At Calvary, Jesus, in the fullest and most ultimately comprehensive sense of the word, accomplishes the restoration of right relationship between fallen humanity and the Triune God. The Bible’s justice . . . involves generosity mercy, solicitude for the poor and the stranger, hospitality, and sacrificial love, and, towards past wrongs, love for enemies and reconciliation, all of which involve giving to others in excess of what they are owed, have a right to, or had coming to them. The justice demanded by the crisis of clergy sexual abuse can be no other than Eucharistic justice.
Police investigators took their time, 19 months, before closing a sexual assault allegation against a Catholic priest as “unfounded” on Wednesday. There will be no charges filed against Father. The investigation, conducted with the assistance of the District Attorney’s Office and the FBI, began in September 2021 with an accusation of sexual assault against the priest regarding what was reported as a series of up to 300 incidents between 2004 and 2008, allegedly involving a juvenile victim. “We had to get records collections from agencies, including medical records, and that involves a process and patience. It came together, it took time, but we needed everything before we could make our conclusion.”
Accuser “John Doe” claimed in court documents that as a young boy he had been sexually assaulted multiple times. Memories of the abuse were repressed until 2020, according to court documents, when Doe filed a lawsuit against a former priest and the Archdiocese, seeking monetary damages. Except the entire story was later proven in court to be a fabrication, seemingly in an attempt to get a settlement. Experts say the fallout can hurt real sex abuse victims as well as innocent clergy members, who often live in fear of one day standing falsely accused.
The debate among experts over which adults are vulnerable, and how vulnerable they are, has continued. Fr. Hans Zollner, SJ, has repeatedly indicated that he believes the definition of vulnerable adult in Vos estis to be unworkable, and even unhelpfully broad. He has publicly questioned an overbroad application of the term and highlighted how it detracts from sound application of the law. After years of effort, and countless pieces of papal legislation, it seems likely that the Church’s application of its own reforms will always be, at best, incoherent.