Episcopal Responses

Brian Murphy

September 16, 2018

Many bishops accross the United States have posted a letter to the faithful on their diocesan website regarding the horrific report of sexual abuse by clergy in the State of Pennsylvania. These letters typically express sorrow for the actions and request prayers for the victims as well as for the Church. In my view, these episcopal responses fall far short of truth and justice. A more comprehensive response that is becoming of a Christian that has risen to the level of maturity to become a bishop would list some, where applicable, if not all of the following items:

• I recognize that my deep-seated homosexual tendencies establish without doubt that I should never have been ordained a Catholic priest, let-alone a bishop and so for the sake of the Church and the salvation of my own soul, I will offer my complete resignation along with assurances of a smooth transition to my replacement.
• I will personally advise any priest in my diocese whom I know has deep-seated homosexual tendencies to voluntarily resign and will communicate my knowledge of such individuals openly with civil as well as clerical authorities.
• I recognize that a culture that rebels against Church teaching on the Sixth Commandment creates a climate that fosters sexual abuse. I repent of allowing such a culture to thrive among the faithful with very little admonition in my ministry and the ministry of my priests. Therefore, I will begin such admonitions immediately, repeating them several times throughout the year, and will ask my priests to do the same.
• I recognize that part of the rebellion against Church teaching involves birth control and sterilization and that whoever said that the clergy has developed "laryngitis" when it comes to teaching Humanae Vitae was correct. Henceforth, I will preach directly to my people on Humanae Vitae four times per year and ask my priests to do the same.
• I have come to understand that the root cause of the sexual abuse crisis is disobedience from Church teachings. For those in their child-bearing years, such disobedience often involves the mortal sin of birth control and sterilization. I will immediately begin to denounce the widespread sacrilege in my diocese of people coming to receive Holy Communion while in a state of mortal sin. I will do this as often as needed until true discipline and true respect for Holy Communion is restored. In doing so, I recognize that lack of chastity within marriage contributes to the rebellious climate that obliterates the true meaning of sexuality which in turn can help foster sexual abuse.
• I will ask my priests who have very mistakenly advised the faithful to follow their own conscience on matters of sexual morality, a widespread practice, to repent and correct this incomplete and therefore erroneous teaching. For my part, I will do this publicly from the pulpit and will ask my priests to do the same, with apologies, if they have misled people in this matter. I will do this as often as is necessary until discipline is restored.
• I recognize that to increase transparency, accessibility and accountability, many of my fellow bishops have published their personal email address on their diocesan website. About 80 bishops in the USA have not done so and I am among them. My intent was to reduce spam. Nevertheless, I recognize that we all have to deal with spam just as we deal with junk mail in the mailbox. Hence, I apologize for the difficulties that this omission created and will henceforth publish my email address.

Endorsed by:

William Kewell, Ladera Ranch, California, USA

Darla Meyers, Hudson, Wisconsin, USA

Jerry Russ, San Clemente, California, USA

Joan Pernicano, San Diego, California, USA

Rochelle Lavender, San Diego, California, USA

Geoffrey Blake, San Clemente, California, USA

Victoria A. Montes, Rancho Santa Margarita, California, USA

Robert Babecka, Powder Springs, Georgia, USA

Mechtild Grothues, La Habra, California, USA

Louise Murphy, Coto de Caza, California, USA

Rev. Matthew Habiger, OSB, Atchison, Kansas, USA

Rev. Charles Wright, OSB, Abbot Emeritus, Oceanside, USA

Rev. Terry Bennis, Gary, Indiana, USA

Bernadette Aloese, San Diego, California, USA

Judith Brown, Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada

Sister Nancy Boushey, OSB Prioress, Starr County, Texas, USA

Cecilia von Dehn, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Daniel Seniw, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Rev. Jesus Ty, Carefree, Arizona, USA

Gregory Thompson, Marshall, Missouri, USA

Richard Mahoney, Saint Joseph, Missouri, USA

Gina Marengo, Round Rock, Texas, USA

Patty John, Fresno, California, USA

Msgr. Stephen A. Frost, Bakersfield, California, USA

Lisa de Paul Snyder, San Clemente, California, USA