Vatican remains silent?

How about the afairs of His Grace, Bishop Filomeno G. Bactol and the Diocese of Naval?

Church has no tolerance for sexual misconduct by clergy, says Vatican cardinal

Rome, May 28 (CNA).-

In an interview with the Italian socialist newspaper "Repubblica," the president emeritus of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, Cardinal Julian Herranz, said it was false that the Holy See hides or protects priests guilty of abuse or sexual misconduct, and that instead abusive priests receive "very serious punishments" of an ecclesial nature that pose no detriment to civil proceedings.

The interview focused on the BBC documentary "Sexual Crimes and the Vatican," which was supposedly based on an internal memo of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The document reaffirmed the inviolability of the seal of confession, but the documentary said was intended to "protect and hide" abusive priests.

Cardinal Herranz told "Repubblica" that canonical legislation includes "very harsh penalties, the maximum that can be inflicted upon a priest." The publication also places, "the well-being of children… at the very heart of the Church, just as it was at the heart of Jesus Christ."

The cardinal explained that the document upon which the British documentary was based, the 1962 Vatican instruction "Crimen Sollicitationes," not only was not intended to shield possible abusers from canonical penalties, but that it must be interpreted in light of the 1983 Code of Canon Law, which "considers these kinds of acts as very serious offenses and gives precise indications on procedures and penalties."

Cardinal Herranz explained that faced with a possible case of abuse, the bishop has the duty to open an immediate investigation with three main objectives: "preventing scandal, safeguarding the freedom of the witnesses, and guaranteeing that justice is done."

The process could lead to the suspension of the priest, including his complete removal from the clerical state, without prejudicing any civil proceedings which may be initiated.

Cardinal Herranz denounced the "dishonest intentions" of the documentary, which attempted to implicate Pope Benedict XVI when he was still prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith," however, in reality, "in 1962, he was merely a priest."

According to the Spanish priest, the BBC report, which will soon be aired in Italy on the RAI network, "aims to sully the face of the Church and smear the Catholic priesthood."

Letter to Cardinal Vallini - Holy See

SOCIETY OF THE MISSIONARY
BROTHERS OF PERPETUAL HELP
USA - MBPH PO BOX 811 Ogden, KS 66517-0811
PHONE (785) 537- 8016



May 20, 2007

Cardinal Agostino Vallini, Prefect
Apostolic Signatura
Palazzo della Cancelleria, 00186 Roma, Italy



Dear Cardinal Prefect,

Greetings in the Lord.

I am forwarding my sworn statement that was sent to Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith on June 13, 2006 concerning the Diocese of Naval and it’s Bishop, Most Rev. Filomeno G. Bactol, D.D.

We have received no acknowledgment from this statement and our follow up letters to the Cardinal Prefect William Joseph Levada have not been acknowledged.

In this sworn statement that was signed in the presences of Most Rev. Paul Coakley, Bishop of Salina, Kansas, USA and witnessed by Rickey Vice, MBPH, and the Mayor of Ogden, Kansas, Wayne Henson, to express the serious nature of this statement.

This sworn statement was signed in view of THE CRIME OF FALSEHOOD (Cann. 1390 - 1391.

We believe that these charges against the Bishop Bactol and the Diocese of Naval are of serious matter:

Allowing violations of the moral law of the Catholic Church (Canon 1389). This includes violations of celibacy (Canons 1394, 1395).

Can. 1387 A priest who in the act, on the occasion, or under the pretext of confession solicits a penitent to sin against the sixth commandment of the Decalogue is to be punished, according to the gravity of the delict, by suspension, prohibitions, and privations; in graver cases he is to be dismissed from the clerical state

Can. 1385 A person who illegitimately makes a profit from a Mass offering is to be punished with a censure or another just penalty.

Can. 1389 §1. A person who abuses an ecclesiastical power or function is to be punished according to the gravity of the act or omission, not excluding privation of office, unless a law or precept has already established the penalty for this abuse.

§2. A person who through culpable negligence illegitimately places or omits an act of ecclesiastical power, ministry, or function with harm to another is to be punished with a just penalty.


We believe that if the Roman Catholic Church refuses to investigate these and other charges, the Church is approving of such behavior and endorsing it. Therefore losing moral authority.

We pray that your office will bring about justice for our Community and most of all justice for the people of the Diocese of Naval.


I remain,




Sincerely yours in Christ, and
Our Mother of Perpetual Help;




Stephen M. Greinke, MBPH