The Savannah GA bishop wins praise from the home-town paper for Bishop J. Kevin Boland, who

went to bat for a family alleging abuse by a visiting Jesuit priest.

IF THE Catholic Church in this country had more religious leaders like the [Bishop] Boland, then the abuse scandals that have wracked the church in recent years might have been less painful.

Good for him.  However, his letter was not public, nor did he alert law enforcement.  Bishop Boland wrote the Jesuits in 2003

on behalf of a Georgia family whose teen-age son had a “relationship” with McGuire. [He] said the young man had “transferred his loyalty from family to Father McGuire” and asked the religious order for help.

It’s unclear what, if anything, the Jesuits did. But give Bishop Boland credit for going to bat for the family and not sweeping anything under the rug.

He passed on the parental complaint, but privately.  This entre nous approach has its place.  But in 2003 in the matter of clerical abuse?

Such scandals have tested the faith of Catholics in this country. But responsible actions by leaders like Bishop Boland show that some good shepherds are protecting their flocks.

Within limits, yes.  At least his letter has been made public now, apparently as part of legally mandated disclosure.

=========

Comment by Reader D:

Bishop Boland, 68 in 2003, was born and raised in Ireland and Irish seminaries. That’s probably the best he could muster with a good heart living amongst us in the USA. Probably not trained to make waves, but at least has a strong moral compass himself. Better than nothing, I guess.