"Father Gerald Murray, a canon lawyer and pastor of Holy Family Church in New York, told the Register he sees {Stone Walling] Bishop Callahan’s statement as lacking in candor and avoiding a plain accounting for the public scandal that Msgr. Burrill occasioned. It also leaves the impression, he added, that because no one sent the diocese allegations of illegal misconduct"
Catholic Register:
https://www.ncregister.com/news/questions-abound-in-the-wake-of-msgr-burrill-s-return-to-active-ministry
Father Gerald Murray, a canon lawyer and pastor of Holy Family Church
in New York, told the Register he sees Bishop Callahan’s statement as
lacking in candor and avoiding a plain accounting for the public scandal
that Msgr. Burrill occasioned. It also leaves the impression, he added,
that because no one sent the diocese allegations of illegal misconduct,
there was nothing more to be done.
Furthermore, he said, it raises such questions as whether an investigation was done by a qualified professional, independent expert, whether it covered the potential use of Church or USCCB funds for immoral activity and whether Msgr. Burrill sought and received professional help for a possible sexual addiction. Likewise, Father Murray said, there was no reference to the Church’s Canon 1395-2, which provides for penalties, not excluding dismissal from the clerical state, against clerics who publicly offend against the Sixth Commandment.
Absent also from Bishop Callahan’s statement, he said, is whether Msgr. Burrill will be closely monitored by a diocesan official, whether parishioners will have a way to raise concerns about his behavior and where he will be residing.
Efforts
by the Register to obtain answers to such questions about Msgr.
Burrill’s appointment have been met with silence on the part of the
Diocese of La Crosse as well as St. Teresa of Kolkata parish. Repeated
calls and emails have not been returned.
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