"Not-so-perfect" perfect diocese of Knoxville

[ToniPacitti]

Attacks, casting stones with no credible evidence, do nothing to spur anyone to action.Lots of accusations. No meat. No news is bad news? For justice for crimes you insist have been committed, perhaps it would help if a victim came forward with details that would leave no room for doubt that a crime was actually committed.

[snaptn]

Plenty of credible evidence. It just resides with the victims that you do not listen to. It also resides with the diocese who trusts that people like you will not demand the truth. YOU are complicit when you do not demand the truth.

[ToniPacitti]

Bingo! I struck a nerve.

[snaptn]

There are thousands of victims out there whose nerves have been trampled on for years by the church. People like you are a dime a dozen. Nothing but the same ole mindless tripe. Why don't you try to stike a nerve with the bishop and ask for the whole truth.. . or do you just not have the nerve? As for my striking my nerves . . . try what you will if it gets you to listen to the victims of clergy sexual abuse.

[survivorjake]

The real question is why you are so upset over a few questions posed to your Hierarchy?  Talk about striking a nerve. We just ask the questions. Whos really afraid of the answers?

[survivorjake]

What evidence do you require...this video merely points out that of ten known (by the churches own admission) priests (one of which I was a victim of) in this area served at several locations, and at these locations no one was told. There may be many abuse victims that have not come forward yet to get help. Probably due to the harsh reactions they get from parishioners like you. Hide and suffer, because they are afraid.

[survivorjake]

Oh but wait...we can still hold a mass for them. I'm sure that'll help.

[MJinET]

Toni & Gene, continue to stick your heads in the sand if this is comforting to you. Susan and her group are attempting to obtain justice for victims. Why are you threatened by that? I only hope you don't find out at some point that your own sons/grandsons weren't also victims.

[ToniPacitti]

You were an accomplice back when you were told about your student having been abused. You were an accomplice because YOU DID NOTHING. Now you're pointing fingers? Guilt feelings do nothing to repair the damage, as you so often state in your criticism of Anthony O'Connell's present life. Face a mirror and point that finger at yourself.

[snaptn]

I was a young, stupid nun at the time. That's a fact not an excuse.  I am doing now what I did not do then. What about you? Have you asked the bishop to tell the truth. He is so governed by lawyers and insurance companies that he has lost his way. I was lost at 28, but I found my way and have worked since then to fix what I have done. I'm not looking for anyone's approval, but when I face the mirror, I see someone who is trying. What about you?

[ToniPacitti]

If you have such hard core evidence, why are you not forthcoming? I have no reason to believe Bishop Kurtz is not telling the truth. On the other hand, why should I believe an ex-nun with an ax to grind with vague accusations? You said it yourself; you did nothing. That says everything. BTW, my husband and I are having a Mass said for you.

[survivorjake]

She, and I and the 7000 others in SNAP are working to fix this. To get the church to disclose the full extent of this problem and fix it. Hold your mass, and I will pray that you and your faith heal through truth.

[snaptn]

Why should we tell the people in the pews what the bishop is hiding? These victims have already been victimized by clergy. Why is the bishop and the priests of the diocese abusing them again by not telling the truth? It's obvious. People would be furious to know what has been covered up. You want action from the bishop, don't put in your envelope. That will get action.

[survivorjake]

Seems to me see is. She saw her error and is trying to correct it. Can you say the church has seen its error and correcting it? Can you honestly say that every abused child has recieved the proper treatment, every priest perp is locked away from kids so they can't abuse further? I was abused by a priest in east tennessee. The nightmares I have tell me I have yet recovered, and your church long forgot me.

[tv479]

He touched little kids!! That is not forgivable i dont care what good he has done it does not over shadow the VERY BAD he has done. He should be locked up like any other child abuser not moved to "cloistered" location. Whatever he gets from the men in jail cannot be more devistating than what he has done to soooooo many CHILDREN! Jail would not even be equal punishment but it would keep him out of contact with other children

[tv479]

I am now a 19yr old male and i know what every teen and young person thinks of this. And whose oppinion really matters for the future of this church. I guarantee young people now days will not be part of a church that displays pics of abusers. O'connel was ranked 2nd on the most scadalist persons in knoxville in the metropulse news paper. It has made the catholic church a laughing stock amoung young people. I highly respect what Susan does and the rest of you need to wake up!

[tv479]

I was young when this man was still bishop and i always revered him as a holy man. I now realize he probably enjoyed the power he held over me as an innocent child. I touched this man, i hugged this man! he probably enjoyed it!! i was not abused myself but this is absured. He is not your common rapist he is worse! He is not a surgeon that loses one every once in a while due to a mistake. He is a holy man that ruined lives by choice!

[xelyu]

You are a raving lunatic. I am fully aware of what every single parish you listed has, and why they are that list: because they still have a picture of Bishop O'Connell up. Why don't you start telling the truth, instead of spreading lies?

[snaptn]

These parishes are listed because they have had at least one abusive priest assigned there. The churches and schools with pictures of O'Connell are being listed in the "Where's the Perp?" series. If you would demand the truth from the bishop and priests, you wouldn't be so confused.

[snaptn]

No, Gene, I am not an abuse victim. I am an advocate for victims of abuse. There is a reason why I am doing this. I will put my story on YouTube soon so you will understand. What I have learned in the last few years has shocked me and changed my life forever.

[gene4ut]

Bishop O'Connell was the first Bishop of Knoxville we can take down all the pictures but he was still the first Bishop. I do not condone what he did and it disgusts me. I don't care to see his picture either but the decision has been made to keep the pictures. I believe he is also paying dearly for his bad judgments and the Diocese has paid dearly and all Catholics have paid and now you are making us pay more.

PAX gene

[snaptn]

You have never been told the full facts about O'Connell. Victims have tried but the diocese keeps them away from you. The "picture" just says loud and clear that the diocese is insensitive and unkind.  They want the pictures but they don't want "correct history". Where are the plaques under those pictures that say, "Admitted molester of teenage boys"? THAT is history.

[gene4ut]

Susan

Are you one of these abused?

gene

[gene4ut]

I fail to understand what good this would do. History is history, and part of that history is Bishop O'Connell admitted to what he did and is paying a price for his actions. I don't think anyone is denying that he molested boys.

[survivorjake]

just a quick question....HOW is he paying the price? Is he in jail? Is he on probation? Has he had any punishment at all? If he were an ordinary man he would face arrest, but because he is a "man of the cloth" he gets a pass?

The good it would do is show that this society does not condone sexual abuse.

[gene4ut]

Thank you for your question. Is he still the Bishop of anything? Do you know what he is doing now?

PAX

[survivorjake]

Enjoying a Catholic Retirement in Florida. No punishment at all...unfortunately thats the case most of the time. Only rarely, such as the case of McKeowen who is currently serving time. My perp is free has owned several businesses and living in Florida, even after admiting to the police of abusing more than 20 kids.

[survivorjake]

For the sake of clarity...Only rarely, such as the case of McKeowen who is currently serving time, does any of these priest suffer criminal procecution.

[gene4ut]

I believing he is serving for crimes he commited after he left the priesthood?

[survivorjake]

Yes, but the Church was sued for defrocking this priest and releasing him into an unsuspecting puplic to further victimize kids. They knew he was an abuser but told no one. He then victimized two kids in a neighborhood, thats when he got punished.

[gene4ut]

He now resides in a cloistered monastery that is not in Florida.  My understanding his duties are taking care of the sick and dying there, by doing laundry and house work.. And No he is not the Bishop of anything.

Many of the actions of the Church officials appeared to have been criminal and were at best shameful. But are these actions of the Church officials and the "perps' unforgivable?

[survivorjake]

The church has admitted to the following: Of the over 5000 priests deamed to have credible evidence against them, less than 900 have been removed and fewer than 2% have served any time in jail. If I wanted to molest kids...I want to be a priest cause I have less than a 1 in 50 chance of getting any punishment. Thats if you only go by what the church has admitted to. by those odds of the 11000 victims (by church admission), only 220 saw any justice.

[gene4ut]

Are there still more than 4100 active priest who have credible evidence against them?

[survivorjake]

Probably not active, either 'voluntarily' left the priesthood, died, or retired. The stats I believe are since 1960 and nationwide. These are only what the church has admitted to. Reality is probably worse. Are there active priests with credible evidence against them still in ministry? Absolutely, most likely over a thousand. Other than organizations such as SNAP and Bishopaccountablity there is no one searching for these priests. The church wont give that kind of info. We've asked.

[survivorjake]

Unforgivable? Would one not have to ask forgiveness in order to receive it? Can one who has not requested forgiveness accept it? Far too theological for me to grasp...but God forgives sins on repentance. Repentance is the turning around of evil actions. One must stop doing evil things in order to receive the gift of Christ, to receive forgiveness. I will forgive when the actions stop and I am asked. Not one second before.

[gene4ut]

Am am wondering why your prep is not serving time?

[survivorjake]

The reason...two actually. First, I was stupid and went to O'Connell (what was I thinking, going to a church to get help?). And secondly, Statute of Limitations. I failed to come forward in time to bring him to justice. Recently a state law was passed to extend the SOL law but failed to open a window to allow me to go back and get him or the church. New cases have thirty years. My case was 25 five years ago. Sorry no grandfathering. Gives a whole new meaning to SOL (s*** out of luck).

[gene4ut]

You were abused in TN? Who is he? What parrish?

[survivorjake]

Frank Richards Principal of Knox Catholic High School.

[gene4ut]

Thanks for the answer. Again very sorry for the situation you are in, you remain in my prayers.

[survivorjake]

Again, now more that ever, it is seen by the perps that the overwhelming outcome of abusing kids is protection by the church from criminal and civil suits, removal to another location, and/or retirement. These priest are rarely punished in any sense of the word. There is no deterance to this crime.

[gene4ut]

Are you claiming that the Church is still protecting "perps" from criminal and civil suits by removal to another location, and/or retirement? What is your proof?

I am very sorry for what has happened to you.

PAX

gene

[survivorjake]

In Yakima, the local newspaper reported that Fr. Darell Mitchell, who'd been caught with naked photos of young boys on his computer, was quietly working in a St. Louis parish with a parochial school. It turned out to be true. And it was the second time in a year that a sexually troubled priest from another state was transferred to this one inner city St. Louis parish. In neither case was anyone warned.

Yakima Herald-Republic 12-21-06 Yes, sorry to say they are still shuffling these priests.

[gene4ut]

Jake,

I do not have enough knowledge to speak to other cases intelligently and may not have enough knowledge to speak intelligently about the O'Connell's case. I am not aware of any evidence that the Church moved O'Connell to FL to hide him away or avoid prosecution. My understanding charges were brought against O'Connell and trials were held and the case(s) were settled. He was tried by the government and not the Church.

[survivorjake]

I never said that they moved him to FL. He went to FL to be Bishop for three years. Then was accused and confessed...served no time, never prosecuted and now resides in a monistary in SC (I did misstype earlier when I said FL) He is also reported to be enjoying himself.

[gene4ut]

Sorry,friend I thought you ment the Diocese of Knoxville.  I am wondering which is worst, over exaggeration or under exaggeration?

[gene4ut]

I do not think that any of the priest that you claim to be moved here were moved here on Bishop Kurtz's watch. If my memory servers me right there was a priest here that had some type of abuse in his past, I think he was turned directly over to the authorities and was gone, not merely hidden away.

PAX gene

[snaptn]

You are sadly mistaken, sir, and are an example of the kind of misinformation the diocese wants you to have. If the church will keep deep, dark, and terrible secrets of the past, what lies are they telling you now? Ask the victims if it is okay that Bishop Kurtz won't release the names of perpetrating priests. It is NOT okay.

[gene4ut]

Why did you not just ask for permission to go into the church and take your pictures? In stead you seek into the building like a thief. That is my Parrish and I feel abused and violated by your actions of sneaking into our Holy Church to try and to do us harm. You obviously do not have knowledge of our Church or respect for it. I question your character? After seeking into my Church I did notice that in Vol 2 you lied to the person when they asked if they could help you.

PAX gene

[snaptn]

I asked the parish council of St. John Neumann to remove O'Connell's picture because victims asked that it be removed.  When they see his face, they see the face of their abuser. Some cannot go into churches and schools because of this. I walked into St. John Neumann and the chauncery offices of the diocese of Knoxville. There was no "sneaking" about it.

[gene4ut]

Are you saying that there are people that were abused by O'Connell and they are now going to SJN!?

gene

[AnniesAbbey]

I don't get it. Why doesn't the church just say, " these are the guys who hurt children, name the churches they were in and go talk to the people. I also don't get why the people aren't demanding it. If it were my child I would be furious. What's wrong with these people?

Abbey in TN

[KayNKansas]

Sounds like the diocese of Nashville operates just the same as the diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph... sad, but true!

KayNKansas

"We are the ones we have been waiting for."

--Hopi Nation, Oraibi, Arizona

[snaptn]

They're all alike! I have up-teen other parishes to list here as time permits. Too bad people won't wake up.

Susan