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Understanding “Accountability” in
Santa Rosa, CA
Carolyn Disco, VOTF New Hampshire
Mandatory reporting is widely ignored by prosecutors
who sidestep the issue – Cardinal George violated Illinois
law with no legal consequences; Bishop Walsh in Santa
Rosa, the same – and we do not press for the law to be
enforced, never mind even have charges investigated.
I call that deference. Bishops of course did not mean
to…never intended…etc, etc., when the real question is:
Did they abide by the law or not? Intent is negated by
actions that contradict it.
A column written by a local CA reporter about Santa
Rosa said the law requires abuse to be reported “immediately
or as soon as is practically possible by telephone.” She
added, “Instead of calling Child Protective Services,
the bishop apparently waited a day and called his lawyer,
Dan Galvin. Galvin then waited two days before sending
a fax to CPS,” and another day before alerting police.
There are phones to reach CPS and the police 24/7. A
priest who knew Ochoa’s whereabouts before Ochoa crossed
the border, just told him to rest up and come back. Bishop
Walsh said he did not think Ochoa was a flight risk.
That is not for him to decide.
When will we speak up for genuine accountability, even
if it means criminal investigations and prosecutions
of bishops? The next time, or maybe the time after that,
or perhaps even a third or fourth case? I want to start
keeping count, and report back in a year. I keep thinking
of the victim/survivors and where they are right now,
tonight, as they see so few exercised about criminal
violations. Bishops continue to get away with everything
under the law, just like before, only this time we know
about it.
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