the incompetence defense

By Diogenes ( articles ) | Aug 27, 2008

Former Belleville Bishop Wilton Gregory testified Tuesday that key documents concerning an accused priest were kept from him while he was leading an investigation into sexual abuse of minors in the 1990s.

So once again we have an American bishop offering an excuse that undermines his own claim to competence. If diocesan officials in Belleville withheld information from him, then-Bishop Gregory cannot be blamed for failing to act on that information and suspend a predator-priest. On the other hand, if the boss didn't know what his subordinates were doing, that speaks to his leadership and managerial abilities. 

Either way, the current Illinois court case can't do much to enhance the possibility-- much discussed by the local media-- that Archbishop Gregory could become the next Archbishop of New York.