Local view: Even priests accused of abuse should have the right to defend themselves

I am responding to the July 2 article, “Accused of abuse, Duluth priest countersues.” The accuser’s lawyer claims that the only reason Father William Graham filed a countersuit was to publicly discredit his client’s allegation. Nowhere in the story did it say that everybody, including accused priests, have the right to be considered and treated as innocent until proven guilty and also have the right to countersue.
In this current, somewhat-toxic attitude toward accused Catholic priests, the prevailing belief appears to be guilty until proven innocent. Based on this article, most readers would have difficulty believing Father Graham is innocent. The News Tribune and its reporter did a hatchet job on this priest based solely on his being accused of crimes he denies and had the courage and self-respect to fight back against, demanding his legal right to have his day in a court of law to clear his name.By way of information, I am a victim of sexual and physical abuse by a Catholic priest as a child growing up in Ireland. I also am a former Catholic priest. I told my story on the News Tribune Opinion pages in April 2015.All Catholic priests are extremely vulnerable to such accusations and attitudes. The blame for this can be laid entirely at the door of the hierarchy of the Catholic Church. Not many trust or respect this church, based on the deceptive and criminal ways it has dealt with clerical sexual abuse. This has helped create a toxic environment of distrust and anger at the church - and its priests who are on the front line every day and have borne the brunt of this toxic mix. They are easy targets.I still sincerely believe that over 95 percent of Catholic priests today are honorable and trustworthy men dedicated to bringing Christ’s message to others.To its credit, the church has now made some significant changes in how it deals with abuse. This was long overdue. However, in its newfound zeal to reform, the church has overcorrected. Today, once an abuse complaint is received, the accused priest is immediately put on administrative leave and forbidden to perform any public roles as a priest. He is even denied the right to defend himself in any way.This looks like the church has swung the pendulum too far in the opposite direction. It also delivers a clear message to all priests should they be accused: “You are guilty until proven innocent.”An accused priest is automatically, without even a hearing, deprived of his basic right to defend himself. This, I believe, is part of a contract with the diocese that priests sign. It seems to leave all priests completely without any protection or rights when accused.I don’t believe any church law can supersede the U.S. Constitution, under which everyone is innocent in the eyes of the law until proven guilty. Are Catholic priests being deprived of this basic civil right? A balance needs to be reached soon in which victims’ rights and those of accused priests are equally respected.I would hope that Catholics - lay people, the bishop, priests and others - would keep an open mind and offer this priest all the support he deserves as he deals with the accusation.Everyone in the U.S. has the right to be judged and treated as innocent until proven guilty. Father Graham deserves no less. Damien Cronin was born in Ireland and is a former Catholic priest. He is now a retired University of Minnesota Duluth professor and counselor living in Duluth. He can be contacted at damiencronin@charter.net.I am responding to the July 2 article, “Accused of abuse, Duluth priest countersues.” The accuser’s lawyer claims that the only reason Father William Graham filed a countersuit was to publicly discredit his client’s allegation. Nowhere in the story did it say that everybody, including accused priests, have the right to be considered and treated as innocent until proven guilty and also have the right to countersue.
In this current, somewhat-toxic attitude toward accused Catholic priests, the prevailing belief appears to be guilty until proven innocent. Based on this article, most readers would have difficulty believing Father Graham is innocent. The News Tribune and its reporter did a hatchet job on this priest based solely on his being accused of crimes he denies and had the courage and self-respect to fight back against, demanding his legal right to have his day in a court of law to clear his name.By way of information, I am a victim of sexual and physical abuse by a Catholic priest as a child growing up in Ireland. I also am a former Catholic priest. I told my story on the News Tribune Opinion pages in April 2015.All Catholic priests are extremely vulnerable to such accusations and attitudes. The blame for this can be laid entirely at the door of the hierarchy of the Catholic Church. Not many trust or respect this church, based on the deceptive and criminal ways it has dealt with clerical sexual abuse. This has helped create a toxic environment of distrust and anger at the church - and its priests who are on the front line every day and have borne the brunt of this toxic mix. They are easy targets.I still sincerely believe that over 95 percent of Catholic priests today are honorable and trustworthy men dedicated to bringing Christ’s message to others.To its credit, the church has now made some significant changes in how it deals with abuse. This was long overdue. However, in its newfound zeal to reform, the church has overcorrected. Today, once an abuse complaint is received, the accused priest is immediately put on administrative leave and forbidden to perform any public roles as a priest. He is even denied the right to defend himself in any way.This looks like the church has swung the pendulum too far in the opposite direction. It also delivers a clear message to all priests should they be accused: “You are guilty until proven innocent.”An accused priest is automatically, without even a hearing, deprived of his basic right to defend himself. This, I believe, is part of a contract with the diocese that priests sign. It seems to leave all priests completely without any protection or rights when accused.I don’t believe any church law can supersede the U.S. Constitution, under which everyone is innocent in the eyes of the law until proven guilty. Are Catholic priests being deprived of this basic civil right? A balance needs to be reached soon in which victims’ rights and those of accused priests are equally respected.I would hope that Catholics - lay people, the bishop, priests and others - would keep an open mind and offer this priest all the support he deserves as he deals with the accusation.Everyone in the U.S. has the right to be judged and treated as innocent until proven guilty. Father Graham deserves no less.Damien Cronin was born in Ireland and is a former Catholic priest. He is now a retired University of Minnesota Duluth professor and counselor living in Duluth. He can be contacted at damiencronin@charter.net.