It does seem that you are all absolutely determined that Fr. Moran is guilty of something and refuse any and all explanation presented to you. Ladislaus is quick to not accuse Brendan Kavanagh of being a liar, yet is very happy to accuse “this Moran character” of being a predator, a potential paedophile and whatever else.
Did you read what I even wrote? I said that given that there were formal proceedings that appeared to be serious and take some time, we must conclude that Father Moran was credibly accused, not certainly guilty, not even guilty beyond a reasonable doubt ... but that there's a different standard for removing someone from ministry, i.e. just because he MIGHT reasonably be a predator, since no one has a right to public ministry, and in particular if +Morgan and/or +Ballini are working with him, there's no requirement for them to continue working with him. They could stop working with him because they don't like the smell of his aftershave. Reasonable positive doubt suffices to require that we take reasonable precautious against exposing potential victims to him. I used the example of smoke and fire. If I'm sitting in a school building and I see smoke coming out of a classroom, I pull the fire alarm to evacuate the school. Sure, I have no proof that there's any danger. Smoke could be a burrito that someone put in the microwave too long ... and never posed a threat. But one cannot demand proof of fire before evacuating the students, since if you're wrong, the consequences are just too high, yet the cost of the inconveniece of having to evacuate (even if needlessliy) rather low.
So what you're claiming here is that if we don't accept YOUR version of the story and your characterization that these charges were trumped up in some persecution against Fr. Moran, that there's nothing to them ... and based on the word of some anonymous poster who clearly has an agenda, do not give access to Moran, that we're committing some grave injustice to Moran. Since you refuse to identify yourself, for all we know you're an accomplice in some operation to vicitimize children. But, yeah, OK, since anonymous poster guy here says so, I'm going to send my child into a room with Moran for some "spiritual direction" unsupervised, right? I'll be right over to send my young daughter to a Summer youth camp directed by Father Moran ... just because that Truthy guy who showed up out of nowhere on CathInfo and who admits to be fairly close with Fr. Moran said so right there on CathInfo. If he's innocent, he can retire from public ministry at least for a time, and continue offering Mass, perhaps soliciting stipends for Masses ... while attempting to clear his name by some definitive evidence. Similarly, we evacuate the students due to the smoke, and then can have a competent fire marshall go in to ascertain the truth of the matter. But you don't leave them in there due to lack of definitive proof that there's a threat.
Unfortunately, many innocents have been victimized after some predator's claims of persecution were accepted at face value. Bishop Williamson would know that now, since he dismissed the credible accusations against Urrutigoity due to his claims of being persecuted and slandered simply becaue he was "against sedevacantism" -- and the consequences were tragic, resulting in other victims. That was a very grave misjudgment on his part (and I respect Bishop Williamson highly). I would give the benefit of the doubt that a priest would not commit grave calumny (rising to the level of mortal sin) simply to smear someone just for being opposed to your position on the crisis. I've had arguments with many Traditional Catholics, but I would never dream of just making up charges of grave unnatural vice against them even if I consider them to be in grave error, not for a second. In fact, very few people would do that, much less a priest like Father Morello.
See, here's the thing ... the priesthood is given not to Moran because he's a great guy and deserves to be a priest and is worthy of it, just so lay people can be forced to bow their heads in reverence and call him father, simply because Moran couldn't get promoted to shift manager at a fast food restaurant. No, the priesthood is given only for the good of souls. So the fact that Moran selfishly insists on imposing himself on others means that the motivations are not selfless as they should be for a priest.
If I were a priest, even if I were to become the subject of allegations that I KNOW to be false, I would not resent people who suspected me ... since ... how would they even know for sure one way or the other? Why would they expose their children to me? I wouldn't take it the least bit personally. And, if I suffered this trial, I would offer it up to God for my sins, as well as for the souls of even the accusers. Not a few saintly priests were subjected to slander ... and were sanctified by their humble acceptance of the trial, and obeyed their bishop to withdraw from public ministry until their names were cleared. If I did feel that I had to show up at some venue because the faithful there had no access to Sacraments, I would insist upon never being alone with anyone or create any situation that might make them uncomfortable. I would even announce from the pulpit ... "I have been accused of []. Before God, with Him as my witness, I can affirm that I am not guilty of these charges. Nevertheless, since you have no reason to take my word for it, and I am here to serve you ... I will be sure to avoid any situations that might make anyone uncomfortable or that might lead to any suspicion ... until, God willing, my name has been cleared. Until then, please keep your distance. I will be hearing confessions over here where both I and the penitent are visible at all times, and then after Mass will immediately go directly to my vehicle and drive off without any further contact. I'm sorry you have to go through this, but the important thing is not my personal reputation but that you should have access to the Sacraments. Even if I were the most evil spawn of Satan on the earth, the Sacraments you receive are valid, and you receive graces from the
ex opere operato and not because of me ... so that's the important thing now."
Any priest who's credibly accused would withdraw voluntarily from public ministry and/or take obvious public precautions to prevent any discomfort or suspicions ... if it were needed for him to care for souls who had no other viable alternatives.
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