Bishop Denies Any Responsibility for PA Child Sexual Abuse

[MineralMan]

Oldest trick in the book, to paraphrase: "Wasn't my fault. I wasn't responsible for that stuff. I knew about it, but it wasn't my job..." The Bishop punts, after failure to convert after several penalties made it impossible to get a first down.

http://www.dispatch.com/news/20180822/bishop-sex-abuse-allegations-were-outside-my-responsibility-as-auxiliary

Bishop: Sex abuse allegations were outside my responsibility as auxiliary

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — During his earlier years in Pittsburgh, Roman Catholic Bishop Thomas J. Tobin acknowledges he “became aware of incidents of sexual abuse when they were reported to the diocese.”

But in response to questions about what he knew, when he knew it — and what he did about it, the Providence-based bishop says these allegations were outside his realm of responsibility.

Between 1992 and 1996, Tobin served as auxiliary bishop of Pittsburgh, one of six Pennsylvania dioceses covered in a scathing grand jury report on the cover-up by Catholic Church officials in Pennsylvania of decades of child abuse by more than 300 priests. The grand jury found more than 1,000 identifiable victims of sexual abuse by priests.

“My responsibilities as Vicar General and General Secretary of the diocese did not include clergy assignments or clergy misconduct, but rather other administrative duties such as budgets, property, diocesan staff, working with consultative groups, etc. Even as an auxiliary bishop, I was not primarily responsible for clergy issues,″ Tobin said in his statement.

[saidsimplesimon]

1. This is not acceptable.

Anyone who knew about the abuse and took no action deserves a punishment equal to the perpetrator.

[MineralMan]

2. I agree. In fact, it is absolutely unconscionable.

Deplorable, too. This yet another example of the RCC's hierarchy failing miserably at a very simple thing. How can anyone say, "Oh, some priests are sexually abusing children? Oh well, that's not my department. I'll let the other folks handle that?"

It is simply disgusting and incomprehensible.

[Freethinker65]

3. Perhaps he should start holding rallies accusing other religious leaders of similiar crimes.

I do not think 10 Hail Marys will suffice

[MineralMan]

4. Add a sincere Act of Contrition, and it's all good, though.