Banned at the Basilica of the National Shrine

As I have mentioned on these pages here, here, and here, The Faithful Departed, by Philip F. Lawler is the most important book on the Church's sex abuse scandal. Anyone interested in understanding the roots of one of the worst scandals in the Church's history needs to read Lawler's book -- which may be precisely why the U. S. bishops don't want anyone to read it. The following is excerpted from a story by Christopher Manion in the June 26, 2008 issue of The Wanderer.

'Phil Lawler, author of The Faithful Departed, the excellent book chronicling the decline and fall of the Church in Boston ... is getting the censorship treatment from, of all places, the bookstore of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. There, Lawler's book has been selling so well that the bookstore scheduled a book- signing event on June 26. Once the announcements went up, however, higher-ups demanded that the book be removed from the shelves. Lawler was notified that his book signing was cancelled, no reason given.

'What could the bishops object to in Mr. Lawler's book? Perhaps these observations in his final chapter:

'Only a small minority of American priests — 2–3 percent, by most calculations — were ever accused of sexual abuse, whereas the vast majority of bishops were involved in the cover-up efforts. . . . With the [2002 Dallas] Charter in place, the bishops could and did answer all questions by saying that they were following the policies set by the USCCB. The Dallas norms were designed not so much to deter abuse of children as to deflect criticism from bishops. . . . The arrogance of the USCCB in presuming to instruct students about sexual abuse was breathtaking. For years, trusting parents had sent their children into Catholic parishes and schools, confidently assuming the church leaders would protect them. Now the same church leaders who had betrayed the trust presumed to instruct the parents and the innocent children about the dangers that children might face. Rather than ensuring the innocence of young students, these programs were designed to put the burdens of reporting on the children. . . .' (pp. 191- 193)

'Perhaps the ban was occasioned by the book's treatment of Cardinal Law's departure from Boston. But Mr. Lawler once worked closely with Cardinal Law for two years as editor of the archdiocesan newspaper. Lawler is a gentleman, and his treatment of the cardinal is almost serene. But some bishops still have ruffled feathers.... Whatever his reasons for banning Lawler's book, Msgr. Rossi, the rector of the Shrine — who works for the bishops, and not for the laity — will not explain them. The good monsignor obviously doesn't want to take any chances — or any calls from the Wanderer, either: we left several messages with his secretary, but have yet to hear from him....'

When Governor Frank Keating submitted his resignation as chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' National Review Board, examining sex abuse by Catholic priests, he compared the American hierarchy to the Mafia, saying: "To resist Grand Jury subpoenas, to suppress the names of offending clerics, to deny, to obfuscate, to explain away; that is the model of a criminal organization, not my church."

I think Governor Keating's remarks were overly harsh and unfair -- to the Mafia!