In a move that is sure to generate sympathy for the Church, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles has stated it’s intention to sell one of it’s convents to help raise money to meet it’s obligations under the $660 million abuse claims settlement.
It is unfortunate and unfair that the nuns who live in the convent will have to find another place to live because of the actions of pervert priests. But, it is important to remember who is responsible for this sad state of affairs. Not the victims of sexual abuse who had their lives destroyed. It is the predator priests who sexually abused children in their parishes and those in authority in the Church that knew about the abuse, covered it up, and allowed it to continue.
When is some journalist going to publish a story with the names of all the priests that covered up the sexual abuse for so many years? Then maybe the public can hold the proper people accountable.
Dear Mr. McKiggan, maybe I missed it but in my mindthe greator blame belongs to the Hierarchy who enabled these Predator Priests to do all the damage that was done.
Mahoney is one of the greatest examples of enabling and has spent the past few years continuing to Obstruct and Obfuscate the Justice System.
Please include the Vatican including the present Pope and JPII in the list.
First of all, any number of nuns closed their eyes to the crimes of
priests, brothers, and in some cases their fellow nuns. They were
very much part of the “system” which vicitmized abuse survivors.
Second, even in 1970s when I was closely associated with
religious orders, numbers were dwindling such that most
real-estate was grossly under-utilized. Two or three
religious living in a house built for 10 or even twenty
was not uncommon. It is perhaps even more so today.
What has changed is that dioceses can no longer afford to
squander resources in this way, waiting for the hordes of
‘vocations’ to return to what they were in 1940.
It is not as if these women have nowhere to go. They can
return to their mother-house in LA. They may not like that,
but part of religious life is being sent places which may
not be your first choice.