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Cardinal Timothy Dolan Paid Pedophile Priests To Go Quietly
By
Christopher Robbins
Published May 31, 2012
Modified May 31, 2012
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By
Christopher Robbins
Published May 31, 2012
Modified May 31, 2012
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Despite calling accusations that he paid off pedophile priests as the archbishop of Milwaukee "false, preposterous and unjust," the Times reports that Cardinal Timothy Dolan in fact made payments of as much as $20,000 to "a handful" of accused priests to encourage them to leave the priesthood sooner. “It was a way to provide an incentive to go the voluntary route and make it happen quickly, and ultimately cost less,” a diocese spokesman said, apparently not accounting for the incalculable costs of human misery associated with bribing pedophiles.
Experts in the Catholic Church’s response to sexual abuse say that payouts to dismissed priests are not uncommon. When a man becomes a priest, the church is expected to care for his needs for a lifetime.
Right, because the Church is here to serve the priests, not the people who pray to the church that their children can worship without being molested.
A Quinnipiac poll released today shows that while New York Catholics approve of the job he is doing, 43% of voters believe he and the Catholic Church are "too involved" in politics. And by "politics," the poll is probably referring to "a woman's right to receive the same standard of health care as anyone else in the country."
Tagged
cardinal dolan
catholicism
pedophilia
religion
timothy dolan
Christopher Robbins
Christopher Robbins is a New York City reporter covering transportation, affordable housing, local politics, and criminal justice. His work has also appeared in New York Magazine, The Village Voice and The New York Times. Chris is a graduate of Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke, Virginia, and enjoys biking to Fort Tilden in the summertime.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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