Author Topic: SSPX Scandal from the Remnant. (Read 26936 times)

Matto · « **on:** November 18, 2020, 12:38:22 PM »

https://remnantnewspaper.com/web/index.php/headline-news-around-the-world/item/5152-looking-for-answers-sspx-priest-accused

I didn't see a thread on this. A woman accuses an SSPX priest of raping her in the 90's. She says she bore the priest's child. And accuses the SSPX of covering it up back then and still now. This is the Remnant, not homo Voris.

klasG4e · « **Reply #1 on:** November 18, 2020, 07:49:46 PM »

The woman's testimony on her video is as disturbing to listen to as it is tedious. Hard to know what to make of her and her testimony, although I certainly don't believe it could, let alone should, be dismissed out of hand.

One of the comments under the video says that the official policy known as Pontifical Secrecy allowed the cover-up of the type of evil things alleged by this woman. I have not seen evidence of this, but rather just the opposite.

Mr G · « **Reply #2 on:** November 19, 2020, 07:10:23 AM »

Despite her many mistakes and poor judgment, at least she was smart enough to keep copies of all her communications with the various SSPX priests, which seems at the minimum to indicate a cover up.

Matthew · « **Reply #3 on:** November 19, 2020, 09:12:42 AM »

Given the avalanche of bad news engulfing us all these days, this article/video is something I am truly loathe to post. We have all had quite enough of scandal in the Church and out these days, and there just seems to be no end in sight.
Many good souls are quite literally at the end of their rope.
Let me begin with an editorial observation: The Remnant is not an investigative journal. We do not pretend to have the resources or the desire to field teams of private investigators to take down priests accused of abuse. I rarely weigh in on accusations of abuse, especially those leveled by organizations with an obvious axe to grind.
So, when Attorney General Josh Shapiro, for example, came out with his Pennsylvania investigative grand jury report a few years ago, alleging widescale abuse by Catholic priests, we published the following in the description box of this video:

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“Do you think PA District Attorney Josh Shapiro is a friend of the Catholic Church? Remnant Underground's Michael J. Matt not only steps outside the box but also smashes it to bits as he analyses what's really going on with the clerical sex abuse crisis.”

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That particular video called for the application of due process in each and every case, since it was clear to me that Mr. Shapiro—no friend of the Catholic Church—was anxious to use scandal in our Church to undermine the moral authority of our Church.
When Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan went after Catholic priests back in 2018, I wrote THIS, in which I argued:
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I am not suggesting she’s lying or that her investigation is even dredging up false accusations. But I am saying that lots of people have all sorts of axes to grind against the Catholic Church. How easy it will be to kick off another #Metoo movement where all priests are concerned, by listing all accusations as credible.
We cannot let that happen. We have all known priests who were falsely accused, and just as the laws of both God and Man forbid a rush to acquit, so too they take a dim view of a rush to convict.
Madigan is not our friend. More to the point, she is no friend of the Catholic Church, having on numerus occasions used the weight of her office to promote an agenda that is diametrically opposed to the teachings of the Catholic Church.

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I believe The Remnant has been consistent in maintaining that we cannot—and MUST not—allow the attacks on the Novus Ordo priesthood to become unilateral attacks on the priesthood itself.
I believe every priest—traditional or otherwise—must not be convicted in the court of public opinion and is deserving of the presumption of innocence until proven otherwise.
In the case of the SSPX, I have no inside information on cases of alleged abuse over and above that which is already in the public eye. I have never attended a Society chapel and know nothing about the inner workings of that organization.
What I have done is to consistently defend Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre and the Society of St. Pius X against the scurrilous charge of schism. And I will continue to do. But I do not pretend to have access to any more details of a given case against an SSPX priest than anyone else has.
Bottom line: I do not get involved in scandals about which I have no personal knowledge and thus no right to comment.
Muckraking and scandalmongering are not "my thing", as was again made clear by my refusal to say one word against a certain vociferous critic of the SSPX after he'd admitted on his popular Internet TV show that he'd been active in the gαy lifestyle for years, before his conversion.
The following case, however, is something else entirely.
In her video testimony, Miss Erica Kauffman alleges she was raped by a SSPX priest and bore his child. In the course of her testimony, she also calls me out by name, something which has already suggested to many people that I must have some inside information on this case. Else why bring my name into it?  In fact, I did not and do not.
Before the video was posted on YouTube, I had never heard the name of the accused priest and knew nothing of Miss Kauffman’s ordeal.
After viewing her video, I was moved to contact Miss Kauffman. In speaking over the telephone, I discovered in her a person who has manifestly no animus against the SSPX. In fact, she does not wish for her story to be taken up by any organization which does.
I asked her for corroborating evidence, i.e., a birth certificate for her child (now adopted) or some other notarized docuмent that establishes paternity. This Miss Kauffman made available to me, along with other corroborating docuмents.
Given my now-firsthand knowledge of the details and direct experience with the victim, this particular case is one on which I feel morally obliged to comment, especially since all private attempts to resolve it seem to have been in vain.
If the SSPX priest in question is still in ministry, despite having fathered a child with one of his parishioners through rape, this is a scandal all traditional Catholics--inside the SSPX and out--want resolved. Could there be extenuating circuмstances that mitigate the charges? Of course, and pray there are.
A month ago, I privately discussed this case with a representative of the SSPX and found him to be fully cooperative with my inquiry. And now in charity for a sister in Christ who has evidently suffered much, I will allow Miss Kauffman to bring her case to the attention of our readers for the purpose of achieving justice for her as well as preventing further scandal.
In posting this video, I make no judgment nor do I claim to have any inside information over and above what I have already here divulged.
In addition, I presume the SSPX leadership may wish to tell their side of the story. Perhaps they already have done so, I don’t know. Either way, I offer these columns to them, should they wish to publicly respond to Miss Kauffman's now-public complaint posted on YouTube.
One final point, Miss Kauffman mentions the name of one of the lawyers on the SSPX legal team—a man who happens to be a close friend of mine. The advice my friend reportedly gave to Miss Kauffman—i.e., that she “get a lawyer,”—is something my friend would say to me and to anyone else with a serious grievance of this kind. My friend’s legal advice can be summed up as: “If you have a case, get a lawyer and take it to court. That's the only way to get to the bottom of these things.”
Though I am not a lawyer, this is the advice I myself would give to Miss Kauffman, even though the statute of limitations in her case has run out. I would advise Miss Kauffman to take advantage of whatever legal recourse is available to her, so that this matter can be laid to rest for all parties concerned and as soon as possible.
Please pray for Miss Kauffman, for the child involved and for the accused priest. I know Miss Kauffman would agree that this priest also deserves his day in court.
I beg the reader's forgiveness in advance for adding one more disheartening scandal to an already growing list. May God help us to keep the faith despite the Devil's best attempts to discourage and demoralize us all.
Here, then, is the unedited video. May God's will be done.
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Published in Headline News Around the World

Pax Vobis · « **Reply #4 on:** November 19, 2020, 09:45:23 AM »

The Remnant claims to be a catholic organization, yet their public advertisement of this scandal is wholly anti-catholic and immoral, from a charity and justice standpoint. They shouldn't be encouraging women to "air their dirty laundry", even if such a sad story is true. Such stories serve no purpose, except to cause scandal, and hate of the Church.
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The Remnant has no authority to investigate, no manner in which to pass judgement, and therefore no moral reason to get involved. They should have told the woman the same thing the lawyer told her, "Get a lawyer and go to court". This is where justice should take place - in a courtroom, not on a website.
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The fact that the Remnant posts such stories, shows they care more about website traffic and advertising $ than about the truth, or about this woman, or her child, or the priest. They are no better than the Paparazzi or the TMZ type hollywood gossip magazines. Shame, shame, shame on them.

Last Tradhican · « **Reply #5 on:** November 19, 2020, 10:06:31 AM »

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I asked her for corroborating evidence, i.e., a birth certificate for her child (now adopted)

Do I understand this correctly, she gave up her child to others for adoption?

(I do not have the time or patience to listen to this 1hour video, it was putting me to sleep just watching 10 seconds. To anyone that watches it clear through, it would be great if they would post here the details of what she said. Thanks and God Bless.)

Matthew · « **Reply #6 on:** November 19, 2020, 10:26:21 AM »

Quote from: Pax Vobis on November 19, 2020, 09:45:23 AM

The Remnant claims to be a catholic organization, yet their public advertisement of this scandal is wholly anti-catholic and immoral, from a charity and justice standpoint.

Actually, you should read his motivation and thinking on the matter. I think it is completely Catholic and good:

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After viewing her video, I was moved to contact Miss Kauffman. In speaking over the telephone, I discovered in her a person who has manifestly no animus against the SSPX. In fact, she does not wish for her story to be taken up by any organization which does.
I asked her for corroborating evidence, i.e., a birth certificate for her child (now adopted) or some other notarized docuмent that establishes paternity. This Miss Kauffman made available to me, along with other corroborating docuмents.
Given my now-firsthand knowledge of the details and direct experience with the victim, this particular case is one on which I feel morally obliged to comment, especially since all private attempts to resolve it seem to have been in vain.
If the SSPX priest in question is still in ministry, despite having fathered a child with one of his parishioners through rape, this is a scandal all traditional Catholics--inside the SSPX and out--want resolved. Could there be extenuating circuмstances that mitigate the charges? Of course, and pray there are.
A month ago, I privately discussed this case with a representative of the SSPX and found him to be fully cooperative with my inquiry. And now in charity for a sister in Christ who has evidently suffered much, I will allow Miss Kauffman to bring her case to the attention of our readers for the purpose of achieving justice for her as well as preventing further scandal.

Pax Vobis · « **Reply #7 on:** November 19, 2020, 11:02:34 AM »

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Given my now-firsthand knowledge of the details and direct experience with the victim, this particular case is one on which I feel morally obliged to comment, especially since all private attempts to resolve it seem to have been in vain.

No. If private attempts fail, the lady should go to the authorities. This "private investigator" has no right or authority to publicly air this allegation. The proper channel of justice is the court system.
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If the SSPX priest in question is still in ministry, despite having fathered a child with one of his parishioners through rape, this is a scandal all traditional Catholics--inside the SSPX and out--want resolved. Could there be extenuating circuмstances that mitigate the charges? Of course, and pray there are.

The matter has to be proved first. This journalist is acting like they are the responsible for justice. They aren't.
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A month ago, I privately discussed this case with a representative of the SSPX and found him to be fully cooperative with my inquiry. And now in charity for a sister in Christ who has evidently suffered much, I will allow Miss Kauffman to bring her case to the attention of our readers for the purpose of achieving justice for her as well as preventing further scandal.

This is a misguided attempt at "public justice" by bringing it to the "attention of our readers". This is mob rule, plain and simple. It shows a short-sighted view of justice, and a (even if good-willed) subversion of the rule of law. This whole approach to a potential criminal act is emotional and out of control.

josefamenendez · « **Reply #8 on:** November 19, 2020, 11:46:56 AM »

It seems the clock has run out on the statute of limitations re: her charges.

Mr G · « **Reply #9 on:** November 19, 2020, 11:54:46 AM »

Quote from: Pax Vobis on November 19, 2020, 11:02:34 AM

No. If private attempts fail, the lady should go to the authorities. This "private investigator" has no right or authority to publicly air this allegation. The proper channel of justice is the court system.
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The matter has to be proved first. This journalist is acting like they are the responsible for justice. They aren't.
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This is a misguided attempt at "public justice" by bringing it to the "attention of our readers". This is mob rule, plain and simple. It shows a short-sighted view of justice, and a (even if good-willed) subversion of the rule of law. This whole approach to a potential criminal act is emotional and out of control.

In this case, I believe the statute of limitations have expired, so she cannot go to the police. As for getting a lawyer, she claims not to have the funds necessary.
I think that the SSPX will be plagues with these problems until the faithful and good priests admit their are evils going on, that cover-ups are still being committed, and then demand that the bad priests be punished to the level that would seem appropriate or each particular case (monastery confinement, public apology, jail time, and/or laicized) and then withhold donations (faithful), job walk off (teachers and lay staff) and disobey any order that continue the cover-up and deceptions (priests and religious).

It is a shame that the SSPX has become more of a big business with a religious flavor than a religious order.

See what happens when you want approval from heretics, infiltrators and apostates.

PAT317 · « **Reply #10 on:** November 19, 2020, 11:55:43 AM »

Quote from: klasG4e on November 18, 2020, 07:49:46 PM

...video ... as it is tedious.

Quote from: Last Tradhican on November 19, 2020, 10:06:31 AM

(I do not have the time or patience to listen to this 1hour video, it was putting me to sleep just watching 10 seconds.

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Just a tip, in general: I find that one can play youtube videos at 1.5x the speed, or in the case of this one, I think 2x the speed, if one is interested to listen but doesn't have huge volumes of time. (Who does?) Especially when the speaker is speaking extremely slowly.

Pax Vobis · « **Reply #11 on:** November 19, 2020, 12:12:15 PM »

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I think that the SSPX will be plagues with these problems until the faithful and good priests admit their are evils going on, that cover-ups are still being committed, and then demand that the bad priests be punished to the level that would seem appropriate or each particular case (monastery confinement, public apology, jail time, and/or laicized) and then withhold donations (faithful), job walk off (teachers and lay staff) and disobey any order that continue the cover-up and deceptions (priests and religious).

You're assuming the priest is guilty. That's not charitable.
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In this case, I believe the statute of limitations have expired, so she cannot go to the police. As for getting a lawyer, she claims not to have the funds necessary.

Oh, what a coincidence. How do we know she didn't wait on purpose, so that the police couldn't charge her with falsifying a claim, and now she wants "justice" from the web. Just like "me too". Why did she wait so long?
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Secondly, the "journalist" claims to have seen a paternity test. How is there a paternity test if the priest in question is ignoring her? If the priest cooperated in the paternity test, and then she gave the baby up for adoption, what the heck is the point of her telling the whole story now?
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What does she want from the sspx/priest, if the baby is already adopted? She can't get child support, so what does she want? She says she doesn't hate the sspx, so obviously she wants revenge on the priest in question. Revenge that she waited 25 years for, which means she's protected from the law. This totally sounds fishy.

Last Tradhican · « **Reply #12 on:** November 19, 2020, 03:01:27 PM »

Quote from: PAT317 on November 19, 2020, 11:55:43 AM

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Just a tip, in general: I find that one can play youtube videos at 1.5x the speed, or in the case of this one, I think 2x the speed, if one is interested to listen but doesn't have huge volumes of time. (Who does?) Especially when the speaker is speaking extremely slowly.

Great idea I just tested it and can understand her at 2X. Will try to watch it all tonight.

P.S.- One thing I've never understood is how these girls/women do not have anyone to go to. If my sister had trouble with any man she works with, she would send for me and I would take care of it before it went to the point of rape.

Nadir · « **Reply #13 on:** November 19, 2020, 04:02:33 PM »

Quote from: Last Tradhican on November 19, 2020, 03:01:27 PM

Great idea I just tested it and can understand her at 2X. Will try to watch it all tonight.

P.S.- One thing I've never understood is how these girls/women do not have anyone to go to. If my sister had trouble with any man she works with, she would send for me and I would take care of it before it went to the point of rape.

Single child of a single/widowed mother?

Last Tradhican · « **Reply #14 on:** November 19, 2020, 07:35:17 PM »

Quote from: Nadir on November 19, 2020, 04:02:33 PM

Single child of a single/widowed mother?

Even if my sister had a girl friend or business associate that was in such danger she would call me and I'd take care of it. These situations have more to them than is said. Likely the girl was a total loner with no friends whatsoever.

Author Topic: SSPX Scandal from the Remnant. (Read 26936 times)

Matto

SSPX Scandal from the Remnant.

klasG4e

Re: SSPX Scandal from the Remnant.

Mr G

Re: SSPX Scandal from the Remnant.

Matthew

Re: SSPX Scandal from the Remnant.

Pax Vobis

Re: SSPX Scandal from the Remnant.

Last Tradhican

Re: SSPX Scandal from the Remnant.

Matthew

Re: SSPX Scandal from the Remnant.

Pax Vobis

Re: SSPX Scandal from the Remnant.

josefamenendez

Re: SSPX Scandal from the Remnant.

Mr G

Re: SSPX Scandal from the Remnant.

PAT317

Re: SSPX Scandal from the Remnant.

Pax Vobis

Re: SSPX Scandal from the Remnant.

Last Tradhican

Re: SSPX Scandal from the Remnant.

Nadir

Re: SSPX Scandal from the Remnant.

Last Tradhican

Re: SSPX Scandal from the Remnant.