Still Running Off at the Keyboard

THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE A VULGAR WOMAN OUT OF ME

I am revolted, I am nauseated...I can't find language adequate to express my indignation. The only word that escaped my lips when I read it begins with "s", ends with "t" and is four letters long. The world didn't succeed in turning me vulgar. The Church is going to accomplish what the world failed to do.

The Summer 2005 "Ad Majoren Dei Gloriam" came yesterday. This is the publication of Roman Catholic Faithful, Stephen Brady's organization. This issue deals with recent "departures from grace" within the hierarchy. We want to believe the new administration in Rome will make a difference. We want to believe that, coming from the CDF where all the rot was sent, the new Pope would know about it and clean up the mess.

Stephen Brady describes the parish in the Springfield, Illinois Diocese where two priests "co-pastor", Msgr. John Renken and Msgr. Ken Steffen. This despite the fact that the parish as "small" and that other parishes in the diocese are closing for lack of clergy. You can guess why two pastors share one parish and live together. Msgr. Renken serves as a consultant to the Bishops' Ad Hoc Committee on Sexual Abuse. Brady has printed a copy of the letter he wrote to Robert Bennett of the American Bishops Child Abuse Review Board on May 8, 2003, in which he spells out the living arrangement and indicates that Renken served as Vicar General to former predatory homosexual Bishop Daniel Ryan, and currently serves as Vicar General to Bishop George Lucas. The following is also contained in the letter:

After George Lucas was installed as Springfield's new bishop, he went so far as to reward Renken, Holinga, Costa, and others who protected Ryan, by giving them the title of Monsignor. There is more.

For the past 10 years Fr. Renken has been living at the same small parish in Riverton, Illinois with one Father Kenneth Steffen. While the diocese declares that parishes will have to be closed because of the priest shortage, this couple remains together at this small parish. Fr. Steffen, like Renken, holds key positions within the hierarchy. I have raised this issue with Bishop Lucas.

In yet another unusual (possibly scandalous) situation, Fathers Renken and Steffen are listed as "co-pastors" in both the diocesan directory and parish bulletin. There is no such position for a Catholic priest such as co-pastor. The use of this word as well as their living arrangement, suggests something more. According to the testimony of a priest who was stationed at the Cathedral rectory with Renken prior to 1989, Fr. Steffen was given a key to the Cathedral rectory at the request of Renken despite objections from clergy. (p. 15)

But even that is not what has me upset. This is:

Another former member of the Springfield hierarchy was Monsignor Kevin Vann, who was pastor of Blessed Sacrament parish in Springfield. He also held several positions within the hierarchy and was made Monsignor (along with the others who protected Bishop Ryan) by Bishop George Lucas.

Vann refused to take any action regarding Re-ken's [sic] and Steffen's living arrangement even after I confronted him about it. Vann was Renken's friend and co-worker within the chancery. What happened to Vann? What did his silence cost him? How was he punished for his part in this ongoing cover-up? For the answer, let's turn to a news article by Darren Barbee and Brett Hoffman that appeared in Knight Ridder Newspapers.

"FORT WORTH, Texas - (KRT) - Monsignor Kevin W. Vann of Illinois has been named co-adjutor bishop of the Fort Worth Roman Catholic Diocese and will succeed ailing Bishop Joseph Delaney when he retires, church officials announced this week.

Van, 54, was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI on May 9, 2005... (p. 16)

That is what prompted the vulgarity. Business at usual at the top in Rome. There can be no excuses for the reigning Pope based on lack of knowledge. It is the CDF that oversaw efforts to clean up the mess. At this rate there is virtually no hope for the Catholic Church in America to recover from this scandal.

The Father Eugene Costa referred to in the article was the priest who was murdered in a park frequented by homosexuals looking for contact. It was Costa who replaced Fr. Peter Mascari, a heterosexual priest who had been married and widowed three years after his marriage; and who subsequently bacame a priest. A good priest who built a nursing home and worked for the poor in his parish. Fr. Mascari worked with Stephen Brady and RCF in trying to clean up the diocese. His thanks for effort expended was Bishop Ryan's demand that he resign in 1993, opening the door to Costa assuming the pastorate of Mascari's former parish.

Since parishes are being closed as the number of priests declines, it is a matter of consideration whether it is any longer appropriate to financially support a parish. It is certainly unwise to contribute to building and renovation funds. Who wants to build in a parish that may be closed and sold, perhaps even to a group that will invite channelers, such as the event at the former Catholic abbey which I blogged below? As I watch the pews empty in my own church, I wonder how much longer I will be able to be a practicing Catholic.

Brady sums it up:

If ever there was proof of a corrupt and perverted hierarchy--this is it. These men are liars. They are wolves in sheep's clothing. They care nothing for the souls of the faithful. Their actions and inactions tell the story. They are cowards doing the devil's bidding. Do not be fooled by their kind, pleasant, and well-spoken facade. Look at the fruits of their work. Look at church and school closings, falling Mass attendance, and all the other indicators. You must judge their actions! (p. 14)

And in his opening commentary, Brady offers this analysis:

What baffles me the most these days is that some Catholics can point out all the problems that exist within the Church while still refusing to lay any blame at the Pope's doorstep. Many just cannot handle the truth: the Pope is the problem and until he takes action and provides some solid leadership, the situation will only deteriorate. Why do we continue to make excuses for those who should be held to the highest accountability?

Why indeed? And how can there be any excuses for Benedict? He shuffles off to Germany while cocker spaniel Levada dissembles in Rome. Business usual until there is no business left of Roman Catholicism in America?

Where is a good rotweiler when you need one?

Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us!