Lisa Haddock
NJ Faith Forum Editor
When will it end?
The wave of sexual scandals in the U.S. Catholic Church is rolling on and on and on.
Yet another sordid story has surfaced. And I’m not even talking about the female Catholic schoolteacher accused of improper sexual behavior with four teenage boys at Christian Brothers Academy in Colonie, N.Y.
This time, a prominent Manhattan priest has been accused of having an affair with his secretary, the New York Times and several other media outlets are reporting.
The priest, Monsignor Eugene V. Clark, 79, resigned his post as rector of St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Friday (Aug. 11), The Journal News reported. In any Catholic diocese, the cathedral is the bishop’s church. But the rector runs the church on behalf of the bishop -- in this case Cardinal Edward Egan. Clark will not be allowed to say Mass until the Archdiocese of New York has completed an investigation.
The accusations came to light in court papers filed by Philip DeFilippo of Westchester County, N.Y. DeFilippo says he has a videotape showing his wife, Lauren, 46, and the priest checking into and out of a Long Island motel. Stills from the video have appeared on television news programs. Ironically, Clark performed the couple’s wedding 20 years ago. DeFilippo is in the process of divorcing his wife.
Lauren DeFilippo and Clark deny the allegations.
Clark frequently appears on the Catholic television network EWTN. The network has placed Clark's program on hiatus.
In 2002, Clark argued that immorality prevalent in U.S. society was largely to blame for the priest pedophilia scandal. He also faulted seminaries for admitting gay men.
To read EWTN press release about Clark, click below.
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2 comments:
RepMan said...
What exacerbates the allegations in RepMan's mind is that Clark has previously used his powerful position to wax poetic on the "immorality in the American culture."
This incident is shockingly similar to the Harry Stonecipher/Boeing saga. Readers will recall that after becoming Boeing's CEO, Stonecipher initiated strict personal behavior guidelines for employees as part of the corporation's revamped code of ethics. Then, he went ahead and had an affair with an employee that ended up costing him his job.
It's no wonder many feel that America has lost its moral compass when the Clark's and Stonecipher's of the world act in such blatant disingenuous ways. As a former altar boy, RepMan can only pray things get better before they get any worse."
Fri Aug 12, 09:51:13 AM EDT
Jan Fredericks said...
I have to believe the Bible when it says that when Jesus returns, He will judge everyone's hidden deeds (including those of Bishops, Popes and Government leaders). In the meantime, I have to agree with the woman interviewed on TV that it's becoming embarrassing to say that I'm Catholic.
St. Paul says "Immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is fitting among holy ones,....Be sure of this, that no immoral or impure or greedy person, that is, an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God." (Eph. 5:3,5)
Not only does her husband have grounds for divorce, but the Church has grounds to 'divorce' this man as a prominent leader in the Body of Christ if he is guilty and does not seek forgiveness from God and His Church (us!).
St. Paul says "But I now write to you not to associate with anyone named a brother, if he is immoral, greedy, an idolater, a slanderer, a drunkard, or a robber, not even to eat with such a person. For why should I be judging outsiders? Is it not your business to judge those within? God will judge those outside. 'Purge the evil person from your midst'." 1 Cor. 5:11-13.
We have the right to speak up as laity and not let immorality consume our Church.
Jesus says that we will know them (false prophets) by their fruit. If he is guilty of adultery (sexual immorality), will we hear an apology or will we hear him (and our leaders) deny his wrong doing? I'm having trouble trusting our leaders who have admitted covering up criminal acts for decades putting innocent lives in jeopardy. If it weren't for the laity, we would probably still not know about the cover-ups.
We need to be encouraged and heed St. John's teaching "As for you, the anointing that you received from him remains in you, so that you do not need anyone to teach you. But his anointing teaches you about everything and is true and not false; just as it taught you, remain in him." 1 John 2:27. He goes on to say that "...you also know that everyone who acts in righteousness is begotten by him." 1 John 2:29b
Let's keep the faith and as St. Peter says after exhorting us about false teachers (2 Peter 2-3), "Therefore, beloved, since you are forewarned, be on your guard not to be led into the error of the unprincipled and to fall from your own stability. But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory now and to the day of eternity. (Amen.)" 2 Peter 3:17-18
Fri Aug 12, 11:56:46 AM EDT
Anonymous said...
Of course, both parties claim to be innocent....it will be interesting to learn what reasons they give 1) for being in the hotel at all; 2) for being in it so long; and 3) for emerging in different clothes. Perhaps they just need time before making a public confession, or perhaps they will never need to, & lawyers will make arrangements behind the scenes. At any rate, the scandal is hardly the first of its kind, and must make believing Catholics wonder why Faith needs to be institutionalized. It's time for another Reformation.
Sat Aug 13, 04:03:13 PM EDT
I am disgusted by the "Christian Bros" refusal to answer charges against them.
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