Archdiocese Reaches Settlement in Abuse Case Retiring St. Jude Principal's Love for Children, Catholic Education and Football
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Inside Racing for a higher cause Race for Vocations team members walk and run as Criterion witnesses, page 8. Serving the Church in Central and Souther n Indiana Since 1960 CriterionOnline.com May 14, 2010 Vol. L, No. 31 75¢ Arriving in Portugal, Submitted photo pope says Church must witness its beliefs LISBON, Portugal (CNS)— Pope Benedict XVI arrived in Portugal for a four-day visit and urged its traditionally Catholic population not to close the door to God and religion. For a humanity too often lacking in love and without hope for salvation, the Gospel still Pope Benedict XVI represents “the source of hope,” the pope said after landing in Lisbon on May 11. The pope’s words reflected growing Church concern that secularization is making inroads in one of Europe’s most traditionally Catholic countries. In an address at Lisbon’s airport, he reached out to non-Catholics and nonbelievers, saying the Church was ready to live in a pluralistic society as long as it can give witness to its beliefs. Providence Sister James Michael Kesterson wore a touch of the green and a smile that wouldn’t quit during this year’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade on “The Church is open to cooperating with March 17 in Indianapolis. The principal of St. Jude School in Indianapolis rode in a convertible during the parade. She is flanked by two students, anyone who does not marginalize or reduce Taylor Mattingly, left, and Nichole Smith. to the private sphere the essential consid- eration of the meaning of life,” he said. The 83-year-old pontiff looked happy Retiring St. Jude principal’s love for children, and relaxed as he disembarked from his Alitalia charter flight from Rome. The ash Catholic education and football is as strong as ever cloud from an Icelandic volcano had forced the sporadic closure of Portuguese airports By John Shaughnessy never shied away from playing tackle Indeed, besides her bonds of family, in recent days and threatened to disrupt the football with her three older brothers. faith and friendship, there is only one pope’s arrival, but the Lisbon airport In a moment, Providence Sister James “I broke my right arm three times playing area of Sister James Michael’s life that reopened in time. Michael Kesterson will talk about the football with my brothers,” Sister James surpasses her passion for football. He was met by President Anibal Cavaco personal impact she had on the Indian- Michael says with a certain pride. “When I That’s her passion for Catholic Silva, a Catholic, who said he hoped the apolis Colts winning the Super Bowl in see some girls playing football today, I say, education. She has no doubt that a pontiff would bring a message of hope, 2007—a story she tells with a twinkle in ‘Golly, too bad I’m too old.’ ” Catholic education makes a difference in justice and solidarity to a country that is her eyes. In that memory, there’s more than a hint the life of a child, and she belie ves that under serious economic pressure. At 81, Sister James Michael will also of the essence of Sister James Michael. Ev en every child will succeed in some w ay. The pope’s motorcade took him through share the tales of two special surprises as she plans to retire at the end of the school “Our Catholic identity is who we are,” a residential area of the capital, where from her remarkable career of 60 years in year, she still has the fire, the feistiness and she says. “I emphasize to our teachers thousands of people cheered, waved flags Catholic education. the fearlessness—all the qualities that that our prayer life and the respect we and tossed flower petals along the pope’s But right now, the principal of St. Jude overflow into her passion for football. show to each other will be e xamples for path. Children released yellow and white School in Indianapolis is recalling a f act “You don’t interrupt her if she’s watching our students to share with one another. balloons as the pope passed by. from her childhood, a time when she a Colts’ game or a Notre Dame game,” says Prayer in the classroom and our own The main purpose of Pope Benedict’s prided herself on being a tomboy who one of her best friends, Judy Livingston. See PRINCIPAL, page 10 See POPE, page 2 Archdiocese reaches settlement in abuse case In an effort to help the victim of ab use by a archdiocesan self-insurance fund. had expired. former priest 34 years ago continue his The former priest for the archdiocese who The lawsuits involving Monroe were not healing process, the Archdiocese of Indian- was accused of abuse, Harry Monroe, was filed until 2005 and after. apolis has reached an amicable settlement in a removed from ministry in 1984 by then- The Archdiocese of Indianapolis lawsuit filed in 2005 by “John Doe CT.” Archbishop Edward T. O’Meara. Monroe was continues to respond to victims of se xual The settlement allows “John Doe CT,” permanently barred from presenting himself abuse with compassion and appropriate whose name was not used in the lawsuit, to as a priest and performing any priestly duties pastoral outreach. The archdiocese avoid the emotional distress and expense of a or ministries. encourages anyone who has been abused or public trial. Monroe, who was ordained in 1974, served knows of any allegations of abuse to report it “My hope and prayer is that this victim at St. Monica, St. Andrew and the former to the appropriate law enforcement finds the healing and peace he seeks,” said St. Catherine parishes in Indianapolis. He also authorities. Archbishop Daniel M. Buechlein. “I apologize served at St. Patrick Parish in Terre Haute, If you or someone you know is a victim to this gentleman and anyone who has ever St. Paul Parish in Tell City, St. Michael Parish of sexual misconduct by a person ministering been harmed by any employee or volunteer in Cannelton and St. Pius V Parish in Troy. on behalf of the archdiocese, please contact who has served the Church in our archdiocese. There are currently 13 other lawsuits the archdiocesan victim assistance A single case of abuse is unacceptable, and we involving Monroe pending against the coordinator at Archdiocese of Indianapolis, are committed to doing everything possible to archdiocese. Although Monroe said in pre-trial P.O. Box 1410, Indianapolis, IN 46206-1410, see that it never happens again.” testimony that he abused some minors, he was 317-236-1548 or 800-382-9836, ext. 1548. Under the settlement, “John Doe CT” will never prosecuted because the victims never More information about the Archdiocese receive $199,000 from the Archdiocese of reported the abuse to law enforcement of Indianapolis’ sexual misconduct policy Indianapolis to allow him to continue to authorities at the time. By the time the and information about how to report an abuse receive the support, care and treatment he allegations of abuse were made known, the incident can be found online at requires. The settlement will be paid from an criminal and civil statute of limitations www.archindy.org/abuse/. † Page 2 The Criterion Friday, May 14, 2010 Speaking to reporters aboard POPE his plane, the pope said secular- ization in Portugal was not continued from page 1 something new, but had taken a trip was to visit the sanctuary of more radical turn in recent years. Fatima, where Mary appeared to He said it was essential that the three shepherd children in 1917. Church engage in a dialogue with Reuters Marchante, CNS photo/Rafael At the brief airport ceremony in culture, making its voice and its Lisbon, the pope said he came as social teachings heard. a pilgrim to pay tribute to an President Silva’s welcoming event that did not depend on the speech reflected the growing pope or any Church authority, uneasiness of many Portuguese but came directly from God. over the economic future. At Fatima, the pope said, Portugal’s slumping economy has “Heaven itself was opened over prompted the government to enact Portugal—like a window of hope an austerity plan, triggering that God opens when man closes resentment and a series of strikes. the door to him.” Silva said the country’s people He said Mary had come to were looking to the pope for a remind people that a relationship message of justice and solidarity, with God is essential for human “particularly when the effects of a beings, part of man’s search for global economic crisis make truth, goodness and beauty. Faith themselves felt, at times brutally in Christ, he said, has a logical and unfairly.” impact in other spheres. “The Portuguese will listen to “From a wise vision of life you,” he told the pope. People wave as Pope Benedict XVI arrives in his popemobile in Lisbon, Portugal, on May 11. The pope is in Portugal for a and of the world, the just Aboard his plane, the pope said four-day visit that was to include the Marian shrine of Fatima. ordering of society follows,” he the current economic crisis had said. made clear that financial markets The pope said the separation cannot operate on pure of Church and state in Portugal, pragmatism, without a moral and which followed the Republican ethical dimension. He said the revolution a century ago, turned Church needs to pursue a serious out to be a good thing for the dialogue so that its social Reuters CNS photo/Nacho Doce, Church, challenging its members teachings make an impact in the to live their faith more fully.