What struck me was this:
As the drum beats continue from every side for us to release the "names," I must still point to what I consider our greatest tactical mistake of the past few weeks.
If I recall, of the 8 priests involved, 5 had already been reported to local law enforcement agencies. That leaves 3.
Recall also that I pressed for you to meet with Det Barraclough and "consult" him about the other 3 so that we could state without
hesitation that all priests no longer in service had been reported to various law enforcement agencies. You resisted quite strongly that suggestion.
I hope you have changed your mind by now! By doing it back then, we would not appear to be crumbling under public pressure. It was a huge mistake on our part.
If we don't, today, "consult" with the Det. about those 3 names, I can guarantee you that I will get hauled into a Grand Jury proceeding and I will be forced to give all the names, etc.
I must now insist that this matter is no longer open for discussion. You must consult with the Det. about those 3 cases.
In my response to Parks, I want to state that every single case of the few priests was reported to the appropriate law enforcement agency over the years.
I must be able to state that--even publicly. And soon. I'm not sure you grasp the gravity of the situation and where this is
heading--not only with the media, but with the law enforcement and legal folks.
There is much in these emails that seems...okay. The Archbishop meeting with some victims, etc. But this....this is CYA in big bold pixels, ain't it?
The Archbishop is frantic that he be able to be honest in saying that law enforcement had heard about all the cases - even if it was yesterday about cases that occurred God knows when.
The oddest thing about this email is the placement of the word consult in quotes. Doesn't that seem to be a clear indication that this is all pro forma, meet some obscure letter of the law kind of last-minute action? "Consult?" As I read this, I created another letter from an imaginary prelate in my mind:
My dear brother "priests:"
During this "Easter" season, I am moved to write all of you to express my great pleasure in your "ministries."
Your "preaching" has prompted many to draw closer to "Christ." The "educational" ministries in your parishes have "taught" countless of our children and our young people the "truth" about the "faith."
Your "liturgies" are deeply expressive of the presence of "God" among us, and there's no doubt that all of the people of the diocese have benefited greatly from the "worship" they experience in your "churches."
Yours in "Christ,"
"Bishop" Baloney.