New Hampshire newspaper editorial says bishop has lost moral authority

CWN - April 05, 2011

The Manchester (New Hampshire) Union Leader has entered the debate sparked by a state legislator's characterization of Bishop John McCormack a "pedophile pimp," saying that while the lawmaker's words were intemperate, the bishop's moral authority is in tatters:

This newspaper called for the resignation of Bishop John McCormack nine years ago, when it became clear just how shabby a record he had in handling pedophile priests for the equally shabby Cardinal Bernard Law in Boston. It was McCormack's actions, much more than the poorly chosen words of a New Hampshire legislator, that have been a slap in the face to Catholics.

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House Majority Leader D.J. Bettencourt would not need to apologize, as he rightly did yesterday, had he been more subtle in his remarks questioning McCormack's moral authority.

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Show 3 Comments? (Hidden)Hide Comments
  • Posted by: hartwood01 - Apr. 08, 2011 9:05 PM ET USA

    And we worry that Islam will take over America! With the preferential treatment these offending clergy at the top get, we got bigger problems keeping the faithful in the pews.

  • Posted by: qcuinne8582 - Apr. 05, 2011 7:59 PM ET USA

    And Cardinal Law winds up with a cushy position in Rome. What's going on here?

  • Posted by: Steve214 - Apr. 05, 2011 7:27 PM ET USA

    It is hard to find a tactful way of expressing what Bishop McCormack did. He acted as though he did not believe that human beings have souls that can be lost.

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