National Review Board chair disputes John Jay report, links homosexuality to clerical abuse
May 29, 2013
The chairman of the National Review Board, a lay body that advises the US bishops in combating clerical sexual abuse, has disputed a 2011 John Jay College of Criminal Justice study that found no link between homosexuality and clerical abuse.
A journalist said to Al Notzon III, who is ending his term as chairman in June:
While the majority of clergy sex-abuse victims are post-pubescent boys, the researchers who completed the second John Jay Report concluded that same-sex attraction was not a significant factor in the crisis.
Notzon replied:
The majority of victims are still post-pubescent males … When you hire an independent researcher [group], they reach their own conclusions. I don’t agree with their conclusion in this instance — when 83% of cases are male on male.
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Further information:
- Bishops’ Adviser on Sexual Abuse: ‘How Do We Get Children Safer?’ (National Catholic Register)
- John Jay study ducked conclusion on homosexual influence, columnist charges (CWN, 5/26/11)
- Final John Jay report to US bishops: no single cause for abuse (CWN, 5/18/11)
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Posted by: -
May. 30, 2013 12:58 PM ET USA
Mr. Notzon has it right. The "John Jay Report" was so illogical that it had all the earmarks of a soi-disant "independent" study really designed to please the client (the USCCB). How about some openness and candor here, bishops?
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Posted by: mgreen32234 -
May. 30, 2013 9:28 AM ET USA
I remember watching the meeting of the bishops conference a few years ago on EWTN when they were discussing the Jay report. Never did anyone use the h word. I concluded they would rather be called pedophiles (which they comfortably know they are not) than homosexuals (which sadly many of them are even if they don't act on it.) I remember Father Neuhaus' words on the subject of priestly abuse: Fidelity. Fidelity. Fidelity.
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Posted by: Vincit omnia amor -
May. 29, 2013 10:49 PM ET USA
Frodo, You are right. Am happy Mr Notzon is pointing this out again.
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Posted by: TheJournalist64 -
May. 29, 2013 10:05 PM ET USA
Al is an old friend of mine and I can attest that he tells it like it is. Nobody with a truly objective outlook can ignore the connection between the two phenomena.
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Posted by: [email protected] -
May. 29, 2013 8:24 PM ET USA
Wow,it is about time somone called the abuse in the Church what it really is. The high majority of cases are one of homosexuality. It has been a problem in our seminaries, with our priests and bishops, and the USCCB to face the truth. Priests, bishops, and the USCCB has tried to hide it out of fear and backlash of the homsexual community. Fear can make you weak but it is the Holy Spirit that give courage and truth. Time we showed both.
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Posted by: JimKcda -
May. 29, 2013 7:21 PM ET USA
As my grandkids would say "DUH!" When are the Bishops going to get real and face up to the truth that everybody, Catholic and non-Catholic, already knows? Simply not admitting this fact is, in itself, a cover-up. Do they think we are stupid? It is obvious that they recognize the problem and are working on it. Why not admit it and get rid of the homosexual priests that still function in our parishes? Whether they are abusers or not, leaving them there is keeping good folks (and their kids) away
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Posted by: Minnesota Mary -
May. 29, 2013 6:51 PM ET USA
The same thing happened when the American Psychiatric Association was forced to remove Homosexuality as a disorder from the DSM IV book due to political pressure.
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Posted by: Defender -
May. 29, 2013 1:35 PM ET USA
Even a cursory survey of the situation would lead one to a similar conclusion. Has there ever been a survey of priests to find out how many are homosexual? I'm sure this is not something that the Church wants broadcasted, but the fact remains it's an open secret that there are homosexual priests. If 83% of the victims were male, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to question the conclusions made.
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Posted by: Frodo1945 -
May. 29, 2013 10:17 AM ET USA
I read the John Jay report several years ago and their conclusion of no link to homosexuality was not supported by their own evidence. Something else was at work in that report and it was denial. A few understand and acknowledge the link, many remain in denial or cower in fear.
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Posted by: jg23753479 -
May. 29, 2013 8:38 AM ET USA
The report's conclusion is ludicrous. One need only go to the Bishops Accountability website and look at what has actually happened in any diocese in the country. The offenses are sodomitic in more than 80% of the cases. My own take is that our bishops themselves are 'soft' on this issue and that is why the truth is being suppressed.
