Called It: Vortex and Niles Respond to SSPX's Update on SSPX Independent Review Board

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JMJ

 

 

  In a post that was written days ago, but published this morning - I wrote:

While I'm confident that Voris et al will try to spin this to suit their narrative, Plan to Protect has been in the development years before Voris launched the campaign against the SSPX.

 Well true to form during this morning's CMTV briefing has the following headline:

SSPX Lack of Transparency
Society slammed for refusing to publish names of review board.

Here's what Ms. Niles had to say:

The SSPX is being slammed for lack of transparency. In a Tuesday update to its sex abuse review board the SSPX finally published a description of its review board members. While failing to actually publish their names. Victims have requested full disclosure of identifies to assure no conflict of interest. But leadership has refused unlike many dioceses who are transparent about their review board membership.

I have some time, so let's unpack this soundbite and think critically. Don't worry this won't be a high cognitive load task:

• Who is 'slamming' the SSPX for lack of transparency?  
• It appears that it is a group of victims of alleged abuse at the hands of SSPX clergy. 
• We don't know how many, nor whether their allegations were deemed credible or not. 
• I have no doubt that some allegations are credible, but a lot of the earlier ones trotted out by CMTV were not.
• What is behind the impatience of  Ms. Niles' "finally".  
• If the review board was just formed (which is what the SSPX said it would do here on April 30, 2020. 
• One year to develop the terms of reference and obtain members, especially during this past year, is reasonable to me. 
• Although, I am not surprised at Ms. Nile's reaction as it simply is never going to be enough to satisfy her and CMTV because this is objectively not about the truth.  It's about maintaining their (Voris, Niles, CMTV et al's) narrative. 
• What would be the rationale for publishing the names of the review board?  
• Why are the victims who are launching allegations in a position to judge the appropriateness of the members.  
• Frankly, I wouldn't be surprised if Niles et al would simply state that a person who attends the SSPX for Mass would be in a conflict of interest.
  
• They aren't the authority, and it sure as hell exists isn't Ms.Niles et al.  They will automatically have a bias in their judgment. 
• Also, given their lingering campaign against the SSPX, it seems logical to protect the review board from the pressure of CMTV et al in order to allow them to perform their work without a media campaign against them.
  
• Also, interesting, I wonder which Dioceses haven't published their review board membership and why! 
• The mere fact that some dioceses haven't published their board memberships negates the 'argument' put forward by CMTV.
  

 What Ms. Niles ignores is the following:

However, the Society has experienced several cases of false accusations by unbalanced or self-seeking persons. For this reason, these delicate matters, which have received excessive media attention, call for prudence so that justice can be dispensed serenely, in all truth and charity. Certainly, as in every human judgement, an ecclesiastical superior can draw conclusions or take measures which sin either by excess or by defect. But this risk of error, from which no one is exempt, does not mean that one seeks to cover up, or on the contrary, to destroy a guilty party.

 A number of the allegations levied against the SSPX and promoted by CMTV (Voris, Niles et al) are obviously false.  Since they were easily deluded, they (CMTV et al) are obviously not the ones to 'judge' in these matters. 

We just have to let the legal authorities work through the materials and come to their conclusions without a CMTV media circus.  

In order to do this, we just have to be patient and not worry about the media news cycle.

P^3

 

Reference

 Courtesy of SSPX.org

A Statement of the SSPX concerning a Church Militant Media Campaign

Alert, Protect, Treat

Update on SSPX Independent Review Board

Alert, Protect, Treat

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The American District of the United States Society of Saint Pius X extends its policy: “Plan to Protect” to all people who are victims of abuse or those wishing to submit their complaints concerning the comportment of one of its members or employees.

According to the dispositions of the protocols in force in the Society, the District Superior will institute an Independent Review Board on a permanent basis.

This organization has the responsibility to advise him specifically at the preliminary level in the assessment of allegations, assistance to the alleged victim, assistance to the alleged abuser, civil and canonical procedures, administration of immediate pastoral measures, etc. At a minimum, the Independent Review Board will include a married couple, a civil lawyer, a doctor, and a canonist priest. We reserve the right to include others on a temporary or permanent basis.
Plan to Protect

As much as the SSPX wants to prevent abuse from happening in the future, it cannot neglect extending its assistance to those who are already victims. The Society has been learning about the extent of this evil for years and have been in contact with the survivors of abuse. The Society’s priests have listened to their grief and have a grasp of their suffering. It takes great courage for a person who has experienced abuse to develop trust again. Time and patience are needed before a survivor can open up, and the SSPX is committed to helping.

If you have been abused and you are still alone with your pain, the Society implores you to reach out, especially if you have suffered from a priest, religious, employee, or volunteer of the SSPX. You are encouraged to come forward and to do so with whatever spiritual, medical, or professional assistance you need. In cooperation, the SSPX wants to rectify these events, ensure that justice is exacted, and help you to overcome this evil.

Please visit the SSPX’s “Plan to Protect” website. If you have chosen to take this initial step and visit this site, the Society invites you to contact us at 

• protection@sspx.org or
• call the toll-free number: (833) 727-7779.

For abuse in the State of Kansas: victims and witnesses of abuse by the SSPX or other clergy can contact the Kansas Bureau of Investigation at 

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• clergyabuse@kbi.ks.gov or they can call: 
• 1-(800) KS-Crime (1-800-572-7463).

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Read our statement released on April 28th >

 

Update on SSPX Independent Review Board

May 18, 2021

Source: District of the USA

As part of the United States District of the Society of Saint Pius X’s (SSPX) commitment to investigating allegations of abuse and offering assistance to victims, the Society has established an Independent Review Board as part of its ongoing Plan to Protect.

The Independent Review Board will advise the U.S. District Superior and other designated individuals in the assessment of allegations, assistance to the alleged victim, appropriate measures regarding alleged abusers, civil and canonical procedures, and the administration of immediate pastoral measures. The initial Board members, whose names shall remain anonymous, consist of the following:

• A religious sister who has expertise in the areas of theology, pastoral care, religious institutions, and behavioral studies;
• A canon lawyer with suitable experience;
• A psychologist who, for many years, has a long history of working with both seminarians and convents;
• An attorney with extensive experience working with abuse cases;
• A retired agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation;
• A traditional Catholic married couple with many children, some of whom have been adopted with special needs.

While the SSPX maintains a zero-tolerance policy regarding all forms of abuse, it recognizes that instances of abuse have already occurred. Moreover, even with best practices in place to prevent further incidences, the Society remains vigilant to investigate future accusations with the help of its Board. The Board has already begun working.

With our collaboration with Plan to Protect in place along with its Independent Review Board, the SSPX is committed to helping victims. Those who have suffered abuse are encouraged to visit the Society’s Plan to Protect website and to contact the SSPX at protection@sspx.org or toll-free at 1-833-727-7779. Victims are also encouraged to contact the relevant local authorities.

 

 

 

A Statement of the SSPX concerning a Church Militant Media Campaign

For the past week, the Society of Saint Pius X has been the subject of a media campaign conducted by the Church Militant website. It has been accused of having “sympathy for perverts” (sic) and of covering up for some of its members or employees who may have been guilty of misconduct. This is not the first campaign, and it will certainly not be the last. Already, in July 2019, similar accusations had been made against the Society’s authorities by Church Militant.

The Society is committed to transparency and it exercises transparency in an appropriate manner and, as far as possible, while avoiding prejudicing the rights of those involved, starting with the victims. Justice is dispensed impartially and according to the rules of law, not before a “media court” that exclusively investigates charges and distils its information with the aim of dividing or destroying, and by multiplying false and malicious insinuations.

The articles that have been published mix and match real facts with false or unbelievable accusations, in an abhorrent manner. Their authors ignore both ecclesiastical and civil legal procedures. They conduct a trial against the accused without regard to the presumption of innocence, the basic verification of facts and the rights of the defense.

In support of its alleged proofs, Church Militant produces several scandals that have occurred in Europe, mostly using truncated accounts taken from newspapers or blogs. However, all these cases have been dealt with by both ecclesiastical and civil authorities, and these cases have all been judged and closed. The Society has always collaborated with the legal authorities and has never been complicit in any “sympathy” towards persons accused of acts that are morally reprehensible.

Church Militant also refrains from stating that most of the members of the Society who have committed offences have been expelled from the Society or have been subject to exemplary punishments. Some, who refused to submit to them, preferred to leave the Society.

The U.S. District has a protection plan in place and strives to fulfill its mission to families and souls. It will not be deflected by a smear campaign that exploits cases that are highly regrettable and reprehensible and, although rare, are still too numerous.

In the interest of transparency, the Society of Saint Pius X wished to reiterate the fundamental points of its policy in this matter:

For several years now, it has put in place preventive measures in the selection and training of candidates for the priesthood, as well as in the recruitment of personnel for the institutions under its care.

The Society deeply regrets that some of its members may have engaged in serious misconduct and, in the worst cases, criminal or delinquent behavior. It is a blemish on the Catholic priesthood, on the Church, and on the work of Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. However, that does not mean that the Society encourages them, that it protects them, or, even less, that it covers for them. On the contrary, it strives each time, according to the seriousness of the cases, to sanction them and to deal with them, according to the rules of justice, having first of all concern for the victims.

It uses the measures provided for by the laws of the Church, which foresee various kinds of sanctions, such as deprivation of office, times of probation and penance, restrictions or prohibitions of apostolate, suspension a divinis, reduction ad missam, resignation or dismissal, and even laicization, if necessary. These measures are taken at the end of canonical procedures, which can take some time and are covered by the secrecy of judicial inquiries and deliberations of the courts – a secrecy required by Church law.

For the most serious cases, which could constitute crimes or felonies, it collaborates with the civil authorities, either by warning them or by sharing the elements in its possession. It offers the victims assistance, encourages them to file complaints with the civil authorities – and not on social networks or websites – and accompanies them as far as possible. It informs the civil authorities of cases that require it, in accordance with the legislation of the various countries.

However, the Society has experienced several cases of false accusations by unbalanced or self-seeking persons. For this reason, these delicate matters, which have received excessive media attention, call for prudence so that justice can be dispensed serenely, in all truth and charity. Certainly, as in every human judgement, an ecclesiastical superior can draw conclusions or take measures which sin either by excess or by defect. But this risk of error, from which no one is exempt, does not mean that one seeks to cover up, or on the contrary, to destroy a guilty party.

The Society of Saint Pius X assures the victims of its support and prayers for the reparation for the harm done to them. Furthermore, it prays for those who are unjustly accused, even when they are not members of the Society. Finally, she does not exclude from her prayers the guilty ones themselves, because she is convinced that Redemption is always possible for them – even if the media are not interested in it. For the Society is convinced that this corresponds to the spirit of the Catholic Church, our Mother, and to the teachings of Our Lord Jesus Christ, who warned us that the chaff would be mixed with the wheat until the end of time.

The Society entrusts itself to the Blessed Virgin Mary, that She may preserve us from all evil and that these trials may serve for the greater good of souls.

April 28, 2020

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Alert, Protect, Treat >

According to the dispositions of the protocols in force in the Society, the District Superior will institute an Independent Review Board on a permanent basis.