“Know for a Fact”
Some of our readers may be aware that a Facebook group exists to support Mr. Rodino (entitled, creativly, Support Rev. Rodino). In reading through some of the posts people have written there, it’s sad to note that so many people have been hurt by this. However, it’s disturbing that on the Facebook group, on news blogs, and in the papers, many of Mr. Rodino’s supporters have said something to the effect of “I know for a fact that this isn’t true.” Well, we take issue with that.
If you “know for a fact” that the allegations against Mr. are false, then prove it. We’re serious — prove it. We’re confident you can’t, because, logically, you cannot prove a negative.
Logic and reason are hard to refute. Pope Benedict has often said that Christianity is faith and reason together. In this sad case, we think it’s important to review the logical flaws in what so many of Mr. Rodino’s supporters are saying. For example, many say something like “He is such a good priest, he helped me through a difficult time.” That doesn’t mean this allegation is false. Or, “He married me, baptized my eleven children, and has always been kind to our family.” That statement also doesn’t mean these allegations are false. One last example: “I’ve asked my children if he ever abused them and all five of them said he never did.” Once again, the logic of the “if…then” statement gets in the way. Just because X didn’t steal from Y, doesn’t mean that X is not a thief. X could have stolen from Z.
Class dismissed.
Enjoy the weekend.
Comments
To the Victim: Keep the Faith. Trust that God will see you through this awful ordeal. Don’t let the “supporters” of Mr. Rodino wear you down with their uncharitable, blind to the truth, blogs.
The way the people of St. Jude’s acted at the meeting which the Diocese had at their parish was a disgrace to “their profession of everything Mr. Rodino had taught them about being Christian and Catholic” Actually, it sounded more like the way Mr. Rodino would behave when he didn’t get his way at a meeting or when he felt his so called power was threatened. It looked like the parishioners present were modeling what they had observed for four years.
I know the Diocesean team was willing to answer your questions if you all had been civil and acted respectfully. If you were willing to LISTEN that evening and ask civil questions, you would have learned that the Diocese would pay for a Canon lawyer and a Civil lawyer for Mr. Rodino. At this point Mr. Rodino has a Canon lawyer who is from another diocese.
Another point of interest: This is NOT the first time Mr. Rodino has been accused. Mr. Goldfarb made reference to that when he spoke outside St. Jude’s Church to the Troy Record. Go back and read the article online. Regardless of what you are being told, this was NOT the same accuser. Could this time be the final straw? How many chances does one get?
Personally, back in 2002, when this evil reared it’s ugly head, the diocese should have sent ALL priests with this weakness in their characters to some far away place, away from children. with no computers, no cell phones, no contact with civilization. Yes, the priest shortage would have been sooner but which is worse, let us have them removed piece meal. One or two or three within almost two years. You just think things have calmed down and you hear of someone else.
Parishioners are not the only ones who are affected by the loss of their leader.
Brother priests are affected, the Bishop who is the spiritual father is affected, the accused’s family is affected, the victim is affected by the anger and hostility toward him or her as stated in the media. Other victims of past or present abuse are affected (I don’t mean religious abuse in this instance).
What message are you, the parishioners sending to a person or persons in your midst who might have been a victim at someones hands. Please think before you write or speak another hurtful word.
Sad to say but it could be your child. or brother. or sister. It is aproven fact that 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys have or will suffer at some time some form of abuse. Many of the drug, alcohol, and overweight problems today are because of some deep seated secret one is holding in the depths of their soul.
Let us pray for the Victims,the Accused, and for each one of us that are affected in any way by the evil that is so rampant in our world today. God help us all.
Parties at his rectory, teenage boys running all round the ” house”… phone calls. e- mails and instant messages …untill parents put a stop to it… all though these things don’t in themselves make the man guilty…. they continue to invoke the question… why. why was it allowed, why didn’t the diocese stop it… why would a grown man behave this way? The man is not guilty till proven… but behaviors do point to a problem that one way or another were noever addressed! prayers for all invovled!
Good question John!!! You left one part out though. Forget about the diocese “allowing” this type of behavior. Why do parents allow the priest to become so close a child. In light of the claims over the last decade WHY would a parent not see that behavior as a potential problem? Instead of letting you child go to the movies with “Fr.”…take them yourself. Priests are intended to TEACH the word of GOD to all of us…STOP using them as counselors.Most if not all of them DO NOT have degrees in Phychology.
The spiritual guidance they offer your child in a time of need does not equal the suffering YOU and your CHILD will suffer IF the priest is inflicted the the horrible disease of pedophilia.
Remember this…You wouldn’t allow your child to go to lunch and a movie with your plumber. You would automaatically asume the plumber is creepy.
The “priest” is no different than the plumber!!!!!
Editor’s Note:
The above comment makes the excellent point that both parents and children will suffer if parents allow those children to spend time alone with pedophiles, whether they are plumbers or priests. However, we would like to remind readers that not all priests are pedophiles. We know many good, decent, holy priests who also suffer when their “colleagues” bring scandal to the priesthood. Also, we make no comment or judgment on whether or not Mr. Rodino is a pedophile. Pedophiles are attracted to pre-pubescent children. Many of the cases of clergy sexual abuse involve the abuse of post-pubescent teenagers, so these abusers are not “pedophiles” in the strictest sense. As the Diocese has decided to be rather tight lipped regarding the nature of the allegations against Mr. Rodino, we are unable (not to mention not professionally qualified) to label him as anything.
Thanks for adding to the discussion. Please continue to pray that the victim finds peace and, in Christian charity, please pray for the accused.
I apologize if I implied that my comments apply to ALL priests. I am fully aware of the fact that many priests are GREAT people and may GOD continue to give them strength to continue teaching the faith!!!
I apologize if I implied that my comments apply to ALL priests. I am fully aware of the fact that many priests are GREAT people and may GOD continue to give them strength to continue teaching the faith!!!
To the Victim: Keep the Faith. Trust that God will see you through this awful ordeal. Don’t let the “supporters” of Mr. Rodino wear you down with their uncharitable, blind to the truth, blogs.
The way the people of St. Jude’s acted at the meeting which the Diocese had at their parish was a disgrace to “their profession of everything Mr. Rodino had taught them about being Christian and Catholic” Actually, it sounded more like the way Mr. Rodino would behave when he didn’t get his way at a meeting or when he felt his so called power was threatened. It looked like the parishioners present were modeling what they had observed for four years.
I know the Diocesean team was willing to answer your questions if you all had been civil and acted respectfully. If you were willing to LISTEN that evening and ask civil questions, you would have learned that the Diocese would pay for a Canon lawyer and a Civil lawyer for Mr. Rodino. At this point Mr. Rodino has a Canon lawyer who is from another diocese.
Another point of interest: This is NOT the first time Mr. Rodino has been accused. Mr. Goldfarb made reference to that when he spoke outside St. Jude’s Church to the Troy Record. Go back and read the article online. Regardless of what you are being told, this was NOT the same accuser. Could this time be the final straw? How many chances does one get?
Personally, back in 2002, when this evil reared it’s ugly head, the diocese should have sent ALL priests with this weakness in their characters to some far away place, away from children. with no computers, no cell phones, no contact with civilization. Yes, the priest shortage would have been sooner but which is worse, let us have them removed piece meal. One or two or three within almost two years. You just think things have calmed down and you hear of someone else.
Parishioners are not the only ones who are affected by the loss of their leader.
Brother priests are affected, the Bishop who is the spiritual father is affected, the accused’s family is affected, the victim is affected by the anger and hostility toward him or her as stated in the media. Other victims of past or present abuse are affected (I don’t mean religious abuse in this instance).
What message are you, the parishioners sending to a person or persons in your midst who might have been a victim at someones hands. Please think before you write or speak another hurtful word.
Sad to say but it could be your child. or brother. or sister. It is aproven fact that 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys have or will suffer at some time some form of abuse. Many of the drug, alcohol, and overweight problems today are because of some deep seated secret one is holding in the depths of their soul.
Let us pray for the Victims,the Accused, and for each one of us that are affected in any way by the evil that is so rampant in our world today. God help us all.
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