Another fallen star

Sometimes it's embarrassing to be a known Catholic. People keep making "jokes" about perverted priests. Not funny, but what can one say? Today promises to be a bad day for defenders of the Faith and the Church.

It seems that Most Rev. Raymond Lahey, bishop of Antigonish (Nova Scotia, Canada), is on the lam after being charged with possessing and importing child pornography. A major wire service reported yesterday that the bishop was accused of "selling" child porn. I hope he sues for libel. Still -- and giving the bishop the benefit of the presumption of innocence -- the charges are extremely serious. And the incident makes the priesthood and the Church in general look bad. Bad in the sense of "evil".

Ironically, the charges come just weeks after the Antigonish diocese reached a $15 million settlement with people who claimed to have been abused by priests as children. Bishop Lahey said at the time that the settlement was the first step in recognizing and dealing with the alleged abuse of children.

Bishop Lahey didn't say much, at the time, about what's wrong with clerics who have immoral and illegal sexual relations with children...or women, lay or religious, or other men, lay or religious, for that matter. Apparently there are hundreds, maybe thousands, of morally disordered priests and religious still in the Church, too often still in positions where they can gratify their lusts at the expense of those whom God has placed in their care.

Please go to my post of September 11th, "The fallen stars", for an explanation and further comments. Please pray for the victims of every kind of abuse, and, in your charity, for the abusers. And please pray for the Triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, when, according to the promise of Our Lady of Fatima, these evils will end.

CORRECTION: I referred to Raymond Lahey as "bishop of Antigonish". In fact, he resigned from his post last weekend, before news of his arrest became public. He said he was quitting because he needed time for "personal renewal." But "Mr. Lahey", as the police are calling him now, remains a priest. When will he and other bad priests be defrocked? Don't hold your breath!