Tuesday, February 03, 2009

Sometimes allegations are just allegations

What do you do when allegations of clergy sexual abuse cannot be verified? The Catholic Church reinstates the priest.

The Archdiocese of Cincinnati has reinstated a Roman Catholic priest who had been suspended over a child sexual abuse allegation.

The archdiocese said Monday that the Rev. Donald Shelander was restored to active ministry after a church panel ruled that allegations against him were unproven.

Without knowing more about the case, this course of action seems reasonable. People make false allegations. If it comes down to the word of one person, versus the word of another, what do they do?

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mikespeir's avatar

mikespeir · 843 weeks ago

I agree. We shouldn't be out to crucify priests and ministers just because we don't like religion. There has been a hysteria concerning these things, and surely some allegations are false.
1 reply · active 843 weeks ago
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Mojoey 107p · 843 weeks ago

I'm sure of it. I know two cases where false claims resulted in prosecutions. The pastors were found innocent.
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Cammie · 837 weeks ago

I have know this Priest for a long long time, and I beleive in his innocents. I'm not saying that the gentleman who accused him is a liar, I think something probably did happen to him at some time, I just don't think Don did it. I've had the pleasure of knowing Don, since I was a kid...helped him out, had a good friendship with him. He was never anything but honorable and kind.
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Mojoey 107p · 837 weeks ago

Cammie - Its good to see people stick up for their friends. I hope nothing more comes of this.
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Cammie · 837 weeks ago

Thank you Sir, and I do hope that the young man finds the truth and gets justice or help for whatever did happen to him. I'm reminded of the famous Ronald Cotton rape case, where the victim just knew it was him visually, but ended up being another person entirely. Our memories of events are so subjective, and sometimes prone to suggestion. I would never discount that something horrible happened to Don's accuser, and would hope that someone helps him get to the bottom of his memories to sort out the truth. My fear for the young man in question is that because of the findings that Fr. Shelander is innocent, that he'll feel...Re-violated. I think some how some way there needs to be a better protection in place for the accuser and accused, prior to charges flying. Now, some people are going to look at Don, no matter the findings, as a molestor, and some people are going to look at his accuser as a liar. So both end up victims. Thank you for you blog, Sir.

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