Proof-Texting Jesus, Post Catholic Sex-Abuse Scandal Style

I was saddened today to learn that a priest who had been removed from his parish duties in 2009, because of allegations that he had abused a female teen earlier in his career, now works in a teen crisis pregnancy center that he co-founded in 2015.

Did I mention that the CPC is housed in a former convent, right next door to a Catholic parish? Sigh.

Deacon Greg Kandra has the details.

Upon learning of this, two quotes I read recently popped into my head. The first one because,

One cannot level one’s moral lance at every evil in the universe. There are just too many of them. But you can do something, and the difference between doing something and doing nothing is everything.

—Daniel Berrigan, SJ

and that everything would definitely include not even remotely thinking that it would be a good idea for Father to be associated with the Teen Crisis Pregnancy Center we want to start, right?. You know, the one he helped get off the ground.

As a forgiven idea man, let’s give him credit. But that (coming up with the idea) is where his involvement should have ended, don’t you think?

I mean,  the archdiocese removed him from ministry and placed restrictions on him since 2009. And this is a pretty obviously a seen from orbit size violation of those restrictions. But now, see, it’s up to the people running the pregnancy center to fire him? The guy who cofounded the ministry less than a year ago?

Had anyone there ever heard of due diligence? I mean, I’d have loved to have been a fly on the wall when the staffing ideas for this important ministry moved to the agenda item where Fr. Kaucheck’s role was discussed, and voted upon.

This leads me to Jesus, and the proof text. It’s from the conclusion of the Parable of the Unjust Steward. Remember that one?

Take it away, LORD,

“For the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light.

Ain’t that the truth? It seems the Archdiocese of Detroit, who apparently were unaware of what was happening, thinks so too. Back on April 15, Jameson Cook, of The Macomb Daily, reported that,

Archdiocese spokesman Joe Kohn told The Macomb Daily on Thursday the organization has acted to remove Kaucheck from his position at Gianna House subject to the requirements under the Catholic’s Church’s legal process, the Congregation for Clerk of the Vatican.

“Father Kaucheck does remain barred from public ministry,” Kohn said. “It is our position Father Kaucheck’s involvement in Gianna House is public ministry. We are addressing the matter under canon law.”

I’m glad to see that the archdiocese is getting involved. But it troubles me that the folks starting up Gianna House didn’t see the need to seek their bishop’s advice regarding Fr. Kaucheck’s involvement in the first place.

Image credit: By Roman Harak (North Korea – Satellite view) [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons