Fr. Richard John Neuhaus on Falsely Accused Priests
A Kafkaesque Tale
May 2008
First Things
Father Gordon MacRae, a priest of the Diocese of Manchester, New Hampshire, has been in prison for more than twelve years, convicted of a sex-abuse crime that he insists he did not commit. He is sentenced to thirty-three years, and his claim of innocence precludes his being considered for parole.
So, you might think, most prisoners claim they are innocent. True enough, but in this case people of unimpeachable integrity and intelligence have closely examined the matter and believe he is telling the truth. MacRae admits to two earlier instances in which he was guilty of sexual misconduct but not to the charges on which he was convicted.
Among those who have critically examined the prosecution is Dorothy Rabinowitz, the Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter of the Wall Street Journal who wrote a two-part expose of the way in which he was railroaded, with the apparent help of the Manchester diocese and its bishop, John McCormack, a former aide to Cardinal Law of Boston.
Now the friends of Father MacRae have created a website, GordonMacRae.net, which provides a comprehensive narrative of the case, along with pertinent documentation. It makes for engrossing reading and will arouse a sense of outrage among all but the morally somnolent. The website also suggests how people can help Father MacRae in his quest for justice, which is a long shot but not hopeless.
I am amazed with the various comments concerning priest suicides. As usual, in RC circles a mortal sin is downgraded to a venial sin. This is a serious problem in the RC Church. I understand the angst in the hearts of families who had priests that committed suicide. It is hard to understand. But why, why doesn’t the RC hierarchy maintain the Biblical teachings and 2000 years of orthodox tradition that suicide is a capitol sin ? I am absolutely amazed how Catholic theologians can justify or make serious sins somewhat acceptable. When I was in the Brooklyn, NY diocesan college seminary back in the 1970’s, I saw this trend back then.. I did not want to the theologate; I did not want to accept liberal moral teachings. Now there is a whole generation of RC priests, nuns and laity that believe in situation ethics. That is one reason why so many RC priests can justify aberrant behaviour for all these years. Situation ethics has misled many RC seminaries down the wrong path.