As Father F. Dominic Menna, a senior priest at Saint Mary’s in Quincy, MA, was sent into exile, The Boston Globe’s role in the story of Catholic Scandal grew more transparent.
“I’m a true Catholic, and I think what these priests are doing is disgusting!” One day a few weeks ago, that piece of wisdom repeated every thirty minutes or so on New England Cable News, an around-the-clock news channel broadcast from Boston. I wonder how many people the reporter approached in front of Saint Mary’s Church in Quincy, Massachusetts before someone provided just the right sound bite to lead the rabid spectacle that keeps 24-hour news channels afloat.
The priest this hapless “true Catholic” deemed so disgusting is Father F. Dominic Menna, an exemplary priest who has been devoting his senior years in service to the people of God at Saint Mary’s. At the age of 80, Father Menna has been accused of sexual abuse of a minor.
There is indeed something disgusting in this account, but it likely isn’t Father Menna himself. He has never been accused before. Some of the news stories haven’t even bothered to mention that the claim just surfacing now for the first time is alleged to have occurred in 1959. No, I didn’t transpose any numbers. The sole accusation that just destroyed this 8O-year-old priest’s good name is that he abused someone fifty-one years ago when he was 29 years old.
Kelly Lynch, a spokesperson for the Archdiocese of Boston, announced that Father Menna was placed on administrative leave, barred from offering the Sacraments, and ordered to pack up and leave the rectory where he had been spending his senior years in the company of other priests. These steps, we’re told, are designed to protect children lest this 8O-year-old priest – if indeed guilty – suddenly decides to repeat his misconduct every half century or so.
Ms. Lynch declined to reveal any further details citing, “the privacy of those involved.” That assurance of privacy is for everyone except Father Menna, of course, whose now tainted name was blasted throughout the New England news media last month. Among the details Kelly Lynch declines to reveal is the amount of any settlement demand for the claim.
Some of the fair-minded people who see through stories like this one often compare them with the 1692 Salem witch trials which took place just across Massachusetts Bay from Father Menna’s Quincy parish. The comparison falls short, however. No one in 1692 Salem ever had to defend against a claim of having bewitched a child fifty-one years earlier.
Commentary on The Crucible
Archdiocesan spokesperson Kelly Lynch cited “the integrity of the investigation” as a reason not to comment further to The Boston Globe. Does some magical means exist in Boston to fairly and definitively investigate a fifty-one year old claim of child abuse? Is there truly some means by which the Archdiocese could deem such a claim credible or not?
Ms. Lynch should have chosen a word other than “integrity” to describe the “investigation” of Father Menna. Integrity is the one thing no one will find anywhere in this account – except perhaps in Father Menna himself if, by some special grace, he has not utterly lost all trust in the people of God he has served for over fifty years.
TRANSPARENCY AT THE BOSTON GLOBE
The June 3rd edition of The Boston Globe buried a story on page A12 about the results of an eight-year investigation into the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Eight years ago, it was front page news all over the U.S. that the Los Angeles Archdiocese was being investigated for a conspiracy to cover-up sexual abuse claims against priests.
After eight years of investigation at taxpayer expense, California prosecutors reluctantly announced last month that they’ve found insufficient evidence to support the charges. That news story was so obviously buried in the back pages of The Boston Globe that the agenda could not be more transparent. The story of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church is front page news only when it accommodates the newspaper’s editorial bias. That much, at least, is clear.
But all transparency ends right there. The Globe article attributed the lack of evidence of a conspiracy by Catholic bishops to the investigation being “stymied by reluctant victims.” Now, that’s an interesting piece of news!
The obvious question it raises is whether these claimants were reluctant to speak BEFORE obtaining financial settlements in their claims against the Archdiocese. If they are reluctant witnesses now, then, at best, it may be because the true goal of some has long since been realized and there’s nothing in it for them to keep talking. At worst, the silence of claimants in the conspiracy investigation could be interpreted as an effort to fend off pointed questions about their claims. Perhaps prosecutors were investigating the wrong people.
I have seen this sort of thing play out before. Last year, a New Hampshire contingency lawyer brought forward his fifth round of mediated settlement demands against the Diocese of Manchester. During that lawyer’s first round of mediated settlements in 2002 – in which 28 priests of the Diocese of Manchester were accused in claims dating from the 1950s to the 1980s – the news media announced a $5.5 million settlement. The claimants’ lawyer was astonished that $5.5 million was handed over with no real effort at proof or corroboration sought by Diocesan representatives before they paid up and deemed the claims “credible.” The lawyer was quoted in the news media:
“During settlement negotiations, diocesan officials did not press for details such as dates and allegations for every claim. I’ve never seen anything like it.” (Mark Hayward, “NH Diocese will pay $5 million to 62 victims,” New Hampshire Union Leader, Nov. 27, 2002).
“He and his clients did not encounter resistance from the Diocese of Manchester in their six months of negotiations. Some victims made claims in the last month, and because of the timing of negotiations, gained closure in just a matter of days.” (Albert McKeon, “Settlement reached in abuse claims,” Nashua Telegraph, Nov. 27, 2002).
That lawyer’s contingency fee for the first of many rounds of mediated settlements was estimated to be in excess of $1.8 million. When the mediation concluded, the news media reported that at the attorney’s and his clients’ request, the diocese agreed not to disclose the claimants’ names or any details of their claims or the amounts they received in settlement. “No confidentiality was sought by the Diocese,” the lawyer declared.
In contrast, the names of the accused priests – many of whom were deceased and none of whom faced criminal charges – were repeatedly released and publicized throughout the news media. This process served one purpose: to invite new claimants against those same priests with assurances that their names would remain private and no real corroborating details would ever be elicited. It was clear that non-disclosure clauses were demanded by the contingency lawyer and his clients, though the diocese and its lawyers were eager to oblige as part of the settlement.
It’s fascinating that the news media now blames “reluctant victims” for stifling an investigation into cover-ups in the Catholic Church. That is a scandal worthy of the front page, but we won’t ever see it there. If the news media now has concerns about the very people whose cause it championed in 2002, we won’t be reading about it in the news media. Transparency in the news media, after all, is a murky affair.
TRANSPARENCY AND THE U.S. BISHOPS
Writer Ryan A. MacDonald has a number of contributions published on These Stone Walls. His most recent is, “Should the Case Against Father Gordon MacRae Be Reviewed?” I am told that Mr. MacDonald has an essay published in the June/July, 2010 issue of Homiletic & Pastoral Review entitled, ”Anti-Catholicism and Sex Abuse.” In the essay, the writer also recommends These Stone Walls to H&PR readers. Though I subscribe to the well respected H&PR, I haven’t at this writing seen the current issue.
Ryan MacDonald also has a letter published in a recent issue of Our Sunday Visitor (“Raising the Alarm,” June 13, 2010) Ryan makes a point very similar to one I made last month in “As the Year of the Priest Ends, Are Civil Liberties for Priests Intact?” Here’s an excerpt from Ryan’s OSV letter:
“A number of courageous bishops have argued in opposition to retroactive application of revised civil statutes of limitations. Such revised statutes typically expose the Catholic Church to special liability while exempting public institutions.
But I must raise the alarm here. As a body, American bishops lobbied the Holy See for retroactive extension of the time limits of prescription, the period of time in which a delict (a crime) exists and can be prosecuted under Church law …
…Many accused priests now face the possibility of forced laicization with no opportunity for defense or appeal because our bishops have embraced routine dispensation from the Church’s own statute of limitations. The bishops cannot argue this point from two directions. Some have defended this duplicity citing that the delicts involve criminal and not civil matters. This is so, but these men are also American citizens, and the U.S. Constitution prohibits retroactive application of criminal laws as unconstitutional.
Statutes of limitations exist in legal systems to promote justice, not hinder it. Our bishops cannot have it both ways on this issue.”
Ryan MacDonald made this point far better than I ever could. The issue for me is not just the obvious double standard applied when the spirit of Church law is set aside. The issue is one of fundamental justice and fairness, and what Cardinal Dulles called “The great scandal of the Church’s failure to support Her priests in their time of need.” Pope John Paul II said that the Church must be a mirror of justice. Let’s hope our bishops can respond to the public scandal of sexual abuse without perpetrating a private scandal of their own.
There are people in groups like S.N.A.P. and Voice of the Faithful who clamor for the Church to ignore the rights of priests in favor of an open embrace of “survivors.” It’s always easy to deny someone else’s rights and restrict someone else’s civil liberties, and that, historically, is how witch hunts begin.
SUMMER POSTING
This was supposed to be one of my shorter posts in the heat of summer. Sorry! As I type this, it’s 90 degrees in Concord, NH, unbearably humid, and we’re stuck inside all day. I’m scrambling to finish this because the sun is blazing in my cell window, and things are heating up fast. So I have to print this before I lose it all – AGAIN! Thanks for reading.
Lots of people have asked what they can do to help with These Stone Walls. Sending a link to your own contacts would help much. So would posting a comment with a link on other Catholic blogs and websites.
May the Lord bless you and keep you this summer.
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fr Gordon, I pray also for the victims of the Salem witch hunts. As I ” Lord” instructed a religious ,pray for the most forgotten souls in purgatory.ps anyone who suffers as I was instructed by a deceased Marist priest.
I know Fr. Dom since I was a child. He is a wonderful man and priest. He is totally innocent! I pray that God will have mercy on his accuser for ruining this good priest’s life. I will offer my Mass each morning for both of you. I pray that God will bring the truth to light. God bless you Fr. Dom and know that there are many people who love you and know you are innocent. You knew me as Mary Jean Chulla. Put your faith in God for He too was falsely accused. I also pray that these witch hunts will stop. Lord have mercy!
Father Menna is one of the truest men of God it has ever been my pleasure and privilege to know. My husband and I were teenage sweethearts, and communicants at St. Mary’s, in the 60s. Fr. Menna was a source of wisdom and common sense for us as we both struggled with our teen angst. My husband was a fan of Fr. Menna’s cars as he was quite the car buff. Looking back, I can remember no indication that he would have been interested in anything about young people except their relationship with God. I hope Fr. Menna is finding some peace and that he is encouraged by all the people who remember him with fondness and support his innocence
I am 43 years old and have known Fr. Menna my entire life. He witnessed my parents’ marriage as well as my own. He has baptized my brothers and there is no finer example of a “true Priest” than that which we have in Fr. Menna. He continues to be in our thougts and prayers throughout the course of this terrible time. I only hope that the media will be as loud a voice in clearing his name with the truth as they were to try and bring him down. God Bless you Fr. Menna
Patrick
Having known Fr Menna for all of my 35 years, I can say with no hesitation that there is not a Finer Priest Alive. He married my parents, baptized my brothers and I and is held in such high regard in my family that my ex wife asked him to baptize her son this past January. Fr Menna is a shining example of what a priest should be. I only hope that when the truth comes out, the world knows what a great man Fr Menna is.
Dear Father Gordon:
I was a 12 year old child when Father Menna came to St. Mary’s, in West Quincy. I remember a bounce to his step, so different than the other older priests. The young people of the Parish were instantly attracted to this young Priest with this, unfamiliar, energy.
He got involved with the children of the Parish through various programs and events and the children loved him. I remember going on outings with him and other friends…He only showed us love through his example of being a man of God.
Ever since I read about this accusation, I have thought and thought about that time of my life. In my heart, I feel that Father Menna never looked at us children with “lust”, but of true Priest love. For the next 11 years, being close to this Priest, I never saw anything that would suggest that something was not right and that he would hurt one of us.
I came back to this area and found out that Father Menna came back to St. Mary’s. I so wanted to see him and tell him that he will always remain in my wonderful memories of my childhood at St. Mary’s.
I am very sad about this. Father Menna will be in my prayers. And I sincerely hope that I may get that chance to see him again.
A Child of St. Mary’s Church….
I have known Father Menna for a couple of years. In fact, he married my wife and myself. Guilty or innocent; of course I don’t know. That was long before I came to know him. More importantly; is he good or bad now? To be acquainted with him, is to have the question answered by itself! Michael & Elizabeth
To All:
Thank you for these wonderful comments on the story of Fr. Menna. Elizabeth inquired about SNAP. This link is to a Catalyst article about SNAP (December, 2006) by Kiera McCaffrey entitled:
TWILIGHT OF THE SCANDAL
http://www.catholicleague.org/catalyst.php?year=2006&month=December&read=2156
Margaret, who knows Fr. Menna, has informed me that he is struggling with what has taken place. This is a situation in which the people of God would be right and just in rising up in prayful support for Fr. Menna. We can only imagine what it must be like for an 80 yr. old priest to face a vague, but lucrative, claim from 51 years ago.
He cannot begin to defend himself. That falls to us. It should also fall to his bishop. Only time will tell whether that is so. With thanks and blessings for your support of Fr. Menna and your interest in These Stone Walls.
Fr. Gordon
We REALLY do need to find out eaxctly who SNAP is.
Our own church has been targeted – they were sent away in tears and humiliated for their ‘snap’ judgement about a priest who has not even been accused ( but of course dumped by his bishop) because he was in the wrong place (a community) at the wrong time.
These people keep a list, from which it seems it is impossible to eardicate the names of the innocent, and continue via radio callins and newspaper articles to spread calumnies about priests who are innocent.
Is there anyone with investigative experience who could find out who they are and also to expose the identities of accusers?
Doesn’t one have a right to face ones accuser?
These shadowy ‘victims’ who rob the church funds are shameless and shameful and it is about time they were brought out into the light.
Many prayers and blessings father.
Know that you are not forgotten – or any of the other innocent priests either; several of whom I know.
Can we find out what has happened to Fr Menna? Is there anything we can do?
Dear Father Gordon,
Thank you for these wonderful writings. I always enjoy them. I’m sorry you are having such hot weather there. Being hot brings out bad tempers and I pray that you will be careful.
I will add Father Menna to my prayers. I keep hoping that people will finally have enough of S.N.A.P. and the other professional victim groups. I think we are getting there.
Of course the Boston newspaper will continue to pursue Catholic Priests as if their very existence depends upon more such stories. Attacking Priests seems to be their corporate mission. The good news there is that few people bother to read it anymore.
My prayers are with you, Pornchai and now Skooter.
Your friend and sister in Christ,
Kathy Maxwell
Thank you for higlighting this injustice, I pray that this good priest and also you dear Father who has suffered so much will be vindicated and receive justice and freedom after all your sufferings.
Please may you have the opportunity at the very least in the meantime of experiencing some fresh air. Thank you for prayers to amongst others those of us who who follow with great interest all that you tell us of in your blog postings written with such facility but under great difficulty
I and my family have known Fr. Dom Menna for over 50 years. I do not know a person of higher integerity. This terrible situation that he has been put in by the church he so sacrafically served for all these years is very revealing of just how sick our church is.
We can not protect young innocent children entrusted to our care neither can we protect the elderly and innocent. Jesus himself will speak to the injustice that has occured under the watchful eye of Popes, Cardinals and Bishops. Still the demons who allowed all of this are still working and demanding respect.
Like Bishop McCormack the expert in moving priest around. He has succeeded in transforming New Hampshire from a very conservative state to one of the most liberal in the country. He moves priest around still and sends in the bullies to keep people quiet.
The Catholic Church is turning a blind eye still to him and his cohorts. The question is why, why let him and others continue and remove a beautiful innocent priest. Help!!!
It really makes my heart bleed when I read about such “attacks” on good priests who have given a life of service to the church–and are treated with such little respect by those in authority.
How the diocese would accept as factual an accusation from 51 years ago is beyond belief. The courts learned long ago that memory loses its accuracy over time, or the “Statue of Limitations” would have never been a part of the court system.
I hope Fr. Menna has a good support system rallying around him, for I am sure these are very trying days for him. He will be added to our prayers, especially during the Holy Sacrifice on Sunday evening.
I’m sure your readers will surround Fr. Menna with loving arms of prayer.
P.S. Do hope the cool spell that is reaching our area tomorrow, also extends to Concord!
Dear Fr Gordon,
Where are a priests rights? There seems to be no rhyme or reason! Fr I continue to pray and hope that Our Lord will provide a way for Justice to prevail,for the truth to come out. It tears me up inside and I know that it bothers all good people.
Thank you for your writtings for they open us up to think about how this has hurt many people and the church.
God Bless you
Father,
There is simply no way conduct a fact finding mission after 50 years has gone by and this is no coincidence. The archdiocese turns into a cash cow and the accused priest has no civil or canonical rights. He can’t even afford a lawyer.
Thank you for speaking out about this terrible injustice.
I pray things are a little cooler there this evening.
Hi Father:
Please keep sharing these stories of other priests who are being persecuted.
God bless,
Dear Father Gordon,
Keep up doing your marvelous work! Another thought-provoking post. I am amazed at how clear-minded you are.
Know that you are in my daily prayers. May the Holy Spirit guide you, comfort you and give you the courage never to give up. Your missionary brother in the priesthood, Michael
As Mary says “You are amazing!!” This post is so detailed and so heartwrenching. I hardly know what to say.
We pray that the Church will stand up and defend her priests, it is such a discouraging thing to see this going on daily. We sit in the pews and pray and send emails etc.
God help us in this battle!! Everyday I hear of some new attack on a priest.
Jesus I Trust In You!!!
Patricia
Heb 13:3
Actually, these ‘alleged’ allegations are similar to a more recent ‘witch hunt’, i.e. against daycare centers. Do a search on Fells Acre Daycare to see what I mean.
I pray that Father McRae is vindicated soon…along with all the other unjustly accused priests.
Father G,
You are AMAZING To be able to write so clearly and with such detail on thet decrepit but loyal little typewriter is a small miracle in itself!
Funnily enough I had been thinking over the last year or so how the “hysteria” with which any commentary on sex abuse accusations is met reminded me of the atmosphere surrounding Salem. There is a mass panic and fear pervading our world. Fear makes us all capable of great cruelty and great injustice and the first casualty sems to be human reason.
Yet the very thing we should fear most personal sin is never faced squarely. I will add poor Father Menna to my list The devil is going after our priests with a vengeance. The only good thing about this is that it shows he is afraid of you and the good you do in our lives.
Every blessing Father G