We've focused on teaching our girls about inappropriate touching and trusting their gut feelings but perhaps we need to teach this lesson to young boys and especially young men in the seminary environment that that is just not on.
That internal forum distinction quote from the Archdiocese is nonsense. When a spiritual director is told by a child or vulnerable adult that they are in an abusive situation, he must not simply advise them to reach out to their superiors. He should support them in reaching out. He should advise them that what is happening is abnormal and not to be tolerated. He should be ready to hand them a phone with the right number up on the screen. And it sounds from this article like a discussion occurred on the matter with all the novices present, which is already outside internal forum.
There are many things to be saddened by in this story, but the thing that saddened me the most was the novice whose family asked him why he was still practicing the faith. Thankfully - and by the grace of God - he had the right answer.
We will have yet another crisis of vocation in a few short years when those of us coming to parenthood under the shadow of the abuse crisis are deeply hesitant about praying for vocations for our own sons.
This is awful. Of course I don't want to take someone's word without proof. But for this many people to make similar accusations and the congretation not even to TALK to them? Who does that?
"None of the novices were interviewed. A spokesman for the Canons Regular told The Pillar that none of the men alleging misconduct had specifically requested an interview, and so none were conducted."
Our Church is in crisis, and this is a big reason why. We all know what it's like to work for people who have no idea what they're doing or who cheat or who break the law. At one of my first jobs, the accountant told me she never paid any bills until they were long past due so that we made a higher return on our money. I know several people who worked for the federal government and told me stories about bizarre situations including a boss who never came to work. I once had a boss who spent a significant amount of the day asleep. When employees work hard at their own jobs and report them to higher-ups only to see that nothing is done, it ruins morale and builds distrust of companies and organizations in general. Anyone who has worked anywhere expects a certain amount of incompetence--it appears to be inevitable. But this kind of egregious incompetence seems almost willed. Congregations fall apart. Dioceses too. Why ?
This story is a scandal that goes to the heart of the order in question and the Archdiocese of LA! No wonder the churches are emptying. More of the same doormat responses from the “faithful” to the outrageous irresponsible behavior by those who are deliberately covering up. Not a penny goes to them. Shame on them! Bishop Barron, your silence is deafening! Great investigative article!
Another story where you just see the ripples of damage done to young men and their families and who knows who else. I know we are sinners, but, please, Church be interested in bringing about repentance. This story more common than it should be. Lord Jesus Christ only Son of the Living God, have mercy on us.
How does a religious order functioning in the US in 2022 have no sexual misconduct policy? If there was no sexual misconduct policy, what standard did they use in evaluating the claims? Why weren't the novices considered to be corroborating witnesses for each other? And I wonder how many other dioceses with written policies similar to LA's would have reached the same conclusion to not interfere in the order's internal process? Methinks there may be a common understanding that these policies are on the books to look good, but not meant to accomplish anything. As for Bishop Barron, well it's not the first time that he hasn't looked into something that he didn't want to know about.
As for the men involved, my heart goes out to them for the trauma, abuse, and neglect they've endured at the hands of churchmen. I hope, in addition to thoughts and prayers, they are also getting solid therapy to deal with these psychic and moral wounds.
I don't pretend to know the truth about this, but I spent a lot of time with Fr. Dome growing up in various situations at the formation house and the parish, and I never witnessed or heard about any impropriety until the accusations of these former novices. It's sad to see Fr. Dome's and the CRIC's names dragged through the mud with these apparently unsubstantiated accusations. I hope the diocese takes this seriously and does a thorough investigation to determine the truth of the matter - if these accusations are true then Fr. Dome has caused a lot of harm to the novices and the community, but if they're not then the novices have caused a lot of distrust and division.
When will the chain of homosexual supply to the seminaries, guaranteeing corrupt prelates, formators, etc, be broken? The modernists are still in control, favoring the ignorant and compliant young guys so as to mold them in their own distorted image. What's the point of encouraging vocations among good, pious young men who are still being turfed out of seminaries?
“A spokesman for the Canons Regular told The Pillar that none of the men alleging misconduct had specifically requested an interview, and so none were conducted.” This is how the church conducts investigations, as when the second investigator for Bp Stika interviewed only the “seminarian” accused of abuse, not the complainant. Any investigator knows this is incomplete.
I believe the church does not want to stop abuse—it wants it to go away. And the silence that ensues—sometimes even no acknowledgement of a claim at all—supports my view. And let’s not even mention the discourtesy and disrespect of prolonged silence. I have slowly come to this utter loss of respect for church hierarchy, but now I recognize their bad faith.
As a long-time follower of The Pillar and the whole Twitter gang here, I’m pretty disappointed by your article and these comments. Fr Tom and the CRICs have served the community in Santa Paula tirelessly and humbly for over 2 decades. The parishes they serve are vibrant and faithful. These accusations are completely out of character. It is worth noting that the seminarians all came here together as a group from their previous seminary where they also were all unhappy. They are loyal to each other. You need to look into them, especially Vizcarra. When they left, they stole the CRICs mailing list and newsletter file and immediately began to solicit for donations under the guise of a religious order. In your article, the accusers all get to hide behind anonymity, but all those accused are called out by name. Why are the seminarians taken at their word but you never even talked to anyone in the greater community here? We could have told you something doesn’t add up.
We've focused on teaching our girls about inappropriate touching and trusting their gut feelings but perhaps we need to teach this lesson to young boys and especially young men in the seminary environment that that is just not on.
That internal forum distinction quote from the Archdiocese is nonsense. When a spiritual director is told by a child or vulnerable adult that they are in an abusive situation, he must not simply advise them to reach out to their superiors. He should support them in reaching out. He should advise them that what is happening is abnormal and not to be tolerated. He should be ready to hand them a phone with the right number up on the screen. And it sounds from this article like a discussion occurred on the matter with all the novices present, which is already outside internal forum.
There are many things to be saddened by in this story, but the thing that saddened me the most was the novice whose family asked him why he was still practicing the faith. Thankfully - and by the grace of God - he had the right answer.
We will have yet another crisis of vocation in a few short years when those of us coming to parenthood under the shadow of the abuse crisis are deeply hesitant about praying for vocations for our own sons.
So sad to read this about the CRIC's. I knew a Fr. Leo ___, CRIC in Pasadena back in the 80's who would be in his 70's now if he's still with us.
Some powerful stuff here. Good work, Pillar team.
What kind of “investigation” doesn’t interview the complaining victims/witnesses? A sham…
This is awful. Of course I don't want to take someone's word without proof. But for this many people to make similar accusations and the congretation not even to TALK to them? Who does that?
"None of the novices were interviewed. A spokesman for the Canons Regular told The Pillar that none of the men alleging misconduct had specifically requested an interview, and so none were conducted."
Our Church is in crisis, and this is a big reason why. We all know what it's like to work for people who have no idea what they're doing or who cheat or who break the law. At one of my first jobs, the accountant told me she never paid any bills until they were long past due so that we made a higher return on our money. I know several people who worked for the federal government and told me stories about bizarre situations including a boss who never came to work. I once had a boss who spent a significant amount of the day asleep. When employees work hard at their own jobs and report them to higher-ups only to see that nothing is done, it ruins morale and builds distrust of companies and organizations in general. Anyone who has worked anywhere expects a certain amount of incompetence--it appears to be inevitable. But this kind of egregious incompetence seems almost willed. Congregations fall apart. Dioceses too. Why ?
This story is a scandal that goes to the heart of the order in question and the Archdiocese of LA! No wonder the churches are emptying. More of the same doormat responses from the “faithful” to the outrageous irresponsible behavior by those who are deliberately covering up. Not a penny goes to them. Shame on them! Bishop Barron, your silence is deafening! Great investigative article!
Another story where you just see the ripples of damage done to young men and their families and who knows who else. I know we are sinners, but, please, Church be interested in bringing about repentance. This story more common than it should be. Lord Jesus Christ only Son of the Living God, have mercy on us.
How does a religious order functioning in the US in 2022 have no sexual misconduct policy? If there was no sexual misconduct policy, what standard did they use in evaluating the claims? Why weren't the novices considered to be corroborating witnesses for each other? And I wonder how many other dioceses with written policies similar to LA's would have reached the same conclusion to not interfere in the order's internal process? Methinks there may be a common understanding that these policies are on the books to look good, but not meant to accomplish anything. As for Bishop Barron, well it's not the first time that he hasn't looked into something that he didn't want to know about.
As for the men involved, my heart goes out to them for the trauma, abuse, and neglect they've endured at the hands of churchmen. I hope, in addition to thoughts and prayers, they are also getting solid therapy to deal with these psychic and moral wounds.
I don't pretend to know the truth about this, but I spent a lot of time with Fr. Dome growing up in various situations at the formation house and the parish, and I never witnessed or heard about any impropriety until the accusations of these former novices. It's sad to see Fr. Dome's and the CRIC's names dragged through the mud with these apparently unsubstantiated accusations. I hope the diocese takes this seriously and does a thorough investigation to determine the truth of the matter - if these accusations are true then Fr. Dome has caused a lot of harm to the novices and the community, but if they're not then the novices have caused a lot of distrust and division.
When will the chain of homosexual supply to the seminaries, guaranteeing corrupt prelates, formators, etc, be broken? The modernists are still in control, favoring the ignorant and compliant young guys so as to mold them in their own distorted image. What's the point of encouraging vocations among good, pious young men who are still being turfed out of seminaries?
“A spokesman for the Canons Regular told The Pillar that none of the men alleging misconduct had specifically requested an interview, and so none were conducted.” This is how the church conducts investigations, as when the second investigator for Bp Stika interviewed only the “seminarian” accused of abuse, not the complainant. Any investigator knows this is incomplete.
I believe the church does not want to stop abuse—it wants it to go away. And the silence that ensues—sometimes even no acknowledgement of a claim at all—supports my view. And let’s not even mention the discourtesy and disrespect of prolonged silence. I have slowly come to this utter loss of respect for church hierarchy, but now I recognize their bad faith.
As a long-time follower of The Pillar and the whole Twitter gang here, I’m pretty disappointed by your article and these comments. Fr Tom and the CRICs have served the community in Santa Paula tirelessly and humbly for over 2 decades. The parishes they serve are vibrant and faithful. These accusations are completely out of character. It is worth noting that the seminarians all came here together as a group from their previous seminary where they also were all unhappy. They are loyal to each other. You need to look into them, especially Vizcarra. When they left, they stole the CRICs mailing list and newsletter file and immediately began to solicit for donations under the guise of a religious order. In your article, the accusers all get to hide behind anonymity, but all those accused are called out by name. Why are the seminarians taken at their word but you never even talked to anyone in the greater community here? We could have told you something doesn’t add up.