and serves as a lector at St. Ambrose Catholic Church. She has taught Sunday school at Our Lady Queen of Peace, Brooklyn and in the past has taught Catechism and Religious studies. Dolores is also active with the “After Five Club”, a non-denominational group that meet monthly. She was born in Ondo State Nigeria in 1969. She studied a bachelor in International Relations at Oba Femi Awolowo Federal University (OAU) from 1989 to 1993 and was the Vice President of the International Relations Student Association at OAU. She Immigrated to Canada in 1995 and married her husband Chris Atwood. From 1996 to 1998, Dolores was employed with the Government of Thailand as a community development coordinator. While in this position, she played a leading role in obtaining domestic and international funds to assist in the establishment of a Childcare Development Center in the Province of Phrae. After returning to Canada in 1998, Dolores served as the Nova Scotia representative on the CUSO (Canadian University Services Overseas) Atlantic Council. Dolores is a mother of 3 school age children and has worked as a teacher’s aid at the Port Maitland Elementary School. She has been a Board member of Parents Place and is presently involved with the Meadow Fields Home and School Association. In 2004 Dolores’ concerns over the challenges and issues facing local schools prompted her to run for a position on the Tri-County School Board. During this close race, Dolores had the opportunity to talk to many people living in the Municipality of Yarmouth and to discuss the challenges that are being faced not only in Education but also in regards to Health and Economic growth. Dolores believes that Yarmouth’s strength is its people and their resilience and determination to progress. Dolores has proven her commitment and desire to work and serve her community of Yarmouth and has shown, time and time again, the leadership and vision that Yarmouth needs to progress
On Friday, October 23, 2009 at 02:31 pm, Nick writes:
Thank you very much, irishcanonlawyerpriester! it's clear there are many things yet unspoken in this whole case. Archbishop Burke had no problem until he got to a land where he was not welcomed. benin wanted their son ( indigene ) to become the archbishop and seat on the throne. It appears that it is this hatred that is further spearheaded and has been hatched in this case. From warri, it is clear that the archbishop is a holy man of God. both catholics and non-catholics as well as christians and non-christians testify to this. may God protect his servants from the plans of the evil one.
On Friday, October 23, 2009 at 03:32 pm, paul writes:
It is very sad to hear that another priest from ireland is pretending to be aan irishcanonlawyer to cause more pain to the christian community. If this man has coomitted this crime in ireland , he will be in prison by now. Why will a pretend priest say he is a irishcanonlawyer who do exatly the same thing as his friend richard burke go and search on this lady as if she is the one who abuse children? ARCHBISHOP RICARD BURKE commit a crime and you are going after the victim? SHAME ON YOU.
On Friday, October 23, 2009 at 03:34 pm, helen writes:
Irishcanonlawyer my foot and SHAME ON YOU AND RICHARD BURKE,both of you are child abusers.
On Friday, October 23, 2009 at 03:49 pm, Abidal writes:
Personally, I did contacted this lady,because I wanted to know the truth. I first wrote in this forum, and I was among those who critised her, But from all I have been hearing out there that is a devoted catholic that have brought convert to the church, that included her moslim family, and again what surprises me again from what I heard, that she is a very honest and compationate person, so I decided to make contant with her and hear her own story and the tapes she hear. She was indeed what they say she is. Very frank and straight forward. I asked her about the tapes. She said wait a minete and returned back with it and I listen to it. My jaw drop. Dele was right when he wrote from above that he hadf heard the takes. I felt bad ,because of all that I have said about this lady. may God forgive me . I thought the bishop was innocent, in fact we all own this lady an apology. Why should a lady who is happy married and doing very well want lie. She is telling the truth. Archbishop richard burke. you have wrong this lay ,,please resign and get help. You have missled us all. I am a proud catholic, but I am ashame end of you abuse and how you have divided our church. I am very soory miss dolores Atwood. Please keep up the fight.
On Friday, October 23, 2009 at 05:46 pm, irishcanonlawyerpriester writes:
Some of you herein are just have small minds. In my first post, I have made the point that this abuse is intolerable and sympathized with Dolores Atwoods. I do not know what it is and how it works in the courts in Nigeria, but in the west, the personality, character, outward and gestured demeanours and other personal aspects are focused and scrutinized to provide a clear picture of the parties, offer the jury and opportunity to contemplate upon the crime to reach a definitive decision. The law must scrutinize both parties decisively and thorougly. My point in researching Dolores is to point out that she is real. Her achievements speak for her. However, she has not made a clear case beyond using the tools of the internet to vilify archbishop Burke. Here are my reasons. Dolores feels strongly about the Catholic priesthood and their celibacy. At the time she was writing (2001), she felt she was already violated and still was a strong advocate for a celibate priesthood. She continues to be active in her Catholic faith, which is laudable, in spite of the acclaimed abuses she had experienced, without feeling betrayed and hurt. The criminal justice system does work in looking at the whole picture. Allegations are easy to make. Motives can be everything and this is what in litigation every sound lawyers would be driving at. That, in fact, does not exonerate archbishop Burke, my country man and fellow priest. It only states that the structure of the legal system may not work to Dolores advantages. Both Dolores and Archbishop Burke have all erred enormously, in ways that legally complexify the so-called crimes. Lets take a peep into the reason. First, for Dolores. Dolores, even after she got married was still infactuated with the archbishop in a long distance relationship. She seemed to have continued the relationship from day, and thereafter, knowing as she alleged that this man was having affairs with other women. The simple legal test is: why did she choose to remain in the relationship, and for that long? Why was this relationship with an abuser not feel damaging. For archbishop Burke, here is his fault. Even, if she truly cared for this woman and her ordeals, he should have stopped conversing with her, and put an instant stop to the relationship; more so knowing that she was already married and with children. Further, he had no business, if Dolores facts are correct of continuing to discuss with her husband. They were already dealing with a lot, and he was still not leaving the scene. Now, I do not know how Nigerians see issues but here are my opinions. Most Nigerians are very narrow minded in their selected preferences and biases. Those who decry archbishop Burke and siding with Dolores, and those pro-Burke and anti-Dolores. Most are not ready to scrutinize this issue thoroughly. Most are hearing just one version and they are ready to take side. That is not how the criminal justice system work, especially the English Common Law that I suppose frame most of Nigerian legal practices and systems. More fundamentally, there are legal issues here too of whether, even if Delores is credible, the statutes of limitations have expired in this case. Further, what legal jurisdiction does she intend to utilize, Nigerian, Canadian, Irish, Roman, and what kind criminal, civic, canon law? It is not a straight answer here. My hunch is that Dolores would be unable to legally outwit the archbishop given some of these topical and complex problems. In Nigeria, the scene where the supposed crime(s) occurred, even if the statute of limitation has not expired,my impression is that it would be difficult to win due to the institutional constraints, Nigerians religiosity, the trauma of isolation and shame (cultural factors in that society) etc. It would also be long as Nigerian judicial systems are often clogged and takes long number of years to adjudicate on pending cases. I do not think that if no crime is committed in either Canada or Ireland (Burke's country of origin), that she can sue there. Her most viable option is that if she contacts the diocese where Burke worked in New Jersey and someone surface, she can acting as that person witness, and in the event that person win her case, use that to her legal advantage. Even this is doubtful given that she is not an American resident. I know how painful abuses are, and scrippling and damaging. But to also be fair to archbishop Burke, could it be stated that following immigration, and under the direct influence of some fake psychologists, they induced Delores to recall memories that lead to such framing, and without basis? This do happen at times, and of course many families have been damaged as a result of psychologists' insinuations that are not true in reality but rather induced. But again, is Dolores mad because her sister was also close to Burke, is this a case of sibling jealousy and rivalry, and fight for relevance, benefits and accruing privileges? Does she feel sidelined and despised? Fundamentally, where is Dolores sister, is she on her side? Is she talking? Is she ready to take the stand in a legal tussle against Burke and in favour of her sister? Dolores story would be more credible if more people come out and are able to prove beyond all means and reasonable doubt that Burke also violated them. All of these beg for thorough understanding and scrutiny. Having done an attempt to present these issues, as Nick herein raised, there are a lot of other motives that can be at work here. The case of Warri diocese and Benin archdiocese, where there was a tussle for the bishop's office may be a motive here. Is anyone using the closeness of a disgrunted Dolores (suspecting her sister is sleeping around with her best lover) to try to supplant Burke? We may never know. But the fact that Dolores also selected to fight her fight on the internet, shows she has limited access or even valued confidence that her case would make it through the judicial system(s). It shows some desperation. More so, she was using an opinon segment of a major Catholic newspaper, such intent shows malice, including desperation. That is not far fetched. Abuse of any kind must be decried. But even as an adult, and for many years Dolores did not put herself in a good position as she was very much enthuses with Burke. Burke also acted poorly, in a way that makes me doubt the competency of his judgement as a bishop of a major archdiocese in Nigeria. Abidal issue about a woman who is happily married with kids, sound very naive? Don't married people with children have motives, poor judgements, and also low self-esteemed? Such arguments are in deed porous and devoid of critical sense as an instrumentation in pursuing legal liability. How do we even know that this woman is happily married? If she was happily married she would not be contacting a bishop, who did not want her married to her husband in the first place, as she recounts. As Irish and a Priest, I might be biased, but I have shared this facts because I believe any and all unwarranted, non-mutual abuses are demeaning and damaging. Consentual and mutual affairs, even if they are in poor tastes, happening between adults are a different matter. I have put myself against the church in pointing out against what I perceive as archbishop Burke's actions, and have even called on him to resign if these events are factual.
On Friday, October 23, 2009 at 09:01 pm, prisca writes:
You are obviously not a spiritual priest and a friend to richaid burke ,because of the way you discribed the nigerian people and that you are very insencitive of others and you just generalise,because you are not hearing or like what people are saying about richard burke. I do not believe that there is a motive behind this. I think you are trying to discourage dolores from pursuing this case. You mention about culture factor and isolation and shame, shows that richard knows and took advantage of it. Well you cannot distroy the truth.I believe that this lady is strong and I think this issue is going to be bigger than we think. Alot of people here are behind this lady and I heard that she is already have people calling her for support. She has a very good reputation, judging from those who went to school with her and well respected at her university and very smart too and you can not even find any wrong even when you search.I believe that richard burke abuse this lady at 14th. A lady who went to a forign counties and have acheive all this in a short period of time, shows she is responsible. Her life and who she is spoke of her. she loves her family and everyone knows that.By the way,a priest did something teribly wrong to my family, but we never left the church. He left eventually. Richard burke must have groom this lady , i know it is all phychological that he keep communicating with her shows that he has been afriad of this lady exposing him for a long time and manupulating her and that is why the communication ,not that she was having a sextual relationship with him.. You will be surprise how she will fight back.
On Friday, October 23, 2009 at 10:50 pm, Angela writes:
Fr patrick, I heard you were booted out of nigeria in relation to all this, and that you have a good knowledge of what richard burke was doing and you were also invoved. No more free women, driver and the warm sun weather,? now you are cold and wish you are back in nigeria. Sorr.Thank you cadinal olubummy
On Friday, October 23, 2009 at 11:51 pm, Seeker of Justice and Truth writes:
I am writing this note in response to irishcannonlawyerpriest. Though you have made some valid points, you have also been somewhat biased and skewed in your “legal” opinions and you have also made some very reckless assumptions, if you are writing your comments from a truly neutral and uninfluenced position. In an earlier statement you have said that “tapes made without disclosure/consent of the other party are not tenable in court”, this is not necessarily true, in fact, taped conversations are OFTEN used as evidence and are examined with the same lens as letters and other documents in criminal law. I would suggest that you hit your law books Fr. P.C.. Secondly, you make a dangerous assumption, if you are truly commenting as an observer of this blog. You have google searched Dolores Atwood and have pasted her bio and comments from a BBC site. Canada is a country of more than 30 million people, how are you sure that the info that you have inserted is that of the “Dolores Atwood” making the complaint against Richard Burke? If you do not have intimate knowledge of this, you, as a lawyer have opened yourself up to a number of serious allegations! I will base the rest of what I write on your assumptions. In your “unbiased” statement on Dolores’ faith you question how could someone who was abused remain active and involved in the Church? I know that you are playing the “devils advocate” and for those other gentle readers of this site, I would propose; There are many people who have been abused at a young age by religious people and remain actively involved in the Church and do not disclose their abuse because of the shame and guilt that they feel. It is often not until they are much older when they disclose the abuse. Some people who are abused as youngsters become abusive when they get older. Who is not to say, that Richard Burke was not abused by a Saint Augustan Brother when he was attending school and that his abusive sociopathic tendencies are not a result of this? We must also delve more seriously into the allegation of the abuse and when the abuse started. Dolores states that she was 14 years old and that her parents were separating. For a young girl this must have been traumatic. She was looking for counseling and for someone to listen to her. Richard Burke, at the same time would have been… 35 years old! Do I need to draw a picture? A 35 year old white man, who is in a position of power and a vulnerable 14 year old Nigerian girl (wake up!). Now, let us look at Dolores’ youngest sister. I will assume that she was 17 to 19 years of age when Richard molested her. We must now ask again, how old was Richard? Was he 50 to 51 years of age? The though of such an old man with young women is revolting and disgusting as well as being illegal! Now let us look at culture. I will assume once again, that irishcannonlawyerpriest you have spent some time in Nigeria and are aware of some of the cultural “faupas” of that Country. You are then probably aware that if a man were to knowingly engage in sexual relationships with two sisters (same mother/same father) that that would be considered a Nigerian CULTURAL ABOMINATION! Gentle readers, could we not assume that this may have been the tipping point that made Dolores want to come forward? Now for a moment let us return back to the “relationship” that existed between Richard Burke and Dolores Atwood in most recent times. It is obvious, if we take Dolores’ account as being credible, as St Patrick’s Missionary Society has done, that Richard Burke often used manipulation and intimidation to perpetuation the relationship. Richard Burke, would tell Dolores that “if anyone found out about the relationship, that it would be bad for him and bad for the Church” he would also state “ If your husband found out about this he will surely divorce you and take the children”. Imagine, a woman living in a foreign country, without any relatives and hearing such threats, do you not think that she would be afraid to speak out? Richard Burke has shown very little regard towards Dolores or her sister. If we look at Richard Burke’s nature and the cycle of abuse that is obviously seen in evidence submitted, we start to see signs of a serial abuser with sociopathic tendencies. I would suggest that anyone who is not familial with the signs or profile of a sociopath go to this site: http://www.mcafee.cc/Bin/sb.html . Irishcannonlawyerpriest, you have chosen to keep your identity a secret, that is your choice as it is mine. You have also chosen to play the “devils advocate” and to provide skewed “legal” opinions disguised as being objective, but clearly ignoring many of the allegations raised against the Archbishop by Dolores Atwood. As members of the Body of Christ, we have a responsibility to respect life and humanity and to ensure justice and peace for all within our Church. God’s Judgment will start in His Own House. We must look beyond our fraternities and remember our obligations to God and Jesus, or else, we are no better than the Pharisees and Sadducees of Old. Let us join to stop the abuse and heel the suffering.
On Saturday, October 24, 2009 at 04:16 pm, irishcanonlawyerpriester writes:
Seekerofjustice and truth, I appreciate this response. Somehow, I think it is Dolores voice being articulated, but that does not make a difference. In my initial post here, I did sympathized enormously with Dolores' conditions, and I asked her to seek justice, even by contacting authorities in the New Jersey diocese that Burke worked. If allegations do surface there, there is a more likely and higher possibility of Dolores having her day in court, at least if not for herself but as a witness bringing attention to a critical issue. I do definitely understand abuse and I have enjoined options that may not be attuned to the thinking of the majority of Catholics, including authorities within my own church. You put it better, here was is been done is playing the "devil's advocate" and that is what the judicial system does to arrive at the facts. Emotional and physical abuses, which additional details seekerofjustice and truth has presented that is not within the original posting herein, offers more details- though it is this that makes me think, Dolores or any of her surrogate is the one posting. But no big deal.\ Surely, I did spend sometime in Nigeria for a number of years and traveled the world. The point I made about making tapes secretly is a general norm in the United States and Canadian legal system. I was trying to weight and measure, candidly the different trajectories open to Dolores to pursue her case, while also bringing to the fore the enormous challenges, including heightened additional emotional crises that would be generated during the litigation, especially trial scenario. These processes are cruel and painstaking. That is the bare truth. No one is saying that what the archbishop did, if it is true, is appropriate. But again, human life and affairs are not that simplistic, and the legal options, are not often as easy as many people sometimes think. It is draining and time consuming, it can be humiliating and strenuous on the psyche. That is my point precisely. However, Dolores' intents would be scrutinized. More so, the way I understand the current Nigerian legal system, there is no systematic framework in place to deal with some of these allegations, at least as I know it. I would conjecture that the bulk of the allegations did happen in Nigeria, and so this is where the judicial determination would naturally have to take place, except if Dolores can prove that some of this occurred while she was in Canada, in which case, she was then an adult. Given that she continued to engage the archbishop in endearing and amorous conversations may constitute a problem for validating even if such occurred that this was not a consentual relationship. Then, the bishop's lawyers can get him to agree it was consensual, and the best alternative recourse to Dolores, would then not be a criminal option, but a civil law suit. All, I was doing is playing out these entire scenario. For Dolores, as hard as these events are, her location in the west privileges her. But her motives would always continued to be questioned and suspect, even if she is telling the truth. The structures and systems of our human society respect institutions. It is taking societies like the United States, Canada, and now Ireland many years to come to terms with events that happened many decades ago. It is not often that easy. The issue is not about the veracity here, but more about after all these allegations, denting, and public revelation, what next for both Dolores and also for Burke. In everyway, through whatever lenses and angles, it is a sad occurence, because this is no game. These actions have ramifications for the lives of the individuals involved, their present, future, and probably both physical, mental, emotional, ethical, social, and spiritual wellbeing. How they are coping is something that one would imagine is hard, in everyway. No one, not myself privileges evil, but evil in spite of all good intents or goodwill do occur in human society. We also know that in today's world, if Burke was not a priest this would hardly even draw attention. Many men, not that it is good and to be encouraged, play this game all the time. If this was done by Dolores' secondary school teacher, in Warri, this would have largely not caught on. Yet, teachers like priests, are in position of authorities and respectability. This is what compounds the problem, because if not the image of the priest, many Nigerians and expatriates do molest and harrass women all the time, pregnant them, pass on diseases to them. As a church and society, what is been called for here, is the audacity to help to foment changes, in ways that we do not unduly violate the rights of anyone, including women, whether in the church or society. Few years ago, the Irish head of the worldwide Congregation of Medical Missionaries of Mary, documented the abuse of young and vulnerable, women, especially nuns by priests and some bishops. The situation of the Zimbabwean archbishop Pius Ncube is also well-known, even though that was a consensual case, in which he denied but confronted with visual images and other facts, he came clean by accepting and apologizing to his supporters. Of course, many were livid and felt he took advantage of their loyalty. Mind you, Ncube, was someone at the time that a section of Zimbabwean society, were trying to coopt to run as that country's President to hound Mugabe out of office. We know, this things do exist. The case of the President of Paraguay, which I alluded to, in my initial posting is a case in point. He fathered a child with a woman, whom he started dating as a minor, but he did apologized and came clean. Healing comes from acceptance, humility, apology, and the attempt to make amend. Finally, as to whether the internet research proved it was the same Dolores, that was not a definitive statement either- it was a suppositional position, that expressed "if it is the same...." It was not a settled and definitive bold assertion. I do agree that they might be many Dolores Atwoods in a country of 30 million people, but the probability that it might be the same Dolores Atwood is high given that correlation of many incidental facts- described or ascribed as a Nigerian living in Canada, or an immigrant from Nigeria resident in Canada, and as one who equally happen to be Catholic. All these correlates with identities that are claimed or resembles her posted profile relative to this case. Uppermost in my mind is the healing of those who are victims and have been abused. Even more significantly is the spiritual and emotional healing of both the victims and the alleged abuser. I am sorry, both as Irish and a priest, that this even emerged at all. One thing that comes also to the fore is that most times, many people tend to think the problem of celibacy or abuse is an African problem, within a racial ranking that consider Africans somewhat as less capable of living their celibate vows in some ecclesiastical quarters. As an Irish priest and missionary, it is now time for us to own up, that we might have wrongfully presented such notion of defective priestly lifestyle to the Africans we helped evangelized, creating a dichtomy between the "normative" and the "actuality" of priestly practice. We must own up that the issue of struggling with celibacy, and even abuse, is one that is not bounded by cultural or national markers. But overall, it helps us see that the Church too is human, made up of human beings struggling to be better. The image of the church that enthrones priests as angelic, incapable of acting as other humans, sets them up for trouble. I have seen many African priests think the hell of themselves as a kind of surrogate- God, and the people rank them that way. In fact, when I was a young missionary in Nigeria and Uganda, some Africans were surprised that a priest could eat ordinary food, use the restrooms, and so excluded them by virtue of religion from the order of ordinary people. This kind of rating has its consequences in the kind of action, Dolores and her sister claim to have suffered. Finally, the entire notion of escape, and using "coyotes" or conduits for immigration; the quest for a good westernized and materialized life, subjects many young African women to the wrong people- sexual predators, international sex rings, and dubious characters. Africans must begin to see their traditional values and environment as not as sad as presupposed, because such notions also embed the seed for exploitation and ripping off young women. I am not here to be callous. I go at length to respond to this because I am saddened by it all, and I know that it is a very complex situation. I wish God's healing for all those involved; that they may know that our God can do superfluously more than we can ever imagine in bringing his peace, healing, and joys even into the most broken realities and desperate of all human situations. I look forward to Dolores and her sister's healing, while I also beg the same, especially healing, conversion of heart, even for the alleged abuser. One cannot say, that incidence such as this totally eclipse some of the good acts both for the Church, Society, and persons carried out by archbishop Burke. He might need help, for which he had never hard. It is truly at times hard to be a priest- there is a limited room for venting, debriefing, and destressing, and so, without being apologetic for archbishop Burke's actions, asking for some benevolence of heart, since we cannot except for God know the full reasons or minds of any individuals. I seek justice for acts that they are responsible, liable, and culpable, but I also think that beyond revenge, beyond revealed truths, worthwhile as they may be, justice must lead ultimately to peace. The residue of hurt, hate, violence, and revenge can be a combustive detonator whose outbursts can only boost further hates, hurts, violence, low-self-exteem, revenge, and negativity. We all have all sinned and fallen short of God's glory, but we all are also equally created in the radiance of God's love, joy, and peace. We must not allow grievance to destroy us, and that I think it is the reason St. Paul states " Be angry, and do not sin: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, Nor give place to the devil...Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and all evil speaking be put away from, and with all malice. And be kind to one anotner, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you" (Eph. 4: 26-26, 31-32). It worthwhile that Dolores had adhered to the St. Paul (Eph. 4: 25)- "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for you are members of one another."
On Saturday, October 24, 2009 at 04:59 pm, prisca. writes:
You have forgeting the book of Eph5:5:10-14. You seems to attack this lady, for you it seems personal. I suggest you phone her or send her an e-mail and asked her these questions,why you who claim to be a priest not act as one. Go and call her. But you prefer to judge her her.You have not acted wisely and you seems to be a trouble maker and not happy that she is exposing what you believe in. Richard burke is a sociopath like seeker of truth and justice put it.,Richard burke ,patrick iriskcananonlawyerpries,why dont you phone her? The fact you did not contact her before coming to this forum as you critized her tell alot about you. You mentioned that the nigerians are narrowminded people and you a broad minded irish priest is complaining to narrowminded people, what does that say about you? Even the devil can quot the bible. You are out for this lady and that is why you met your match,seeker of truth and justice. This man did very well. I hope he does not waste his time with you. What happen to Nairaland, did you corrupt them too? But you cant with the catholic Report, USA base , patrick.
On Saturday, October 24, 2009 at 08:34 pm, irishcanonlawyerpriester writes:
Prisca, You see what you want to see. You are opinionated and that is alright by me. If you think you know better, then go to the court of law. You are not helping this young woman, who seems to be exceedingly bright, but got into a situation that is not pleasant for her wellbeing and good coping. You language of vitrol is also very appalling. If you want to assist someone, you got to be honest and let them see the whole sides of the issue. Let's be frank, the jury of the internet or media cannot rectify this situation justly. Many people are hurt, and it is their pastoral wellbeing and their ability to once again ease their pains and help them be more fully human that is at stake- not just some showy concern. Every concern that is not genuine on the long run does not stand the rigorous tests of life's complexities. Insolence and verbiage solves no issue, at least not in the manner of your narrowmindedness.
On Saturday, October 24, 2009 at 09:09 pm, Seeker of Justice and Truth writes:
I need to “applaud”, my Brother in Christ, Irishcannonlawyerpriest in his ability to transform from “apt” legal advisor to “spiritual” councilor & cleric. Again, you have made many valid points. Given the current discussion, we must take what we have presented before us as stated above as fact. I must speak to the need for healing, which is the theme of Irishcannonlawyerpriest discussion. However, before we begin the journey of healing, we will need complete disclosure. Given the facts that have been presented, Richard Burke himself needs to come forward (as opposed to hiding in the Church) and confess his wrongs, not only to Dolores, who is the principal of this complaint, but to all those that have been hurt and victimized by his self-indulgences and seemingly unquenchable lust of the flesh. This includes his other victims, the parishioners of the Churches that he has served, The SPS, the Catholic Church at large, his family and in fact, the whole nation of Ireland, for which he represents when serving abroad. Given the facts that have been presented before us, we can only conclude that Richard Burke’s current situation is solely of his own making. If in 1982 when he first met Dolores and if he had done his JOB as a priest, which was to provide spiritual and emotional support and counsel, none of this would be coming out today. Irishcannonlawyerpriest is again correct, that the attention that this topic is being given is because of the rank that Archbishop Richard Burke has attained within the Church. Again, was it not Richard Burkes’ ambitious nature that brought him to his current position? It is true that this would most likely not be getting the same level of attention if the abuser had been a teacher, doctor or other professional. However, in stating that, if the abuser had been a teacher, doctor or other professional, that individual would have had their professional credentials and or licenses stripped and they themselves would have been removed from their practices immediately once the allegation was made. This would have been done long before the courts would have had an opportunity to review the facts and allegations. This leads to another very disturbing fact of this case. We know, that a written complaint was made to the Church back in March 2008, and we can only suspect that the allegations against Richard Burke were probably made verbally even earlier than that. Why then, was Richard Burke allowed to stay in Ministry and in Nigeria until July 2009? Negligence in these matters are not an excuse for the Church, given that the Church has adopted strict policies and procedures to address sexual abuse allegations. I fear that the Church’s neglect in this matter may once again cost the Church much embarrassment. This is very sad, especially when we examine the process that Dolores Atwood began. It is apparent, from the facts that we have before us, that Dolores Atwood felt that by coming forward to the Church with her complaint, that the Church would be willing and able to address this grave and serious matter. The Church, as it has done so often in the past chose to play the game known as “pass the buck” in the hopes that the situation would just go away. As I stated in my earlier comments, we, the people that represent the Body of Christ need to look beyond our fraternal obligations and return to the fundamentals of our faith, which was bought by the Blood of Christ. Instead of trying to “demonize” the victims in cases such as these, we need to embrace them, not with hollow words of “ We are sorry” but with strong actions against offenders. Let us not forget what the Catholic Church is, which is the “Universal” Church of God. It should not be up to the worldly courts of the nations to teach us morality. It should be our responsibility to teach the world a higher standard of morality through living our lives as our Savior Jesus Christ taught us. “More is expected to whom more is given”! We must not forget that our faith teaches us, that at the end of our days there is only one true court and that is the Court of The All Mighty, and His judgment of each one of us will be both true and just. Are you prepared for The Judgment?
On Saturday, October 24, 2009 at 09:33 pm, prisca writes:
You are not a very serious person, you are curnny . you intentionally came to this forum to insult this innocent lady who have done the right thing to speak out,you dont like it and that was confirmed by the seeker of justice and truth. You have a temper and I can tell from the way you write. Yourself and richard have been invoved in this seek and hide game or sick game for many years until you were inplicated yourself and you were booted out. You call yourself a priest with a bad temper. Please stay in your ireland, no body need you were narrowminded people live. you are lucky that for now ,you got away because those village girls are not knowledgeable enough to put you away,but one day you will be caught, that is why you can open your mouth without shame to say what you are saying. You just quot the bible some few time ago and now you are calling me narrowminded person,you are a shame to your st patrick congregation,you abandon priest. you are a bitter man. If ARCHBISHOP RICHARD BURKE have any shame as some as a needle eye, he will resign and if you have any shame yourself you will stop communicating in this forum patrick.
On Saturday, October 24, 2009 at 09:42 pm, prisca writes:
Are you bright,? you are not.Yes , Dolores Atwood is very bright,we all know that, and that is why richard burke was exposed. She was 14 ,richard burke was 35years, .Tell me,who should know better. She is not in a mess. How many qualify canonlawyers do you know or heard that put themselves to this low? The good priest are all behind this lady and praying for her and you are here attacking her and myself, because we are not saying what you want to hear.
On Sunday, October 25, 2009 at 09:48 am, David writes:
I ran out of reading as after ten posts the brain wash was affecting me.Thankfully the last post has come down from the clouds. I have met these type of power hungry monsters and their double act is quite amazing, mostly from show biz but quite a number of priests in mIreland.
On Sunday, October 25, 2009 at 01:42 pm, irishcanonlawyerpriester writes:
The best response to this issue has been the one that seekerofjusticeandtruth has presented. That says it all. The kind of verbiage by folks like Prisca, would only end up diminishing the significance of this behaviour, which I have counted as appalling, distateful, and had in my first posting called for certain lines of actions such as Dolores to contact the church in New Jersey to see if she could come up with some additional supportive facts, and had equivocally called for Archbishop Burke to resign. Folks like Prisca and her tribe are just so eaten up by their gut feelings, without looking at the entire facts of this matter. That does not help. Healing occurs at many level for individuals and communities. I do agree that a public confession and acceptance of responsibility is essential here. Archbishop Burke cannot continue to hide within the canopy of prestige and privilege to scuttle this. His reaction, I agree is a kind of trying to buy time, so that the passage of time would let this go into oblivion. I also agree that the St. Patrick's fathers must also respond to this serious allegations. I am afraid that being afraid of their culpability they are scare of the consequences of litigation. It is in this that I agree, that while the church is Holy, and also imperfect in its human constitution, that it must live above board and act honestly. The church must, as seekerofjusticeandtruth has stated be more than the rest of society, offering prime examples of accountability and responsibility. I must also state that we must not be gullible here too. Priests are human beings, with all the characteristics that accrue to all humans, which includes weaknesses and sinfulness. They too are struggling people who need to overcome sin in their own constitution, both personally and institutionally. The structures and systems of the church needs healing. I therefore agree too, that the Nigerian Catholic Bishop Conference, must also react to this unfolding drama, and call the shot in ensuring a transparent investigation, rather than pretend nothing is happening. As I stated in my first post, here in Ireland, like the rest of the world, principally in the United States, Australia, Austria, and elsewhere, we have had to deal increasingly with this situation, in a way that is saddening. In this vein, while I would like to gloss over Prisca, unintelligible ravings and rantings, I must state that I loved the Nigerian people, and I love the Church. Nonetheless, I would not subject issues like this to mere sentimentalism, without drawing acutely upon the various vignettes to see how best to resolve this- especially mainly for Dolores Atwood, who is a pained and allegedly violated victim. But more significantly, one has also to be concerned that while Dolores case may be germane, some fake people who hate any priest or public figure can just create hoaxes that would damage the reputation of a good public official. This would also be unfair. In today's world, the legal system is the definitive arbiter in "she-say-he-say."
On Sunday, October 25, 2009 at 03:07 pm, Irishcanonlawyerpriester writes:
This is getting more elaborately official now. It is in today's Irish Times that the Vatican is investigating this case.- Hosted by Back to Google NewsArchbishop accused of sex assault (UKPA) – 7 minutes ago An Irish archbishop is accused of sexually assaulting a teenage girl in Africa before having a 20-year affair with her, it has emerged. The Vatican is investigating a complaint made against Archbishop Richard Burke, who stepped down from his post with the Archdiocese of Benin in Nigeria earlier this year. He is one of the most senior members of the Catholic Church to be accused of assaulting a minor. Archbishop Richard Burke was a member of St Patrick's Missionary Society, based in Kiltegan, Co Wicklow. In a statement the society, also known as the Kiltegan Fathers, confirmed it received a complaint from the woman last December. "She alleged that she was sexually abused as a child by Richard Burke," it said. "We expressed the deep sorrow and regret of the society for the suffering the complainant and her family are going through and we affirmed the society's commitment to child protection. The society offered to provide counselling for the complainant." Archbishop Burke, who is from Co Tipperary, was ordained a priest 34 years ago and later worked as a missionary in Nigeria. He became an archbishop in 2008. It is alleged he sexually assaulted the victim in April 1983, when she was a 14-year-old patient in a hospital. The victim, a married 41-year-old mother of three who now lives in Canada, maintains she also had a relationship with the cleric for more than two decades. Archbishop Burke withdrew from ministry while the complaint is being investigated. Copyright © 2009 The Press Association. All rights reserved. Related articles Abuse llegations against archbishop investigated Irish Times - 20 minutes ago Archbishop accused of sex assault The Press Association - 2 hours ago Rome investigating abuse complaint RTE.ie - 5 hours ago More coverage (1) »
On Sunday, October 25, 2009 at 03:45 pm, Johnson Grant writes:
Fr patrick corcoran, what kind of a man are you? No shame? I read through your writing, all I see, is unstable person,changing his strory and views like a papper being blow around by the wind to different dirrection. You are not a good priest. I do not mean to offend you,but it is the truth. You miss lead richard burke, thinking you know it all and you are doing just that in this forum.All that prisca wrote about you is true. You are going to reap all that you had sow. You are happy to be the first one to annouced the bad news to this forun. What the man did was wrong, however ,should you be the first to annouce it? You are a trator. i just want to let you know that.
On Sunday, October 25, 2009 at 04:26 pm, irishcanonlawyerpriester writes:
It seems that Prisca and Johnson Grant and one and the same person- except for the split personality. The language and mode of writing are the same with their flawed English, punctuations, that are typically characteristic. I wonder, where the name of Fr. Patrick Corcoran comes from. You seem to be a manufacturer of identity- such an industry! Who is Fr. Patrick Corcoran? This priest did something to you, and you cannot voice, and you prefer to hide under the cloak of Dolores story, then come out and be bold like Dolores, who has shown tenacity and audacity. You also seem to read superficially, maybe less than a fourth grade student. Anyway, my friend, you are truly a unique character among humans! You surely enjoy chaos and all that make you feel relevant. Good luck, small and myopic mind- and of course not to add psycho. In that I can only hope that you seek a good psychiatrist for help.
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