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May 08, 2005
Bishop admits Orange diocese failed molested children
SANTA ANA - Roman Catholic Bishop Michael P. Driscoll admitted Friday that his priorities were "horribly misplaced" when he helped supervise priests accused of sexual abuse in the 1970s and 1980s, as chancellor for the Diocese of Orange.
Driscoll, now the bishop of Boise, Idaho, posted a statement of apology on his diocesan Web site. In it, he said that although he already apologized in June 2002 for his role in the scandal, he was doing so again in anticipation of a court-ordered release of diocesan personnel files expected to shed light on how he -- and the Orange diocese -- responded to complaints of child abuse against local clergy and other diocesan employees.
"I am deeply sorry that the way we handled cases at that time allowed children to be victimized by permitting some priests to remain in ministry, for not disclosing their behavior to those who might be at risk, and for not monitoring their actions more closely," Driscoll wrote.
"Yet, the focus at that time was to provide help to priests so they could continue in their vocations. I know now that our priorities were horribly misplaced. First and foremost we should have done everything to protect the children."
Driscoll began his career as a priest in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. When the Diocese of Orange was formed in 1976, he was appointed to assist Bishop William Johnson in running it. Driscoll oversaw priest personnel for the diocese until 1987. He was elevated to auxiliary bishop in 1990 and took Bishop Tod Brown's place in Idaho after Brown was appointed bishop of Orange in 1998.
The release of the personnel files is part of a $100 million settlement between the Orange diocese and 90 plaintiffs who accused more than 30 former diocesan employees of abuse. The settlement, which is the largest in the U.S. abuse cases, was approved in January, but the personnel files have not been made public. Several former employees accused in the suits have objected to the release of their files.
Some personnel files already have been made public.
Posted by Nealus at May 8, 2005 07:19 PM
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