In an e-mail reply to the Globe, Worcester's Bishop Daniel P. Reilly explained the reasoning behind their public stand now: ''The bishops have a right and a duty to remind Catholics of what it means to be a married couple, and they are reminding people that everyone has a right to let their legislators know what they believe marriage is. It is not an anti-anything statement, but a reminder that marriage holds a unique role in the history of mankind and should be respected for what it is, a union of a man and a woman who seek to live a new life focused on the best interests of that new couple and their potential family, not just each other's personal interests.''

The 'gay' truth

Editor's note: The following column contains sexual imagery which some people will find objectionable.

May 26, 2003

Drive on to limit lawyers' fees
33 percent share called unethical Lawyers' group pushing to limit colleagues' fees in lawsuits
Adam Liptak
THE NEW YORK TIMES

.....But in practice, the lawyers urging the change say, contingency fees are uniformly 33 percent in most places and 40 percent in others. They say that plaintiffs' lawyers charge such fees even when a big settlement is quick, fixed and certain.....

"The proposal is really elegantly simple," said Nancy Udell, the general counsel of Common Good, which is dedicated to changing what it calls the lawsuit culture. "The only thing this does is make sure that if there is an offer and if it is early, that 90 percent of the offer goes to the injured person. The only thing this does is encourage early settlements."
 

Voce Note: In Worcester it is common for Lawyer's representing Civil Plaintiffs to receive 33% percent of the settlement if the case is settled before trial or 40% percent if the case goes to trial.  The Plaintiff is also responsible for expenses no mater what percentages is finally determined.  Expenses can range from airplane travel, or lodging, to postage stamps, and telephone calls.

May 21, 2003

Conte makes another Bishop's Fund donation
Conflict perceived in abuse investigations

Worcester District Attorney John J. Conte has made another donation from his campaign coffers to the diocesan Bishop's Fund, his second since launching an investigation into allegations of sexual abuse by priests.. ......
While the donations from his campaign fund are not illegal, clergy abuse victim advocates have criticized them as insensitive and creating a perception of a conflict of interest......

Mr. Conte has made donations amounting to several thousand dollars to other Catholic-related organizations.

Check number of donations do not match and are out of order Check #3774 was dated 4/29 but Check number 3779  is dated 4/18.

Vendor:  Worcester Senior Ctr.
Address:  128 Providence st. Worcester, MA 01604
Amount:  $35.00   Date:  04/18/2003
Purpose:  Donation
Code:  Other
Check Number:  3779

Vendor:  Bishops Fund
Address:  49 Elm St. Worcester, MA 01609
Amount:  $500.00   Date:  04/29/2003
Purpose:  Donation
Code:  Other
Check Number:  3774

Viewable reports- Candidates-John Conte- District Attorney-Middle district

http://www.efs2.cpf.state.ma.us/EFSprod/servlet/WelcomeServlet

6 suspended priests' criminal cases closed
By Associated Press, 5/21/2003
WORCESTER -- Worcester District Attorney John Conte has closed criminal investigations into sex abuse allegations against six suspended priests because the statute of limitations has expired in each case,
Coonan has denied the allegations against him, which accused him of misconduct before he was ordained. Phone calls left yesterday morning for six priests at the parishes with which they were last associated were not immediately returned. No one answered at Sacred Heart of Jesus parish in Worcester, and a message could not be left.

May 20, 2003

Conte closes priest sex abuse cases

Statute of limitations issues end investigations

WORCESTER- District Attorney John J. Conte has closed criminal investigations into alleged sexual misconduct by six suspended Worcester diocese priests, because of statute of limitations issues.

Voice Note: The timing to the release of this information is just to coincidental to not suspect again that both the District Attorney's Office and Worcester Dioceses are working in unison which is a direct violation of the District Attorney's elected position.

Spokesperson Raymond Delisle from the Dioceses of Worcester has issued a clarification on the article which ran in the Fitchburg Sentinel and Enterprise yesterday.  Mr. Delise states," There is no resignation needed from Fr. Inzerillo because he is unassigned - on leave - in no position to resign from.  The T&G had it wrong when they assumed he had to resign from something.

"He (Rev Inzerillo) has no ties to St. Leo, or any other parish.....I tried to explain that his case is
different from the others because it did not involving a minor. But that
doesn't change the facts that he is not being assigned anywhere".

May 19, 2003

Diocese not asking for Inzerillo's resignation
By Megan Blaney

LEOMINSTER -- Contrary to a published report, Leominster priest Rev. Peter J. Inzerillo is not being asked to resign from his post as associate pastor of St. Leo's Church. He is currently on administrative leave.
"That was incorrectly reported" in another newspaper, said Raymond L. Delisle, spokesperson for the Catholic Diocese of Worcester. "It is only the pastors who are being asked to resign."
Delisle explained that Bishop Daniel P. Reilly was not asking for the resignation of Rev. Peter J. Inzerillo, because he was not the pastor of the church.

May 17, 2003

Hearing is likely on therapist issue
By Kathleen Burge, Globe Staff, 5/17/2003
A Suffolk Superior Court judge said yesterday that she will probably hold a hearing to decide whether church lawyers can question under oath a therapist paid by the Archdiocese of Boston to counsel an alleged victim of priest sexual abuse.
''In this case, that office became a Trojan horse that was sent in . . . under the guise of offering healing and help to alleged victims,'' said attorney Ronald A. Witmer.

Coonan not asked by bishop to resign  Alleged incidents occurred before ordination
 

WORCESTER- The Rev. Joseph A. Coonan, who was removed as pastor of St. John's Church last August by Bishop Daniel P. Reilly, was not among the pastors recently asked to resign, according to lawyer Joseph D. Early Jr.

May 16, 2003

Bishop seeks priests' resignations

Reilly wants new pastors

Kathleen A. Shaw
TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

WORCESTER- The seven priests removed last year by Bishop Daniel P. Reilly for alleged sexual misconduct are being asked to resign their positions so that permanent replacements can be appointed.

May 15, 2003

                       Attorney Wendy J. Murphy speaks in Worcester

Last night at Hogan Hall on the Campus of Holy Cross, Ms Murphy gave a very enlightening presentation on the status of victims rights. Her presentation consisted of two specific topics one on "statue of limitations" and the other on  "charitable immunity".  Both aspects had received a recent set back through Massachusetts Superior court rulings.  It appears the Massachusetts Supreme Court has again ventured on the side of limiting the ability of victims to receive fair treatment in our judicial system.

Ms Murphy also presented information on her new bill that she is attempting to have passed.

                                          Victims Privacy "Miranda" Rights

You have the right to refuse to answer questions not directly related to a criminal investigation which seek privileged or private information including sexual history, medical or mental health history, HIV status, conversations with a spouse, attorney, religious counselor, mental health or medical care provided.  You also have the right to seek legal counsel.

Ms Murphy strongly cautioned that many sexual abuse victims in the Worcester County had been asked inappropriate questions by the police, that were later used against them or used to deny prosecution of their perpetrator. 

Based on Ms Murphy's information we would caution any victim reporting a crime of this nature to police to seek professional support before attempting contact with law enforcement agencies.

Independent Mass draws faithful group

Church scandal spurs open ministries

WORCESTER- Independent Masses in the Catholic tradition with priests not under control of a bishop may be here to stay in Central Massachusetts.

CITI Ministries of Framingham started a new Sunday Mass with a married priest last Sunday in Framingham.

The Rev. David Kerrigan, a priest and certified member of CITI Ministries, has entered his seventh month of holding Masses. The first Mass was held in October at the Ramada Inn, Auburn, and the Masses later moved to the Marriott Courtyard on Grove Street through auspices of Catholics for Christ. Masses are still celebrated at 10 a.m. Sundays at the Marriott.

Focus on healing, preventing abuse Bishop Reilly speaks out about crisis

Response from Bishop Reilly May 6, 2003

Using children to spy on families

My case will not be prosecuted because the statute of limitations has expired, but the suspect in my case is being prosecuted in another case unrelated to me.  If the suspect is convicted in that other case, may I read a victim-impact statement in court prior to sentencing?

No.  Massachusetts law narrowly defines who is considered a victim for purposes of delivering victim-impact statements.  If the suspect is convicted in a case unrelated to you, then you will not have the opportunity to address the court at sentencing.  You will, however, be permitted to attend the proceedings along with other members of the general public.