Friday, Sept. 30, 2005
The Perspectives Service chang_esnot pleasing stuoents·
0
page 6
Sports
CabriniCollege'sStudent~Newspaper www.theLoquitur.com
Radnor, Pa.
Cross Country takes on Muhlenberg
page 16 Vol XL VII, Issue 4
Grand jury report: 'scandal covered for 30 years' LAURA VAN DE PETTE
NEWS EDITOR Lcv722@CABRIN1.EDU
The Philadelphia grand jury concluded its three-year-long investigation of sexual abuse of children by priests in Philadelphia, accusing two former archbishops of "a continuous, concerted campaign of cover-up." The Philadelphia Roman Catholic Archdiocese quickly denounced the grand jury findings as "reckless rhetoric, dispensed from any burden of proof, and it is not responsible law enforcement.... " No legal charges, however, will come from the grand jury because of the statute of limitations on the allegations, according the district attorney of Philadelphia. This report contains the findings of the grand jury and how dozens of priests sexually abused hundreds of children; how Philadelphia Archdiocese officials, including Cardinal Bevilacqua and Cardinal Krol, excused and enabled the abuse, and how the law must be changed so that it doesn't happen again. Lynn Abraham, district attorney of Philadelphia, said, "Some
KRT
Cardinal Justin Rigaliwrote a letter to Catholics in the PhiladelphiaArchdiocese critisizing the grand jury report, saying it was 'anti-Catholic.'
may be tempted to describe these events as tragic. Tragedies such as tidal waves, however, are outside human control. What we found were not acts of God, but of men who acted in His name and defiled it." The Archdiocese, in a 73-page statement, said, "The Archdiocese of Philadelphia acknowledges the abhorrent behavior of certain priests who have committed unspeakable acts of sexual abuse against some of the most vulnerable members of our society."
According to the grand jury report, "the biggest crime of all is that it worked. The abuser priests, by choosing children as targets and trafficking on their trust, were able to prevent or delay reports of their sexual assaults, to the point where applicable statutes of limitations expired. And Archdiocese officials, by burying those reports they did receive and covering up the conduct, similarly managed to outlast any statutes of limitation. As a result, these priests and officials will necessarily escape
criminal prosecution." Dr. Margaret McGuinness, professor of religious studies, said, "I think, like everybody, I'm angry about what they found, not surprised. I thought it was there. I think they were hoping it wouldn't be, and it was. I'm angry that it was covered up, that it wasn't reported. To use the excuse that priests didn't have to report it, is just a cop out." The Archdiocese criticizes two aspects of the report in particular. "It focuses on long-ago episodes, and fails to recognize the limited scientific knowledge available in the past about preventing or healing childhood sexual abuse. It also fails to acknowledge any Archdiocesan effort to update its policies consistent with contemporary medical thought." Documents and testimony left the grand jury with no doubt that Cardinal Bevilacqua and Cardinal Krol were personally informed of almost all of the allegations of sexual abuse by priests and personally decided or approved of how to handle those allegations. The Archdiocese reply strongly disagreed with the grand jury's allegations of a cover-up, particularly by Cardinal Bevilacqua,
who became archbishop in Philadelphia in 1988. The Archdiocese adopted strict new policies in 2002 to deal promptly and severely at the first sign of allegations. The Archdiocese says the report ignores the changes in effect. Father Michael Bielecki said, "I am disappointed by the response of the Archdiocesan lawyers to the report. While I appreciate that the Cardinal has apologized for past hurts and assured people it will not happen again in the future, labeling the report as anti-Catholic seems to be a denial of the facts that came from the very archives that the grand jury demanded from the Archdiocese." McGuinness said, "I do not think the evidence lies." Loquitur intends to follow up with a story next issue containing views of Cabrini students. Any students wishing to participate should send their names to Loquitur@yahoogroups.com Loquitur welcomes your comments on this story. Please send your comments to: Loquitur@yahoogroups.com The editors will review your points each week and make corrections if warranted.
Ins1 e Meningitis nearly kills one Cabrini student BRITTANY LIBERATORE STAFF WRJTER
BCL722@CABRINI.EDU
A&E Celebs venture into world of fashion page 10
Features Underground Greek life page 9
College students nationwide are being urged to get vaccinated against meningitis before their freshman year. Meningitis is a potentially deadly disease commonly spread in colleges that affects the brain and spinal cord. Here at Cabrini, students are highly encouraged to get this vaccination if they intend to live on campus. While the vaccination is highly recommended, it is not required for students. In fact, getting vaccinated is not as easy as students may think. Alumnus Brian Fry, an English and communication major, graduated from Cabrini in 2004. He would have never lived to see his graduation day if it was not for the meningitis vaccination. Fry contracted meningitis during the first three weeks of his freshman year. He was ,,accinated, but he had two different strands of meningitis; the vaccination didn't protect against the one strand he had. Fry said,
strands of meningitis. The vaccination which saved my life, and I suggest that everyone going to college gets, covers five of the seven strands." At first, Fry thought he had a very bad cold. However, three days later, he couldn't even walk. Fry said, "I was very scared because I didn't know what to do, and I didn't know I was dying." He was rushed to Bryn Mawr Hospital. The doctors hooked him up to an IV, gave him a spinal tap, and put him in the Intensive Care Unit. Throughout Fry's entire stay • in the hospital, the doctors didn't know if he would survive. Fortunately, Fry lived; but his road to recovery was not over. He had to have physical therapy because he couldn't move his fingers or walk very well. Fry said, "One thing that made me recover so quickly was the friends I found in the first three weeks of college at Cabrini." Fry was able to return to Cabrini and live a healthy life after it was almost taken by meningitis. Under Pennsylvania law stu-
Au.lSON SACHs/PHOTO STAFF
Students wait patiently outside the new nurse's office for their meningitis vaccine,