June 28, 2004

Worcester Bishop Robert J. McManus words ring empty in first five months.

Bishop McManus just before noon on March 1 received a voice mail from the secretary of the papal nuncio in Washington, D.C., informing him of his appointment as to fifth Bishop of Worcester. This announcement was greeted with relief and joy by many area Catholics who had high hopes for the new bishop. He was coming into a diocese that had miserably failed to deal with the sexual abuse crisis among some of its priests and church workers.

Friday, May 7, 2004 the bishop-elect of the Worcester Diocese said he wanted to make certain every priest, parishioner, and Catholic politician in the county understood precisely what it means to be a Catholic.

He said he consulted with Monsignor Thomas Sullivan on the progress of clergy abuse cases in the diocese, but added he must continue to gather information after his installation as Worcester bishop.

"I want to know exactly what the situation is and what needs to be done," he said.

What it means to be Catholic to Bishop McManus has been projecting false imagines for the sake of diocesan reputation. Like so many Catholic bishops before him.

Thursday, May 14, 2004 the installation Mass began at 1:30 p.m. with a procession of representatives from the Knights and Dames of Malta, the Knights and Ladies of the Holy Sepulchre, superiors of religious communities of men and women, leaders of ecumenical and interfaith communities and more than 300 concelebrating priests and deacons from the Worcester and Providence dioceses.

The powerful and well-heeled got in but not one clergy abuse victim or advocate was invited. Seating in the cathedral was by invitation only. Clergy abuse victims stood out on the street in front of their cathedral and could not go inside The cathedral was built in the 19^th century with the pennies of many Worcester-area faithful working-class Catholics, many of them who immigrated from Ireland.

Bishop Robert J. McManus failed to follow the teaching of Jesus Christ an embrace the abuse victims, and welcome them inside. Like so many Catholic bishops before him.

Saturday, May 15, 2004 installed Bishop Robert J. McManus  pledged to reach out to those who have been sexually abused by diocesan priests but cautioned that the process of healing is "a two-way street."

"I can't do it myself," Bishop McManus said at a news conference held shortly after his installation as the Diocese of Worcester's fifth bishop. "I'm just one person."

Bishop McManus to our knowledge so far has failed to acknowledge attempts to meet him or arrange any meetings with victims and their advocates, even after numerous request. Like so many Catholic bishops before him.

Friday, May 21, 2004 in what the bishop called a Pastoral Note of Clarification, he noted the Catholic Church’s moral and social teaching is rooted solidly in the fundamental moral principle of the dignity of the human person.

Bishop McManus publicly has taken no action to heal the abused victims, only further attacks on others. Like so many Catholic bishops before him.

Friday, June 25, 2004 Bishop McManus celebrated a special Mass in honor of the founder of Opus Dei, a shadowy Catholic organization that is a personal prelature of the Pope. Membership lists are kept secret and members answer only to the pope. One must ask where the bishop’s priorities lie if he can take time to celebrate a Mass for Opus Dei but not reach out to victims of clergy sexual abuse.

Bishop McManus God is calling you. Will you be a leader among men, have the courage to place Christianity before self preservation or fail your calling, like so many Catholic Bishops before you.