Dear Gilbert,
Well said.
I note that jest and ridicule that has been heaped upon your sound suggestion.
I temporarily step out of my self imposed No-Debate moratorium to support you on this point. Never mind the ridiculous hair-splitting, 2 feet, 20 feet whatever ....I hope folks understand the reasoning of your advice.
The basic advice is sound. It is one which all physicians (hopefully) use in the practise of medicine.
If we do not, we have NO protection against BOGUS accusations.
I refer you back to my position on the Ribandar case which Lawyer Aires Rodrigues still refuses to call as ALLEGED. ( all but once - if my memory serves right)
I had suggested then, and I suggest again. Confessions should NOT be heard in private. They should be heard in the presence of a witness (through a sound-proof glass barrier). So that NO ONE again accuses a priest wrongly of TOUCHING someone else..... esp 8 months after the alleged incident!
I wish to reiterate my knowledge that PRIESTS and PHYSICIANS (like others in position) are special targets of certain women and of Lawyers with additional agendae!
Physicians have learnt the hard way - Time for priests to learn a bit about life in the 21st century.
There is of course, NO protection against real abuse; and there will always be real abusers everywhere. They should be dealt with.
jc
From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Hi Fr. Ivo,
What I have described below is exactly what I and most American doctors do. We
have worked too hard for our careers, our family and our livelihood to let it do
down the drain. Then we cannot blame the misstep on a greedy patient and her
attorney. Our pension plan is on the line. :=)) We have also seen some doctors
loosing their medical license and livelihood for 'crossing the line'.
Forget your love, kindness and respect rhetoric. You can do all of that by
keeping your distance. Love and be concerned about your-self and your Church
first. Your other post today strongly suggest that you "just have not got it"
how serious the US Catholic Church (i.e. us) is both morally and fiscally
becasue of a handful of negligent / careless / criminal priests. Perhaps as a
Goan you do not appreciate what it means for a diocese to declare BANKRUPTCY.
Regards. GL
"Fr. Ivo Da C. Souza" Gilbert,
I think this is an advice for yourself too!... What is important is to have a
heart prepared to respect the persons. Some precautions are to be taken, but are
your hints feasible? Let all of us ponder and find what is suitable for us. We
are adults...
Ivo da C.Souza
--------Original Message ------- Gilbert Lawrence wrote advising priests:
"The secret to protect oneself is not to get into that situation to begin with!
Rather than after trying to argue innocence, sexual orientation, psyche,
behavior, temptation etc. I'd keep two feet away from women. No physical
contact, even a caring touch in anybody below age 50. No woman under 50 in the
private Rectory! And no visits to homes of a single woman unless it is an
emergency. "
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